God Most Loveable

What do you view as loveable?  A newborn baby or a fluffy puppy?  What if I told you the most loveable being in the universe is not something small, cute and cuddly but the almighty God who is love?  Truly, there is no one more worthy of being loved than God who loves us with an everlasting love.  The amazing thing is how God presently and eternally rewards those who love Him when it is the very thing we ought to do.  Loving God is right for everyone to do, and God's desire is we would go beyond liking what we receive from God to loving Him with our whole heart.

See some things God promises to do for those who love Him in Psalm 91:14-16 which are all beyond price:  "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. ¹⁵ He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. ¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."  For the one who simply loves God, God will personally deliver him and set him on high.  The one who loves God will be heard and answered by Him; God will be with him in trouble, deliver and honour him.  God also gives long life (everlasting!) that satisfies, and will reveal His salvation to all who love Him.  Those who love God place their faith in Him which is evidenced by obedience.

Loving God is more than feelings of attraction or affection, but it is connected with doing what God says as is written in Deuteronomy 5:10:  "...showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments."  Later in Scripture Jesus, who revealed Himself to be God made flesh by many signs including His resurrection from the dead, said to His disciples in John 14:15-17:  "If you love Me, keep My commandments. ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you."  To those who love God, Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to regenerate, empower, comfort, guide and enable followers of Christ to be spiritually fruitful, to love as He loves.

A newborn baby is not loveable because of what he or she provides you but because of who it is in relation to you:  someone small, needy and new.  God is awesome, eternal, needs nothing, and is greater than we can imagine, yet we should love Him because His is our Creator and due to our relationship with Him as His beloved children.  Our love for God ought to be from a heart that delights in who God is and His love for us--rather than God's promises of blessing for those who love Him we hope to receive.  As it is written in Psalm 31:23-24:  "Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints! For the LORD preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person. ²⁴ Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD."  May our love of God be courageous in obedience and strong by faith in Him, for God preserves the faithful who hope in Him.

Consider the Birds

"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"

Matthew 6:26

When Jesus taught His disciples during the Sermon on the Mount, He directed their attention to the birds that soared in the skies.  Without sowing, reaping or storing food, they were fed every day by the grace and goodness of God who created them.  No man could know the number of them, the location of their nests or young, where they came from or where they were heading.  The point Jesus made was His people did not need to worry or be anxious about their lives or what they were going to eat because God is faithful to feed the birds--and His people are of far greater worth to Him.  Rather than seeking to have their physical needs met, God's people were to prioritise things of far greater importance as Jesus said in Matthew 6:33:  "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

Because we are people with needs and limited resources in an uncertain world, worry and anxiety are natural responses for human beings.  We can worry about landing the job, and once we are employed we might worry about advancing in our career or keeping our job!  The scope of our worries is not limited to ourselves, for we can worry about the health of loved ones, conflicts between nations, even potential problems that have yet to arise.  Worry is endemic among humanity whether rich or poor, those who experience good health or illness, whether we are single or married.  Cares of this life weigh on our minds and do nothing to provide rest or peaceful resolutions.  Like heads of the mythical Hydra that sprouted again once lopped off, the satisfaction of one worry does not kill our anxiety dead.  A new worry is sure to arise that is more intimidating and beastly than the previous one.

I was greatly encouraged yesterday as I drove to church.  A light rain was falling, and I noticed two birds perched on a street light, leaning towards and resting their heads on one another.  These were the only birds I recall seeing on the drive, likely because of the rain.  Seeing that lone, mated pair of birds was a wonderful sight as I recalled the words of Jesus, and considered that God not only feeds the birds but often provides a partner for them to enjoy companionship, warmth and to breed young.  There is in many people a desire for love and companionship that seems far beyond reach.  It is glorious our God supplies an invitation and opportunity for a meaningful relationship with Himself as our Father, and He supplies all our other physical, spiritual and emotional needs as well.  Since God provides a mate for birds of the air, shouldn't we trust Him to provide a spouse for people too?  Looking for love in this world does not guarantee we will find it, but knowing God loves us, cares for us and provides for our needs, we can be content in Him whether single or married.

Seeing those birds leaning on one another in the rain was a testimony of God's faithfulness in the animal kingdom we do well to apply to our lives.  It was a reminder I do not need to be anxious or worried whether my sons will one day marry and have children, for God is able to provide the right spouse for each of them in His time.  It is an incredible that with all the birds that flock, sing and squawk in Sydney, God brought a male and female that was content to settle down together in the rain, happy to perch and snuggle together without a care in the world.  Like God provides for the needs of birds for food or a mate, He will also provide for our need of companionship with a relationship with Himself by faith.  By His grace God is also able to provide a husband or wife in His time, like He joined the widow Ruth with older Boaz.  The birds teach us our love life (or lack thereof!) is nothing to be anxious or worried about, for God is faithful to supply all our needs.

 

Doing Is Better than Promising

In a parable Jesus told, a man asked one of his sons to work the following day in his vineyard.  His son replied, "I go sir!" yet he did not go.  His words proved to be empty because he did not follow through with all he said.  The son saying what he would do did not profit him or his father at all, and his good intentions were shown to be fleeting by his empty words--which have been remembered to this day.

The point James made about claims of faith being pointless without works that provide evidence of it is a valid consideration in regards to words we say.  James 2:15-17 reads, "If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."  James gave a practical example to illustrate how faith without corresponding works is dead by describing someone who was cold and hungry.  Will saying, "Be warmed and filled!" do anything to cover their nakedness or fill their belly?  Of course not.  Someone who loves the needy person and truly desires their wholeness would do what they could to help them without a word.  People who love others demonstrate their love in action rather than simply declaring it.  Faith is more than words we speak, for it is always shown by our decisions and way of life.

It is good that our words agree with our actions, but it is better to prioritise doing good rather than speaking of good we have yet to do.  Recently I read Luke 9:57 that described Jesus walking:  "Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go."  It was good this person recognised Jesus as worthy of following everywhere, yet this would be better done than promised because talk is cheap.  It is very easy to say we will do something, but to actually follow through is exponentially more difficult and complicated.  When visitors attend church it is common for them to gladly volunteer without being asked anything, "We'll be back!" and to never see them again.  My preference is for them to appear indifferent, say nothing, and return for the next service.  People being in Christian fellowship somewhere is better than saying that is what we want and need:  attending church can say this without a word.

Jesus knew the heart of the person who called Him LORD and promised to follow Him wherever He went.  He was not cynical, sarcastic or dismissive.  Luke 9:58 gives us Christ's reply:  "And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."  Jesus made it clear to follow Him would be difficult and not to expect to settle down anywhere.  Jesus did not call any place on earth His home, and the only refuge Christ's disciples would have was in Him by faith.  The Gospels demonstrate how Jesus and His disciples were provided for day by day:  they ate grain as they walked through fields, were guests at houses, received gifts, and ate leftovers.  It would be better for Jesus to observe us after a space of time, "Friends, you have followed Me wherever I have gone!" then for us to promise beforehand, "We will follow you!"  There is no harm in voicing our intentions, but what we do and how we live is of greater importance.

Orthodox Spiritual Warfare

One thing I often observe among genuine believers is confusion and uncertainty concerning what is commonly called "spiritual warfare."  Generally speaking, there is a kind of Christian who, when facing conflicts, perceived setbacks, losses or trials, assumes this must be the result of a spiritual attack.  To give an example, I remember a fellow who was suspicious he had been cursed by a spiritist because of the placement of a large zit on the tip of his nose.  When we go down this murky path of anything or everything negative in our lives being the result of demonic forces coming against us, rest and peace is replaced with fear and obsessive vigilance.  The problem is, on our own we are like blind people swatting in the dark at perceived threats that are active only in our own imagination.

Through a combination of teaching that emphasises a believer's authority in Christ, a personal leaning towards a desire for control, and ready access to formulaic and prescriptive approaches to deliverance (not to mention the presence of deep-seated fears), this can lead Christians to sense a constant barrage by the forces of darkness that requires continual and ongoing attention to peel back layers to discover why  these troubles persist.  For some, this is a spiritual morass that holds them in a perpetual state of defensiveness while they seek to take the fight to the devil who is oppressing, attacking and wreaking havoc on every aspect of their lives--even their complexion.  Those who adopt this spiritual perspective often tend to place their focus on the enemy and not on their Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Their energies are spent in trying to deliver themselves from what only Jesus can deliver from.

The book of Job supplies a simple and wonderful example of a man who was personally under spiritual attack from Satan, having been granted permission by God to afflict him.  The ironic thing about his situation is Job never wasted his breath rebuking the devil or reciting a prayer that would unmask and force the enemy of his soul to flee.  Job credited God for his grievous trial and the suffering that he faced.  Chapter after chapter records him pouring out his heart to his friends, asking questions, and seeking God so he might be heard and helped.  Ultimately God did reveal himself to Job, and when God questioned Job his presumptuous folly was laid bare.  There is no mention of God doing or saying anything to Satan, for when the divine light of God shines all darkness must flee.  When Job simply humbled himself before God in chapter 42 and acknowledged God does everything, God accepted him.  Then Job 42:10 says, "And the LORD restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before."  No rebukes of Satan were required, no breaking of generational curses, no shouting to inform demons about his spiritual authority:  Job humbled himself before God, and God did it all.

A similar thing happens when we come in faith to the Light of the World, Jesus Christ.  I imagine Satan is delighted when in the midst of trials we foray into the darkness, seeking to discern a demonic source of our problems, when we are infinitely better suited seeking Jesus--for in Him is no darkness at all.  Remember how God allowed a messenger of Satan to buffet Paul?  He did not waste his efforts rebuking the devil, but three times prayed to God to deliver him from the thorn in his flesh.  It was revealed to be all God's doing and His wise design to move Paul to humility so God's strength would be manifested in his life.  Paul rejoiced in God who did this for his benefit.  The testimonies of Job and Paul shows us that even when a spiritual battle comes to us, we are to seek our Saviour and humble ourselves before Him.  When we walk in the light, guided by the word of God that is a lamp to our feet and a light unto our path, darkness flees away without a fight.  Perhaps the biggest fight on our hands as Christians is humbling ourselves before our glorious God, trusting He will deliver and save us, and that we are incapable to save ourselves or others.