Agape When I think about God telling me to view the world around me as He does, I can't help but wonder just how, exactly, does God see things? Afterall, how can I, a mere human being, possibly conceive with even a fraction of the understanding of the Almighty God? Fortunately, though, I've come to discover that it's not a knowledge God is leading me towards, but more an attitude.
"God is Love." We say it over, and over again, but do we really understand it? Can we reason what it means to love everyone? If you're honest, you'll stop and realize just what a tall order that really is. Afterall, there's no shortage of less-than-lovable people in the world. I daresay I would only have to run off a few names or factions, and have people screaming at me at the very concept of loving people capable of such horrible things. In the interest of not inciting war, I'll trust that we can all find someone in our lives we don't want to love.
Now, of course, when I say "love everyone", I'm not trying to bring back the 60's. One of the strengths I find in studying other languages, is finding situations where more than one word is used where the same word would be in English. The "definition of love" has been a controversial subject for as long as I've thought about it, and I think that is mostly because the various aspects of love are so distinct, they really deserve more than one title. The Hebrew word for this love is agape, which roughly translated means a general love for all mankind.
Note I didn't say a general liking of anyone, but a love for everyone. Webster's dictionary defines love in four different ways, including: To hold dear; To feel a lover's passion, devotion, or tenderness; To like or desire actively; and To thrive in. By these meanings, we're not just supposed to get along with everyone around us, but actually cherish them. Be glad for them. Thrive in the knowledge of them and their well-being. Be devoted and tender. Actively seek their acceptance and companionship.
What's it all mean? The guy who cut you off this morning, hope he has a good day. When the big corporation lays you off, pray for its success. If someone should wrong you, pray for their salvation. Hope for and strive to help those suffering around you, despite how mean, bitter, or selfish they may be towards you.
If I'm getting odd looks, I'm getting the point across. Believe it or not, though, that's God's command to us by our definition of love. His definition is even more in-depth.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. Is is not rude, it is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.."
1 Corinthians 13:1-7
Now, just a minute. There is no way you can expect me to do all those things with all those #@$%@!'s out there! With all the suffering they cause, all the horrible things they do, and how they treat me, even, should I so much as dare to say hello?? Nut uh. You're dreaming.
Actually, I'm qutie serious. Still, it's a good argument. How can I love people like that? How can I wish good things on those who delight in evil, are proud, boastful, rejoice in deceit, and are the living embodiment of everything love is not? Well, there are three passages God directed me to when I asked this very same question.
"The teachers of the law and Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before he group and said to Jesus, 'Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adulter. In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?' ... When they kept on questioning him, Jesus straightened up and said, 'If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.'"
John 8:3-5,7
God reminded me that it's not my place to judge. Not only am I not without my own flaws and wrong-doings, but I also don't know the whole story. I don't know the hearts and motives of those around me, or what drives them to such acts. Mostly, though, I have no power of my own to save or condemn them, and should have no place in my heart to try. That sole gift is from God's grace alone.
"See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fier, will he not much more clothe you"
Matthew 6:28-30
This passage, while generally considered as part of God reminding us not to worry, also struck something else in me. Jesus speaks graciously of the beauty in a flower, but then dismisses its worth is considered to us. As beautiful and gentle as He is with these temporary, frivilous decorations that will all wither away, much more he says when He promises to care for us. Clearly, we see God's love showing in the worth of His children, and his active promise to care for us.
"But God demonstrates His love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8
After these words here, I can't argue anymore. The whole paragraph speaks of how few would care to die for a wicked man, but some might just be inclined to die for a good one. Even still, Jesus died for everyone while we were wicked. Bad things were happening that very moment! The same people who beat him, whipped him, mocked him, drove spikes through his body, slammed his hanging form into the ground... he endured every agonizing moment of it all for his love for them.
Well, I'm sorry, Tom, but I'm not God. When someone hurts me or someone I care about, I want them to hurt back. I just don't have that kind of love in me.
You're right. Neither do I. That's exactly what I said, too. Lord, this....... this just can't be done by human beings! I like to think myself a pretty caring person, but here God is instructing me to be moreso. Still, he reminds me that his love is in me, and if I'm willing, his love will show through me, so that others who aren't so used to it will be drawn to him.
Father, help me to love like you do. Quiet my temper, silence my selfish desires, keep me from judging and dividing the 'good people' from the 'bad people,' because I know in your sight we are all your children, and you hold us all just as dearly. Lord, let my life be a mirror of your love. Let the impossibility of it astound those around me, so much that they're drawn to discover what secret it is that makes such a man. Through it all, let all the glory and praise be yours, forever. Amen.
"God is Love." We say it over, and over again, but do we really understand it? Can we reason what it means to love everyone? If you're honest, you'll stop and realize just what a tall order that really is. Afterall, there's no shortage of less-than-lovable people in the world. I daresay I would only have to run off a few names or factions, and have people screaming at me at the very concept of loving people capable of such horrible things. In the interest of not inciting war, I'll trust that we can all find someone in our lives we don't want to love.
Now, of course, when I say "love everyone", I'm not trying to bring back the 60's. One of the strengths I find in studying other languages, is finding situations where more than one word is used where the same word would be in English. The "definition of love" has been a controversial subject for as long as I've thought about it, and I think that is mostly because the various aspects of love are so distinct, they really deserve more than one title. The Hebrew word for this love is agape, which roughly translated means a general love for all mankind.
Note I didn't say a general liking of anyone, but a love for everyone. Webster's dictionary defines love in four different ways, including: To hold dear; To feel a lover's passion, devotion, or tenderness; To like or desire actively; and To thrive in. By these meanings, we're not just supposed to get along with everyone around us, but actually cherish them. Be glad for them. Thrive in the knowledge of them and their well-being. Be devoted and tender. Actively seek their acceptance and companionship.
What's it all mean? The guy who cut you off this morning, hope he has a good day. When the big corporation lays you off, pray for its success. If someone should wrong you, pray for their salvation. Hope for and strive to help those suffering around you, despite how mean, bitter, or selfish they may be towards you.
If I'm getting odd looks, I'm getting the point across. Believe it or not, though, that's God's command to us by our definition of love. His definition is even more in-depth.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. Is is not rude, it is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.."
1 Corinthians 13:1-7
Now, just a minute. There is no way you can expect me to do all those things with all those #@$%@!'s out there! With all the suffering they cause, all the horrible things they do, and how they treat me, even, should I so much as dare to say hello?? Nut uh. You're dreaming.
Actually, I'm qutie serious. Still, it's a good argument. How can I love people like that? How can I wish good things on those who delight in evil, are proud, boastful, rejoice in deceit, and are the living embodiment of everything love is not? Well, there are three passages God directed me to when I asked this very same question.
"The teachers of the law and Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before he group and said to Jesus, 'Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adulter. In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?' ... When they kept on questioning him, Jesus straightened up and said, 'If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.'"
John 8:3-5,7
God reminded me that it's not my place to judge. Not only am I not without my own flaws and wrong-doings, but I also don't know the whole story. I don't know the hearts and motives of those around me, or what drives them to such acts. Mostly, though, I have no power of my own to save or condemn them, and should have no place in my heart to try. That sole gift is from God's grace alone.
"See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fier, will he not much more clothe you"
Matthew 6:28-30
This passage, while generally considered as part of God reminding us not to worry, also struck something else in me. Jesus speaks graciously of the beauty in a flower, but then dismisses its worth is considered to us. As beautiful and gentle as He is with these temporary, frivilous decorations that will all wither away, much more he says when He promises to care for us. Clearly, we see God's love showing in the worth of His children, and his active promise to care for us.
"But God demonstrates His love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8
After these words here, I can't argue anymore. The whole paragraph speaks of how few would care to die for a wicked man, but some might just be inclined to die for a good one. Even still, Jesus died for everyone while we were wicked. Bad things were happening that very moment! The same people who beat him, whipped him, mocked him, drove spikes through his body, slammed his hanging form into the ground... he endured every agonizing moment of it all for his love for them.
Well, I'm sorry, Tom, but I'm not God. When someone hurts me or someone I care about, I want them to hurt back. I just don't have that kind of love in me.
You're right. Neither do I. That's exactly what I said, too. Lord, this....... this just can't be done by human beings! I like to think myself a pretty caring person, but here God is instructing me to be moreso. Still, he reminds me that his love is in me, and if I'm willing, his love will show through me, so that others who aren't so used to it will be drawn to him.
Father, help me to love like you do. Quiet my temper, silence my selfish desires, keep me from judging and dividing the 'good people' from the 'bad people,' because I know in your sight we are all your children, and you hold us all just as dearly. Lord, let my life be a mirror of your love. Let the impossibility of it astound those around me, so much that they're drawn to discover what secret it is that makes such a man. Through it all, let all the glory and praise be yours, forever. Amen.
posted by Tom at
5:41 AM
