Love Wins, Part 4
The basis of the love of God is goodness and mercy, for loving kindness and tender mercy are the nature of God himself. Unconditional love is to love the unloveable. This is the type of love whereby God loved us. For even while we were yet sinners, God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. We cannot fathom the depth of the love of God this side of heaven. In 1 Corinthians 13, we’re reminded that whatever we do, even if we give ourselves to be burned alive, if we do it without the love of God, it will be of no significance, it will profit us nothing whatsoever. The charity checklist says that charity, the love of God, suffers long and is kind; it does not glory in itself; it makes no parade. Love is never rude, never irritable, it is not easily provoked. Love thinks no evil of others; it keeps no record of wrongs. Love rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. It is always eager to believe the best. Charity, the love of God beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never fails.
Everything in this life will come to an end, including manifestations of the gift of the spirit. However love will always endure. Our exhortation is to grow up into the heart of Christ in us the hope of glory. For when I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man I put away childish things. Growing up into the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation will profit us not only in this life, but also in eternity.
Agape love is unselfish: It does not concentrate on its own well being. This truth flies in the face of our WIIFM (what’s in it for me) culture. Even so-called “churchinanity” is not immune from this insidious worldly doctrine. 1 Corinthians reminds us that the love of God is not about me. Ultimately it’s about Him. In him we live and move and have our being. However, the old man of the flesh is “heavily defended territory.” Only by the love of God can we conquer the God of self. Religion emphasizes the works of the flesh. Religion says that I can approach the throne of grace if I’m “good enough.” However, Jesus Christ said to the religious leaders, “in vain do they worship me, they draw near me with their lips but their heart is far from me.” They think that they can approach God in their own goodness and self righteousness. Religion says that I’m good and that I can really love only those who are “good” like me. The religious Pharisees of Jesus’ time would not “defile” themselves by associating with others whom they deemed were “not good enough.” Their “self righteousness” was the one thing that Jesus opposed the most. He called the Pharisees “whitewashed cemeteries.” They appear beautiful and carefully manicured on the outside, but inside they are rotten and full of dead men’s bones.
Jesus said that if you abide in me, you shall bear the fruit of Agape Love. The characteristic of agape love is that God, through Jesus Christ’s atonement accepts you just as you are. This is the essence of the goodness and loving kindness of our Heavenly Father. The heart of God is love and forgiveness. Jesus said that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the religious leaders, you have no part in the kingdom of Heaven. How then can our righteousness exceed their righteousness? We must shake off “religiosity,” man’s so-called “goodness” which is a form of godliness, in order to enter into the genuine love of God. The nature of “churchinanity” is to squeeze you into its mold of conformity. The opposing factions of “denominations” divide those who think that they’re following the truth of the Word. How do you tell which is the correct road, the right way. Jesus said that there are two trees, one that gives good fruit and one that gives evil fruit. There are two houses, one built on the sand and the other built on the rock. Jesus said, by their fruit you shall know them. What is the foundation of your faith? Upon which rock is the building of your faith founded? Jesus Christ himself is the chief cornerstone, the foundation of our faith.
Jesus did not call us to church, rather he called us unto himself. Jesus said “seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these other things shall be added unto you.” The apostle Paul said, “we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ and him crucified.” It’s not about us and our own righteousness, it’s about him. Jesus exhorted his disciples to be “narrow minded.” He said that I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the father but by me. There is a narrow way through the narrow gate. Jesus Christ himself is the narrow way.
Oswald Chambers said that the greatest hindrance to God is the “servants” of God. These “servants” are consumed by their “busy-ness” trying to approach the throne of grace. However, Jesus said, nothing you do is good enough. God is not concerned about your “performance.” He is however, concerned about your heart. For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.
Jesus Christ came and redeemed us so that we may receive his righteousness. For he who knew no sin became the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him. Jesus called us to love unconditionally according to the love of God in Christ in us. Our prayer is that we should “hunger and thirst for righteousness.” We need to cultivate an appetite to serve God from a heart of love.
According to the prayer of St. Francis,
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.
According to John 13:34-35, A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Do you say, “I love you Lord?” The key to loving God is to love God’s people. Jesus Christ said, “in that ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren you have done it unto me.”
May God richly bless you,
Your brother in Christ,
Michael