'Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us that we should be called the sons of God.'
These words from that old tune came back to me today as I was reading 1 John chapter 3. The NIV reads "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!"
In his book titled 'Be Real' Warren Wiersbe highlights the importance of this verse by linking it back to the passage in Ephesians that says that while we were still his enemies, God, through Christ Jesus, brought us near himself (Eph 2:12-13).
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Friday, July 6, 2012
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Forgiveness
Philemon
I just noticed that I had to revise the last day of the reading plan to ensure that I indeed read the whole bible in the 9 months. So today's reading included Esther 7-10, Proverbs 17, Philemon (the whole book), and Luke 20:9-26. That's it! We have finished the journey!
I would just like to comment briefly on Paul's letter to Philemon. Paul requested that Philemon welcome back a runaway slave who had become a Christian while he was away from Philemon. The outcome isn't clear, as we are only privy to Paul's request, not Philemon's response. However, we know the right response - welcome back the one who wronged you with open arms, especially since Onesimus (the runaway slave) was repentant. We must extend grace to those who have wronged us, just as Jesus did. Even if they aren't requesting forgiveness, we should respond in grace and love. This may have been a tough ask for Philemon, and for us, and we'll have to rely on God's strength to help us make that move. Just remember though, it can be done!
Proverbs
Just a side note on Proverbs 17:17, which says "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." I never saw the connection between the two parts of the verse before, but now I have realized something. When it says that a friend loves at all times, there should be a focus on the fact that a good friend is with you not only in the good times, but also in the bad. Since a brother is "born for adversity" that means that the brother will be with you in troubled times, like a friend is. I'm not sure why I didn't clue in to this before now, but there you go. It pays to re-read your bible!
I just noticed that I had to revise the last day of the reading plan to ensure that I indeed read the whole bible in the 9 months. So today's reading included Esther 7-10, Proverbs 17, Philemon (the whole book), and Luke 20:9-26. That's it! We have finished the journey!
I would just like to comment briefly on Paul's letter to Philemon. Paul requested that Philemon welcome back a runaway slave who had become a Christian while he was away from Philemon. The outcome isn't clear, as we are only privy to Paul's request, not Philemon's response. However, we know the right response - welcome back the one who wronged you with open arms, especially since Onesimus (the runaway slave) was repentant. We must extend grace to those who have wronged us, just as Jesus did. Even if they aren't requesting forgiveness, we should respond in grace and love. This may have been a tough ask for Philemon, and for us, and we'll have to rely on God's strength to help us make that move. Just remember though, it can be done!
Proverbs
Just a side note on Proverbs 17:17, which says "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." I never saw the connection between the two parts of the verse before, but now I have realized something. When it says that a friend loves at all times, there should be a focus on the fact that a good friend is with you not only in the good times, but also in the bad. Since a brother is "born for adversity" that means that the brother will be with you in troubled times, like a friend is. I'm not sure why I didn't clue in to this before now, but there you go. It pays to re-read your bible!
Friday, June 10, 2011
God, the blessed and only Ruler
1 Timothy 6:11-16
What an exhortation!
"But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen."
That last verse there about God living in unapproachable light, and no one seeing Him - it is yet another great reminder of how full of glory He is.
What an exhortation!
"But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen."
That last verse there about God living in unapproachable light, and no one seeing Him - it is yet another great reminder of how full of glory He is.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Shortest Psalm
Psalms
Since this is the shortest psalm in the bible, I figured it could have the honour of being posted for today's reading.
Psalm 117:
Since this is the shortest psalm in the bible, I figured it could have the honour of being posted for today's reading.
Psalm 117:
Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.
It certainly has an uplifting message, doesn't it?
Friday, March 11, 2011
The Lord's favour
Psalm 85
This Psalm reminded me of the compassionate, forgiving, and loving nature of God. I was still thinking about yesterday's post on trust, and so this psalm seemed to say to me that God does deserve our trust for all the great things he has done. More than that, even when we don't rely fully on him, he will still forgive us for our folly and restore us to his fellowship. Here are the verses that speak to this issue in particular. Feel free to look up the rest of the psalm.
This Psalm reminded me of the compassionate, forgiving, and loving nature of God. I was still thinking about yesterday's post on trust, and so this psalm seemed to say to me that God does deserve our trust for all the great things he has done. More than that, even when we don't rely fully on him, he will still forgive us for our folly and restore us to his fellowship. Here are the verses that speak to this issue in particular. Feel free to look up the rest of the psalm.
Psalm 85:1-3 - You showed favor to your land, O Lord; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger.
Friday, February 4, 2011
The greatest commandment
Matthew
22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Jesus's wisdom is so impressive. Today, I just want to highlight his
response to the Pharisees regarding the most important law. He summed
it up so nicely, and it seems so obvious, but would we have known this
to be the truth if it wasn't recorded for us?
Thursday, February 3, 2011
A broken and contrite heart
Key verses
Matthew 22:21 - "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
Romans 3:21-24 - But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Psalms
Psalm 51 is another psalm that makes me read through it twice. It is so comforting to see that even after grievous sin we can approach God, humble at heart, and know that he will respond in grace and mercy. God's unfailing love and great compassion, shown through Jesus's death on the cross, will come through for us time and again, if we come with a broken spirit and contrite heart.
Matthew 22:21 - "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
Romans 3:21-24 - But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Psalms
Psalm 51 is another psalm that makes me read through it twice. It is so comforting to see that even after grievous sin we can approach God, humble at heart, and know that he will respond in grace and mercy. God's unfailing love and great compassion, shown through Jesus's death on the cross, will come through for us time and again, if we come with a broken spirit and contrite heart.
Friday, January 14, 2011
The fear of the Lord
Some ramblings on the love and fear of God:
We all know that God is love. Did the Israelites know that? God is unchanging, the same yesterday, today, and forever. But his dealings with the Israelites were through a bunch of laws. He said he would show love to a thousand generations of those who loved him, and punish only to the third and fourth generations of those who did wrong, which he did. But could they really see that God was love, even in the midst of the law, and that God was interested in changing their hearts, and not just in governing their way of life?
I've heard that Jews don't see the law as a burden, so maybe as an outsider looking in I'm misunderstanding this, but Jesus seems to have made God's heart for relationship a lot clearer through the New Testament than God did in the Old Testament.
My main point is this: I'd like to come to be a better understanding of a full dimensional God who is understood in the New Testament reality, but through the lens of the Old Testament.
We all know that God is love. Did the Israelites know that? God is unchanging, the same yesterday, today, and forever. But his dealings with the Israelites were through a bunch of laws. He said he would show love to a thousand generations of those who loved him, and punish only to the third and fourth generations of those who did wrong, which he did. But could they really see that God was love, even in the midst of the law, and that God was interested in changing their hearts, and not just in governing their way of life?
I've heard that Jews don't see the law as a burden, so maybe as an outsider looking in I'm misunderstanding this, but Jesus seems to have made God's heart for relationship a lot clearer through the New Testament than God did in the Old Testament.
My main point is this: I'd like to come to be a better understanding of a full dimensional God who is understood in the New Testament reality, but through the lens of the Old Testament.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Loving our enemies
Genesis
It's interesting to see how the twelve tribes of Israel came about because two sisters were fighting over who got to sleep with their shared husband. What a different culture! With a more modern worldview, we can look at this story and say that it is clearly a lesson to not have two sisters marry the same man. However, if we put ourselves in ancient Canaanite/Israelite history, we would find that this situation is more common than not.
As for Jacob being deceived by Laban, one can't feel too sorry for him, as he himself was a great deceiver (cf. Esau (twice!) and Laban's sheep).
Matthew
I've often wondered what was meant by Matthew 5:48 - "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Read alone, it suggests that we need to attain perfection, not having any sin. Read in context, "perfect" seems to suggest something a little more attainable (see the commentaries at http://bible.cc/matthew/5-48.htm). Jesus was just talking about loving our enemies, not just our neighbours. Just as God loves all people, and acts with a certain wholeness and consistency, so we must also be whole, complete, and consistent in our attitude, mirroring that of God the Father as represented through Jesus.
It's interesting to see how the twelve tribes of Israel came about because two sisters were fighting over who got to sleep with their shared husband. What a different culture! With a more modern worldview, we can look at this story and say that it is clearly a lesson to not have two sisters marry the same man. However, if we put ourselves in ancient Canaanite/Israelite history, we would find that this situation is more common than not.
As for Jacob being deceived by Laban, one can't feel too sorry for him, as he himself was a great deceiver (cf. Esau (twice!) and Laban's sheep).
Matthew
I've often wondered what was meant by Matthew 5:48 - "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Read alone, it suggests that we need to attain perfection, not having any sin. Read in context, "perfect" seems to suggest something a little more attainable (see the commentaries at http://bible.cc/matthew/5-48.htm). Jesus was just talking about loving our enemies, not just our neighbours. Just as God loves all people, and acts with a certain wholeness and consistency, so we must also be whole, complete, and consistent in our attitude, mirroring that of God the Father as represented through Jesus.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Renewal
After finishing Amos, I realized that the prophets speak out about a lot of doom and gloom, but they usually end in restoration and renewal for the people of God. God's love for us is so strong that he will care for us and restore us even after we commit grievous sins. While a lot of the prophets' audiences seemed to be stuck on the imminent judgment, we can look back and see how God worked through that to restore Israel time and again. God truly does have unconditional love for his people.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
God of love
Today's reading in John was interesting. Here is what I am referring to (John 16:25-28):
“Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
I decided to read about this passage in a commentary, one by William Barclay. He mentioned that this passage is important because it shows that Jesus was not the one who turned God into a God of love. Jesus is telling his disciples that they will be able to ask in his name because God himself loves them. God in the Old Testament seems to not be so loving, with all the judgment and punishments meted out on the Israelites. When Jesus came, it seemed like he changed God. However, Jesus didn't just show God's love after he died, his entire life on earth was a testimony to the fact that God loves us. Jesus wasn't changing God's attitude, he was changing ours, so that we would understand just how much God loves his people. All of God's actions toward us were in love.
“Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
I decided to read about this passage in a commentary, one by William Barclay. He mentioned that this passage is important because it shows that Jesus was not the one who turned God into a God of love. Jesus is telling his disciples that they will be able to ask in his name because God himself loves them. God in the Old Testament seems to not be so loving, with all the judgment and punishments meted out on the Israelites. When Jesus came, it seemed like he changed God. However, Jesus didn't just show God's love after he died, his entire life on earth was a testimony to the fact that God loves us. Jesus wasn't changing God's attitude, he was changing ours, so that we would understand just how much God loves his people. All of God's actions toward us were in love.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Love drives out fear
I learned something today, or at least I was reminded - if you're in a loving relationship, there is no need to fear. Love involves trust, and if you love someone, you won't be malicious or hateful toward him, and he won't have any reason to fear you. God loves us; why should we fear him? Of course, there is a holy fear and awe toward God as master of the universe, but there is no reason to fear him.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Love again!
1 John
I am going to carry on from yesterday's theme in 1 John - love. I must admit, I didn't do the best job at putting 3:18 into action today. It's easy enough to love a spouse or close friend, but we're called to do more than love those we like. So today's application is to do better than we did before. That's my prayer for myself and you - to show God's love to whomever I/you meet. Since we profess to believe in God, we need to speak from his viewpoint, and that's love for all.
I am going to carry on from yesterday's theme in 1 John - love. I must admit, I didn't do the best job at putting 3:18 into action today. It's easy enough to love a spouse or close friend, but we're called to do more than love those we like. So today's application is to do better than we did before. That's my prayer for myself and you - to show God's love to whomever I/you meet. Since we profess to believe in God, we need to speak from his viewpoint, and that's love for all.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Love and life
Key verses
John 11:25-26 - Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."
1 John
Here is a great call to action: Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth (1 John 3:18). My challenge to you (and myself) is to go out and put this verse into action. Look around and ask, how can I show love in a tangible way to someone today? It's interesting how love passes us from death to life. Believing in Jesus means believing in the love he showed us. That's love - he died so we would live. We went from death to life.
We were meant for relationships, and love is at the heart of any relationship. Let's build on that!
John 11:25-26 - Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."
1 John
Here is a great call to action: Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth (1 John 3:18). My challenge to you (and myself) is to go out and put this verse into action. Look around and ask, how can I show love in a tangible way to someone today? It's interesting how love passes us from death to life. Believing in Jesus means believing in the love he showed us. That's love - he died so we would live. We went from death to life.
We were meant for relationships, and love is at the heart of any relationship. Let's build on that!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
You ol' dry bones
Key verse
1 John 3:1 - How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
Job 13:15 seems to have some very different translations. The NIV says "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face." This version seems to suggest that even though God has Job suffer bad times, Job will still trust that God has something better in store, although he will ask God why. The NIV also includes a footnote, however, that says another way to read the verse is "He will surely slay me; I have no hope - yet I will surely defend my ways to his face." This different version suggests that even though Job has no hope because God will definitely kill (if this is the proper translation of slay) him, Job is still going to ask God why.
In some ways, these two translations are similar, but the first seems to be more trusting in God than the other.
EzekielI like this passage about the old dry bones, because it reminds me of a song I once heard.
Here are the lyrics from an Internet site.
It was down in boneyard circuit
There was no way to shirk it,
A Preacher named Ezekiel was sent
he landed at the station
and saw the situation
a valley of dry bones was his audience
by way of a suggestion
the Lord asked him a question
can these dry bones be raised up from the dead?
The spirit was beseeching
the preacher went to preaching
and from the pulpit this is what he said
Oh you old dry bones,
hear the words of the Lord
Rise upon your feet
his goodness to repeat
lay aside your dry profession
get a holy Ghost possession
you have been bleaching in the desert long enough!
1 John 3:1 - How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
Job 13:15 seems to have some very different translations. The NIV says "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face." This version seems to suggest that even though God has Job suffer bad times, Job will still trust that God has something better in store, although he will ask God why. The NIV also includes a footnote, however, that says another way to read the verse is "He will surely slay me; I have no hope - yet I will surely defend my ways to his face." This different version suggests that even though Job has no hope because God will definitely kill (if this is the proper translation of slay) him, Job is still going to ask God why.
In some ways, these two translations are similar, but the first seems to be more trusting in God than the other.
EzekielI like this passage about the old dry bones, because it reminds me of a song I once heard.
Here are the lyrics from an Internet site.
It was down in boneyard circuit
There was no way to shirk it,
A Preacher named Ezekiel was sent
he landed at the station
and saw the situation
a valley of dry bones was his audience
by way of a suggestion
the Lord asked him a question
can these dry bones be raised up from the dead?
The spirit was beseeching
the preacher went to preaching
and from the pulpit this is what he said
Oh you old dry bones,
hear the words of the Lord
Rise upon your feet
his goodness to repeat
lay aside your dry profession
get a holy Ghost possession
you have been bleaching in the desert long enough!
Monday, October 25, 2010
God's love for thousands
Hefty reading today! I must admit, I edited the reading plan slightly, so today's reading in Jeremiah is 32-36, then 37-39, 40-43, 44-46, 47-49, and then we're back on track.
Depending on the way you read Jeremiah 32:18, you might think, well, that's not right that God punishes the children for the sins of the father; God doesn't seem so nice. But, if you take another look at the verse, you can see that, indeed, God is love. Sure, he may punish two generations for sins, but he will extend his love to thousands! His love goes further than his discipline, although his discipline, as unpleasant as it is, shows his love as well.
Depending on the way you read Jeremiah 32:18, you might think, well, that's not right that God punishes the children for the sins of the father; God doesn't seem so nice. But, if you take another look at the verse, you can see that, indeed, God is love. Sure, he may punish two generations for sins, but he will extend his love to thousands! His love goes further than his discipline, although his discipline, as unpleasant as it is, shows his love as well.
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