The Pastor's Corner

Finally, a Sincere Question!

Topping the list of the most challenging part-time jobs has to include that of a school substitute teacher. Students often try their best to divert attention away from the lesson plans, asking questions like, “What’s your name?” “Where are you from?” or “Do you have a dog?” Those curious little minds certainly keep things lively, don’t they?

Two thousand years ago, Hebrew scribes challenged Jesus with a series of questions in hopes of proving Him a fraud. A certain scribe, impressed by Jesus’ answers, asked Him, “What is the first commandment of all?” His reply is the theme of this blog

The Messianic Rabbi might have chosen from any of the Ten Commandments. It is reasonable to think the Sanhedrin settled on Commandment 3, keeping the Sabbath day holy. They probably expected Jesus to take is time while considering possible answers. But, Jesus’ response was quick and without hesitation.

“The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: and  thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these,” Mark 12:29-31.

• Love God and Love Your Neighbor. It can’t get more basic than that.

An Old, but New Commandment!

Jesus’ answer was not surprising, He simply quoted Himself. Centuries earlier He gave the same commandment to Moses, who relayed it to Israel.

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might,” Deuteronomy 6:4,5.

What was surprising, was He called it Priority #1.  There was one other twist, He added Priority #2.  Borrowing from Leviticus 19:18, Jesus repeated Himself a second time, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

Sixty Years Later,
the Apostle of Love Writes

“For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,”
1 John 3:11.

Ah, there it is, that sometimes intense, sometimes deep, sometimes serious, sometimes playful, some-times public, sometimes private, sometimes strong, and sometimes gentle emotion we struggle to define. 

Is it affection? warmth? kindness? caring? 

Is it sensual? innocent? attraction? desire?  

Should you say it, show it, hide it, or dampen it?

More than an emotion, love is action, attitude and devotion, but more than anything it is the believer’s Priority #1 and #2.

Love, in a Word.

Unsurprisingly, the Greek root word for love is a form of “agape.”  It comes from the word “much,” “agan,” “having a great preference for someone or something above anyone or anything.” “I prize you.  I take pleasure in you.  I will not abandon you.  I long for you. I welcome you in my life.” 

With all the fancy descriptions of love, it is rather easy to define.  “I Much You.  I abundant you.  I greatly you.  I immeasurably you.  I think much about you.  I want to spend much time with you.  I want to spend much energy on you.” 

In a word, I MUCH you.”  So, John’s message focuses on Priority #2, “that we should MUCH one another,” 1 John 3:11. 

Christian Love is Not Passive.

God’s “much love” requires effort, energy, intimacy and engagement.  Passive love says, “I am drawn to, charmed by, and enjoy being around” someone—be it God or man.  That is natural love.   Supernatural love is much more.  It is purposeful, pursuing, persistent.

The Direction of Love.

The directions of love are vertical (God) and horizontal (man).

The “first commandment” is vertical love. “Much” the Lord.    “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.” 

I think the most important word in this verse is the tiny word “holos,” translated “all.” It’s a small word with a big meaning.  “Holos” speaks of completeness, and wholeness. In other words, “all means all,” everything.  It covers all time, every degree, any amount, and every extent.

“Thou shalt “Much” the Lord thy God with “Every Bit of Yourself.”  Honestly, living up to this love-command seems impossible. I love God, of course.  But, with everything?  What does that even look like?  There is an answer, but you will find is quite unsettling. 

“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me,” Matthew 10:37.

Do you “Much” the Lord more than your dad?  Mom?  Son?  Daughter?  How about wife?  Brothers?  Sisters?  And, your own life?   

“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple”, Luke 14:26.

Loving God is not only the greatest commandment, it is the most basic and most difficult commandment to obey. Don’t be too disturbed by the harshness of Luke 14:2. Jesus is comparing horizontal love with vertical. “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”  It is only fitting that our love for God would have us love those whom He loves.  Such is the message of John’s Gospel, summarized in John 3:16.

Putting Your Love for God
to the Test.

We define “love” as “much,” or “excessive,” going out of your way to indulge in the life of another.   I see people doing this all the time.  Over the past few weeks I have seen believers send cards, visit a shut-in, provide meals, and take elderly to their appointments.

Although not intended as a check list, 1 Corinthians 13 provides core characteristics of love, but they are far from typical descriptions.  1 Corinthians presses us to consider our motivation and character when loving.

The Test.

• Are you patient with Him?
• Are you useful to Him?
• Are you envious of others’ blessings?
• Do you Demand Your Way?
• Are you Self-Focused?
• Are you Disrespectful to Him?
• Do you make yourself the focal point?
• Are you easily angered with Him?
• Do you accuse Him of ill-intent?
• Are you happy when He punishes others?
• Do you take pleasure in His truth?
• Are you more silent than talkative?
• Do you quickly lose faith in Him?
• Are you convinced He does all things well?
• Are you faithful no matter what?
• Do you readily give up on Him?

Facing the Future; Fulfilling the Mission. –Rick Metrick