LOVE IS... LOVE DOES...

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends (fails).
-- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

I love my kids. I love the Kansas City Royals. I love God. I love chili.

We toss the word love around pretty nonchalantly. And the concept behind the word - the depth and power of love's reality - can get clouded. The result? Love loses its power. Actually, love never loses power. It is the word itself that loses gusto. And it is our understanding of real love that suffers in the wake.

Read Paul's above description of true love again. It is a description of the character of Christ. It is a picture of how he looks toward us. It is a revelation of the heart of God. And it is a challenge to how we should also love others.

God is love. We are loved. We should love.

God, help me to realize your love and to love more like you.

For now...
D

(By the way... I really do like the Royals and chili.)

THE SELFISHNESS OF SERVICE...

If one member suffers, all suffer together. 
-- 1 Corinthians 12:26

The Christian life is not lived in a vacuum. The life of faith cannot be spent in the ivory towers of religion, nor in the isolation of personal growth (for the mere sake of personal growth).

It has become a bit cliche, but I will state it anyway:

We are created for community. 

(By the way, most cliches become cliche because they are well-known and repeated truths. Truths that have often lost their punch.)

The Christian life - and being human in general - takes place within relationships. We are redeemed through relationship with God in Christ. We are transformed in relationship with Christ's abiding Spirit. We grow in faith in the midst of relationships with other believers. We grow in maturity in relationships with those whom we serve.

In a mysterious and wonderful way, there is 

a relational thread that connects us. 

Throughout the New Testament various metaphors are used to describe this community of faith. It is likened to a house, a family, a flock and a bride. The Apostle Paul's favorite word-picture is that of a body. A body, Paul writes, has many parts with various functions. Yet these parts make up one body. Each is necessary to and for the others. 

Paul writes that each of us is to operate in our God-given gifts and abilities. And there are two distinctive hallmarks of effective Christian service: 1) A love motive, and 2) A selfless desire to build the body. 

So why the title: THE SELFISHNESS OF SERVICE? Well, it's actually a little tongue-in-cheek. The idea is that as we serve, the community of faith becomes more healthy. The weak are strengthened. Those who suffer are comforted. And then these also serve, further strengthening the body - of which we are a part.

I don't mean this in some sense of what goes around comes around karma. Nor should we serve with wrong motives; eg., giving so that we get. Jesus himself said, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve; and to give his life a ransom for many" -- Mark 10:45. And Paul tells us to: Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus... -- Philippians 2:5.

No one should suffer alone. Because when one hurts, we all are injured in some way. (For that matter, no one should rejoice alone!)

God, help me to serve others as if I am serving you... because I am.

For now...
D

Imitation...

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.  
-- 1 Corinthians 11:1

It is a bold statement: Watch me... do as I do...

We all know its tongue-in-cheek counter statement: Do as I say, not as I do. (And the reality is, we might be more comfortable with it!)

A golf instructor may say to the student, "Watch me... do as I do." 

The professional on Dancing with the Stars might say to the star, "Watch me... do as I do."

We say to our children often (whether it's teaching them to mow a lawn, fold a sheet, or to shave), "Watch me... do as I do."

But what about praying? How about serving others? In matters of faithfulness, charity, worship and discipline, will we say, "Watch me... do as I do?"

Someone... somewhere... is watching. And someone will do as we do. The fact is, we may be the closest thing to a church they will ever observe. We may be the only scripture text they ever read. We may be the closest representative of this Christ with whom they come in contact.

Now, there is grace. We will fail. We will at times be poor examples - marred portraits. But that should not extinguish the desire. The depth and completeness of God's forgiveness should only fuel the passion to:

Be imitators of God, as beloved children. -- Ephesians 5:1

God, I will watch you... and do... Forgive me when my words and life don't match.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY!

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. -- 1 Corinthians 10:13

Star Trek ran for 79 episodes. Not once did a character say, "Beam me up, Scotty." Nor did Humphrey Bogart's Rick ever say, "Play it again, Sam," in Casablanca. Both are commonly attributed to the originals. But they are not there.

Nowhere in scripture is it written that God will never give you (or allow) more that you can handle. We hear it all the time. And it is as cliche as Beam me up Scotty.

The fact is God will again and again allow us more than we can handle. (Stay with me, it get's worse... then better!)

Paul wrote of his struggles: For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself (2 Corinthians 1:8). David writes much the same: I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart (Psalm 38:8).

Ultimately, 11 of the 12 disciples were martyred for their faith. The twelfth, John, was boiled alive in oil (and lived), and then exiled - where by the way, he had the incredible Revelation of Christ and wrote the letter of the same name.

I often face circumstances, burdens and pain beyond what I can bear. Please re-read the very last part of that statement.

... beyond what I can bear. 

There are two lies born out of the statement, God will not give you (or allow) more than you can handle. The first is that YOU can handle it. You. By yourself. You can and must be strong. 

The truth is, eventually you can't. There must be WE. The life of faith cannot be lived in isolation. Paul writes that we are to, bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2). When we cannot lift another's burdens, then we must lift the person who carries the burden. Christianity is lived in community; never in isolation. 

The second lie is much like the first. It centers in the bearing of burdens. We are not human pack-mules destined to trudge through life weighted down. That is not the joy inexpressible and full of glory Peter writes of (1 Peter 1:8); or the fullness of joy Jesus speaks of (John 15:11). 

As a matter of fact it was Jesus who said:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, 

and I will give you rest... you will find rest for your souls. 

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

-- Matthew 11:28-30

(I told you it would get better!) 

I've often heard well-intentioned people say, "That's just my cross to bear," in speaking of a struggle or burden. But crosses are not for carrying. They are for dying. And when we are daily, crucified with Christ, as Paul wrote, we are also daily resurrected with him. It is only the pains, the struggles, the burdens, and the sin that remained nailed to the cross. 

God, because you are with me I can walk through any valley...

For now...

D

RUN...

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.     -- 1 Corinthians 9:24

Thesaurus.com lists antonyms of the complacent as: unhappy, unsure, concerned, discontent, discontented, dissatisfied. 

I must have missed something. I can understand these to be the opposites of contented, not not complacent.

The Bible calls us to be contented; but never complacent. Paul speaks to the power of contentment. It is this very attitude that gives context to his statement, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13). And the value of contentment is driven home by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount: Be anxious for nothing... and consider the birds of the air... (Matthew 6:25-26).

Contentment and complacency are vastly different. One is a blessed satisfaction. The other is a lack of desire and caring. Contentment is a settled heart. Complacency is a lack of heart.

Paul utilizes action metaphors is describing his passion for Christ and his mission: Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal... (Phil 3:14). He likens the life of faith to training for a boxing match, running a race, and fighting a battle. These are not word pictures of complacency.

Complacent Christianity is not true Christianity.

Growth and progress should be the norms in our relationship with God. Stagnation is the alternative; and that is no way to live.

God, I have my running shoes on...

For now...
D

THE LONELY ARROGANT...

"Knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.
-- 1 Corinthians 8:1

Any time I have attempted to prove myself the smartest person in the room I've failed. On many fronts. First, I seldom have the highest IQ in any setting - even when alone. (I've known of an Ikea chair or two that have me beat.) Second, even if one were to prove to be smartest, he or she has still failed. The failure comes in simply having to prove it. In other words, winning the IQ competition usually goes hand in hand with losing the relationship opportunity.

The issue is not IQ, it is arrogance. Notice that Paul writes, (This) "knowledge" puffs up...; and not knowledge puffs up... There is a significant difference. 

The Apostle Paul is not against knowledge. He is not belittling education and understanding. As a matter of fact, Paul most certainly had an incredible intellect. He was in line to be High Priest of Israel and had an incredible grasp of the Old Testament. He confounded Greek philosophers with his wise arguments. And at one point, was even accused by a king of being driven mad by his "great learning."

Scripture repeatedly states that God's desire is that we have wisdom, understanding and knowledge. He is the author of all of the above.

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding...     

-- Proverbs 2:6

Here is the point: Arrogance is a disease. It is a sickness of the soul. And it is an infection that affects every relationship. (Chosen ignorance is also a disease - and often a religious one. But that is for another post.)

Arrogance is self-serving / Love serves others

Arrogance stands alone / Love exists in community

Arrogance tears down / Love builds up

Arrogance leads to failure / Love always wins

Given time, the arrogant person will prove to be the smartest in the room - because he will be alone. 

God, help me to be humble and to love...

For now...

D 

THE LONELY ARROGANT...

"Knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.
-- 1 Corinthians 8:1

Any time I have attempted to prove myself the smartest person in the room I've failed. On many fronts. First, I seldom have the highest IQ in any setting - even when alone. (I've known of an Ikea chair or two that have me beat.) Second, even if one were to prove to be smartest, he or she has still failed. The failure comes in simply having to prove it. In other words, winning the IQ competition usually goes hand in hand with losing the relationship opportunity.

The issue is not IQ, it is arrogance. Notice that Paul writes, (This) "knowledge" puffs up...; and not knowledge puffs up... There is a significant difference. 

The Apostle Paul is not against knowledge. He is not belittling education and understanding. As a matter of fact, Paul most certainly had an incredible intellect. He was in line to be High Priest of Israel and had an incredible grasp of the Old Testament. He confounded Greek philosophers with his wise arguments. And at one point, was even accused by a king of being driven mad by his "great learning."

Scripture repeatedly states that God's desire is that we have wisdom, understanding and knowledge. He is the author of all of the above.

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding...     

-- Proverbs 2:6

Here is the point: Arrogance is a disease. It is a sickness of the soul. And it is an infection that affects every relationship. (Chosen ignorance is also a disease - and often a religious one. But that is for another post.)

Arrogance is self-serving / Love serves others

Arrogance stands alone / Love exists in community

Arrogance tears down / Love builds up

Arrogance leads to failure / Love always wins

Given time, the arrogant person will prove to be the smartest in the room - because he will be alone. 

God, help me to be humble and to love...

For now...

D