Love is Job #1

Scripture is filled with stories of miracles, healings, and supernatural power of all sorts. Yet, as amazing, dynamic, and powerful as these stories are, it is not Scriptures, and, therefore, God’s — Father, Son, and Spirit — first, and foremost, focus and priority.

 

Love is God’s foremost focus, and priority. Scripture call love the greatest. It says love should be practiced above all, and first of all. Supernatural power is temporary; love is eternal. Scripture says that God has power. That he does miracles. But it says that God is love. Scripture says that prophecy, and miracles, are worthless, and meaningless, unless they are expressed through, and undergirded by, love.

 

Paul prays for one church’s love. He has already praised God, and them, for their love. No, he prays for its increase … toward one another, and all people.

 

Love require a change in one’s heart. It becomes stronger. Its motives, priorities, and responses, become more godly, holy, and blameless.

 

If we are taking on God’s nature more as we grow, we must take on love.

Trust God's Way

There is a passage of Scripture that I will paraphrase:

- trust God

- don't rely on what you know

- obey him always

- knowing where to go, and what to do, will be easy

Many describe this passage as their favorite. They try to follow it, and use it, as their motto for living. And I am not saying they don't. I am commenting on the fact that most, maybe all followers of Jesus trust God, when times are good. But when times are difficult, or confusing, they tend to rely on what they know.

The urge to follow "human wisdom" gets especially strong when God instructs us to do something crazy. Like love your enemies, forgive those who hurt you, or pray blessing for those who persecute you.

In a world, that is becoming increasingly against God, Jesus, the Spirit, the gospel, and God's family, it is becoming increasingly more important for God's family to follow God more closely. Christian leaders have, in the past, made calls for greater political activism. I am not suggesting we shouldn't vote, or hold million man marches. But maybe those who trust God should be organizing prayer meetings, that: invite God's Spirit into our political processes, walk in the lives of our leaders, even our enemies), and pray for love to those inclined to gun violence.

Maybe God's family needs to seek ways to love the homeless, those seeking abortions, and minorities of all sorts.

And maybe instead of filtering money through Christian para-church organizations, as good as they may be, we need to be like Jesus and hug lepers, mad men, and prostitutes. In other words, maybe each one of us needs to get our hands dirty in some way.

Jesus, who was without sin, who trusted God the most, whose prayers reached God the most, who loved best, was slandered, reviled, and accused. Can we expect less?

Paul considered floggings, stoning, prison, and shipwrecks as "momentary light affliction." Maybe we need an attitude adjustment.

Prayer: Important for the Mission

In many of his letters, Paul urges God's family to pursue prayer. To be persistent, tenacious, and steadfast.

Prayer expresses our dependence on God. It is a cry for help, because in the roots of where the greatest changes are needed -- the hearts of men -- people are unable to act, or speak, and have any real effect. It is Father who has power over hearts. And we need to invite him into situations. He could kick down any door he wished, but he waits for an invitation. Our prayers become open doors. We give room for him to act.

Jesus told us to pray for workers in the harvest. Paul asked for prayer for opportunities to clearly proclaim the gospel. We are God's partners in his mission. And he does want our participation in gospel proclamation. But, as important as our open mouths, it is equally important to focus our hearts for change, softening, and openness, in other's hearts. It is important to pray for God's preparation for people to receive, and God's children to recognize, and act, on opportunities.

God's Kingdom is expanding, and taking ground. We need the Billy Graham's, Luis Palau's, and Reinhard Bonnke's of the world. But we also need millions, who like Jesus, take time to speak to the woman at the well.

And we need millions, who will daily open  door to allow God's Spirit to move freely, powerfully, in people's hearts. We need them to invite God's presence into their families, the work places, their cities, and the masses of China, and India.

Embracing God's Will ... and Change

Many of Paul's letters begin with thanksgivings, and praise, for God's work in people's lives, and their growth. Giving allegiance to Jesus always involves change. There is a change in people's view of Jesus. There is a change in people's view of life, and its expectations, conduct, and end results.

The biggest factor in transformation, of someone following Jesus, is the literal presence of God in their lives. The Holy Spirit makes his home in the inner man of all God's children. He is a constant guide, resource, teacher, and comforter.

Because God has given each person a different place in his Kingdom, he guides each one differently. But, as we are all his children, there are ways he guides us the same, to achieve the identical outcome. He wants all of his children:

• to walk in greater relationship with him ... including eternity with him becoming more real, more true.
• to believe, and trust, what he says more.
• to love him, his family, and those not in his family, more.

Part of following Jesus means embracing this change. It can be disrupting, difficult, and causing fear and anxiety. We don't know where it's going.

God's family generally acknowledges that God-led change is good. But because of the clamor, and din, of a multitude of voices, it is sometimes hard to hear that still, small voice of love, and truth. Cultivating the habit of listening prayer becomes a vital, necessary tool.

Out of a multitude of voices, there are some who want to stop God's family from acting as God's family. There are some in God's family, who want to maintain historic practices, so they don't want to change. There are some, who want to be obedient, but only hear half of what God says, so they only obey half.

This is the challenge of following Christ. To hear and obey, all God says. To move into the future, remain relevant, and stay true to God's eternal word.

And this was true of many churches in the first century. They grabbed hold of the gospel, a love relationship with Father, and a lifestyle that drew others to desire a relationship with Father, but also spoke to the moral rights and wrongs of their time, without compromising on living out faith, hope, and love.