Words of Love

Thursday February 5, 2015

In 2014 some players from a school football team were involved in various forms of poor behaviour : skipping classes, getting failing grades and even cyber-bullying. The team´s coach came up with a radical disciplinary measure : he disbanded the entire team. Players and their families reacted to the news with contrite acceptance, for they knew how much the coach cared for his players.

A similar dynamic exists in the book of Philippians. Paul´s word choices in his letter to the church at Philippi are strikingly intimate and tender. He states that he has the church in his heart, declaring that God Himself can testify how much He loves those who are part of it (Philippians 1:8).

Clearly, Paul deeply loved the church. And this loving tone would have profoundly affected the way the Philipian church understood Paul´s overall instruction. For whatever he subsequently wrote or said, even if it was harsh and direct, they could be confident that the words were selected in a spirit of love. And when you´re confident that someone really loves you, your attitude towards what they have to say is profoundly affected. This same dynamic holds true for us in our relationship with God. When He instructs, rebukes or encourages us, it´s easy to see Him as a strict enforcer of rules, and so we chafe at His "unfair" regulations. But countless passages like John 3:16, Hebrews 12:5-6, and 1 John 3:16 reminds us that more than anything else, it´s love that motivates God in His relationship with us.

Whatever God says, He says in love. Let´s choose to take His words to heart! - Peter Chin

Read 
Philippians 1:3-11
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God´s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with affection of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer : that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this : While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 2:4-5
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -i is by grace you have been saved.

Question to Ponder
What´s the main way you view and understand God?
As a judge or enforcer of rules? As a loving parent or friend?
How does your understanding of God affect the way you listen to His words and commands?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Dec 2014 - Feb 2015