There are many that want to define God's love, but not all are correct.
Some would say that the love of God is never to confront issues. These are the, "don't judge me" types.
Others say they are walking in God's love and say they love you, but their actions don't prove it. Their actions, actually, contradict their professed love. They don't keep their word, etc.
So, I have been thinking a lot lately about what God's love is really all about.
The verses that come to mind are John 3:16, Romans 5:8, and I John 4:9 - all talking about God's love for us and His ACTION that proves it.
This makes me think of James 2:14-17. Faith without works is dead. I say love without action is false love.
I heard a great definition of truth--when the word and the deed become one. I love that. God promised to send His Son and He did it. The deed proved His word. His action proved His love for us. So for love to be true, it must be a joining of word and deed.
Jesus didn't come into this earth and start going around telling everyone how much He loved them. No, He served them--He healed, He cast out demons, He taught, He fed.
Jesus did tell His disciples of the Father's love for them, but never told them He loved them (as far as the Bible tells us). This speaks volumes to me. Obviously, people around us need to hear words of love, but much more important are our actions. Are they actions of love? Are we keeping our word? Do we operate with integrity?
On this same note, Jesus said that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments. Our obedience proves our love and faith (it is not, however, how we are justified). (John 14:15)
I love what Joe McGee has to say about saying the words, "I love you." He says, "that didn't cost you anything!" It's true, it costs nothing to say those words. It costs you to serve and show love by your actions.
I heard recently that to children, love is spelled T-I-M-E. I think that is the absolute truth. Your time costs you much, much more than just saying a few words about love to your kids.
So if we show love by our actions, should we ever confront?
Luke 17:3
Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
Read Matthew 16:23, Mark 8:33, and Luke 4:8 - all the same story of Jesus rebuking Peter, who unconsciously was allowing himself to be used by Satan. And John 2:15, where Jesus drove out the merchants from the temple--he used a whip!
We have to confront, out of a motive of love, to help bring to light issues that people need to change. All of our relationships in this world should be bringing all of us to a higher level of character. Our marriage should be helping us build character. Our children should motivate us to model character, as we teach them character. From time to time, we need to bring wrong character into the light, to say that certain actions are not acceptable, otherwise we are enablers, and will be held accountable.
So, this image of Christ as a pushover, always calm, nice guy, is wrong. Did you know God feels anger and feels hate?
Ecclesiastes 3
1 To everything there is a season,A time for every purpose under heaven:
2 A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
3 A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
4 A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
7 A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
8 A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.
What are your thoughts on this?
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3 comments:
Love it girl. You've got an awesome Bible study going on here.
Gwen
Good words. Lately I have been really focusing along the same lines: faith without works is dead. This detracts NOTHING from GRACE. I don't do the works to be approved of God, I do them because I am so thankful for what He has done for me. He has given me so much that I can give to others from my abundance. I was reading today from Matt. 25 (I think) about "whatever you do for the least of these, you do for Me."
Yes, the sheep and the goats passage. And yes, good words about grace. Makes me think of Eph. 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
But we can't stop there. Notice the next verse, verse 10 - For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. We are created for good works, we cannot forget this.
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