my wife and i went to "first friday fundamentals" last night, a gathering at epiphany fellowship. the topic was love. a weighty topic to say the least and the man about to preach admitted that he felt three years of research were needed to preach on the topic aright, he was given three weeks.
the room was packed, packed tighter than usual and maybe because of who was speaking but i like to think it's because Christ would the topic of conversation and proclamation. my line of sight was obstructed by two gigantic speakers and a pillar so seeing the brother up front was impossible. normally i like to see whoever talking; to see their facial expressions, their joy, their sadness, they boldness, their own amazement as their ministered to from God's word while ministering to others. but, thanks to the speaker and the pillar that was out of the question (i was glad for the pillar thought because it held the ceiling up). then i realized the visual congestion was good. even though the past few years have left me less and less "star struck" to the "who's who's" in the micro-fibers and subcultures of christianity (a whole separate blog in itself) my heart still wouldn't have the chance to be distracted by the man preaching or the very vibrant, very unique and creative hoodie he was wearing. so, i settled in to hear the love of God exposited (is that a word?).
he hit on three points and i hope i remember them correctly. i list them and then share how the convicted me, challenged me and encouraged me.
1) God's love is effectual and affectionate
2) God's love is carried out in community
3) God's love assumes detestation
God's love most certainly is effectual. it never misses and it always accomplishes what it sets out to do(Is. 46:8-10, 55:11, Rom 8:30). that wasn't the part that struck, i knew that and know that. i see that in scripture. that's a doctrine i get and believe with all my heart. what got me was that His love was affectionate. His effectualness and his affection go together. and his affection is obscure. obscure because He chooses to love sinners. isn't there a song that talks about "strange grace"? if there isn't there should be because a holy God's love and grace towards wicked, detestable, God-hating men and women most certainly is obscure, and this love and grace are received in the moment that a sinner trusts in Christ and all that He accomplished in His life, death, burial and resurrection.
so i thought of God's affection and my affection for God and then my affection for my neighbor (Lev. 19:18; Lk 10:25-37). i thought of how my affection and charity for others is a reflection of my love for God. i thought of my affection and love for people while i'm around them and my love and affection for those same people when i'm home alone with time to think of them and intercede for them. i was convicted and asked God to illuminate His word, as He illuminates my eyes and my heart so that my love for others in community and in private will be true and right and pleasing to Him. if you were there maybe you had some of the same things go on inside of your heart and mind.
we live in an individual, "ten-personal step" american society. it's a selfish society because naturally we're selfish people. consequently we have to be redeemed and changed in order to see God,things and people the way we out. God in His trinity is a perfect community so it's only fitting and biblical that we operate in close, intimate community ( i won't site any scripture here, just read the whole old testament, the book of acts, and paul's letters...the importance of community should punch you right in the face).
i thought of my experience with community, my sinful inclination to avoid some of the harder things that come with community (challenge, accountability) and i thought of my current situation concerning community. i'm a part of a fairly green church plant and the congregation is mostly made up of green believers who are brand new to the things of God. this is new and it's difficult at times so i prayed and asked God to guide me and show me how i ought to operate in it. i asked Him to give me a greater passion for His people and a passion to see more people who aren't His people become His people, and a passion to pour into and have my wife and i poured into by His people. if you were there maybe you had some of those same thoughts in your heart and your mind.
God's love assumes detestation. this was a big one for me. love for God assumes hatred for everything that is not God. maybe i said that wrong; true love for God means that you love nothing and no one more than God. my jumps as i'm writing this because i can remember when i was six years old (and i think unsaved) and my mother was holding me in her arms and she said, "anthony, sometimes i think i love you more than God." and at six years old i got angry with her, from what i can remember i was livid. "NEVER!!!", i said "NEVER MOM! NEVER! NEVER, EVER, EVER love anything more than God mom. EVER!" i will never forget that moment because at six years old i don't think i was saved but for some reason i got what Jesus was saying when he said, "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." i got, at six! and i recognized the danger in putting mere people before the God, the people creator and at six i warned my mother never to do that.
i thought of how i'm prone to and do that now. especially being newly married. i prayed that Christ's supremacy would be supreme in my heart and reflect in my life. i prayed that those whom i love and those things that i enjoy would have their place in place and their place would never supersede the place that Christ commands to have in my heart. when my love for God does not assume detestation and hatred for things and people other than Him i become an idolator, a bad leader and a fluffy, people pleasing social activist, humanitartian who's witness loses it's power because it's more focused on only loving people instead of loving God and His gospel and having my love of people flow from Him. maybe if you were there you thought and felt the same kinds of things in your heart and in your mind.
i need to go. my wife and i are having some people over the crib and we need to start cooking. pray that God would be glorified in our time spent with others. so glad i could finally blog something for real for real. jason will probably be the first to read this...love you bro. praise God for the new baby comin'!
grace and peace
ant
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways!
"For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?"
"Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?"
For from his and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
