Sarah Kjrsten (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} enthpenthka) wrote,@ 2008-05-11 18:26:00 |
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I'm a little later than usual today because I went to my aunt and uncle's house for lunch this afternoon. And let me tell you, it was amazing. I get so sick of my own cooking sometimes...
This was my last Sunday at school before I go home so sadly I can only bring you one more summary of 'Blazing Center'.
If you pursue your joy in God, you will be a loving person: you cannot be a loving person unless you pursue your joy in God.
Acts 20:35: "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'If is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
Unless we are engaged in a rigorous pursuit of God, we cannot love other people.
An Illustration of biblical love
2 Corinthians 8:1-5, 8
"And now brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extereme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will...I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others."
All of that ^ Paul calls love.
Biblical love originates in the grace of God--Grace has come down from God in power ("And now brothers we want you to know about the grace God has given the Macedonian churches"") Divine grace moves => love.
Poverty has not gone away and affliction/trial has increased ("Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.").
Overflowing/abundance of joy is maintained ("Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.").
Grace came down and empowered, it did not take away poverty nor severe trials, and joy overflowed and it overflowed in a wealth of generosity. They gave more than they should, begging Paul to let them help the Christians in Jerusalem.
This cannot be explained by human terms, it's divine grace.
John Piper defines biblical love as this: Love is a grace enabled impulse to expand joy in God's grace by extending it to others; love is the overflow of abundant joy in God that meets the needs of others.
1 Corinthians 13:3 "If I give all I possess to the poor, and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing"
What kind of motive we have defines our love. If it comes from the wrong heart, not from the over flow of joy found in God, our love is not from God and is shallow and self-serving.
But love is an emotion, can God really command emotion?
The Bible commands emotions everywhere:
+ Psalm 100 (gratitude)
+ 1 Peter 1:13 (hope)
+ Philippians 4:4 (joy)
+ Romans 12:15 (sorrow)
+ Ephesians 4 (compassion)
+ Romans 11:20 (fear)
+ Hebrews 13:5 (contentment)
While some people argue that love is only an action and emotions cannot be commanded, that assertion is false as seen above. We can "love" for selfish motivations, a desire to be recognized, to be at the center of attention. Only when we pursue our joy in God can we love without blemish or ulterior motivation.
People are hedonistic--we seek pleasure. We have a choice--mud pies in the gutter, or a vacation at the sea that God is offering us.
Joy is not based on material things, because joy is based on God and he is the ultimate satisfaction for our souls.
1 John 5:14-15: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his well, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we ask of him."
Asking for joy and satisfaction in God, falls within his will.
We're a tarnished scrap of metal, and as we seek out our joy in God, he polishes the grime away, and we reflect the sun-like brilliance of him. Others notice that we're shiny, so they look to see what is making as sparkle, and they see God.
This was my last Sunday at school before I go home so sadly I can only bring you one more summary of 'Blazing Center'.
If you pursue your joy in God, you will be a loving person: you cannot be a loving person unless you pursue your joy in God.
Acts 20:35: "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'If is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
Unless we are engaged in a rigorous pursuit of God, we cannot love other people.
An Illustration of biblical love
2 Corinthians 8:1-5, 8
"And now brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extereme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will...I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others."
All of that ^ Paul calls love.
Biblical love originates in the grace of God--Grace has come down from God in power ("And now brothers we want you to know about the grace God has given the Macedonian churches"") Divine grace moves => love.
Poverty has not gone away and affliction/trial has increased ("Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.").
Overflowing/abundance of joy is maintained ("Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.").
Grace came down and empowered, it did not take away poverty nor severe trials, and joy overflowed and it overflowed in a wealth of generosity. They gave more than they should, begging Paul to let them help the Christians in Jerusalem.
This cannot be explained by human terms, it's divine grace.
John Piper defines biblical love as this: Love is a grace enabled impulse to expand joy in God's grace by extending it to others; love is the overflow of abundant joy in God that meets the needs of others.
1 Corinthians 13:3 "If I give all I possess to the poor, and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing"
What kind of motive we have defines our love. If it comes from the wrong heart, not from the over flow of joy found in God, our love is not from God and is shallow and self-serving.
But love is an emotion, can God really command emotion?
The Bible commands emotions everywhere:
+ Psalm 100 (gratitude)
+ 1 Peter 1:13 (hope)
+ Philippians 4:4 (joy)
+ Romans 12:15 (sorrow)
+ Ephesians 4 (compassion)
+ Romans 11:20 (fear)
+ Hebrews 13:5 (contentment)
While some people argue that love is only an action and emotions cannot be commanded, that assertion is false as seen above. We can "love" for selfish motivations, a desire to be recognized, to be at the center of attention. Only when we pursue our joy in God can we love without blemish or ulterior motivation.
People are hedonistic--we seek pleasure. We have a choice--mud pies in the gutter, or a vacation at the sea that God is offering us.
Joy is not based on material things, because joy is based on God and he is the ultimate satisfaction for our souls.
1 John 5:14-15: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his well, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we ask of him."
Asking for joy and satisfaction in God, falls within his will.
We're a tarnished scrap of metal, and as we seek out our joy in God, he polishes the grime away, and we reflect the sun-like brilliance of him. Others notice that we're shiny, so they look to see what is making as sparkle, and they see God.
