Last but not least (1 Corinthians 13:13), love. As we anticipate the return of Jesus Christ we are called to love those around us as we are loved; to love those around us to sacrifice our own wants in order to meet their need. That is what the Father did when He sent His Son, Jesus, to be born in a stable in Bethlehem. God's Son died for us that we might be justified, was raised to new life that we might be sanctified, and ascended to heaven that we might be glorified. All of this because He loved us, and having been sanctified through that love we, too, are called to love.
"Restore us, God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved." (Psalm 80:7)
Weary of the Lord's discipline, the Psalmist cried out for help. And even then the Father was working out the plan of salvation, preparing to send His Son as a sacrifice for the sins of God's people. There is a hymn which reflects on what God has done for us in this way: "What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul?" When we were lost, when the pain of separation from God and the weight of our sin was too much to bear, the Lord stooped down and demonstrated "His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) What wondrous love is this!
"In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!" (Luke 1:42)
When Elizabeth greeted Mary her unborn child (John the Baptist) leapt in his mother's womb. Even before their respective births, the work of John and Jesus had been laid out by God. They would fulfill their respective purpose as messenger and Messiah according to the Lord's plan. The Lord has plans for us, as well, and knew us since before we were formed in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13). Our purpose was also set by God: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever (Psalm 86; Psalm 16:5-11). That purpose was set by a God who loves us, who knows us and longs to be known by us. As we love Him in return and study His ways, we fulfill the purpose for which we were created.
And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation." (Luke 1:46-50)
Mary glorified the Lord because He was "mindful" of her; because He was aware of her humility but also because the Lord had show her mercy because He loved and cared for her. The Lord is "mindful" of us as well (for good or ill), for He knows our thoughts and plans (Psalm 139:2; Psalm 94:11). And yet because He loves us He has shown us mercy through His Son, Jesus. Through His Son the Lord has done great things for us, and we are blessed. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort..." (2 Corinthians 1:3)
Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God.’” (Hebrews 10:5-7)
Jesus understood that "to obey is better than sacrifice." Here the author of Hebrews quotes Psalm 40, but could just as easily have referenced 1 Samuel 15:22. We can do all sorts of things to please God, and that is one of man's greatest faults: the temptation to "make" God love or even obey them by saying or doing the "right" things. That is religion, but what the Lord seeks is relationship. Perhaps that is why the two great commandments are simply calls to love the Lord with all that we are and have and to love our neighbor as ourselves. For in loving others we fulfill the commandments and reflect the love we have found in the Lord, thus giving Him glory.
"Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." (1 John 4:15-16)
To abide means to continue; to remain in no matter what circumstances may bring. Our love abides when we love others in spite of the way they treat us, whether they "love us back" or not. It is agape love we seek, for that is the love we have been shown by the Father. The Lord doesn't love us only when we love Him. The Lord doesn't love us only when we treat Him right. The Lord loves us despite all of those things, and His love remains even when we stumble and fall. When we show that love to those around us, we demonstrate that God's love abides or remains in us. In so doing we also demonstrate that God abides in us as well.
Good Sabbath! My prayer is that after we have gathered for worship today that "the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." See you in church!
Last but not least (1 Corinthians 13:13), love. As we anticipate the return of Jesus Christ we are called to love those around us as we are loved; to love those around us to sacrifice our own wants in order to meet their need. That is what the Father did when He sent His Son, Jesus, to be born in a stable in Bethlehem. God's Son died for us that we might be justified, was raised to new life that we might be sanctified, and ascended to heaven that we might be glorified. All of this because He loved us, and having been sanctified through that love we, too, are called to love.
ReplyDelete"Restore us, God Almighty;
ReplyDeletemake your face shine on us,
that we may be saved." (Psalm 80:7)
Weary of the Lord's discipline, the Psalmist cried out for help. And even then the Father was working out the plan of salvation, preparing to send His Son as a sacrifice for the sins of God's people. There is a hymn which reflects on what God has done for us in this way: "What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul?" When we were lost, when the pain of separation from God and the weight of our sin was too much to bear, the Lord stooped down and demonstrated "His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) What wondrous love is this!
"In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!" (Luke 1:42)
ReplyDeleteWhen Elizabeth greeted Mary her unborn child (John the Baptist) leapt in his mother's womb. Even before their respective births, the work of John and Jesus had been laid out by God. They would fulfill their respective purpose as messenger and Messiah according to the Lord's plan. The Lord has plans for us, as well, and knew us since before we were formed in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13). Our purpose was also set by God: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever (Psalm 86; Psalm 16:5-11). That purpose was set by a God who loves us, who knows us and longs to be known by us. As we love Him in return and study His ways, we fulfill the purpose for which we were created.
And Mary said:
ReplyDelete“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation."
(Luke 1:46-50)
Mary glorified the Lord because He was "mindful" of her; because He was aware of her humility but also because the Lord had show her mercy because He loved and cared for her. The Lord is "mindful" of us as well (for good or ill), for He knows our thoughts and plans (Psalm 139:2; Psalm 94:11). And yet because He loves us He has shown us mercy through His Son, Jesus. Through His Son the Lord has done great things for us, and we are blessed. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort..." (2 Corinthians 1:3)
Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
ReplyDelete“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, my God.’”
(Hebrews 10:5-7)
Jesus understood that "to obey is better than sacrifice." Here the author of Hebrews quotes Psalm 40, but could just as easily have referenced 1 Samuel 15:22. We can do all sorts of things to please God, and that is one of man's greatest faults: the temptation to "make" God love or even obey them by saying or doing the "right" things. That is religion, but what the Lord seeks is relationship. Perhaps that is why the two great commandments are simply calls to love the Lord with all that we are and have and to love our neighbor as ourselves. For in loving others we fulfill the commandments and reflect the love we have found in the Lord, thus giving Him glory.
"Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." (1 John 4:15-16)
ReplyDeleteTo abide means to continue; to remain in no matter what circumstances may bring. Our love abides when we love others in spite of the way they treat us, whether they "love us back" or not. It is agape love we seek, for that is the love we have been shown by the Father. The Lord doesn't love us only when we love Him. The Lord doesn't love us only when we treat Him right. The Lord loves us despite all of those things, and His love remains even when we stumble and fall. When we show that love to those around us, we demonstrate that God's love abides or remains in us. In so doing we also demonstrate that God abides in us as well.
Good Sabbath! My prayer is that after we have gathered for worship today that "the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." See you in church!
ReplyDelete