2021-08-27
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Love of self and others in balance is spiritual life. The loss of spiritual life is true spiritual death, something no believer in Jesus wants. When spiritual death happens, then there is no eternal life. This balance is, in Greek: philautos. The word for the soul itself in Greek is psuche [pronounced psoo-khay]. Another way of expressing this is “breath of life,” as was given to the dry bones of the Jews in EZK 37: 10 converting them to a mighty living army. Believers had a particular greeting, a double kiss, one kiss on each cheek, in Greek, phileo [pronounced fil-eh’-o]. It denoted a kind of friendship or shared belief in the Lord Jesus. JN 12: 25, “The man who loses his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” Only Christ’s Atonement alone can present the opportunity for gaining eternal life to a believer in Him.
Remember, eros = the unique love between a male and a female. It has a sexual component. Philos = platonic love in friendship; agape = divine, righteous love; the love of God. JN 3: 16 is an expression of agape love. “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.” Yet another expression of agape love is GA 5: 22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. Against such things as these, there is no law.” Both these citations express the purest kind of love available or shown. Agape is the foundation of the fruit of the Spirit. In general, feeling or doing the opposite of the fruits of the Spirit are unrighteous. For example, hate, being joy-killing, impatient (willing to jump to conclusions), violence, meanness, coarseness, unfaithfulness, proud, and lack of self-control are all such expressions of sin. These are all the habits of a person who doesn’t value gaining eternal life.
Often- jealous people covet what others have-peace and patience. They see something they value and want it right away; they treat the person who has it with meanness and take action to kill the joy the owner has in their impatience to earn the item in question. Some beautiful museum-quality paintings of family ancestors were given to a niece and nephew of a family. The jealous cousins tried to sue to gain possession of the paintings. That led to long-term animosity between the members of this family. That is an example of the behavior and attitudes in this example. Similarly, if the owners of the paintings act conceited and proud, holding their blessing over the heads of the others, then that is equally sinful behavior. Such a situation is compounded when a record of incidents of bad behavior is kept. That amounts to a grudge, and grudge-holding is never constructive. These behaviors and responses are not conducive to experiencing happiness in truth. Pride, which doesn’t have its base in God’s teaching can lead to failure in encouraging faith in others. A young girl who attends a Christian school can give her faith a bad name when she brags about her campus life. Her boyfriend who doesn’t go to this school can feel left out and that his girlfriend’s faith should have a bad name. He can be put off by her bragging. “Are all Christian students like this,” he wonders.
1 COR 13: 4-8, 12-13, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease, where there are tongues, they will be stilled, where there is knowledge, it will pass away…Now we will see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part, then I shall know fully even as I am fully known. And now these three remain; faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” These Scriptures are very important to us all and some of my favorites in the Bible. Their message is compelling! When my son was getting married 21 years ago, I read them to him. He was so moved that he has lived up to them ever since. I don’t know if a better description of love exists anywhere. My now-deceased husband, Peter, and I chose “Love is eternal” to be engraved on the inside of our wedding rings. We were married 44 + years, and it was a real love match. The Lord has assured me that Peter is waiting in heaven for me and has his every need met.
PRAYER: O Lord, love is Your invention, and You share it liberally with us. We feel Your love is given to every good friend we have, who shares our faith in You. Real love comes from You, and it is illogical that You would create us in your own image and detest that image. By means of Jesus Christ, You gave us an example of One Who acts out of that love, as a Paradigm for all mankind. Observation of His own life and belief in His saving power show us what love can be in our own lives. Throughout all time, Your agape love girds every decision You make and action You take. You do nothing that is not in our best eternal interests. The greatest desire of Your life is for us to qualify to be glorified and be eternal comradery with You. Your time is devoted to keeping Your part of the New Covenant of Grace and teaching us to keep ours. We are grateful for Your intervention and presence in our lives. We pledge to offer You our eternal love, loyalty, honor, praise, thanks, and glory, in Christ’s holy/mighty name. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: There is more to say about 1COR 13: 12-13 love next week, as I am led to write to you (my readers). Let me share a favorite passage of Scripture that is yet another example of God’s love. PS 40: 1-3, “I waited patiently for the Lord, He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a Rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.” Since I was born and raised as a Conservative Jew, it’s not crazy to imagine my shock that at the age of 39, I would be called to the ministry as a “completed” Messianic Jew. The journey to spiritual maturity that I’ve taken is unique and the outcome of God’s love for me. Not many Jewish people follow such a path, even though conversion to a different faith happens surprisingly often. I went to a Lutheran church where several of the upper- level staff were converts from another faith. People who convert are ones who have often prayerfully gone through their conversion as a matter of conscience. Adult converts to any faith have had to find acceptable answers for such questions as: From where did you come? Why are you here? Where are you going after physical death? They regularly know the central beliefs of the denomination to which they are converting and have carefully considered them. Like me, they are grateful to God for enabling them to think through these questions and for His generous bounty. Praise and thanks be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2021. All Rights Reserved
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