The Greatest of These

As you all know, the focus of this blog has been faith...

Since we have been here in Decorah--for almost two months now--God has directed me time and time again to passages about love.  A couple of nights ago, I was reading in 1 Corinthians 13.  I don't know about you, but this is a passage I have read so many times, I can quote it by memory.  But, as I read through it again, I was convicted and God really spoke to me anew through His Word.  I love it when He does that, by the way.  His Word really is alive and active--it penetrates our hearts (Hebrews 4:12).   He proved to me again that no matter how well I "know" a verse, I can still be hit over the head by it!

In the final verse of Chapter 13, Paul says:  "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."   Another verse that came to mind was Galatians 5:6b: "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."

I am pretty sure that God is challenging me to look at faith a little deeper, and to examine if I have been expressing my faith through love.  As Paul states, I may have faith that can move mountains, but if I do not have love, I am NOTHING.  In other words, I am no one, not anyone--a nobody.  Whoa.
So, really, the saying should be,  "It all boils down to faith expressing itself through love."

I have been pondering many different facets of faith and love recently.  I've not only thought of my own shortcomings in this area (which are many, by the way), but also where the church as a whole is missing the mark.   On one end, you have people who are pretty strong in their faith, but who, at times can be very legalistic, judgemental, and loveless.  On the other end,  you have people who focus on the "love thy neighbor" aspect of things--all the while negating the basic tenants of Christian faith--so much so that one is left wondering if the church really believes or stands for anything.    So where does God desire for us to be? 

Our family has just made an enormous step of faith.  I have been trusting God as we begin a new life here in Iowa.  He really has increased my faith.  There is no doubt that, at times, we feel like we are a part of a culture where the truths Allen and I hold dear and stand firm upon are not embraced and taught in many churches.  The pervading tide seems to be one of liberal thinking when it comes to the interpretation of scripture.  Some of the people we have encountered at Luther do not believe as we do.
That being said, God has brought several couples and individuals into our lives that do believe that God's Word is truth and that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him.   I guess what God is impressing upon me is that I must see those who don't believe in Christ as God sees them.  I guarantee you He sees them differently than I do.  Being tolerant of someone is not enough (though society would claim that it is the highest virtue).   If I am just tolerating someone, I am putting up with someone that, in reality, I really don't like.  Or, if I am tolerating the weather--I am enduring it--but not loving it.  The dictionary defines it as "to withstand the unpleasant effects of something."  Or, to endure something you really don't want to endure if you had the choice.  Tolerating is not what Christ called us to do with regard to others.  He called us to love one another as we love ourselves.  He called us to forgive as Christ has forgiven us.  Christ didn't tolerate the woman at the well.  He loved her enough to reveal her hidden sins.  He pointed out her core thirst for love and acceptance and then taught her that her satisfaction could only be found in Him.   He made her aware of her need for Him.  He wanted her to have living water, welling up to eternal life!  This is so much more than tolerance.  If he merely tolerated her, then his conversation with her would have been much different!  After a little bit of debate about where Jews and Samaritans worship, he would have just left it alone and said, "Well, you can believe what you believe and I will believe what I believe and that's okay."  Would that response have made the woman aware of her deep thirst for God?  NO!  Would that response have resulted in an entire village joyfully discovering that the Messiah had come?   No.

On the other end, you don't see Christ condemning the woman either.  He asks leading questions that reveal her heart's thirst and how she had been filling it with the wrong things.  Without judgement or condemnation, he revealed to her the lies she had been believing and pointed her to the truth.  The fact that he stopped at the well at that time of day in a city in Samaria--proved that Jesus loved the Samaritan people--he didn't just tolerate them.  Most Jews did everything they could to avoid the Samaritans.  They even walked many extra miles around Samaria in order to avoid contact with the people there.  I can tell you with all honesty, that this has been me at times.  Not anymore, but there was a time when I behaved this way.

True, agape love is neither tolerant nor legalistic.  Co-existing does not equal love.  True agape love asks questions of others to reveal their heart condition and their need for God.    Every human that has ever lived has within them a need for God, whether they realize it or not.   If I possess the love of Christ, then I realize that I was no better than that person who denies there is a God.  I once was lost too, trying to fill my heart with things that cannot satisfy.  My sin deserves death just as much as the person next to me.  If I truly love as Christ does, then why wouldn't I talk about what He has done for me and live a life that is totally different from what the world exalts and embraces.

True love is patient:  not patient in circumstances but patient with PEOPLE and all their shortcomings.  In other words, to delay or with-hold vengeance or retaliation.
True love is kind:  the opposite of harsh or cutting.  To be useful, kind in disposition and character
True love does not envy, does not boast, is not proud (inflated or arrogant).
True love is not rude and does not act dishonorably or improperly
It is not self seeking: to seek out glory for oneself
True love is not easily angered or irritated
It keeps no record of wrongs

At the same time, though--
True agape love does not delight or find happiness in evil and does not condone sinful behavior or participate in wickedness.
Instead, true love rejoices with the TRUTH, which is God's Word and Christ himself

It always stands with to protect or cover, trusts, HOPES and perseveres.
True love will not give up easily on someone who desperately needs Christ.
The true agape love of Christ, given to believers through His Spirit NEVER FAILS.
All types of worldly love will fail and cannot stand up to all of the above attributes. 

So, all of this to say, I believe that those of us who call ourselves Christian need to examine what godly love really is.  Myself included.  Our own agendas have to be put to the side and we have to take up the purpose and calling Jesus Christ gave to his disciples in the Great Commission.   It is Christ's love that should compel us to speak the truth about God and His Word.  There is inherent boldness in this approach.  But, at the same time our words should be seasoned with salt and the truth should be spoken in love.

Yes, God is Love, but we cannot forget that He is Holy, He is Just and we are to love Him first and foremost--above all else!  Remember, God doesn't look at the outside, He is looking at our hearts.   It is His love that compels us to leave our lives of sin, to break free from the shackles and addictions that bind us and to run the race marked out for us. 

My prayer has become, "Lord increase my faith and help me to love others as you love them."

"Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me.
Break my heart for what breaks yours
Everything I am for YOUR kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity..."