And Furthermore... (Other Thoughts on Lesson 3)

So, I've been thinking some more about this idea that we are becoming the kind of people who can realistically define themselves as Love. We are made in the image of God, and as we said on Wednesday night, His image, according to 1 John 4:18 is Love. This is how he defines himself. We see this played out in the life of Jesus on earth. He perfectly incarnates all that a human is supposed to be, namely, the untainted love-image of God. This is what we are striving to becoming. This is the goal we are reaching for.

As Christians we are good at doing loving "things": mission trips, service projects, handing out bottles of water, serving in church, teaching, praying for others, etc. These are all good. However, I have to ask the question of all of us: are we doing these because we should as Christians or are we doing these things because we are Love? Do these things flow out of our Being, our "us-ness," the core that makes us who we really are? Do they flow out of the Love incarnated in us? Or are we doing these things out of a sense of "ought-ness." "I ought to go on this trip because I'm a Christian?" "I ought to love me neighbor because I'm a Christian." Do you see the difference? Perhaps it's a fine line, too fine maybe to really distinguish the difference. And, regardless, the task is getting done, right? However, if we are trying to be changed into the Incarnation of Jesus on earth, if we are striving to live our life like He would live it if He were us, then what we do, say, and think must flow out of our being. In order for this to happen we need to be transformed by the indwelling Spirit, be changed into the kind of people whose being--whose "us-ness"--can be defined as Love.

This is the image we were created in and what we will one day become completely and totally.

shalom, matt