Don's Devotionals: Learning to love God

Philemon 4-5  Every time your name comes up in my prayers, I say, “Oh, thank you, God!” I keep hearing of the love and faith you have for the Master Jesus, which brims over to other believers. The Message

What a testimony!  Think of inspiring joy and thanksgiving in others because of our love and faith in Jesus – and that faith and love overflow to those around us.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if those who knew us could write such a declaration describing us?!!  The issue isn’t recognition but one of acknowledgement of the reality of Christ’s love worked out in our lives.

Who are the Christians in our lives who really are a blessing to us and to others?  Take a moment and see who comes to mind; whose lives fulfill such a description.  Does the mere thought of them bring a smile to your face and a heartfelt gratitude that they are in your life?

Now think of the joy if others think of us and react with an, “Oh, thank you God!”  Believe it or not, that is the destiny that the Lord has for each of us!  In John 13:35 Jesus describes how disciples that are truly His will be recognized,

“This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciple —when they see the love you have for each other.”

 It’s not by our verbal testimony – nor by attending meetings or being part of a recognizable “Christian” group.  It is by our love for one another that all will recognize His disciples. And the quality of this love is to be the highest imaginable! In the verse preceding this Jesus describes this love:  “In the same way I loved you, you love one another.”

Instead of being overwhelmed with the thought of “How on earth do we ever do that?” our response should be closer to giddy excitement that our God enables us to love each other just as Jesus did!  This is our destiny – we get to do this!  And when we do, others will know that we belong to Jesus.  It’s all about Him.

Hebrews 10:24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: KJV

I am reminded of our son Andrew and his gymnastic team at Washington Court Athletic Club.  There were 6 boys on the 9 year old team (Class IV) that became state champions in 1990: Andrew, Greg, Johnny, Kenny, Matt and Nick.  A 50 point all-around score (6 events) is a very good score at that level and all 6 of the boys were able to score near 50 and above in competition.

This meant that their practices were something special because they all were doing so many things right. They still had fun – they were 9 year old boys – but they were seeing and experiencing commitment to excellence in every practice.  They worked hard and watched one another do routines right.  They helped and encouraged each other.  They wanted to win as individuals but it was the team that was most important.

Today’s verse talks about us provoking one another to love and good works.  The NIV uses the phrase ‘spur one another on’.  The idea is the reverse of being jealous or depressed by seeing the efforts and accomplishments of our peers.  The efforts and accomplishments of those around us can provoke similar things in us. They are meant to encourage and motivate.  We can all experience excellence in the tasks we face.

When you or your friends need help with something, are there certain individuals who always seem to be there helping?  This is a practical expression of loving one another – to be there when needed.  It’s important to have our “eyes and ears” trained to recognize the opportunities when they arise – and to use the examples of those who have helped us to spur us on to help others.

This is what we need to see in our relationships with those around us.  It will encourage and challenge us.  It makes us all want to try harder and support one another.  It also provokes such a sense of gratitude that we get to be part of such a group.  The Lord has given us such a marvelous opportunity to bless one another, our community and most of all Him.  Our prayer is that we will be ever-faithful to the challenges He has placed before us.

Proverbs 25:11-12  The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, And a wise friend’s timely reprimand is like a gold ring slipped on your finger.  The Message

My wife Donna has this wonderful habit.  When the two of us disagree on something, she is right about 99% of the time.  I’m not certain but I suspect on those rare occasions when she is mistaken, that she’s just being kind and giving me an opportunity to be right.

A similar situation exists with our sons.  They are right and I am wrong a whole lot more often than seems reasonable – particularly when it comes to remembering things.  It’s not that it happens all the time – just frequently enough for them to remind me.  It typically results in smiles and laughter.  The feelings I experience are similar to those I have when they share stories of goofy things I have done over the years.

I realize this sounds pretty dumb but isn’t it better to discover that we are mistaken about something and accept correction than to go merrily on our way being wrong?  There are situations where it’s easier to accept correction like if we’re going the wrong direction to get somewhere or when an event is scheduled.

But what about when our beliefs, actions or attitudes in relationships are either wrong or less than they should be?  How positive (or negative) are our responses to someone informing us of that?  Is this an area where we have created (through our past responses) a big NO TRESPASSING sign?  Our family and friends know they go there at their own risk – sort of the only thing worse than me being wrong is you making the mistake of informing me of that fact.

It all boils down to being teachable and becoming a lover of the truth.  We are to have a spirit that wants to improve and is willing to hear and receive a timely word or some corrective input.  Think of how wonderful it is when something we share is graciously received.  Of course it always helps if it is graciously given, but the truth is the truth no matter how it’s given.

Being a lover of the truth means that we don’t reject the message because 1) we reject the messenger, nor 2) the manner in which the message was given.  We have our ears attuned to the Spirit and we cultivate an attitude that responds righteously to others input.  It’s amazing the things we can learn about ourselves and the helpful changes we can make when we do.

Mark 12:28–31  ²⁸ One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”  ²⁹“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  ³⁰Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ³¹The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no commandment greater than these.”

This portion of Mark describes a wonderful interaction between Jesus and a teacher of the law.  It is one of my favorites because this teacher recognized the truth.  This teacher is one of the very few leaders who interacted wisely with Jesus.  Jesus is asked to identify the most important commandment – which He does in quoting Deuteronomy 6:4,5.

Note how Jesus describes loving God.  Jesus describes it as loving Him with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.  This is something that you work at in accomplishing – not something that just happens.  It requires intentionality and is all consuming.  Also remember that this is the greatest commandment.  Nothing is greater.

Let’s look at it from a different perspective.  Consider loving God as an acquired skill.  It is defined by a whole set of beliefs, attitudes, motives and actions. It has standards all its own, and Scripture details what they are.  It involves learning the specific required skills in order to become good at it. In order to develop excellence, a great deal of practice is required.  We might think of it as being lifelong apprentices – we never stop learning how to do it better.

When we were born again we became new in Christ.  We were freed from the power of sin in order to become the people that God wants us to be.  Jesus’ answer describes the people we are to become – lovers of God.  But loving God goes beyond skill sets we acquire because it involves who we are as a person. Praise God, the Holy Spirit is the master craftsman, our personal trainer, coach, enabler and so much more.  He is God’s gift to us so that this might all come about.

We may start out doing many of these things because we are supposed to, but as we embrace the process, the Spirit will transform us so that it all becomes a genuine expression of a life committed to Jesus.  We more and more become that which we are doing.   Loving God becomes the passion of our lives.

Matthew 24:9  “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.

I find myself greatly concerned over the lawlessness occurring throughout our country.  Among our media, many of our government leaders, much of our educational system and significant portions of the people there is such a disregard for honesty, integrity and truth – it’s appalling!  They (and the anti-christ spirit behind all this) are intent on ridding the world of Judeo–Christian truth.

Some of the worst attributes of human nature are being cultivated to ‘enhance’ the expression of these views that are contrary to all that is good: hatred, vengeance, violence, intimidation, judgment, jealousy, deception, coercion, anti-semitism, all sexual immorality, rebellion just to name a few.  Instead of being recognized and called out as the evil they are, they are embraced and encouraged.  Intolerance is redefined as tolerance – only their viewpoint is to be ‘tolerated’.  God, His Word and His people are to be rejected, unless they conform.

Isaiah 5 contains some serious warnings for us – and for any people.  Sadly, I have written “our country” next to these verses.  Here are some of those warnings that I see flourishing around us:

¹⁸ Woe to those who draw sin along with cords of deceit,
and wickedness as with cart ropes,

²⁰ Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,
who put darkness for light and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

²¹ Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in their own sight.

^24c for they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty
and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel.

 We cannot and must not resort to similar tactics and attributes of the lawlessness we see.  Jesus Christ and the people of God (that’s us) represent good, light and sweet.  In their presence, the evil, dark and bitter are shamed for what they are – and threatened!  We embrace the word of the Holy One of Israel – they spurn it.  We do it in love – they do it in hate.

Today’s verse is part of Jesus’ answer to His disciples regarding what will be the sign of His coming and the end of the age?  He doesn’t paint a pretty picture.  We will be hated by all nations because of Him.  The evil spiritual forces at work in our country and in the world know where the threat to their plans and existence reside and Jesus has let us know how they will respond.

As we face threatening times let us hold fast to Jesus, for the One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world.  We are His for such a time as this.  We are light in the midst of darkness.  They sow hatred and lies.  We must sow love and truth.  Let us live up to the destiny He has for us to always glorify Him regardless of the outcome!

Acts 4:11 This [Jesus] is the stone despised by you builders, who has become the  cornerstone.

Do you ever stop to think about the really special things that God has done in your life?  If you had to, could you identify the most meaningful experiences that you’ve had with Him – the ones that just stand out above the rest?  Maybe you’ve written about them in a journal or in some way recorded them because they are so special.  If not, you need to.

Donna and I have a significant number of such experiences with the Lord like that.  They are encounters with God and His power and love that are so important in our faith.  Miracles, amazing answered prayers, supernatural provision and exquisite encounters with Him – they are more than treasure.  They are part of our foundation in Him.  They are part of the rock we are built on.  The Lord has given us a practical illustration that really reveals the role these special experiences with Him play in our lives.

We had an old house in Peninsula, OH where we raised our boys.  Nearby was a swimming hole that used to be a stone quarry.  The foundation of our house was not built upon bricks or cement blocks.  At its core, the foundation was made up of quarry stone.  Some of these stones were massive: six feet long, two to three feet wide and two feet tall.  It was rock solid!

The Lord let us see that these special experiences that we’ve had with Him are like quarry stones.  They are massive and strong and are in the foundation of our faith embedded next to Jesus, the chief corner stone.  They represent God’s interventions in our lives that cannot be denied.  The reality is we couldn’t deny them and Him even if we wanted to.  Because of Jesus, they make an unshakable foundation for our faith.

John 8:31, 32  To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³²Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

One of the more important teachings that I heard years ago that has impacted me greatly involved these verses.  It had to do with becoming and staying free.  Simply put, in order to become free and stay free we each must become a ‘Lover of the truth’.

Three days ago I wrote of the blessing of family, friends and co-workers who were willing to be a part of my repenting process in dealing with my anger.   This was something I asked them to do.  But how do we respond when such input hurts or comes in an inappropriate manner or from someone we don’t like?

Suppose you’re in an interaction that becomes a bit unpleasant.  As you walk away, a close friend discreetly says to you, “You could have been more kind in your response.”  Versus, being told by a participant, “Boy, were you a jerk in that meeting!” and then he walks off.

Criticism or ‘descriptive observations of our behavior’ are more palatable to us if they’re offered in a kind manner.  Even so, they can still be difficult to receive.  A concerned spouse says, “You’re angry.”  Your response, “NO I’M NOT!!!!”

When such information is offered in anger, in sarcasm, by someone we don’t have a relationship with, or particularly by someone we don’t like, we tend to react defensively.  The tendency is to reject the message because we reject the messenger!  Whatever truth might be in the criticism/observation offered us we tend to reject out-of-hand because of who offered it or the way in which it was given.  We choose to react rather than respond – and it is a choice!

At times God will specifically use unpleasant people with negative deliveries to present us with an important truth about ourselves.  It’s a test – and life is filled with them.  Will we look past the messenger and how the message is presented to find and embrace the truth He  has for us?  The more we become lovers of the truth, the freer we become.  We choose to respond rather than react. Lord Jesus, help us all become lovers of the truth!