One Defining Characteristic

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

John 13:34-36

God's people were commanded to love the LORD their God with all their hearts, and Jesus upped the ante in person as Immanuel to love one another as He loved them.  It was not boldness, devotion, intelligence or study of God's word but the love of Jesus that was to be their defining characteristic as His disciples.  God's love stands alone from all love that is found in the world.  Jesus went on to demonstrate His love for sinners by freely and willingly dying on the cross to atone for lost sinners so they might have abundant life through Him.

The love of Jesus was seen throughout His life and ministry on earth, and it was brought to the attention of the people of Bethany by His tears.  Jesus went to Bethany after He knew His friend Lazarus had died, and by the time Jesus arrived he had been buried four days.  John 11:33-36 states, "Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. ³⁴ And He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to Him, "Lord, come and see." ³⁵ Jesus wept. ³⁶ Then the Jews said, "See how He loved him!"  Jesus was moved emotionally and groaned when He saw people lamenting the death of Lazarus.  When He wept at the tomb of Lazarus, people could see He really loved him.

In those days it was common to hire professional mourners to show kindness to those mourning in addition to honouring the deceased, and this service was seen by some as a fulfillment of loving your neighbour as yourself.  The tears of Jesus were a demonstration of His love for Lazarus.  God who transcends time entered time and Jesus lingered in that sorrowful moment, despite knowing His plan to raise Lazarus from the dead.  He groaned within Himself as He approached the tomb, and Jesus directed the people to remove the stone from the mouth of the tomb.  John 11:41-42 reads, "Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. ⁴² And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me."  At the command of Jesus, Lazarus came forth from the tomb and many people believed Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Son of God.

There is everything to admire in Jesus:  His power, wisdom, boldness, grace and patience.  There is no end to how wonderful and amazing Jesus is to call unworthy disciples, do countless miracles. always speak the truth, knows perfectly the hearts of men, to take little children in His arms, and show deep interest and care for those who had little or no honour in society.  But if I had to pick one defining characteristic of my Saviour Jesus, it would be His love that undergirds everything He said and did and flavours everything about Him.  Brothers and sisters in Christ, of anything we might be known for, may it be our love of Jesus Christ shown to one another.  I may not be the most bright, clever, brave, strong, kind or gentle, yet may God say of me, "He really loves Jesus."  If this feat is ever accomplished, it will be God's doing and by His grace.  Is that how you want to be known by others--how they would sum up your life--as one who loves Jesus?

Born Twice, Died Once

The Christian's faith in God is according to knowledge revealed in the Bible, God's word.  As it is written, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:16-17).  As conversations between parents can go over their young children's heads, even when we have read through the Scriptures many times it is likely timeless truth has escaped the notice of born-again children of God until now.  There are also many things we know and believe to be true we have yet to appropriate, apply to our lives or guide our perspective.  Exposure to the word of God leads to our salvation, and a regular diet of God's word contributes mightily to our sanctification and spiritual maturity.

During recent study I came across a quote attributed to D.L. Moody that drove home an important point:  "He who is born once will die twice; he who is born twice will die once."  Every living human being was born of two parents, and due to sin everyone will die physically and also face the second death God spoke of in Revelation 20 & 21.  Those who are born-again by faith in Jesus, having been born a second time, will not be hurt by the second death that involves eternal torment in hell.  The death of our bodies will be the only death we face.  The awesome truth for Christians is our death is actually in the past, for by faith in Jesus we are baptised into Christ's death and resurrection.

Paul wrote to Christians in Romans 6:1-4:  "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? ² Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? ³ Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ⁴ Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."  In coming to Christ as Saviour, we have died to sin because Jesus tasted death for us, having provided atonement through His sacrifice on Calvary.  Spiritually speaking born-again Christians look upon the death of Jesus on the cross and realise we died with Him, and now we are risen with Him.  Thus we are to walk in newness of life, put off all sin and live in freedom from fear of death.

Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He affirmed Christians whose bodies die never die because He gives eternal life to all who trust in Him.  John 11:25-26 reads, "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. ²⁶ And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"  Jesus previously spoke about Lazarus, who had been dead due to an illness four days, as sleeping.  Because humans were created by God in His image, we will all face the judgment of God as conscious beings after the death of our bodies to either enter into the rest and joy of the LORD in His presence by the Gospel or be damned to hell in eternal torment for our sin--which is the second death.  Those who are born twice will die only once all because Jesus became sin for us so we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21).

Colossians 3:1-3 exhorts believers in light of all Jesus is who is our life, "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ³ For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."  For Christians, our death should not loom fearfully in our future but is already over.  Having been raised with Christ, we are to seek those things which are above, that which is enduring, timeless and glorious--living after the glorious pattern of Christ rather than according to sinful flesh.  Thanks be to God who has taken away the sting of death and given us a glorious future and new identity through Jesus.  Knowing our death is in the past and we are called to walk by our Saviour in newness of life, this realisation by the power of the Holy Spirit will transform the way we live today.

In Land Not Sown

"Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ² "Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothal, when you went after Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown."

Jeremiah 2:1-2

God is the same yesterday, today and forever; He is faithful and good towards all, and His people know this well.  Through the prophet God addressed His people, the children of Israel, about how over time they had changed.  During the season when God led them like a flock through the wilderness, they followed Him by faith with fervent desire.  This newborn nation followed God like a betrothed woman sought out her husband to walk with him--with only eyes for Him.  Sadly, Israel's devotion and kindness toward God did not remain steadfast.  God remembered how Israel once followed Him in the wilderness:  in a land not sown.

It is significant Israel followed God in a land not sown, for in this barren land there was no hope of harvest, wealth from a crop, or food for their little ones.  In the early days Israel did not follow God in the hope of personal gain, hoping to get something out of him like a gold digger who seeks to profit from the rich.  Over time the children of Israel continued with sacrifices, tithing and keeping feasts according to the Law of Moses, but their works became transactional and tinged with selfishness rather than kind and loving as in their youth when they gladly went after Him in the wilderness.  Boaz commended Ruth when she asked him to perform the duty of a kinsman redeemer in Ruth 3:10:  "Then he said, "Blessed are you of the LORD, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich."  Boaz was a great deal older than Ruth, yet she did not go looking for the youngest, most handsome men to redeem her.  Instead she went to the one who already showed her kindness in providing a safe place to glean.

Even in early days God witnessed the departure of His people to go after idols that never saved a soul or helped them, and this was memorialised in in Moses' song in Deuteronomy 32:16-17:  "They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods; with abominations they provoked Him to anger. ¹⁷ They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they did not know, to new gods, new arrivals that your fathers did not fear."  Though God had protected them and provided for all their needs, they were enticed by their lusts to seek benefits by worshipping idols that were not God.  The kindness spoken of by the prophet Jeremiah and Boaz conveys loyal love, faithfulness and joint obligation, godly character that ought to mark God's children expressed towards Him as we follow His example towards us.  God desires that we would gladly, freely seek Him and follow Him by faith in a land not sown, knowing He is our life and will supply all our needs.

Do you pray, read the Bible, go to church and serve out of love for the LORD--or because He has something you want?  We often can tell when people come to us with ulterior motives, and God is not fooled when we come to Him for selfish reasons.  As God's adopted children by faith in Jesus, let us be those who show more kindness at the end than at the beginning because we remember how kind and loving God has always been to us.  Even in a land not sown we should not be weary of doing good, for the LORD has promised we will reap if we do not lose heart.  Haven't we already received all we need for life and godliness by His grace (2 Peter 1:3)?

Praying and Waiting

Enjoyable and profitable conversation occurs when people are attentive to one another, listening and speaking in turn.  This exchange of ideas and deepening of relationship is greatly hindered if one does all the talking, if they habitually interrupt one another, or walks away without listening.  Every culture has its own nuance of what constitutes polite manners and decorum while conversing with one another, and consideration of the feelings and views of others is generally a good approach.

Ironically, our approach to conversing with people can be practically ignored in our prayers to God.  I have been guilty of doing all the talking and not taking a moment to still my heart and be silent before King Jesus, barging into his presence as if He does not know what I'm going to say.  I have made the mistake Peter did when Jesus was transfigured before his eyes, speaking because he did not know what to say.  When I have sought God's guidance and wisdom concerning a matter, I have rushed on without even waiting for an answer.  What folly!  In our communication with God this is more than bad manners, for our hearts can be tinged with unbelief and arrogance:  we have prayed, so we can assume we have God's blessing to do as we will.

I have observed that often when people say, "I prayed about it" in relation to seeking God's guidance, very seldom do they ever volunteer a clear answer from God.  In explaining how they know God's answer, typically people appeal to how they feel, that they "have a peace" about a certain course of action.  Interpreting past or current circumstances are also a means people employ to discern God's "answer."  Let me encourage you, dear Christian, that when you make petitions of the LORD for guidance and direction that you determine not to take action unless He speaks to you.  Now God can use our circumstances, things other people said, His word--really anything--to communicate His truth to our hearts.  Because the Bible is God's word and the Holy Spirit dwells in us, He helps us to understand the scripture and to submit our lives to Him.  People pray all the time to all kinds of things, thus praying does not mean we have heard God say anything.

God's promise in Psalm 91:15 is relevant to every Christian: "He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him."  God has promised to answer us, but have we waited for Him to speak before we did what we thought best?  Jeremiah 33:2-3 says, "Thus says the LORD who made it, the LORD who formed it to establish it (the LORD is His name): ³ 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'"  What a strange thing it would be to call a friend on the phone and hang up before there was opportunity for them to answer!  Now God may not answer our questions immediately as we kneel before Him, but we are called to be praying without ceasing and to make our requests known to God.  We can continue to bring our supplication and intercession before Him when it comes to mind throughout the day and night, and we are called to wait for His clear answer He has promised and is faithful to give.

Saying, "I prayed about it" is not sound justification to do as we please.  Saul's prayers went unanswered because he was unwilling to repent of his pride and would not heed what God said.  Many of our prayers may be met with prolonged silence for the same reason.  Let us be those who are quick to listen, slow to speak and faithful to heed the word of God He has given us in the Bible.  When we call upon the LORD He will answer us, and we can have confidence to do what God requires of us by His grace.  Daniel did not pray and then run to king Nebuchadnezzar with an interpretation until God clearly answered Him, and we ought to follow his godly example.  Are we willing to lose sleep to hear God's voice?  Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!"