Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008
Measuring Tape?
It’s pretty subjective – but sometimes I’d like to think there’s a way to measure where our Spiritual lives are with God.
And if that measuring tape had a scale, then the units would be in “love”(s).
You’re probably like, what the heck? Love’s so cliche, I thought you were going to say something insightful – but at the end of the day, too many of us lowball what love really means in God’s eye. And I doubt we can fully fathom and understand the power of God’s love for us.
Most of us probably refer to the verses found in 1 Cor 13 when thinking about the definition of love.
Love is patient; love is kind and envies no one. Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude; never selfish, not quick to take offense….
But if you look carefully (as I’ve done) you’ll come to realize that these are only characteristics of love. You don’t measure the ability to love by gauging a person’s patience. That’s just measuring someone’s patience. You don’t measure love by counting the instances (or lack) of boastful acts.
Dictionary.com defines:
love
noun, verb, loved, lov⋅ing.-noun
1. a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.
2. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.
3. sexual passion or desire.
But I think you’d agree that love is not measured by warm and fuzzy feelings or passionate sexual desires! (And if you are without passionate affection for a significant other, that doesn’t mean your incapable of love)
So here’s what the Bible says,
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
- 1 John 3:16
And it makes sense, that we’d be learning what love is from God. And what this short passage of scripture shows us is that - love is demonstrated through sacrifice.
Love observed by what we are willing to give up. I love my tv shows, therefore I am willing to give up freetime to watch it. I love my family, therefore I give up other engagements for them. I love my material goods, therefore give up money to acquire it.
What are we giving up when we follow God? Is our love growing for God?
(But) While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- Romans 5:7–8(And) This is love: Not that we loved God. But that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
- 1 John 4:10
By this, God demonstrates the ultimate act of love for us, by giving us His son; Jesus. Not that we loved him first, but that he loved us. So in learning to love God, we also need to understand His love for us, then the rest will become a natural response.
So going back to this measuring stick analogy of mine, we need to be aware that it measures two things; First, God’s love for us — and second, our response love for God.
When we know someone loves us, it’s hard not to love them back.
So, instead of fumbling around in the dark when you get the occasional question, “So how have you been Spiritually?”
I’d like to present what Ken Taylor once said, but with an added question.
Is your acknowledgement of God’s love for you growing?
Is your love for God growing?
God sacrificed his only son to demonstrate his love for us! Do we understand that? And are we willing to give it all up for God? Are we ready to say what Paul said:
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
- Phil 1:21