What Does "LOVE" Mean?

.
Aren't the words of little children amazing? Before children are old enough to be jaded, their insights are fascinating! They speak so simply, yet with so much truth. I relish the answers several children gave to the question, "What does love mean?"

One child said, "Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." A five year-old explained, "Love is when a girl puts on perfume, and a guy puts on cologne, and they go out and smell each other." Beyond the funny answers, four year-old Billy spoke truth. "When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."

If little Billy already understands this, it won't be long before he understands the intent of Psalms 19:14. "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart, be pleasing in Your sight, O, Lord." He'll soon know the power and the blessings of speaking Jesus' name in love. The sound of it from Billy's mouth will be different and safe.

But, what about us - does Jesus know His name is safe in our mouths? With safe meaning the words we speak will be in love, and not contradicted by our actions. Within the walls of the church, Jesus' name is safe, but is it safe outside the church walls?

With the church we sing, "I love Thy Kingdom, Lord, the house of Thine abode." But, if we speak any ill word about His church, can Jesus know His name is safe in our mouths?

With the church we sing, "O, to be like Thee...Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart." But, if the world does not see Christ in us; instead seeing us looking to much like them, can Jesus know His name is safe with us?

With the church we sing, "Blessed be the tie that binds, our hearts in Christian love." But, if we slander or gossip a child of God, can Jesus trust how we will speak His name?

Yet, from another perspective, perhaps, Jesus knows his name is too safe in our mouths. Is His name safe, as in being locked away in a vault, far too seldom unlocked to speak His name? We sing, "I love to tell the story of Jesus and His love." But, if we ignore the opportunities to the story, is his name too safe?

Little Billy has it right - he's heard his name spoken in love, safely spoken from his mother's mouth. And, Billy longs for the sound of it; just as we, too, long to hear the sweet sound of our name safe in the mouth of Jesus!

Let yourself imagine the first time you'll see Jesus. He will be sitting at the right hand of God. Jesus will see you coming before the throne. What are the words you most want to hear Jesus say?

"Father, Father, here comes Your child, _______. You've know him as Your child. You've known this little child because my blood has covered ______ all these years."

Imagine God's reply, "Yes, Jesus, I know my child. Clothed in Your righteousness, this child looks just like You." Then, hear the sweetest words, "Well done, My good and faithful child. Enter into the joys of Thy Lord."

We will never hear a sweeter sound than when our names are safely spoken from the lips of our Savior. So, let us purpose to speak every word in love. Let our words reveal our love for one another, our love for Jesus, and our love for His Church.

Is His name safe with you? Is your name safe with Jesus? It can be! And, in Jesus you can answer the question, "What does love mean?"

WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?

.
When we say we are Christians, what do we mean? In our pluralistic society, Christianity is often viewed as just one more philosophy.

Christianity is not a philosophical construct. In spiritual infancy, becoming a Christian is a philosophical redirection of one’s life. The behaviors expected by the redirection are seen as being Christian. But, Christianity should not remain only a philosophical template of one who purposes to live for Him.

The philosophies of men, the “systems of principles for the conduct of life” (Webster), negate the leading of Christ, and the indwelling Holy Spirit. Christianity is constrained by being reduced to a set of ethical standards and moral constructs which we follow as law.

Because Jesus came not only to save us, but also that we may have life and have it more abundantly, many people equate the gospel with being a philosophical means of self-fulfillment and gain. In the assurance of abundance, they easily develop a “what’s in it for me” form of Christianity. When Christ becomes solely a self-centered means of abundance - a health, wealth and prosperity gospel - Christianity is debased to philosophy; no higher than the wisdom of men and void of the Spirit.

Defining Christianity as more than a philosophy is not a semantic ploy. Christianity is fundamentally a very different premise. Philosophy, born in the finite minds of men, is for lifting up the purposes of men. The call of Christianity, born before time from the infinite I AM, is for lifting up God. Philosophies seek to uphold the will of man. As Christians, we seek to subjugate our wills to His will. We trust the promise that He will lift us up. Christ does the lifting, not us.

Why does the distinction matter? Lifting His call higher than the call of human wisdom reminds us His ways are much higher than mans’. Therefore, Christianity is not a philosophy of self-will for our glory, but is full submission to the Father’s will for His glory. And, real Christianity is submitting to the Word, all of the Word, even the parts we wish weren’t there – just as Jesus did. Remember, at the very crux of the gospel, becoming the Perfect Sacrifice for our sins, Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me” (Matthew 26:39). But, then He submitted, even unto death.

Perhaps, we can concur on this definition of being a Christian. It is our submission to Christ just as Christ submitted to the will of His Father. It seems every other picture of Christianity fits within this frame. The definition is simplistic, but it parallels Christ’s words. “For I have come down from Heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38).

Christ did not live by the myriad philosophies of culture, or by the conflicting perceptions of His followers. He sought to do only His Father’s will. Thus, by following Christ’s example we can answer the question, “What is a Christian?”
.

Rhythms

All of life is rhythmic - a pattern of days and waves. We depend on the rhythms of currents and seasons, of mountains and valleys, of life and death. We are balanced, ordered and secured by rhythms.

Here in the Rockies, we are keenly aware of the seasonal rhythms. The Creation which retreated in winter is being renewed in the spring. We revel in the warmer, brighter days, with a sense of expectancy for the days to come. We are, indeed, balanced by rhythms.

Within the circles of both my spiritual and my earthly families, it has been a grueling winter. The presssures of life have overwhelmed many. Like daylight which is consumed by night, the light in their eyes has been consumed by darkness. Joy and optimism have for a time been consumed by sadness and anxiety.

Yesterday, while gazing at snow-covered mountains, from the valley I heard the trill of a Meadowlark. It was a heartening reminder that the God of the mountains is also the God of the valleys. It reminded me that...

Life is easy when you're up on the mountain,

and you've got peace of mind like you've never known.

But, then things change when you're down in the valley;

don't lose faith for you're never alone.

You talk of faith when you're up on the mountain,

but talk comes so easy when life's at its best.

Now, it's down in the valley of trials and temptations;

that's when faith is really put to the test.

Oh, the God of the mountain is still God in the valley;
when things go wrong, He'll make them right.

And, the God of the good times is still God in the bad times;

the God of the day is still God in the night.

-Author unknown

The blessings of spring reminds us of the life's rhythms. This season of refreshing is but a season. It is a time to marvel at the God of the Mountains and Valleys. It is a time to revel in His grace, draw ever-closer to Him and prepare for what life may bring. Indeed, faith comes easy when we are up on the mountain, but fervent faith sustains us when passing through the valleys. Having an attitude of "passing through" is key; knowing we will pass through this valley and stand on the mountain again.

I give thanks for the trill of a Meadowlark which reminded me of life's rhythms. I give thanks to God who created and controls life's rhythms. I am balanced, ordered, and secured by God's rhythms.

All my praise is to Him!

"CUT" and "PASTE"

.
I grew up when "CUT" and "PASTE" required scissors and glue. Today's high-tech version is amazing, but I still miss the smell of white paste. Yet, even for novices like me, it's not long before we depend on the “CUT” and “PASTE” commands. We can take bits and pieces, cut from this and that, and paste it all together. When we’re all done, we think, “Hey, that really is amazing!"

"CUT" and "PASTE" may be good, but it is not good for the gospel.

A "CUT" and "PASTE" gospel amazed the Apostle Paul. He wrote to the Galatians, "I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel" (Galatians 1:6). Paul found Peter deserting the Truth for a different gospel. Peter withdrew from eating with the Gentiles in an effort to placate the Jews, the party of the circumcision. But, when Paul "saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, [he said to Peter] in the presence of all, 'If you being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews ... knowing that a man is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 1:14,16).

Peter tried to cut pieces from the Old Law and paste them into the New Law, creating a different gospel. Like Peter, religious people today try to "CUT" and "PASTE" pieces from many faiths into the One True Faith. Paul rebuked Peter for the hypocrisy of a "CUT" and "PASTE" gospel. Like Paul, Christians must resist those who create a different gospel.

Remember, "Those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24).

Remember, "Everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it..." (Eph.3:14).

Remember, "Everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book; if anyone adds to them... and if anyone takes away from the words; God will take away his part from the tree of life" (Rev. 22:18-19).

The message is clear - a "CUT" and "PASTE" gospel is not the saving gospel. We must not take our favored bits and pieces, gluing them together to create a different gospel. Therefore, we must must strive to know the complete and uncut gospel, so we will "not shrink back from declaring to you the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). Then, we truly can say to God, "Consider how I love Your precepts. The sum of Your word is Truth, and everyone of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting" (Ps. 119:159-160).

No matter how we "CUT" and "PASTE," it just won't do. When it concerns the gospel, put away the scissors and glue.