How do I value?

People value many different things. The value of anything is relative to our sense of how important it is to us. Picasso was a very famous artist. Some value his paintings greatly being willing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for one. Personally I would rather have a Norman Rockwell print. From this it should be obvious that even if I could afford a Picasso I have no interest in them therefore they have little value to me.

Some things are worth more than money! There are some things for which I would not trade all the money in the world. Family is one of these things. Certain memories are priceless. Some years ago I went through an unpleasant job change. We were just getting by only to have our income cut by more than 30%. Christmas time rolled around and there was very little money for gifts. Two of my boys went out into the windbreak around our house and found gifts for me. A used razor blade, a shiny black rock and a couple of other things. I wish I still had them today but all I have is the memory. It is priceless! It always brings a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. Then there is the summer that I got to spend working a new job with those same boys now become teenagers. We would get up early and pile into the cab of an old pickup and drive 60 miles to work. We would sometimes work 12 hours and then have the long drive home. I am not sure that they cherish the time as I do but that doesn't matter. It was the best summer I had had in years.

What does this have to do with our subject of the value of the love of God? Not a lot except that it shows that value is in the mind of the holder. God has already demonstrated the value that He places on us, (John 3:16 Romans 5:8). Have we demonstrated the value we place on His love? Have we demonstrated the value we place on loving Him?

We know what He expects of us. We are to love Him with"all our heart, mind, and soul." "If you love me you will keep my commandments" and others. But what value do we place on His love for us and our love for Him? Two parables of Jesus come to mind. These teachings show how much we are to value the "kingdom of heaven." In Matthew 13:44 and 45 we read of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price. In both parables the one who found them sold all that they had in order to obtain them. I suggest that this is how much we should value a loving God.

What is it worth?

Ever heard the old saying: "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink"? I am sure you have. Ever try it? Can't do it can you! No matter how hard you try he will not drink if he doesn't want to.

We sometimes equate make and cause as the same thing. Sometimes this is ok. But not this time. The scripture says in Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea. In Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law we find the following definition of the word cause "something that brings about an effect or result " With this definition in mind we would understand the above passage like this: whoever does something that results in one of these stumbling would be better off drowning in the sea. In this there is no need to establish motive because the one stumbling is responsible for their own actions. Let me illustrate it in this way. I was at an auction this past Saturday. Someone or something had dug a hole in the yard sometime before the sale. I wasn't watching where I was going and I stepped in the hole and nearly fell. That would have been embarrasing as there were a lot of people around at the time. The hole caused me to stumble but it did not make me stumble. I chose to step where I did. therefore I alone am responsible for stumbling and whatever made the hole is responsible for providing the opportunity for me to stumble. No one made me step there, it was my choice.

Can someone MAKE you sin? Absaloutly not! Can someone force me to do something against my will? NOPE! All they can do is persuade me to do a thing by creating consequences which I would greatly enjoy or strongly desire not to endure. For example I do not like to fill out financial statements. However the bank says that if I want to get a loan from them I will have to fill them out. Do they make me fill them out? NO! So if I choose not to fill them out, I also choose not to get the loan.

We persuade our children to obey by offering rewards and punishment. It is still their choice. God also offers reward and punishment to encourage us to be obedient. We can obey strictly out of a sense of duty or love can be our motive.

In our past posts we have explored God's love for us and also our love for God. I would now like us to consider the value of the love of God. What is the love of God worth to you? Please express this value in both ways, loving us and loving Him. Happy pondering!

Our Love For God

Our love for God is so much more than a warm fuzzy feeling we might get when we sing "O How I Love Jesus"! As has been noted in the comments to this question we are to "love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength". In other words, our total being. This statement reflects our attitude and level of commitment toward God. We should love and serve with our total being.

In asking the question, what does our love for God look like, I had an answer in mind. Jesus said in John 14:15 "If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments." I know of no passage that more clearly expresses how we demonstrate our love for God than this one! It is one thing to say "I love Jesus" and quite another to demonstrate to God and all the world the truth of that statement.

We have been created for good works according to Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them. Jesus taught in the sermon on the mount "Matthew 5:16 Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." The good works that we do in being obedient to God demonstrate our love for Him! This in turn brings the purest form of praise and thanksgiving to Him.

This is a concept that we understand well. As a parent, the hugs and kisses of a child are wonderful. The are cherished expressions of affection. However they fail to express love in the way that obedience does. A child which truly loves their parents expresses that love by doing what is expected and required of them. Hugs and kisses are no substitute for obedience. They are however what we might call the "icing on the cake".

I enjoy doing mindless work sometimes. It provides time to do something visibly productive while affording an opportunity to think or reflect on something totally unrelated. As I was picking apples the other day I was thinking about this subject. Love and obedience, each is the expression of the other. Then I remembered the excuses we offer for not doing what we are supposed to. Years ago it was popular to say "The devil made me do it!" As one thought led to another the question came to mind, "What can someone else make me do?" So that is the question for you to ponder. Have a happy!

The Love of God II

We have been discussing love. What does it look like towards its various recipients and God's love for us. God being supreme is also a supreme example. So great is His love for us that it says in Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." This verse has always intrigued me. What does God hate? SIN! What was I? A sinner. So from God's point of view I was unlovable yet He sent His son to DIE for me. Now that is hard for me to get my head around. Regardless of my ability to understand, it is true.

Thus far we have been looking at love from a recipients point of view. Now it is time to examine it from a givers side of the equation. What does my love for God look like? Is it enough to sing "O How I Love Jesus" on Sunday morning? What scriptures can you come up with to describe how we are to love God?

Smile, God loves you!

The Love of God

The scriptures are filled with evidence of the love of God. Consider the following text from the word of God " that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust. " Matthew 5:45. We as humans tend to be respecters of persons in that we freely shower gifts, praise and well wishes on those whom we like. But God sets the example for us in that he freely gives the necessities to all even those who oppose Him. It could be said that God practices what he preaches for He does indeed love his enemies. Luke 6:35 "But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil." Wow! what a powerful example of love!

However the most powerful example of God's love is found in John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life." This is the ultimate show of love for us, His creation.

God With Us

Some of the most decisive verses on the subject of Jesus being God and Man are found in the gospel according to John. Consider: John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made. Then also verse 14 of the same chapter And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth. Then we move to chapter 3 and verse 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. It is clear then that Jesus was indeed God.

I do not claim to understand how He could be 100% God and 100% man. The scriptures plainly state such to be true. The passage cited from Philippians 2 does a good job of describing at least in part what was involved.

If Christ was not totally man he would have been seen as having some sort of advantage over us. Yet he was "tempted in all points like as we are". If He were not totally God then the scriptures would be unreliable for they say of Him "for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, Colossians 2:9. Truly what a Savior we have.

We cited John 3:16 earlier in this post. It is a favorite of many people. "God so loved" expresses a sentiment which brings comfort to many people. Have you ever wondered what "love" looks like? Someone once told me "I never saw much love". I would like you to ponder the question "What does love look like?" As you consider your answer please describe it in regards to the "love of God" for us, a parents love for children and our love for another human being. Happy pondering!

"God and Man"

The answers given in response to our question, "Is man totally depraved from birth?" were excellent. In these answers there was one element of great importance which was overlooked.

The scriptures teach that Jesus was man. 1Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus," (emphasis mine). If man is totally depraved from birth we are forced to conclude that the "Son of man" was also for he was the son of man, and himself man. I think few would be willing to accept that conclusion. Yet it is required by sound logic if man is indeed totally depraved.

As was indicated man is born good, and learns evil through the choices he makes.

Jesus is the subject of our next question. The following phrases all refer to Jesus: Son of man, Son of God, himself man, God with us. Based upon these phrases it seems that Jesus was God and man. How can this be? Was he half God and half man? Maybe 60-40? Happy pondering!