Fruit of the Spirit...Love

I've just started reading the book, The Jesus Creed, by Scot McKnight. I have considered getting it for a while. But every time I looked at the cover I thought, "Oh loving God, loving others. There's nothing too earth shattering about that."

I'm still in Chapter 1, but I was so impressed by something, that I wanted to write about it while it was still fresh on my mind and I had a few spare minutes.

The thought of "loving God, loving others," is really such a profound thing. I know that many of you are right there with me, when you said, "yeah, yeah, the golden rule and all that stuff." Even if we only know a little about the Bible, we do know that.

But if we go back to first century Judaism, when the question was asked what's the greatest commandment, we get a different feel. Not only was Jesus God Incarnate, He was also a good Jew. So of course His answer was going to be the Shema:

"Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
with all your mind, and with all your strength." (Deut. 6:4-5)

Every Jewish child learned and still learns this "prayer" and it is the most fundamental tenant of Judaism.

The rest of Christ's answer is found in the Old Testament Scriptures as well, but over in Leviticus (19:18). When He says:

"The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these,"

basically, He is amending the Shema! I think this is huge. As Scot McKnight says,

"It takes real pluck (or chutzpah) to add to the sacred Shema."

Only God Himself can do that. Which, is exactly what Christ is. But, oh how I'd love to have been a fly on the wall back in that first century. How did Jewish ears hear these words?

I think many of us strive to love God more. We pray, we fast, we give, we refrain, all in the desire to please God.

But how many times have I made a conscious effort to please my neighbor?

I can be nice. But I'm not talking about being nice. I'm talking about a deliberate effort to please someone else. And not just because it pleases God (even though it certainly does and everything we do is aimed at exactly that). And I'm not talking about helping someone in need, which of course, we are called to do as well. And I'm not talking about pleasing my husband or one of my kids, which at times I make a conscious effort to do. The relationship is different; I really don't have difficulty loving them. But my neighbor is different. I'm talking about doing something for no other reason than to see the smile on my neighbor's face.

Of course, love is so much more than pleasing another person. But I think it's maybe an area that I have neglected. How can I say I love the woman next door when I barely know her first name? How can I claim any part of this verse of Jesus' if days go by and I haven't even thought of her? I'm certainly not making any effort to please her.

Can this be pleasing to God?

Providence

The boys and I have just finished our latest reading of the Narnia Chronicles, The Horse and His Boy. We have a textbook that we use along with this, written primarily by Douglas Wilson. I love the discussion that takes place in this text. My kids are often groaning because they want to get into the Story, but through this study, their worldview is being more firmly grounded (whether they realize it or not).

Wilson comments that the underlying theme of The Horse and His boy is the role of Providence. This leads to a discussion on Divine Sovereignty versus Free Will. He claims that the two are not inconsistent with each other, but they are a mystery.

Here is a quote that he includes from Spurgeon:

"I never try to reconcile divine sovereignty and human responsibility because I never reconciled friends."

Derek said that was just an easy way of avoiding a difficult question, but I believe he has a point (Spurgeon that is...Derek may have a point as well.) We only reconcile enemies or people who are at odds with each other. The idea that providence and free will complement each other and work hand in hand is an intriguing thing to mull over.

Here's another thought about The Horse and His Boy. Aslan's presence is assumed throughout the whole book. His periodic appearances are not intended to tell us that he is absent the rest of the time. Rather, the appearances are to remind us that he is always present and guiding - it is just that we sometimes are privileged to see it.

Is that not awesome? I think that's exactly the way God works. Sometimes we are privileged to see it.

What I want my children to know, what I want my friends and family to come to see (if they don't already know this in their hearts), is that God truly is in control. Through Christ and Him alone is the way to God found. Apart from Him nothing really makes much sense. In Him all the mysteries of the universe unfold. With Him, there is life. And because of Him, absolutely nothing can separate me from the love of God.

The triune God is fulfilling His purpose in this world, and for some unfathomable reason, He allows me to be a part of that.