We are going to take some time to take a look at the parallel between 1 Corinthians 13, the Love Chapter and Matthew 5, the Beatitudes. There is some very interesting alignment here. Clearly the Bible says that we, as followers of Christ, will be known by our love, not our strong opinions about our deep convictions. We should have strong opinions about our deep convictions, but the Bible says we are to be known by our love. Do not confuse meekness for weakness because it is not! Meekness is incredibly strong because it is conviction and passion that has been brought under control for the Master’s use! Dunamis power of the Holy Spirit doesn’t just explode in every direction without Kingdom purpose!
LOVE AND TRUTH
Most Christians seem to be more emotionally charged than they are spiritually mature. The slightest political statement so easily draws people out and we are living in the most emotionally charged political climate I’ve ever seen in this Nation.
So many people are so spun up right now and we really need to have the Lord’s heart in it all.
Even if people are short on information they’re never short on opinions. Even when we don’t have all facts still argue like have all the answers.
The Elders have been purposed times of fasting and praying over the past few weeks to more effectively address these important topics of LOVE and TRUTH. We are called by God to be aligned with His Right-side up Kingdom in our upside-down world.
LORD LESSEN OUR REACTION. DEEPEN OUR RESPONSE.
1 Corinthians 13:1-7 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ESV
Love is easy when everybody is being nice to you but the love of Christ in us shocks those who receive our undeserved kindness even when they're hateful. We need more of this kind of love from all of us believers in our world. #LessenMyReactionDeepenMyResponse
Saul of Tarsus was breathing murderous threats to Christians torturing and killing many who served Jesus to their dying breath. Imagine the shame Saul must have felt once he came to the saving knowledge of Christ. I wonder how often he rehearsed the faces of those he killed before he became a Christian. Fast forward and consider the apostle Paul taking his last breath on earth and suddenly he is entering heaven to the cheers of those he martyred. That’s the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
There are some very real issues at stake in our nation. As I point to some of these issues in the upcoming election, I want to remind you that politicians last about 4 years while friends and family last a lifetime. Do not fall into the trap of sacrificing long term relationships in arguments about short term candidates. If you can’t disagree without disrespect, then don’t discuss and don’t debate. Somebody has to be the adult in the room.
We are looking at two very different perspectives in the candidates running for President.
On the Andy Griffith Show, Barney told Andy he should just let Opie "decide for himself" how he wanted to live… Andy had these words of wisdom. "No, I'm afraid it don't work that way. You can't let a young’n decide for himself. He'll grab at the first flashy thing with shiny ribbons on it. Then, when he finds out there's a hook in it, it's too late. Wrong ideas come packaged with so much glitter that it's hard to convince ‘em that other things might be better in the long run. All a parent can do is say 'wait' and 'trust me' and try to keep temptation away."
This is a quote from Dr. King. Not Dr. Martin Luther King Jr but rather his niece, Dr. Alveda King, “While I do not make formal political endorsements, I can say: I will be voting for Christian values in November, and I believe it is the duty of every faithful American to do the same. In the journey of Christian life, we wear many hats along the road. There is the career hat, the "fun" hat, the "political" hat, and for some the "church" hat. As Christians, we might want to consider, that there is one hat that we should never remove. That hat is the "helmet of salvation." Removing our helmet can leave us vulnerable and open to compromise, idolatry, and man pleasing circumstances.”
We do have a responsibility to stand for truth but having the name of Jesus on our lips isn’t enough. We must learn to have the nature of Christ in our hearts.
When someone is hateful being the bigger person seems good. But we should never be motivated to be bigger or better than anyone. We must learn to be broken and surrendered to Jesus enough to love no matter what is done or said. I need his help with this every single day!
Remember we are salt and that makes the truth painful to a sinfully wounded world. Be as loving and considerate as you possibly can without ever compromising the truth.
GP2RL: Read 1 Corinthians 13 every day this week praying and asking God to lessen our reaction and deepen our response.