In a real sense, there is an element of self interest in following “the way of love” (1 Corinthians 14:1 NIV). Continuing last days post if we are controlling and manipulative we might gain power and influence, but we will miss out on the abundant life. And with this, and with the many other games we play, we also miss our on “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8). I am not saying I have arrived, but I have at least come to understand that His ways are the ways of love, and that His ways are best for me and for the whole world. And if I am not yet where I want to be, I can thank God that I am not where I once was! And what I want to say this morning, is that it is clear to me that to the extent that we obey the command to love God completely (Matthew 22;37), is the extent to which we are equipped to follow the way of love, is the extent to which we enter onto fullness of life (John 10:10b).
It is the upside down Kingdom! “He who would gain his life must loose it” and “the last shall be first” (Matthew 16:25; 20:16). And yes, there is an element of self interest here too, but it is pleasing to Him. It is “laying up treasure in heaven” (6:19-21). It is operating in faith without which it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). And to seek to love God with all our our hearts, souls, mind and strength is to follow the way of maturity, learning to delay the demanding gratification of the the sinful nature. It is the path of life where in His presence is fullness of joy; And pleasures for evermore (Psalm 16:11). But there is a catch. “No one having tasted the old wine immediately desires the new, for he says the old is better.” (Luke 5:39).
The old wine is not just about alcohol of course, or even primarily about alcohol. It’s a parable, it’s about anything, known and unknown, that hinders our ability to love God with all we are and have. It is about religion not motivated by the passionate love of God. It is about living life without dealing with the baggage, the the issues we all have, known and unknown. So why do we still desire the old wine? Speaking for myself, it was familiar, it was a way of dulling the pain, but only for a while. It is the fact that bad habits are easy to get into, and hard to get our of, while good habits take work the other way round. When we persist however, when we push through the pain, we encounter joy as Jesus did when He pushed through (Hebrews 12:2). And then we find that the new wine is not only better, it is life giving.
Father, I keep coming back to this thought that Justification (freedom from the penalty of sin) is free, but sanctification (freedom from the power and pollution of sin) will cost us all we are and have. In particular we will need to love You with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. But Lord we are the winners when we do this. We need Your help Lord, I do, and we ask for it this morning. Thank You that we love because You first loved us (1 John 4:19) in Jesus Name Amen
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment