Yesterday, while I was returning from a trip to Home Depot, I noted that the driver in the right lane paused for a few seconds before making a turn on red, simply being cautious. A blaring horn announced the anger of the driver behind him who apparently found his caution a source of irritation. She gestured rudely while shouting words I can only imagine were not a blessing. Her flare-up of anger is not uncommon, is it?
Road rage contributes to a significant portion of traffic accidents and deaths on our highways. Aggressive drivers who crowd others, who drive too closely, or even who use their vehicle as a weapon are showing up on our roadways every day and every where. About a third of drivers self-report to experiencing road rage at least occasionally. Why is this happening? Sociologists point to several factors. Among them are increased levels of general stress in life, feelings of isolation and being disconnected from a larger community, thinking of one’s self as anonymous and therefore unaccountable, and more crowded highways.
Let’s widen the lens on life.
Are you an angry person, quick to offense, meeting life with clenched fists?
Do you struggle with unresolved hostility, always ready to ‘defend your turf’ because
you perceive a world that is hostile towards you or yours?
Paul was inspired by the Spirit to teach us as Christians to
live differently! “And now I will
show you the most excellent way. If
I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a
resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can
fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move
mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor
and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love
is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no
record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It
always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (1
Corinthians 13:1-7, NIV)
That passage makes clear the absolute necessity of love in our Christian practice. We learn that without love eloquence is just noise. Without love spiritual gifts lose their ability to accomplish God’s work in the world. Without love personal service and devotion is without reward. Without love great knowledge becomes worthless.
Love is not just a syrupy emotion for special moments. It is not reserved for a select few, for children, or the sentimental. Love is a way of life that is vigorous, powerful - ‘the most excellent way.’ Authentic love is bold, engaged with the world, taking on difficult people, refusing offenses, actively going after what is best all of the time. When we take time to process that passage, especially the second part, we find that love is never passive. It shapes each and every part of our lives and will make us radically different in this world.
So, how do we come to love in the ‘most excellent way?’ We will never achieve it simply by determination or discipline. Love begins with love! John tells us "If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:15-16, NIV) By faith we accept that “God loved the world so much that He GAVE His son to save us” The Spirit lives in us and reveals God’s love to us. Like the wayward son of the story of Luke 15 we turn towards home and find the arms of our Father open wide, ready to receive and forgive. Loved, we learn to love! Friend, let me underline this fact - God loves YOU. His love is not limited or conditional. He loves us from His essence, which is love. His grace is given to us, costly to Himself, free to us for the receiving. This is the start of becoming loving.
Then, we begin to live in love.
We choose forgiveness because we are forgiven.
We refuse pride because we know we are “God’s masterpiece. He has created us
anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long
ago." (Ephesians 2:10, NLT)
We learn to live patiently because He is patient with us in our failures.
We live outwardly focused because we know that He holds us secure in His grasp
into eternity.
We refuse to keep score in life because His love is the best affirmation we can
ever know.
We feel no need to hide from the truth because we know that the ‘One who knows us best, loves us most!’
Choose love. It is ‘the most excellent way.’ Love pays rich dividends now and in the future with God. I hope you will let Him love you to life.
The word from the Word is worthy of our meditation today. Jesus says "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34-35, NLT)
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(Video of this blog at this link)
God So Loved (Live At The Wheelhouse)
Come all you weary
Come all you thirsty
Come to the well that never runs dry
Drink of the water
Come and thirst no more
Come all you sinners
Come find His mercy
Come to the table He will satisfy
Taste of His goodness
Find what you're looking for
For God so loved the world that He gave us
His one and only Son to save us
Whoever believes in Him will live forever
Bring all your failures
Bring your addictions
Come lay them down at the foot of the cross
Jesus is waiting there
With open arms
For God so loved the world that He gave us
His one and only Son to save us
Whoever believes in Him will live forever
The power of hell forever defeated
Now it is well I'm walking in freedom
For God so loved God so loved the world
Praise God praise God
From whom all blessings flow
Praise Him praise Him
For the wonders of His love
For God so loved the world that He gave us
His one and only Son to save
Bring all your failures
Bring your addictions
Come lay them down at the foot of the cross
Jesus is waiting
God so loved the world
Andrew Bergthold | Ed Cash | Franni Cash | Martin Cash | Scott Cash
© 2019 Angie Feel Good Songs; Bay19; Capitol CMG Genesis; Capitol CMG Paragon; Scott Cash Publishing Designee; We The Kingdom Music
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