Romans 12:9-10 Love: True or False?

Romans 12:9-10 "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor."

Reading this passage, I was struck by a sudden thought. For you, perhaps, this is nothing new, but for me? Well, I can truly say that it floored me. This thought was “If Paul is writing to this church, exhorting them and encouraging them to have a genuine love, that means that good, strong, solid believers in that church had an ingenuine or a false love.” This astonished me. Paul was writing to the fine, upstanding citizens of the First Christian Church of Rome, a body of believers whose relationship with Christ he was deeply concerned about. He tells them that they can have a false love that here on Earth, to physical and fleshly eyes is indistinguishable from a genuine true love. This led me to think about what false love is, and here is what I came up with. False love is based off of something of this world. False loved is founded on “I have to do this” or “I am supposed to do this” rather than being an outflowing or overflowing from our personal relationship with Jesus and the joy He has given us.

Look at what Paul writes next “Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” To me, this is Paul clarifying what false love is. It is first of all evil and sinful. Secondly it comes from sinful, fleshly, and worldly desires. It is coming from external pressures such as trying to show how “Christian” you are to the believers around you. It comes from a desire for reciprocation, for perhaps even wanting the glory and the honor for yourself in being “such a great Christian and example.” This is wrong! We need to flee, to turn and run from anything like this. We need to see that anything that is not coming from a deep internal desire to love and honor God is coming from a deep internal desire to love and honor our self.

Paul reminds us that we must love each other with a brotherly love. Why? Because they are our siblings, not because we want or chose to love them, but because they are our siblings. Just like you can not choose your parents or your physical brothers and sisters, you can not choose your spiritual brothers and sisters. We are to love them unconditionally because of who they are and not what they are or what they mean to us. Just because I do not get along with my siblings all the time does not mean that I don't love them all the time. Our internal love for each other comes from the fact that by nature and birth we share the same parents. Likewise our internal love for other believers must stem from the very fact that they too are children and beloved of our Lord Almighty. They are beloved of our beloved, and thus we can show our thanks and honor for Jesus in how we honor and treat each other.

Let our love for each other and for the lost be genuine, let it be sourced from our deep love of God, flowing as it should, from Him to each other. Let us remove the pride that holds us back from honoring each other – if Jesus could get on His hands and knees to wash the nasty, smelly, dirty feet of His disciples and followers, can we not do the same or even more? We should aim to look just as foolish and be just as unselfconscious as He in our showing of love and honor for each other!

Brother, let me be your servant
Let me be as Christ to you
Pray that I may have the grace
To let you be my servant, too

We are pilgrims on a journey
We are brothers on the road
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load

Luke 13:6-9 Our Lord's Gardener

Luke 13:6-9 “And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?' And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"”

Jesus loved to pull parables from nature. He truly appreciated and loved the handiwork of God! He pulled from nature because it was common to the people he spoke to. They knew it well and He could impart truths to them in this manner. The problem, then, for us is that we have not the knowledge or experience with nature and the references to it that the first century Jews had. We have little understanding and so we must dig and learn.

The gentle fig tree, ubiquitous around the world for its fruits, its shade, and its references in literature and culture abounds freely in the middle east. The fruit could be eaten or preserved, the seeds could be turned into oil, and the sap is turned into latex. The fig is used to relieve sore throats, or in poultices which help stunt the growth of tumours. The leaf can be used to help control diabetes and calcifications of the liver and kidneys. This plant was one of the “go-to” plants for it had something for everyone. The fig tree also began producing fruit its very first year, and would have two crops each year.

Now then, knowing a little bit more about the fig tree, can we see how a farmer would not want an unproductive tree taking the space that could be used to start a new tree?

Serving God, we often times can find ourselves in the position of the gardener, the vinedresser. The master will come to us and say, “This plant is not producing how I want it to. I would like you to remove it and start again!” We, who seek after and know the heart and desire of the master, our Lord sometimes must stand up and be contrary, we must push for another chance. Abraham bargained with the Lord for the lives of the people of Sodom (Genesis 18:22-33). He knew God and he walked with God. He knew that God desired each person to freely come to Him, and so for the sake of His nephew and for the sake of the lives of the people in Sodom that they might have some few more years to repent, Abraham said “Wait Lord!” and convinced the Lord to leave them be if there were but ten righteous people there. Moses as well argued with the Lord for the sake of the people. The Lord was about to destroy the nation of Israel after the golden calf and start anew with Moses, but Moses said “Wait Lord!” and convinced the Lord to hold off. (Exodus 32:9-14) and again after the rebellion of Korah, the Lord was wrathful with His people and sent a plague to kill them, and Moses stood up and said “Wait Lord” and sent Aaron to make atonement.(Numbers 16:45-48)

Like Abraham, like Moses, we - who are the vinedressers of the Lord, preparing and tending His garden here in this world – must sometimes say “Wait! Lord! Let me try once more! Maybe through further effort we may revive this instead of starting new!” Did you know that this pleases the Lord? Yes it does! He loves it when we seek after His heart so much that we are willing to desire differently than what He has said! It is so easy to accede and say “You are the Lord, your word is my command,” and obey unhesitatingly – and yes, there is a time for this as well. Yet, we must be willing to pursue the Glory of God so much that we disagree. However, we must seek His glory and not our own in this. That is part of what intercession is, saying “No, Lord, Wait! Let me try, please Lord! Let me pray for them and fertilize them with Your word, let me tend them and guard them and then if there is no result from my efforts, then, dearest Lord, have thine own way. First let me try!

There are people with whom we must try anew. They may be believers who show no fruit and we must make the effort to aid them in their growth. They may be non-believers who are dead set against the Lord and we must tend and nurture them, let them see the glory, the mercy, the gentleness, and the Love of our Lord in our own lives.

Perhaps we find ourselves having to intercede for a workplace, for a job site, for a boss, for a friend, for an enemy, for a leader, for a follower, for a family member, even sometime ourselves. We must be willing to say “Wait Lord, please, once more let me try!”

God has called us to minister to those around us, to be His gardeners in this world which He made. We need to truly make every effort to care for His garden and every single flower and seed in it.

Go work in My vineyard,” there’s plenty to do;
The harvest is great and the lab’rers are few;
There’s weeding and fencing, and clearing of roots,
And plowing, and sowing, and gath’ring of fruits.
There are foxes to take, there are wolves to destroy,
All ages and ranks I can fully employ;
I’ve sheep to be tended, and lambs to be fed;
The lost must be gathered, the weary ones led.

Go work, go work, go work in My vineyard; there’s plenty to do;
Go work, go work, the harvest is great, and the lab’rers are few.

John 9:1-3 Tragedy Questioned, Tragedy Answered

John 9:1-3 “As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

What happens when the world does not make sense, when things happen that we believe a loving God would never allow? Tragedy can strike in an instant, surprising both the expecting and unsuspecting. The world seems to be a darker, grimmer place when these things occur and we cry out “why!” We ask questions and wonder. Sometimes the answers are easy, for example, when a person is directly responsible. We know that God has given everyone the rule of their own life to use as they see fit. He has given them them freedom of choice despite the fact that others will also have to suffer the consequences of those choices for ill or for good. Yet what about tragedies such as the recent earthquake in Haiti? What about the tsunami a while back? The hurricanes that tore up the gulf coast? What then? Where are our pert Sunday-school answers? With no one to point and say “Their gift of free will caused this,” we have no option but to cry out to God for answers, much like the disciples asked Jesus about the blind man.

Jesus answered that it was that God's works might be displayed for all to see. The man was born blind, just so God could give sight. In Luke 13:1-5, there were people who asked Jesus about those who had been murdered by Pilate. Jesus answered them and said that things happen, sometimes it seems for no reason at all, and it must be a reminder to us that life is short and all will die, so do not waste even a minute to repent, do not wait because you may not have the next minute!

Yet we still cry out “But why? Why dear Lord, why do you allow these things to happen? Do you not see how confused we are? Please explain to us that we may know!” We ask question after question until we must be satisfied with the answer that the Lord gives. “My beloved child, 'where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me if you have understanding. Who determined it's measurements – surely you know!' (Job 38:4-5) Did you not know that your forefather, Adam, whom I had placed in stewardship over all the earth traded it away that he might know good and evil? Did you know that since that time man whom I have created has been in conflict with nature which I also created? Have you forgotten that I have redeemed you so that you, made in the very image of myself, may join me in this ministry of reconciliation? (2 Corinthians 5:18) I have redeemed you and soon, very soon, I shall redeem the world! You ask me why and you question me, my answer is this: you, my child are to be the tool with which I shall display my glory in this tragedy. My beloved, This occurred that you may be my light to the darkness, my voice calling out in the wilderness, and my hands to clean and rebuild out of the rubble.”

Will we heed God's reason? The call has gone out and though we may never in this life know why, we know what God wants of us. That must be answer enough.

I do not know why oft ’round me
My hopes all shattered seem to be;
God’s perfect plan I cannot see,
But some day I’ll understand.

I cannot tell the depth of love,
Which moves the Father’s heart above;
My faith to test, my love to prove,
But some day I’ll understand.

Tho’ trials come thro’ passing days,
My life will still be filled with praise;
For God will lead thro’ darkened ways,
But some day I’ll understand.

Romans 8:1 Freedom from Damnation

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Friends, believers, brothers and sisters – do you suffer as I do from the reminders of past sins and indiscretions? Have you found yourself time and time again facing memories and find yourself re-convicted of you wrong-doings? No matter what you try and despite your best efforts you are constantly fighting this never ending battle? You are not alone, for even if no one else suffers besides you and I still I am there to encourage you and you are there to encourage me with this statement of truth. “There is therefore now no condemnation...” What a wonderful statement! How relaxing it is to be reminded of this. Our debt is paid, our lives redeemed. The cost has been met, the battle won. “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57) further still “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith.” (1 John 5:4)

Indeed, our faith has brought us victory, yet how does faith provide freedom from judgment? By Faith, we have accepted the cost, yes, the cost. We have been judged and found wanting -we all have fallen short of God's glory and righteousness. The cost of our sin is death, but our sentence has already been carried out! The cost of our sin was carried on Calvary. Our condemnation was found on the cross, and with the Cross, it disappeared. We have been tried and sentenced once and justice has been served. Now we can no longer be condemned for what has already been atoned for! No longer are we bound, no longer condemned. With the payment of the price, with the sentence served, God has decided to forget our sins and we are free!

Oh that we would live our lives understanding this - that we are without condemnation for past sins! All to often we forget that we are new creations and find ourselves again in the habits of the old! We find ourselves reliving the memories of past problems and can not remove it from our minds, but we have no condemnation from Our Lord, and as far as the East is from the West, so far He has removed it from us! What lingers behind therefore we can use to remind us of our past lives and what we are saved from. What remains is nothing more than a feeble attempt to make us doubt our own freedom and to bind us back to the world. We are free and we must never allow ourselves to consciously fall again and cause our saviour, Jesus, such pain. So therefore, fellow sufferer, do not be discouraged but rather encouraged! There is...no condemnation for us who are in Christ!

My soul complete in Jesus stands!
It fears no more the law’s demands;
The smile of God is sweet within,
Where all before was guilt and sin.

My soul at rest in Jesus lives:
Accepts the peace His pardon gives;
Receives the grace His death secured,
And pleads the anguish He endured.

2 Corinthians 5:17 A New Year with a New/Old Resolve

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

With this New Year not more than one week past us, it seems appropriate to think about newness. Certainly many, if not all, of you have made your New Year's resolutions, some of which you will keep and some of which you will not. Newness surrounds us and encompasses us. The television advertisements show this, the popular magazines show this, and even every speech right now emphasizes this idea of new beginnings. The snow covered landscape outside shows death but the shelves of the local megastores are already looking at Easter.

We, this year and this day, stand on the spot where we must make a decision. We must reconsecrate ourselves to the Lord and remember that we are new creations in Him. Romans 6:6 tells us that our old self was crucified with Him, while verse 4 reminds us that “...just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

The Psalmist tells us that the world is new daily. Every day there are new wonders to see and new things to do. Each and every day, I am convinced, God places things in our life just for us to see and say “wow!” He is constantly blessing us in ways we cannot see and do not even notice because we have become so enamored with the things of the world again.

This is a battle we must constantly fight, between the old and the new, between our self and our Saviour. I fight this battle and you fight this battle. We need to remember that since we are all fighting, we can all help each other out. My old self and my new self face different issues now than last year, the same goes for you. Let me help you where I can, and you in turn can please help me. Maybe this year I deal with something that you dealt with before and vice versa.

This is a new year, a time for newness of life, of perspective, and refreshment of resolve. Let us therefore reconsecrate ourselves to His service. Let our new lives show new signs of His salvation and redemption! This year let us remind ourselves that we don't walk this road alone, but together! As Christ is there for me, He is there for You. You and I can aid each other as well. God willing, This year will be a year of many changes in each of us!

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training for holier work above.
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.