True Communication
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”
1 Corinthians 13:1
Have you ever spoken to a parking meter? Or poured out your heart to a street lamp? No? It is equally ineffective and pointless to lack a loving attitude when encountering other people. Love is the driving force of my existence and my faith in God. Communication is a vital factor between people. It is possible to sometimes utter empty words and phrases which goes into one ear and immediately flies out the other. Aren't we familiar with that? Even a truly heavenly being like an angel of God would, without love, only bring forth the sound of a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. How much more could even simple words, uttered with love as its motivation, make a deep impression within our hearts. It has nothing to do with well-formulated, superficial words, but rather with truth, clarity and compassion. The Pharisees in Jesus' time were of the opinion that they would only be heard by God if they spoke many, impressive words (Matthew 6:5-7). Sometimes one can even be utterly silent, allowing one's heart to speak without words. What does love actually look like? It is the personal reference to the only Source of love. And this Source is a Person and has a Name: Jesus Christ! God's words are powerful and has eternal significance. Believers are able to communicate significant blessings. For example, in the proclamation of the “good news”. Whoever speaks of love, speaks of God (1 John 4:16). When you speak to other people about your faith and salvation, you are practising love.
Love versus Strife
“The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.”
Proverbs 17:14
Love cannot be embittered, so as to be provoked to wrath (1 Corinthians 13:5) – it has to do with manners and self-control. There is a loveless wrath which has more to do with neurotic self-concern than with others. Thus its purpose is to reduce one's opponent, in an overbearing and systematic manner. In such circumstances, one lashes out with an unrestrained tongue, with total disregard and without mincing words, being of the opinion that one is correct and the person at the other end of one's negative outburst is receiving exactly that which they deserve. Love is, when one can, despite any grounds for arguing, not allow oneself to become provoked (regardless of whether the other person started it or not) and back down from any confrontation. This is without doubt not always easy, but one can practice it! Jesus was truly meek and humble (Matthew 11:29). He invites us to learn from Him. Love does not nurture grudges – it fosters nothing evil. In this way, one never reaches the last straw which breaks the camel's back. There is no measuring of wrongdoings so that one may lash out in accordance with a kept tally. There is no tit for tat – that is love. This is the way God deals with us, our debt and sin is imputed to Jesus Christ as our Sacrifice if we believe in Him. Our bill of debt was torn up (Colossians 2:14: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross”) because God does not hold us accountable for our sin. We should act in like manner. Love does not rejoice over and in unrighteousness (1 Corinthians 13:6), but rejoices in the truth – thus not living with the motto to take and see what one can get, without any regard to loss. And also not being of the opinion that, whoever comes first is entitled to the best and most – and whoever comes last gets thrown to the dogs or is punished by life. What is just and what is truth? One who loves, concerns himself with that. What love ultimately is, is only known by love itself. We cannot incubate it or frame it and hang it over the bed. When we read that God is love, we understand that we can't really truly define, comprehend, conceive or sense God, nor love. But it exists and is an absolute reality and we are able to deal with it, to immerse ourselves in it and, through the infilling of the Holy Spirit, we are able to to get more familiar with it and reciprocate love. Whilst we are still in this indifferent, egotistical world, living in “earthen vessels” and being incomplete, we need such reminders and warnings and well-meaning advice, as Paul gave the Church in Corinth – 1 Corinthians 14:1: “Follow after love”! It is worthwhile to continue in love! Amen.
Learning through Suffering
“I know that Thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from Thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech Thee, and I will speak: I will demand of Thee, and declare Thou unto me. I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
Job 42:4-6
How often are people inclined to drag God into the dock because of the sad (self-inflicted) condition of the world. In most cases the prosecutor (the person casting blame) does not even believe in a Creator, nevertheless finds it correct and justified to criticize and insult someone whom they consider to be fictional! Most remarkable! It is certainly true that our sufferings in life fluctuates – not only for unbelievers, but also for believers. Actually, suffering in life is against God's will and nature. However, it is a condition that God uses to bring people into a correct mindset. To find God's love (voluntarily) sometimes requires drastic measures - not infrequently through suffering which is inflicted upon us, or is self-inflicted. Thus, it is not true that God inflicts suffering upon us, but He sometimes allows suffering because there is no other way. And, as it was in Job's case, in the Bible, we also don't immediately understand the reasons why things happen the way they do and what it is all about. God hasn't made Himself comfortable in heaven, having a good time, whilst people on earth are suffering. But, it happened as we read in Hebrews 4:14-16 “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” And when we know and understand the Bible, then we also know how severely Jesus suffered for us. He was tortured, spat on, humiliated, despised, innocently accused by false witnesses and finally horrifically executed. Jesus was God in human form – He could have done something about it, but He didn't! To what extent He humbled Himself, and thereby revealed how serious He was, and still is, that people should through suffering (and also His suffering) recognize that they need salvation and forgiveness of their sins?! God doesn't make people suffer for the sake of suffering, but He wants to draw our attention to Jesus, who gives all suffering a deep purpose, through His own substitutionary death on the cross and the reconciliation with Him. We read this in 2 Corinthians 5:19-20: “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.” Man simply does not have a good core – it is a lie. He is fallen, ruined, lives in a satanic rebellion against God (allows himself to be an instrument of the devil), and causes the suffering in the world and his own suffering, to be
Impressum
Verlag: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 22.08.2016
ISBN: 978-3-7396-7007-2
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