Sweet Sisters,
Would you live life differently if God were to suddenly reveal to you that on a certain date your life would be over? Would you treat the people in your life differently if you knew that you only had a certain amount of time left with them?
The older I get, the more I realize that each day we have is fragile and precious. Jesus said in Matthew 6:34 (Debbie’s paraphrase) “Live in the moment. Each day is enough on its own.”
Many of us have had the experience of suddenly losing someone we love. I think many of us have also had the experience of being in a relationship with someone that needed “fixing” and before we could “fix” it, they were suddenly gone.
As I contemplated these questions, I wondered, “What does God have to say about this dilemma?
As I read through God’s word, I’ve noticed that there is a theme that runs throughout the Bible. Sometimes I see it in black and white. Sometimes I sense it between the lines.
The theme I see is that God loves me and wants me to love Him. And that God wants me to love others.
You see it over and over in the Old Testament. Five of the ten commandments are about loving God and five are about loving others. Many of the laws in Leviticus are about doing what is fair and right to those around you. Many of the proverbs deal with our relationship to others. In the Major and Minor prophets, God is constantly chastising His people for the way they treat Him and each other.
I want to focus this week on what Jesus taught about our relationships with Him and with those around us.
In Matthew chapters 5 – 7 we find what is called “The Sermon on the Mount” (this is an editorial comment made by scholars because Jesus was sitting on the side of a mountain when he taught it). He teaches in these chapters extensively about how we are to live and treat one another and then in chapter 7 verse 12, He sums it all up:
So in everything, do to others
what you would have them do to you,
for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
We call this, “The Golden Rule”. Treat others the way you want to be treated.
In three of the four Gospels, Matthew 22:35 – 40, Mark 12:28-31 and Luke 10:27, Jesus is asked what is the greatest commandment. All three times Jesus’ answer is (Debbie’s paraphrase) “Love God. Love others.”
I think I have a pretty good handle on what it means to love God. For me it means giving Him control of my life and striving to live life His way. I question more what it means to love others. All of my life I have struggled with being co-dependent. Co-dependency has been described as “nurturing gone berserk”. I based my happiness on other people being happy but they had to be happy in the way I deemed to be best for them. I learned that this was not love. It was control. So, what does it look like to love others?
I Corinthians 13:4-8 gives us insight into loving others:
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
In these four verses in my Bible, there are 15 descriptions about how we are to love others. Take a minute and count them for yourself. Write them down.
Colossians 3:12 – 17 talks about as God’s chosen people the kind of clothing we should wear.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Notice that verse 12 begins with the word “therefore”. Remember our rule. What-fore is the therefore there for? The answer is at the end of verse 11.
but Christ is all,
and is in all.
I am particularly drawn to two verses in this passage. Verse 14 and verse 17.
14 And over all these virtues put on love,
which binds them all together in perfect unity.
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed,
do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Love others. Love God.
The last passages I want to share with you today are in the book of Romans. The first one is Romans 12:9 – 21.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
The second is in Romans 13:8-10.
8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Sweet Sisters, what I see described in all the passages we have looked at today is a description of a way of life. If I choose to live each day loving God and loving people the way I see in these passages, I don’t need to be concerned about how much time I have left or if the last words I said to someone were the last words I would ever get to say to them, because I am focused on taking each day as it comes and doing the best I can to love God and love others. I also don’t need to be concerned about getting my needs met because God is faithful and has promised that if we live life His way, He will provide everything we need.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
Debbie