FOR THE LOVE OF GOD...Divine Love #2

In the last Post I alluded to the different ways, "LOVE," is used in the Word of God. In order to preface their importance, you have to go back to the first and greatest of all Commandments from our Lord. "THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD, WITH ALL THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THEY MIND." The word, "love," appears a little more than 300 times in Bible, and its derivations like, loves, loved, etc., appear another 300 times. It also can very depending on what version of the Word of God you are using; however, the point is that this word was important. Jesus and his Disciples used it repeatedly so that the early church, and its saints would clearly understand love in all of its forms and remains a key feature that separates the true children of God from all else.

Searching through Christian writer's interpretations of the original Greek, and comparing it to prominent secular authors, like Erich Fromm, we get a gap about as wide as the Grand Canyon. His spineless treatise, "The Art of Loving," misses not only the bullseye, but the entire target. This secular discourse, among others, make it clear that this world's version of love has little or no resemblance to what God shows us in Scripture. Here are the different ways that love is used in the Bible:

1. AGAPEO is the Greek verb used for the highest form of love. It means an "active devotion to the welfare and happiness of the one loved." This loves gives without ever calculating the cost and without ever expecting a reward. The recognition for this godly love happens when your soul is counted among the faithful. Jesus refers to this love in Matt 12:24, when he says that "the LOVE of many shall wax cold." He is talking to believers then and about believers in the future. Has your love begun to wax cold?
2. STORGIA is the Greek word natural family affection. For example, everyone loves their mother. 
3. PHILEO is the Greek word the affections of friendship.
4. EROS is the Greek word for sensual or erotic love. 

It is important, some say "crucial" to know the differences when you are reading your Bible. John 13:35 says, "By this shall all men know ye are my disciples, if ye have AGAPEO one to another." I fear many of us have either begun to, "wax cold," or know someone who already has done so...It is a direct sign of the end of days when even believers begin to follow this path. Satan has a believer right where he wants them when true AGAPE love steadily disintegrates into spiritual winter. Even if you never freeze, practicing, "sloppy agape," is not only dangerous to your soul, but it also dims the light of your Christianity, because you are now no different than most.

Hypocrisy abounds and often it is impossible to see the saints from the hypocrites. Old Testament Pharisee's prove that hypocrisy has been around a long time. Jesus knew this all to well when he said, "My Little Children, let us not AGAPEO in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth." You can write about it all you want, you can talk the talk, but unless it shows up in your life, accompanied by truth, you are seriously wasting your time and God's...

More to follow on this tiny, but critical word.

The Digital Disciple 

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD...Divine Love #1

My apology to my readers...Some of you know that I have had some serious health and other related issues recently. That's the bad news. The good news is that I am almost back in the saddle with the proper temperament to begin writing again.


It's hard for me to imagine a term in any language that is more abused in  our daily lives than the simple word, "Love." This universally misunderstood, but critical element of the human experience has had many of us, including me, searching for a meaningful and useful explanation. If you have read any of my previous postings, you know that my source for genuine knowledge and understanding is singular. The Holy Bible is a remarkable book for many reasons, but consider this one in particular today. These Books were written between two to three thousand years ago, and they remain as applicable to our daily lives now, as the day they were penned...That is the macro look at Scripture, now for the micro look.


The average person will live 75 years these days, and many who read and study the Word of God have yet to appreciate the fact that what you read as a teenager, has nothing to do with what you read as a young adult, a middle age success or an old age vintage wine like myself. I find that there are two processes going on simultaneously, that frankly are far more than amazing. As you gain tiny bits of wisdom from God over your short lifespan, the Bible changes with you. It is almost as if the words and their meaning have a life of their own that somehow keeps up with your personal growth with God.

I find that the same is true with love. When you were a youth, you thought like a youth and felt like a youth, especially when all the hormones kicked in...Remember thinking that you were in love and couldn't bear the thought of living another day without that special person in your life? Those feelings were natural and God given, but had little to do with love. Later on in life, you looked for other things, because after all you needed someone that you felt comfortable having children with for the next five to 10 years. So in addition to good looks, your prospective spouse had to stable, successful, and self-confident. Still later in life, you hoped that no matter what decision you made about the person you thought you loved, that they would always be respectful, considerate, wise and fun to be with for years to come.


With God there is no maturation process over time. He exists without time and its contraints physically or emotionally. His example of love never looks at the exterior of a person, including their looks or size of their wallet. If you are blind or missing a leg or arm, he does not care. If you are tall, short or just plain ugly, he does not care. If you are short and fat with a bald head, he does not care. If you are black, white, brown or red, he does not care. What God loves is your pure soul. His example of loving every soul that He has blessed with the breath of life, is called "agapeo." This Greek word and other expressions regarding love be in the next post.

Media today has us fixated on all things external. Men need washboard abs and hair transplants. Women need special hairdo's, bigger breasts and complete makeup lines to go to bed pretty and wake up prettier. If all else fails there are face-lifts, chin-tightening, lipo-suction and pills. Pills to make you happy, to make you sad, to lift you up, to take you down, to keep you awake, to put you to sleep, and on an on...


The first lesson in divine love is that exists on the inside, not the outside. 




The Digital Disciple

SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION

                                                                                     PURE WHITE TULIPS
Fascinating hardly describes or does justice to the clear, unmistakable path laid out by God the Father for each of our lives. This path is divine and is the primary requisite for all those who believe...This divine dictum may be the singularly most important part of true spiritual growth. 


Nestled in the early chapters of Proverbs we find a 4,000 year old the divine formula that can spiritually evolve any believer to new levels of righteousness before God. When you are born-again, you are quite literally transformed from a sinner to a saint. Please don't confuse "saint" with any other batch of saints from another religious order. I am talking about those who have become saints in the NT use of that word; a saint is a believer. So now that you have become a saint with your name indelibly recorded in the "Lamb's Book of Life," you need to evolve toward the spiritual goal of perfect righteousness, and Proverbs blazes a divine path for all saints, who care to ascend on His divine path.


You see we have all sorts of saints. Some stand in place or tread water for years. Some actually retreat into prior sinfulness. Some go back and forth with one foot in and one foot out for years, even life sometimes. These are the "froward" chameleons we are warned about all through the Bible. In the world, they look, smell and act "worldly." In church, they look, smell and act like saints. So what are they really? I call them chameleons, but only God really knows their destiny or has the right to judge.


For the saint that genuinely wants to pursue godliness and righteousness, there is only one path. Believe it or not there is a real, this world, this time, divine promise that happens, NOW, to those who follow His path towards a perfect spirit. Even though I have definitely have put the "cart before the horse," all saints need to know this truth. God promises to lengthen your life here on earth, if you listen, learn and heed his direction. Here is the proof:

1. Proverbs 3:2 "For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee."
2. Proverbs 3:16 "Length of days is in her right hand; an in her left hand riches and honour."
3. Proverbs 4:4 "He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words; keep my commandments, and LIVE.

The early chapters of Proverbs are my personal favorite teachings for several reasons, not the least of which is that they were written by King Solomon himself many years ago, sometime after he became the second King of the combined Jewish nation. If you recall from an earlier post, Solomon was given a wish by God Almighty, and he chose neither riches or power, but WISDOM. God was so impressed with His new King that he gave it to him, along with riches and power at a later date. Somehow Solomon knew that there was only one place to obtain wisdom, and that was from God directly. Proverbs is all about wisdom and confirms its value to be beyond any riches or power in this world. Solomon refers to it often as "her," so when you read it do not get confused. He also refers to "her" metaphorically as a "Tree of Life."

                                           How High Can You Grow?

This metaphor is simpler, and hopefully easier for the average saint to grasp and hold dear. Early in the life of a white tulip, while still completely submerged in soil, it begins to grow some roots. Life will only continue if it can find water and the rich nutrients contained in the same dirt that was used to create us. A similar search by a saint is for knowledge and understanding. Without those nutrients the tulip will never make it through the soil to find sunlight. Knowledge and understanding of the words of God, including his commandments, will create the spiritual strength needed to breakout and grow toward the light of God. 

Now that it has broken through all resistance, the stem can begin its climb. The accumulation of knowledge and understanding was done by the saint on his or her own. The stem and its growth come from God in the form of DIVINE WISDOM. He takes your knowledge and understanding, forging a new gift to us all. Once imparted the stem can grow straight and unfettered by the world around it. Soon after the stem of wisdom is complete, begins the magnificent blossom of HEAVENLY DISCRETION.  

In Proverbs 2:10, Solomon says that when wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant to thy soul; DISCRETION shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee. We will study discretion at a later date, but you need to take stock of your own, personal spiritual evolution. Are you still underground groping around or have you fed on the Word of God and broken out into the light of God's clear plan for you?

                                               Buried to Blossom

God bless all who read this and the Book of Proverbs, with the strength of knowledge and understanding, so that they may live long and prosper.

The Digital Disciple

ABOUT THE WRITER...

Sometimes I get my ideas for writing in the most unlikely places...In the past I have gotten them from complete strangers, as well as many from my family. Usually they have no idea that a word or a comment sticks with me for days and sometimes weeks. Seems to me that good ideas or observations have a ripening process in my brain. Couple that with time spent with the words of God, and "voila," you have a new posting. 

Recently I have been told that my postings are too long and often difficult to comprehend. All I can say is that I write until I stop. The sentences turn into paragraphs, and you know the rest of the story. I feel that if I limit myself to fewer words, you will not get a clear picture. Believe it or not I try to be concise and right to the point. If you are looking for a nifty paragraph for a daily challenge or something to provide instant inspiration, you are reading the wrong blog. 

My mission is simple. God's words hide in plain sight. We all have Bibles, most have computers, tablets and cell phones as well. They are all capable of providing you with His words to live by. We can read it over and over again, with little or no genuine comprehension of what the writer said or what God intended for you to learn. Our complex lives cause us to make so many other things more important than God or His Word...I know because I lived that way for my own 40 years in the wilderness. 

Think about how packed your life is today with all your many responsibilities. We all have schedules to meet and work to get done. We have children to manage, schools to attend, radio's to listen to and TV's that fill your mind with foolishness and fantasy. By the time we crawl into bed at night, who has time to study the Word of God and pray with a contrite heart? Some of us go through the motions and fall asleep in the process. Others just shrug their shoulders and plan to save it for another night. 

This blog intends to fill an important gap for those in a hurry by stimulating your ability to think about God, your soul and your lives, both in this life and the next. There are no jokes or clever lines here, just solid spiritual meat and potatoes for you to cut up and chew all you want as you strive for knowledge of God and understanding of his words. According to Proverbs 2, if you accomplish this part, He will then impart "wisdom" to you, and from there the Bible says, you will learn, "discretion" that will preserve you.

This blog cannot be skimmed anymore than whatever version of God's Word you have in your possession. My perspective is as unbiased as possible, but will never be perfect. My attitude affects my writing. The pain in my right hip affects my writing, as do all of the family relationships in my life...Remember only God's Word is perfect! I am a redeemed sinner with a gift that I believe came from my Lord; and so I will continue to write...


The Digital Disciple