as HE loved

(in light of recent legislations being considered I decided to post this... I wrote it several months ago but now see its relevance)

Love.

When we say the word so many thoughts come to mind. Definitions. Expectations. Interpretations.

No wonder it is so difficult to pinpoint just exactly what it means when we say, Love one Another.

In an age where there is an “impending threat” on absolute truth and morality, this word gets thrown around a lot. Usually from those who don’t claim to follow Jesus but KNOW what He stood for and gladly join arms with Him when it fits their defense or justifies their behavior.

But from the other side, I observe a lot of fear. Fear that if I love them I may be seen as excusing “sinful’ behavior. Fear that extending grace may mean turning a blind eye to what the Bible clearly states is wrong. Fear that “they” are taking over and with “us” losing more and more to “their” side all hope is lost, our future surely doomed and our freedom at risk of extinction.

Perfect love casts out fear.

I fear things. Fear of failure. Fear of rejection. Fear of torture or physical pain. I spend a large amount of time avoiding things that may cause tension or disrupt security and comfort.  I like the things I can control. And control I do.

I have come to the conclusion that one of the best definitions of love is: Surrender.

The need to be right.

The need to be understood.

The need to be respected.

The need to have freedom.

The need for comfort.

Because we say our ultimate example of love is He that came to live as one of us- and not for a second did He use the fact that He was GOD to his advantage, or to LORD over us. But squeezed through the vaginal birth canal to live just like us. HUMAN.  What comfort?

While His relationship with God was obviously a direct line of communication, He was still limited by human standards, His godly rights stripped when He breathed his first newborn breath. What freedom?

He was mocked, criticized, judged, belittled, laughed at, slandered, and ultimately beaten and killed… by HIS people. What respect?

He taught what was true, regardless of who understood. And was mostly misunderstood even by his closest disciples. While all He said was right, He in no way forced or demanded anyone to agree with Him. He was right regardless.

And this is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid his life down for us.

In the list of sins that Revelation 21:8 cites as unable to enter the kingdom of heaven, the first one mentioned is FEAR.

And yet all the others seem to take precedence when we are shaking our fingers at others demanding they repent OR ELSE.

Is that truly driven by love? Or fear?

Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.

Could this be the prayer of our hearts instead? Instead of demanding rights or freedoms for ourselves? Clinging ever so tightly to all we are entitled to, could we possibly surrender for the sake of love so that others might know what love is? Jesus. The word in flesh- whose entire life was one of complete and utter surrender.  Complete. Total. And Perfect love.

In Him there is no fear.  He has conquered the grave. We have nothing to lose. Love radically. Graciously. Fully surrendered.  His truth prevails. He is always right. He commanded that we LOVE. AS. HE LOVED. Thy will NOT my will.

Is it possible?

God Breathed

For the majority of my Christian education the Bible was elevated as the inerrant word of God. And while there were times I often wondered how humans could write something perfect, I quickly dismissed such heretical thinking with the fact that With God all things are possible.

Because it is said, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness..." (2 Tim 3:16)

I haven’t often thought about this passage within the context of the time it was written. No one had access to what we call the “New Testamant”. There were churches that received the letters that the majority of the New Testament consists of but they were not bound and distributed to every bedside table at the time. Even the Torah or Old Testament Scriptures were limited in “supply”. Unless you had a Jewish upbringing your knowledge of the law or “scripture” would have been hearsay.

When I was taught about quiet times it was necessary that the Bible was always involved. God speaks to us through His word. It is His love letter to His people… God breathed.

How did people have a relationship with God without the Bible I often wonder?

AND furthermore, how is it possible that those who wrote what comprises the New Testament, didn’t have the New Testament to refer to and spend their quiet times with?? 

Who were they spending their time with anyways? hmmmmmm.

And, if they were “inspired” by God to write what they did- why did the buck stop with them?

Has God ceased inspiring writers? Does He no longer use His people as a mouth piece to express what is stirring in His heart?

If I choose to spend time with God alone, with no “holy scriptures” will I be led astray? Or do I believe the Spirit resides within me?

I have often found the verses about the heart being deceptive (Jer. 17:9) and having the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16) completely contradictory. I have lived far too long doubting and questioning my motives. I don’t trust myself. And to be honest, it is miserable living a life you are afraid to live. Afraid to make a mistake or say the “wrong” thing. Afraid to have an opinion or make a decision.  Wondering if I am aligning my everything to God’s will.

And yet, the Spirit resides within me.

You know what else is God breathed?

Man.

"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Gen 2:7)

All of us. Walking around.

The breath of God.

Inspired by the triune God.

"Let us make humankind in our image, in the likeness of ourselves." (Gen 1:26)

It is true we lost our way. The Bible makes that VERY clear. But the entire point of it is to POINT us to our REDEMPTION. Our SAVIOR. The real, raw, intimate fact that God is passionately in Love with His creation – the ones He breathed LIFE into. This God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. (1 Tim. 6:17) He is the One who is after our hearts.

God is present in our every day lives. And I’m so very blinded by my expectations for how He is “supposed” to show up that I miss Him entirely. Even with my Bible wide open.

I admit, I do not have a specific time carved out to read my Bible. I may pick it up twice a week at random. But the older I get the more I realize God has not limited Himself in the pages of a book. He has made Himself known – his invisible attributes all throughout creation. (Romans 1:20)

Sometimes it is enough just to lift your head and look around. Survey the beauty around you. Marvel at the way the universe functions or even the physical body. Be astounded by the ocean or the grandeur of the mountains-taken back by the precious innocence of a newborn baby. Glory to God!

Moments like these can draw us closer to the heart of God. I will never say don’t read your Bible. Clearly it was written to help guide us. Test the spirits with what His word says. But do not think that without it, all is lost. That you are not close to God or know Him well enough. That if you just read more you’ll know Him more. You will possibly know more “about” Him… but there’s a difference in knowing about someone than an intimate “knowing” on a level beyond just knowledge. (Eph. 3:19) It is not any less quality of time spent with God in awe of His creation and praising Him for His goodness than in His word learning about His goodness. I would say both are necessary to fully experience God. 

I attended a mission program after graduating high school and we took a weekend to have a silent retreat. When our leaders explained to us that we would be spending time with God in nature they specifically said to bring nothing--As in not even our Bibles, because even the Bible could become a distraction. This was over 13 years ago… and even typing that still causes me to shudder.

How often have I used the Bible for my agenda? How many times have I opened my Bible because of the prompting of the Holy Spirit as opposed to the guilt of my conscience? Has the Bible become a distraction for me so much so that I miss God entirely when I read it’s content?

It doesn’t seem possible but as fallen creatures we can turn ANYTHING into an idol.

I wouldn’t have this knowledge without the Bible. Nor could I retain what I have without having spent time in it. And I respect the Bible. I am thankful for the Bible… but I don’t interpret ‘logos’ as the Bible. The “word” (logos) of God is His son Jesus Christ. And Jesus is the full representation of the Father- for if we have seen Jesus- we have seen God. (John 14:9) The purpose of the scriptures was to show us our need for Him. And His complete and utter willingness to give His life for our sake. We worship Jesus. Not the Bible.