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It’s been a while since I’ve spoken about love in a bible study, and today I felt like it was time to revisit what I believe is the most important thing to God (Wow, now there’s a bold, put-yourself-on-the-line statement!!)

Not a wishy-washy mushy sentimental feeling that you see in the movies, but the choosing to put God and others before ourselves. Not putting ourselves down (we are all loved and equal in God’s eyes) but realising that through loving and serving others we too are blessed and set free to live our lives as God intended.

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 1 John 3:18-24

God shows us in 1 John 3:18-24 that when we love with “actions and in truth” (not just saying it, but living it) that’s when our hearts can be at peace with God (even when sometimes our heart tries to tell us otherwise!) and how we know we are his children. When we love, this is a sure sign of our faith and relationship with God, and we can come into his presence without worry or fear, but knowing we will find rest.

1 Peter 4:8 even says that love “covers over a multitude of sins.” Not that we can sin lots as long as we love people enough (this is not loving for the right reasons after all!) but that when we sin, God still sees that in our hearts we want to love him and put others first, even if in practice we make mistakes along the way. The story of David is such a good example of this. It is said that David was a man after God’s own heart, and yet David did some pretty bad things – like committing adultery and then killing the husband!!! – but when his eyes were opened to what he had done, he fell on the floor and was horrified at how he had managed to sin against God in such an awful way. Notice that he said he had sinned “against God” (not the husband) because he knew first and foremost that when he sinned it was God he was hurting, and he was truly sorry for what he had done. Just read what God himself says of David when talking to his son Solomon : "As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did… 1 Kings 9:4 You What?? Say that again?! Did God just totally forget that David was an adulterer AND a murderer?! Yes he did. Not because he is forgetful, but because he chose not to hold it against him. David had got down on his face in shame when he realised his sin and repented before God. God knew David’s heart and that David truly loved Him, and so when God spoke of David he didn’t bring up his past sin and mistakes, he remembered instead David’s love for his God and his desire to do God’s will.

From another perspective, love between one another, it’s like having a friend who makes lots of mistakes, who regularly puts their foot in it and never seems to be able to make it anywhere on time, they still haven’t paid back that tenner you lent them (and you know you’re unlikely to see it again). Yet this friend knows you so well – sometimes better than you know yourself! They’ve seen you at your best and your worst, but for some reason, they still think you’re great. You know you can call them night or day and they’ll always answer the phone when they see your name pop up on the screen. And, although they ruined your best top by accidentally squirting ketchup down it, and snapped at you last week when they were tired, you forgive them every single time. Why? Because none of that other stuff really matters when love is at the centre of your friendship.

Do you see? Love can cover over all the other stuff, it doesn’t make any of it right, but when you know that someone genuinely loves you and cares about you (and you love them too), the other stuff may be sooo annoying and also quite painful at times, but you choose to forgive, not because you have to, but because you love them and you want to be back in that right relationship with them.

When we love one another, we can be united, despite our differences and the mistakes that we make. When we love we can forgive and choose to re-build relationships, rather than allowing them to be destroyed by an argument or misunderstanding. This brings glory to God, and shows others who He is!

When we love God we can also forgive ourselves when we mess up because we understand that God doesn’t want to punish us or make us suffer. Having a loving relationship with God gives us the freedom to come to Him quickly when we sin, to ask for forgiveness and be straight back in that right relationship with our loving father, knowing he will never hold it against us.

Love also helps us not to sin, because we do not want to hurt those we love, especially when they’ve loved us, and forgiven us so unconditionally.

Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:37-39

The thing about love is: Love is the greatest thing we can do!

…That is why I believe love is the most important thing to God.

 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is

love

1 Corinthians 13:13

Our role and God’s role

Whereas justification is totally down to God and we contribute nothing towards it, sanctification is a co-operative effort between us and God. God wants us to be involved in our growth but doesn’t leave it entirely up to us…

God’s role in sanctification

Each member of the trinity (father, son and spirit) has a role in our sanctification:

God disciplines us as a father: He shows us the path to holiness  by correcting us in love when we stray. Hebrews 12:7-11 beautifully illustrates God’s discipline as a method of teaching.

Jesus earned our sanctification and became our sanctification with what he achieved here on the Earth (1 Corinthians 1:30). But just as importantly, Jesus is our example for sanctification. He came to show us how we are to live our lives. We are to pursue a likeness with Jesus (1 Peter 2:21 and 1 John 2:6)

However, it is specifically the Holy Spirit that works within us to change us and sanctify us. 2 Thessalonians 2:13, Galatians 5:22-23 and Galatians 5:16-17 all show how the Spirit within us works to change us.

Our role in sanctification

To begin with our role is a passive one: We depend on God to save us and allow him to work in us.

However, we need to be cautious so not to become lazy and fall back on the passive role and wait on God to do all the work. So we also have an active role in that we strive to obey God and take steps to increase our sanctification. Philippians 2:12-13 says we need to “work out our own salvation” and I love how Hebrews 5:12-14 tells us to grow up and train ourselves for God.

Both the passive role and active role are important but if we neglect our active role of striving to obey God we become passive, lazy Christians and if we neglect the passive role of trusting God and yielding to him we become proud and overly-confident in ourselves. The correct balance is vital!

To be continued…

Psalm 73

  1 Surely God is good to Israel,
       to those who are pure in heart.

 2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
       I had nearly lost my foothold.

 3 For I envied the arrogant
       when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

 4 They have no struggles;
       their bodies are healthy and strong.

 5 They are free from the burdens common to man;
       they are not plagued by human ills.
………..

  16 When I tried to understand all this,
       it was oppressive to me

  17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
      then I understood their final destiny.
………………..

  26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
       but God is the strength of my heart
       and my portion forever.

  27 Those who are far from you will perish;
       you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

  28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
       I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
       I will tell of all your deeds.

I love to read the Psalms because they are so real. So true to how the person was feeling at the time. They don’t put on their “holy hats” or their “Sunday morning smiles” they just pour out their hearts to their God who knows them and loves them.

Reading this Psalm was one of those times when you’ve had a conversation with someone, then the very next thing you read in the bible is so totally linked to that conversation! Psalm 73 came up in my daily reading and it was so spot on to the conversation I had had that day with a friend. Do go and read the whole thing, I just picked out some verses as it was too long to put the whole thing in.

 I was talking to a friend about how often we can look around at others who don’t know God and wonder why they have it so easy. They have jobs, and families and money and health and often seemingly everything they wish for. Yet sometimes as Christians we go through hard times, we may not have found that special someone or we could be struggling with our health or to find work. It seems so unfair!

This Psalm covers exactly this topic. The Psalmist is looking around at Godless people and telling God how unfair it is that they have life so easy!  We often do the same -  but we mustn’t let ourselves get caught up with what others have, rather than what we have! We have Christ, we have eternal salvation, we have a loving Father and the Holy Spirit to guide us and give us peace. We may not have all the “worldly things” we want, but our time on this earth is only momentary – our salvation is eternal !

We know that in Christ we have every spiritual blessing (Eph 1:3), who would really swap this, and our eternal salvation, for worldly things that will soon perish? (“The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:17.) That would be like Esau giving up his birthright for a bowl of stew. (check out Genesis 25:29-42, then what happens as a result in Gen 27)

We do need to be careful that our feet don’t slip as we look at other people’s lives rather than concentrating on our own walk with God. It’s such an easy trap to fall into and it’s something that we all do!!! We need to check ourselves when we start looking at what others have. God knows what we are like, that’s why he included “you shall not covet” as part of his ten commandments. He says “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." And I think in the end this is what it boils down to – we look at what others have, things or relationships, wealth or family and we covet them – we wish we could have these things. It leaves us feeling jealous, unhappy with the blessings God has given us, and focusing totally in the wrong place. It’s not at all productive.

Instead we need to draw near to God to be “in his sanctuary.” We must remember what Jesus has already done for us, that priceless death on the cross. God has promised to be with us forever, and that we can find our refuge in him. We are so blessed! It’s so “good to be near God!” In those times when we are focussed on him in worship and praise all our cares and worldly desires seem so small and unimportant to our wonderful saviour and the eternal inheritance we have in Him!

Perhaps one answer to focus less on what others have, may be simply to spend more time in worship..?

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

Here is a summary of my reflection for today, if you don’t have time to read anything else just read these 3 lines:

God’s love is perfect.

Perfect love drives out fear.

Therefore we can live our lives, in Christ, without fear.

That’s it, you can stop reading now if you like J

Ah, you’re still with me J OK let me expand a little then..

We should have no fear of death, no fear of life, no fear of the future, no fear of sickness, no fear of other people or their opinions, no fear of the evil one …or even of God’s wrath, if we believe we are saved in Christ Jesus as a result of God’s love. On the cross Jesus paid the price for our rebellion against him, because of his love for us, so we no longer need to be afraid if we are in Christ Jesus:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

John 3:16-17

Jesus was sent by God as our salvation, he wasn’t out to condemn (or punish) us, but to love us, so that we may walk in freedom and forgiveness… and without fear !

Romans 8:38-39 says “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

So, if nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s perfect love, why then should we fear anything in all creation? God’s love drives out all our fears as we choose to trust in Him and learn to know him as our mighty God and our faithful and loving father.

I know often people have bad examples of father figures growing up, so saying that God is our father doesn’t necessarily bring to mind the feeling of safety, acceptance, security and unconditional love that every little child should feel when in the strong arms of their Dad. Yet we must realise that God’s love is perfect, a true heavenly father’s love. God won’t ever let us down. We can always feel safe, accepted, secure and truly loved by Him. When we are secure in His love, whatever situation/circumstance comes our way, we should have no fear because we know God is with us.

Isaiah 41:10 puts it so well:

“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

And however “grown up” we get, his arms are always big enough to carry us through the hard times, and he’s always there to walk beside us through the good times.

Praise God for his Perfect Love in Christ Jesus !

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!  1 John 3 :1

Last week I talked about how we, as Christians, are friends of Christ, this week I want to look at being children of our heavenly Father!

It says in John 1:12-13 “To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

That’s an open invitation to anyone who chooses to receive God and believe in Jesus’ name. Each person is then given the right to be God’s child, spiritually born into God’s family with brothers and sisters in Christ. In order that we might love one another (1 John 4:7/John 13:34), encourage one another (1 Thess 5:11 / Heb 3:13) and spur one another on (Heb 10:24).

I just think it’s so amazing, when you stop and think about it, that God the creator chose to make us, the created, his children. To love us and to look after us just as a father would (only better as we know that Father’s can let us down, but God never will!)

Our Heavenly Father provides for our needs, Jesus tells us to ask for what we need and our Father will answer our requests (Matt 7:7). In Matthew 7:11 Jesus says “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Knowing that we are all sinners and God is perfect – of course he’s going to give us better gift than our earthly fathers can provide.

Our Heavenly Father helps us when we are in trouble (Ps 118:7 / Heb 13:6) and protects us from harm (2 Sam 22:31) He has also promised us an inheritance (Matt 25:34 / 1 Peter 1:4) and a place for us when we return home to him (John 14:2)

Our Heavenly Father, like all fathers, also disciplines us (Deut 8:5 / Prov 3:12). He does this because he loves us, and because he knows this is best for us in the long-run. No-one enjoys being disciplined, but what sort of father would never correct his children when they do wrong?

Our heavenly father tells us not to worry and not to be afraid, because he’s looking out for us and because he’s got good plans for us & for our future! (Matt 6:25-26/ Luke 12:32 / Jer 29:11).

Our heavenly father loves us! It says in the verse above “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us” –> Lavished! What an wonderful word, it show’s Gods generousity, his love poured out without measure or limitations! It’s nothing to do with us earning it or being good enough for it – He gives his love lavishly because of who He is and what a wonderful father he chooses to be to those who turn to him.

Praise God that he calls us his children, and that he loves us & takes care of us even better than a father!!

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

In small group and other places we’ve been talking quite a bit about the "credit crunch" and about how people may be starting to struggle financially and others have jobs that are at risk. As Christians we need not be worried about this like the world is, because we know we can trust God for our provision (read Matthew 26:25-34), but it’s also a challenge to us to use this opportunity to be generous to others and to share with one another. God has put us into community for a reason, so that we can love one another. Not with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth (1 John 3:18). As the people of God, he has provided us with everything we need.  Some will have more, and some will have less, and it’s up to those of us who have jobs, food, finances and a roof over our heads to share with those who may be less well off at this present time, in order that no-one goes without and we all have plenty. Afterall, it all belongs to God anyway.

We also have a continuing mission to care for and give generously to those outside of the church who are in need. What a witness it can be when the world sees a generous giving church, in a time of hardship and struggle. That’s what will show people God’s love for them and his amazing provision for his people. As we seek to be Jesus’ hands on this earth we will stand out as a light in the darkness and give hope to people who may be feeling desperate and hopeless.

So let us not worry about our finances, we know that God will provide for our every need, let’s instead seek to give even more generously than we have done before as the needs around us increase, starting with taking care of our brothers and sisiters in Christ, and then in serving our local communities and beyond.

So that’s my Credit Crunch Challenge – will you take it up?

We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. 1 John 3:14

(more…)

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me . . .
John 6:38

Christmas Part 2 : An Amazing Sacrifice

You may be thinking that I’ve gone slightly mad and I’m getting Easter and Christmas confused! However, by coming to earth as a baby Jesus set aside his majesty, not giving up his glory & majesty, but choosing not to excercise it, in order to serve others instead. If he had come in all his majesty everyone on earth would have bowed down and worshipped him immediately, but he chose to put His love for others before his right to be worshipped and praised, this in itself an amazing sacrifice.

It’s like if you were famous and lived in an amazing country, inside your own a huge impressive mansion (with no mortgage or bills!) which had everything you could ever want in it, then choosing to leave it all behind and live on the streets with the homeless, not offering them money but just to go through it with them.

Yet for God it was so much bigger than even that picture. He came to serve, to lead by example rather than from His throne in heaven, to show us the way. To be a living sacrifice on earth, and also to ultimately die for our sins because he loves us so much.

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
John 2:2

What small/big thing could you do this Christmas time as a sacrifice for others?

^{How do we learn how to love? I think we often love others based on how we’ve been loved in the past. If we’ve had a bad experience then our view on love and on how to love others might be unbalanced/clouded – it’s much harder to understand how to love when we’ve not received love in the way we should have. If, for example, we felt like we only received love from our parents when were “good”, then as adults we think we need to earn people’s love and acceptance, that it’s dependant on what we do. When I was at school, whatever grade I got, say a B, my Dad would say “Why didn’t you get an A” or if I got an A, he’d say, “Why didn’t you get an A*?” Now he was only joking but I took it to heart and it made me feel like I was never quite good enough. The thought loomed over me that if one day I was to come home having failed at something then my Dad wouldn’t love me as much.}

^{I think people in this world who “love well” are often the people who have known what it’s like to be really loved. People who have had good role models in the way of loving parents or families or friends. Yet all of these people are just human and we all make mistakes, so the only way of really knowing what love is, is to experience the unconditional love that God has for each one of us. As Christians we should be the best there is at loving as we have the best role model!}

^{My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12}

^{Jesus is not commanding us to do anything that he hasn’t already done for each one of us and he’s not asking us to do anything that he hasn’t shown us how to do. God has shown us how to love through Jesus¹ who chose to become a man², walked on the earth, showed us how to have compassion for others³. He died on a cross to take the punishment for our wrongdoings4 and rose again, forgiving us of all our sin5 To this day He is seeking us out to have a relationship with him6, even whilst we were/are so far away and so full of sin7. God doesn’t seek us out once we’ve sorted our lives out and become “good” people, he’s not looking out for the “Grade A” list, he seeks each one of us out – even in the times when we were mocking the name of Jesus and full of sin and selfishness. Now this is true love, and at such a cost to Jesus!}

^{When the penny drops from the mind “Yeah, I know God loves me” to the heart “Wow!! God loves me! No matter what!!” that’s when His love starts to shine through us and affects the way we treat and respond to others. That’s when loving others becomes easier and our hearts change, we love because God first loved us. The unconditional love of God also frees us; It takes away insecurities and fear, it takes away our striving to please Him or to be accepted by others; it starts to mould us into being more like Jesus, into seeing others as Jesus sees us and helps us to lean on Him rather than on our partners or parents or worldly security.}

^{When we know in our hearts that God loves us we can stand tall, we can speak out, we can have confidence and security in Him, we can love without counting the cost – even when it hurts and we are not loved back. Through Jesus’ love we can freely be the people he made us to be. We are complete in His love and we won’t burden others with our need for attention, security, re-assurance or love – because God has provided for all of our needs. That leaves us free to love others without expecting anything in return.}

^{What a perfect example of love we have!}

^{Ask God to reveal to you afresh the love that He has for you. The love so strong that he died for you whilst you were still so far away from Him, and to help you to grasp that there are no conditions to his love. Ask him to help you to connect with this truth, the truth that you are so loved, just as you are. Then ask him to help you love others in the same way, just as they are too!}

^{1 1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.}

^{2 John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.}

^{3 Matthew 14:14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.}

^{4 1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.}

^{5 Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace}

^{6 Revelation 20:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.}

^{7Colossians 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ.}

God loves us and he knows what’s best for us, and he tells us we should be looking out for one another, there are sooo many verses on how we should treat one another in the bible that I decided I would use this bible study to pick out some of my favourites. Have a read through and pick out a few that speak to you – perhaps ones you know you could do with some help on. Then ask God to help you to live it out!

That’s it from me, I’m going to leave all the rest of the talking to God…! Let’s get started on one anothering one another..!!

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Zechariah 7:9

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”John 13:34-35

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10

Live in harmony with one another. Romans 12:16

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:7

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24

Live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:11-12