Jesus Wants Us to Know He Loves the Father

Scripture: I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. John 14:31 ESV

Observation: Jesus is teaching his disciples during his last night before the cross. He is sharing some important last minute instructions. In a section about the imminent departure of Christ, and the future arrival of the Spirit, Jesus makes this statement: I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Why is it important to Jesus that I know he loves the Father? Is this to give me comfort, like a kid going to sleep at night secure in the love his parents have for each other? Is it a model of life for me, that I am to obey God out of my love for him? Is it a hint at something mysterious and deep, a unique relationship Christ shares with his father? Is it a subtle reminder that I am not the center of things, that before I or humanity in general showed up, God was already in a perfect relationship with Jesus (and the Spirit)?

Application: I don’t know what this means. Jesus wants me to know that he obeys God, and he wants the world to know that he obeys God so we will know he loves him. I have to think more on this.

Prayer: Jesus, you thought this was important for me to know. Why? Will you help me hear from you? Will you show me why your love for the father is good for me to see and know?

Love Covers a Ton of Problems

Scripture: Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8 ESV)

Observation: When there is a foundation of earnest love, then the winds of offence are unable to shake the building.

Application: I am in the middle of a season of dealing with complaints over very minor issues. I have been getting a little weary of them, and my natural response is to say, “Billions are dying and going to hell and you are concerned about X?” But I know how unproductive that would be. I have also been gearing up to say, “Let me show you volumes of theological commentary to show you why this is this way.” But again, I am not sure that this is the right response.

Peter is jacking with my attitude with this simple plea: Love covers over a ton of problems. Maybe what I really need to ratchet up is not a fight, but love. Maybe I need to shower love and care. Oh, I still don’t want to compromise on what God is calling. But I can definitely love people. And maybe true genuine, earnest love will give a little wiggle room and cover over some offences.

Prayer: God, help love and shepherding be foremost on my mind when I am disagreed with. Give me humility and patience. I pray that PRC becomes a place of grace, where we so love each other that we can overlook a multitude of minor offences.

Do Sinners Want to Eat with Me?

Scripture: Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. Luke 15:1

Observation: Jesus was popular with the outcasts of society. While they might not have had the standing before men, they had standing before God, because they had ears to hear. This reminds me of the song “Surely God is with Us” by Rich Mullins, “The whores all seem to love him / and the drunks propose a toast.”
This was often an attack on Jesus, the company that he kept. The religious tightpants judged Jesus by the followers he attracted, grumbling that Jesus had dinner with the human refuse. But Jesus drew these people. They loved to listen to him. They loved to eat with him and laugh with him. Was it because they could more clearly see their need? Was it because they could tell he loved them? Was he so different from the religion of hate and judgment they grew up with? Did they know God was with them?

Application: Who do I draw near to me? Do I attract the already convinced, looking for comfort? Do I draw the deeply churched, looking at me to cover the checklist of theologies they hold dear? Do I draw the outcasts? Would a social outcast want to be around me because I love them and tell them stories about lost coins, recovered sheep, and returned sons? Do they want to eat with me? Do I want to eat with them?

Prayer: God, I am not sure what to pray. “Let me make friends with tax collectors and sinners”? I guess I am asking you to help me be more like Jesus. To welcome those who religion would not. To grow in me a genunine love for those who just want to hear. Help me lead our church to love the lost, but let it begin with me.

The Theology of Halloween Candy

Scripture: This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 1 Corinthians 8:1

Application: Paul is writing the Corinthians about the problem of people eating food that had been offered to idols. Many of the Corinthians felt this was no problem, since they “knew” these idols were pretend and so offering food to them meant nothing (8:4). While this is theologically correct, Paul’s point is that knowing the truth can lead to arrogance, while loving others builds up the body. Instead of bragging on their theology which permitted food offered to idols, they should consider the higher call of love for their newer brothers and sisters who might struggle with seeing people eat this food.

Observation: Knowing the truth can arrogantly lead me to be insensitive to others. I so passionately defend my freedom that I can hurt my brothers. My theology might be right, but my heart might not. I could win the battle and lose the war. Recently I was handing out leftover Halloween candy on Sunday morning for fun. One guy refused the candy, saying he did not eat Halloween candy on a sacred day. Now, I *knew* that theologically, there was no problem with the candy. It was just sugar. I found myself getting a little arrogant in my heart, wanting to get into the theology of evil candy. But in light of these verses, which better served God that morning: the knowledge that the candy was okay to eat, or the love of being gracious to another person’s beliefs?

Prayer: God, let me take care that my rights do not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. Let me look with love on those who take offense at my freedoms, instead of wanting to so quickly correct them.

Love Like He Really Lived

Scripture: Love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. 2 John 5-6

Observation: 10 commandments in the OT, Jesus reduces these to 2—Love God and Love others. Here, John highlights one. I’d think he would pick loving God, but here (as Jesus does in John 13:34) he highlights loving one another. But the love he is commanding has to be done in the context of truth (v. 3,4). What truth? The truth in verse 7: Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. So loving others in the reality of Christ’s coming is the highest expression of love.

Application: I love others, but not always in the reality of Christ’s coming. I love them like a nice guy would, or a good neighbor. I love them in my natural friendliness, but not with the power and truth of Christ’s coming. Does the coming of Christ change the way I love others? Or would I be just as friendly if Christ had never lived?

Prayer: God, help me in my relationships to go beyond friendliness, and love others like you would—in truth. Sometimes this might mean tough words or extra effort. In fact, there are two people in my life that need tough words and extra effort today. Help me to love them with your love-the love that came in the flesh and sacrificed. If I love you, I will love them.