Time with Jesus - Saturday, 22 June
2013
Hi all,
Apart from Jesus Christ, is
there anyone who has ever lived who knows what love is? I doubt any man or
woman can plumb the depths of love. One reason is because we are told by John, “God
is Love”. 
He tells us: 8 But anyone who
does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:8 NLT and 15 All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God
living in them, and they live in God. 16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust
in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in
them. 17 And as we live in God,
our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the Day of Judgment,
but we can face Him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this
world. 1 John 4:15-17 NLT
These Scriptures speak clearly
about the love of God. But do we know and understand what John was writing
about? I would like to say, “I do!” The fact is, I really don’t. According to
what is written above, our “love” grows more perfect as we live in Him. Wonderful!
But what is it we look for and see?
When it comes to love we are
like a little child with an electric light switch. We know that if we switch it
on, the light will shine. If we switch it off, the light goes out. Why? The
best way to put it is to say that someday in the future they will learn about
electricity, circuit diagrams, Volts, Watts and Amps etc. But they don’t need
the details to make the thing work.
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| The Good Samaritan |
As a youngster, I worked on a couple of
motor cars, getting them to run again. It was fairly elementary stuff. Now,
when I open a car’s bonnet, I hardly recognise what I’m looking at. A week or
so ago I was looking for the battery of my daughter’s car. The car was faulty
and wouldn’t start. There had to be a battery in there somewhere. But where was
it? In the end, someone showed me where and how to get to it! Love is a bit
like that. It has to be in there somewhere. But where is it? Also, what is it
and how does it work?
To complicate the issue we bandy
the word “love” around as though we know all about it. I love my wife; I love
ice cream; I love Jesus; I love sleeping in in the morning; I love flowers.
We
also know that the Greeks used different words for the type of “love” they were
speaking about. The words are phileo, storge’, eros and agape. We understand
the first three. But “agape” is a horse of a different colour. It’s the “love”
God has for His people and the Love we are supposed to have for Him and each
other. We know it’s the “love” which gives itself away; a love that will cause
us to give our lives for Him and/or each other. OK, that’s fine. How do we
actually do it? The police aren’t keen on crucifixion, assault, suicide or
mutilation of self or others.
So how can I love you and others
in a way that is meaningful? I can’t truthfully say, “I love Eskimos!” I don’t
know any and they live so far away, I’m unlikely to ever meet one. I’d like to
say that I love my neighbours. But how can I do that if I don’t know them? I
can pretend that I do, in order for you to think more highly of me than you
should.
Some dispose of the question neatly
by saying you must love them by “faith”. That’s fine. Now tell me how to do
that? When it comes to “agape” I often think I’m still trying to find the light
switch referred to above.
There is only one way I know
that helps me and, hopefully, others. According to John’s Gospel, Jesus said, 15
"If you love me, you will obey what I command.
John 14:15 NIrV In other words, if I am following the commands of Jesus
Christ, I’ll be loving Him and others.
Am I doing that? Are you? If we
are, we are beginning to know something about the love of God.
Shalom,
Jim &
Phyllida Strickland
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Saturday, 22 June 2013
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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©
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These devotionals are the intellectual property of
Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute
them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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TRUE
LOVE
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Love.
Most people think that love is just another four letter word! What it really
means is just about the opposite of what it really is. “I love, my granny”. “I
love ice cream”. “I love lying in bed in the mornings”. “I love dancing”. “I love
my wife”. “I love ‘sexy dames’”. The only thing these statements have in
common is the word “love”. What is meant in each case is different. Very
different!
The
main difficulty here is the limitations of the English language. Four
different Greek words are all translated “love” in most of our Bibles. The
KJV uses the word “charity” in a number of instances. The following two
translations from 1st Corinthians show this very well
The
word “charity” and “love” are the same words in Greek (I’m told) I found this
confusing. We have the expressions, “as cold as charity” and “charity begins
at home” along with “donations to charity”. I’ve been tempted to change my
name to Mr Charity and collect other people’s money on this basis. But I managed
to resist the temptation!
Back
in the 1980’s, one of the very popular Gospel singers was Don Francisco. As
well as being an accomplished composer, he was also a talented guitarist. He
had a remarkable repertoire one of which was called, “Love is not a feeling,
it’s an act of the will”. We Christians need to have that statement “etched”
into our minds. A little earlier, in the 1960’s, Julie Andrews sang a song in
“My Fair Lady” called “Show Me!”
Both
songs make the point that merely saying, “I love you!” is inadequate. As the
earlier statements in today’s introduction illustrated, love is not something
we talk about, it’s something we do. Love demands action. In the past, men
have crossed oceans to get near the woman they loved. As a teenager, I walked
miles to be with my girlfriend.
In
Christianity, we have the most outstanding example of love that could
possibly be expressed. Jesus Christ came to this world and gave His life for
His friends. More than that, He gave His life for His enemies. He was not
compelled to do so. He chose to do it. Part of the Gethsemane account shows
us that He didn’t want to do it. He could have stood up and walked away. He
didn‘t. He went to the cross for you and me. Could I do that? Could you? But
His example is the one we must follow. As a husband, I am expected to lay
down my life for my wife. Actually, it’s not a suggestion; it’s one of His
commands. We are told “greater love has no man than this. To lay down his
life for his friend. Will I? Will you?
Jim and Phyllida
Strickland
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36
The Jews said, "Look how deeply he loved him."
John 11:36 MSG
14 Either way, Christ's
love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe
that we have all died to our old life. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive His new
life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ,
who died and was raised for them.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 NLT
13 There is no greater love than to lay down one's life
for one's friends.
John 15:13 NLT
25
Therefore He is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through
Him. He lives forever to intercede with God on
their behalf.
Hebrews 7:25 NLT
2 My
Father's house has many rooms. If that were not true, would I have told you
that I'm going to prepare a place for you?
3 If I go to prepare a place for you, I
will come again. Then I will bring you into my presence so that you will be
where I am.
John 14:2-3 GW
24
"Father, I want those you have given me to
be with me where I am. I want them to see my glory, the glory you have
given me. You gave it to me because you loved me before the world was created.
John 17:24 NIrV
1
Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave
this world and return to His Father. He had loved
His disciples during His ministry on earth, and now He loved them to the very
end.
John 13:1 NLT
19 We love each other because He loved us first.
1 John 4:19 NLT
10 If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at
home in my love. That's what I've done--kept my Father's commands and made
myself at home in his love.
John 15:10 MSG
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“I think you do not love me” the lovely maiden cried.
If you did I’m sure you’d put that stupid game aside.
It’s “Rugby, rugby, rugby, that’s all I ever hear.
Have you no sweet nothings to whisper in my ear?
I’m thinking of our future. You talk about “The Bulls”
You say you want to marry me and yet your mind is full,
Of things which do not matter! You talk of Ellis Park.
The Lions and the Cheaters or the next match with the Sharks.
If you really loved me, you’d put all that aside.
I’m a rugby widow before I am a bride!”
Have you heard this story? I’m sure it isn’t new.
For many wives and husbands, I’m sad to say it’s true.
We have our expectations, of how love ought to be.
It’s mostly an impression of some childish fantasy.
Love became an exercise in how much we could get.
Of wedding bells and honeymoons and going into debt!
It’s living with a partner who refuses to commit,
In case there’s an occasion to say, “Good bye, I quit!”
It’s physical relationships; it’s free love and the pill.
It’s anything erotic which gives some kind of thrill.
It’s watching television where strangers fornicate.
“Your feelings do
not matter as long as I feel great!”
We see this all around us and none of it is true.
We need to know the meaning when we say “I love you”!
You get a rapid overview by standing on your head.
True love keeps on giving
‘til the moment you are dead!
It focuses upon the need of those you plan to love;
And does the same as Jesus did when He came from above.
He loved all His disciples and did so till the end;
He died upon a wooden cross so you and I may spend,
Eternity in fellowship with all the Trinity.
He did it to express His love for sinners just like me.
He didn’t have to do it. He could have walked away.
It was the love of Jesus that functioned on that day.
He gave His life for people. His love was manifest,
So that the folk who hated Him could have the very best!
So when I say “I love you” I really want to say;
I’ll freely give my life for you as Jesus did that day.
Jim Strickland
Written 22nd June 2012
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