This Sunday, I was sitting in church. The preacher was talking about the wide road to destruction and the narrow road to everlasting life. He urged us to take stock of our lives and to make sure that we are indeed on the narrow road leading to life. He was sure that there had to be at least some who thought that they were on the narrow road but who were actually on the wide road. Other people also spoke, some sharing a Word and some giving their testimonies.
As I sat looking at the congregation and all those speaking, it struck me that we are all on a mission to convert each other. Probably secure to various measures in the fact that we ourselves must be on the narrow road to life, we set out to convince the others around us of their short comings which to us are showing of them knowingly or unknowingly being on the wide road to destruction. In this and in the love of the Lord we are very sincere.
Yet, as I considered all of us, I was aware of the irony in that each one of us there was sure of our being on the right road and yet we were at the same time perhaps ignorant of our own trespasses against each other. I knew the hurts, wounds and harm many of us in church on Sunday have caused our fellow Christians in church and non-Christians outside the church, whether intentionally or unintentionally. In this I don't think any of us there were without guilt. Sincere in our love for Christ, sincere to save each other yet at the same time hurtful to each other.
And I thought, what a wretched people we are. This is the very reason many choose to withdraw from church and live out their love for God away from the hurtfulness of others. I have myself experienced the urge to flee.
But this is not God's will, not the answer and I know that very well.
So, like Paul, I asked the question - WHO WOULD SAVE A WRETCHED PEOPLE LIKE US?
And again, his answer was still the only one - "Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:25)
The only hope, through Christ, is love.
Not our carnal love for each other, but the love which is a fruit of the Spirit of God. The ONLY thing that can bind us together in spite of our hurtfulness, in spite of our failures, in spite of our ignorance and in spite of our sins is love for one another for "love covers over a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8). It does not excuse sin, it does not approve of sin. Rather, it bears with one another so that Proverbs 19:11 becomes true in our lives - "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offence."
Jesus said, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." (John 15:12)
God the Father and Jesus Christ who are One, loved an unlovable people. A people covered and drowned in sin. He loved them to the point of giving His life so that they may have life and life in Him. Now His command is for us to love as He has loved.
"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." (Gal 5:6)
"If I ... have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." (1 Cor 13:1)
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Cor 13:13)
"This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another." (1 John 3:11)
"Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us." (1 John 3:21-23)
Walking out of church on Sunday I had only one sure knowledge...that we need the grace and mercy of God's love and that we should seek to love with the love that can only come from God, through the love of Christ and the indwelling of His Spirit.
God is love.
We love because he first loved us.
Until next week,
God bless!
Monday 11 August 2014
Friday 1 August 2014
Love or fear, what compels the bride of Christ?
On my wall I have a framed quote that says:
Whether our battle is long or short, it is a stark reminder that we have an enemy and he has but one purpose - to separate us from God and from the life that there is in Christ. In a way, he has already failed in this purpose because in Christ nothing can separate us from the love of God. Christ has opened a door for us into the loving presence of God the Father and Satan cannot change this. Yet, Satan can and will still play with our minds by doing everything in his power to convince us that in some way we can be disqualified to enter through this Door that is Christ or that indeed we can and will be rejected by Christ if we are not good enough or we do not meet a certain list of requirements. Should we at any time believe this, we have no choice but to give up. To stop the fight. To loose all hope. Our battle is lost.
Have you ever been in such a place? A place where you suddenly wondered whether you are indeed accepted by Christ? A place where the accuser has accused you? Where he has brought before you the list of requirements that you fail to meet in order to be accepted in Christ?
In Zechariah 3:1 we see him trying to accuse Joshua the high priest before God. "Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him."
Satan bargained on God acting like a chief commander in an army. A chief commander operates on two principles - authority and fear. Indeed he has the highest authority in the army and therefore if he says jump, you jump or you face the terrible consequences. You always obey the chief commander. You fear him and his authority and what he can do or be ordered to be done to you. You know that unless you obey, you are going to be crashed. If Satan can convince us that this is the character of God, he is halfway there to win his battle against us. We will either be of the mind that because we have failed somewhere in someway whether intentionally or unintentionally, we will face grave consequences and be disqualified for God's service and love or we will obey out of fear. Where there is fear, there is no love. We might obey God but our obedience will have little to do with a love for God.
Jesus also placed a high priority on obedience, but it was always connected to love. "If you love me, you will obey what I command." (John 14:15). And again in verse 23 "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching."
I don't believe Jesus' attitude when He said these words was that of the chief commander - IF, then you WILL. I don't think He spoke these words as a whip to beat His disciples into obedience. Obedience is not so much a requirement as it is the response of a loving heart. The love comes first and the loving heart delights to obey.
Yes, God also operates on two principles of which indeed authority is one, but the second is not fear, it is love!
Let me give you some equations:
Authority + fear = intimidation and condemnation
Authority + love = invitation and conviction
Intimidation says: You better do!
Invitation says: Come and follow!
Condemnation comes from the enemy and it separates from God.
Conviction comes from the Holy Spirit and it draws to God.
Did Joshua have dirty clothes? Was he guilty of sin? Could a 'Chief Commander' punish him severely? Yes. "Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel." Is there something in your life that could resemble these dirty clothes? Is there still some sin in your life? Is there a 'requirement' put on you that you still don't 'meet'? If you are still alive and still walking this earth, I bet you have. I certainly have even though I love the Lord with all my heart!
So what will our 'Chief Commander" do with us? Will He crack His whip? Will He threaten us? What did He do with Joshua?
"The angel said to those who were standing before him, 'Take off his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, 'See, I have taken away your sin and I will put rich garments on you.'
Mercy. Love.
Not - 'If you will not take of those filthy clothes and walk in my ways you will have to suffer the consequences'
Pardon. Grace.
And only then came the words: "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.'"
You think Joshua would choose to walk in God's ways? Bathed in the love of God, love would have him do none other.
What is my whole point with this post? I want to encourage you dear friend, when the attack comes, when Satan comes like the thief in the night and beats you over the head with his accusations; when you find yourself filled with fear and confusion, go back to Christ. Cling to His love. Let His love heal you. Let His love convict you. Let His love move you. Let His love compel you. Let His love guide you. Let His love into your heart and see your heart respond!! See the battle won and your heart filled afresh with the joy of the Lord, your strength!
God bless
Until next time
Lize
"Strength is vital for winning many of the spiritual battles of life, especially the drawn-out battles. We need the Spirit of might and power in order to prevail."I so agree with that but I do also believe that actually, we need the Holy Spirit for winning any spiritual battle in life! And while indeed some battles are long and drawn-out, tapping all our energy, others are sudden, short and so fierce that they can blow us off our feet.
Whether our battle is long or short, it is a stark reminder that we have an enemy and he has but one purpose - to separate us from God and from the life that there is in Christ. In a way, he has already failed in this purpose because in Christ nothing can separate us from the love of God. Christ has opened a door for us into the loving presence of God the Father and Satan cannot change this. Yet, Satan can and will still play with our minds by doing everything in his power to convince us that in some way we can be disqualified to enter through this Door that is Christ or that indeed we can and will be rejected by Christ if we are not good enough or we do not meet a certain list of requirements. Should we at any time believe this, we have no choice but to give up. To stop the fight. To loose all hope. Our battle is lost.
Have you ever been in such a place? A place where you suddenly wondered whether you are indeed accepted by Christ? A place where the accuser has accused you? Where he has brought before you the list of requirements that you fail to meet in order to be accepted in Christ?
In Zechariah 3:1 we see him trying to accuse Joshua the high priest before God. "Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him."
Satan bargained on God acting like a chief commander in an army. A chief commander operates on two principles - authority and fear. Indeed he has the highest authority in the army and therefore if he says jump, you jump or you face the terrible consequences. You always obey the chief commander. You fear him and his authority and what he can do or be ordered to be done to you. You know that unless you obey, you are going to be crashed. If Satan can convince us that this is the character of God, he is halfway there to win his battle against us. We will either be of the mind that because we have failed somewhere in someway whether intentionally or unintentionally, we will face grave consequences and be disqualified for God's service and love or we will obey out of fear. Where there is fear, there is no love. We might obey God but our obedience will have little to do with a love for God.
Jesus also placed a high priority on obedience, but it was always connected to love. "If you love me, you will obey what I command." (John 14:15). And again in verse 23 "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching."
I don't believe Jesus' attitude when He said these words was that of the chief commander - IF, then you WILL. I don't think He spoke these words as a whip to beat His disciples into obedience. Obedience is not so much a requirement as it is the response of a loving heart. The love comes first and the loving heart delights to obey.
Yes, God also operates on two principles of which indeed authority is one, but the second is not fear, it is love!
Let me give you some equations:
Authority + fear = intimidation and condemnation
Authority + love = invitation and conviction
Intimidation says: You better do!
Invitation says: Come and follow!
Condemnation comes from the enemy and it separates from God.
Conviction comes from the Holy Spirit and it draws to God.
Did Joshua have dirty clothes? Was he guilty of sin? Could a 'Chief Commander' punish him severely? Yes. "Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel." Is there something in your life that could resemble these dirty clothes? Is there still some sin in your life? Is there a 'requirement' put on you that you still don't 'meet'? If you are still alive and still walking this earth, I bet you have. I certainly have even though I love the Lord with all my heart!
So what will our 'Chief Commander" do with us? Will He crack His whip? Will He threaten us? What did He do with Joshua?
"The angel said to those who were standing before him, 'Take off his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, 'See, I have taken away your sin and I will put rich garments on you.'
Mercy. Love.
Not - 'If you will not take of those filthy clothes and walk in my ways you will have to suffer the consequences'
Pardon. Grace.
And only then came the words: "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.'"
You think Joshua would choose to walk in God's ways? Bathed in the love of God, love would have him do none other.
What is my whole point with this post? I want to encourage you dear friend, when the attack comes, when Satan comes like the thief in the night and beats you over the head with his accusations; when you find yourself filled with fear and confusion, go back to Christ. Cling to His love. Let His love heal you. Let His love convict you. Let His love move you. Let His love compel you. Let His love guide you. Let His love into your heart and see your heart respond!! See the battle won and your heart filled afresh with the joy of the Lord, your strength!
God bless
Until next time
Lize
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