Some of us have heard the comment, meant to be humorous, “I told her I loved her when we got married. If anything changes, I’ll let her know.” Many of us who share the typical male proclivities may almost naturally think that if we provide for our wives and protect them, we are demonstrating love. But there is a far greater depth of meaning here.
There’s this one word that causes great discomfort to many. It’s the word “head.” To ears sensitized to any hint of subservience and always on the lookout for signs of possible abuse, the idea that one member of the marital union is called “the head” to which the other is to subject themself can seem off-putting, even offensive. It can feel risky in the extreme.
In tiny ways as we go about our daily lives, we naturally spread the Love of God. People see more than we realize and seeds that have the potential to change the landscape of people’s lives are planted.
People may sometimes shout at their dogs or otherwise treat their dogs poorly. Dogs keep no record of the wrongs they have suffered. People may occasionally forget to feed their dogs or neglect them in other ways. Dogs endure it all and continue believing the best about their people.
We currently live in a “famine” bringing uncertainty, insecurity, and unrest. We live in a seemingly desolate land filled with tribulation. Things look pretty bad for us here in the valley of the shadow of death.
The idea of speaking the truth in love has been taken out of context by many and used as a pretext for a punitive approach to “helping” those who have stumbled. Under the guise of “tough love” many have been harmed and deeply hurt by Christians who misread this verse to be saying that we are to do whatever it takes to correct the faults of others, no matter the cost.
It would be very easy for me to spend my energy refuting errant teaching. I could argue from scripture, call out poor interpretive practices, and criticize exegesis. I could point out scriptures missing from the “proofs” put forward for the doctrine being presented.
We may wonder if someone is beyond hope. We may find their attitudes and actions repulsive. What they do might turn our stomachs. It might make us furiously angry. We may be hurt by their obstinate and stubborn refusal even to hear the truth.
This verse recently gave me pause. The verse was John 16:27, which says, “the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. (NASB 2020) I was surprised, stunned really, and a little frightened, at the word “because.”
When we fall into performance patterns instead of depending on Him, our love for others is an expression of the flesh rather than of Christ.
The deeds, or works, God values are those done by faith in Him, not those done by our attempts to merit His favor.
Remember that I mentioned that verses 3-14 are a single sentence in Greek? The next two words in our text bring that into the forefront. They are “in love.”
You are so free that Paul had to address with the Corinthian church the idea that everything is permissible.
God’s love, agapé love, that’s true love.
A Few Thoughts on Relationships and Pain There are two major perspectives from which we need to view relationship. 1) The spiritual perspective—relationship with God. Some call this vertical relationship. 2) Earthly relationship—relationship with other people. Some call this horizontal relationship. Earthly relationships do two primary things. 1) Relationships, primarily marriage but also family relationships,…
How Jesus is Manifested As we come to rely upon the truth about what the Lord Jesus has done in and for us and who we are in Christ Jesus, the spiritual fruit we bear becomes more noticeable to others. What is great about this is that we generally think we are just going about…
Experiencing God’s Love Trust in God grows as we come to know Him more intimately and relationally by living with Him through the hills and valleys of life. As we find He has walked with us through the valley of the shadow of death, we come to trust that He is always with us. Trust…
Superhero Complex We cannot expect people in the world to live godly lifestyles. Neither can we expect world governments to be run according to the laws of The Kingdom. For far too long many of God’s people have been distracted by their attempt to right wrongs and fight against evil. For far too long many…
Faith, Hope, & Love Galatians 5:5-6 “For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” (ESV) Faith is expressed through love. I think this is a particularly important point. If we miss…
What Wondrous Love Isaiah 42:6–7 (NIV)“I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from…
This is useful for our everyday lives, perhaps especially as election time approaches, as well as our lives in the Church.
Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.” (NASB 2020) I have had some bad beliefs over the course of my life. From an…
Just like Jesus 1 John 4:16–19 “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day…
This is What God is Like God is love. Read this:1 Corinthians 13:4–8 (NKJV)4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity,…
Peace with God Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (CSB) 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (CSB) When we become a new creation, according to 2 Peter 1:4, we get to…
