“The center of man’s love must either be in himself, in other creatures, or in God. He may love all, but he cannot love more than one supremely.”
John Gregory Mantle Beyond Humiliation The Way of the Cross (p. 38)
The Love Command:
Jesus said, “I am among you as One who serves.” (Luke 22:27)
He also gave us the command to love one another. (John 13:34) If there is one thing that depicts the fallen world around us, it is a lack of love and servitude.
If we miss this later commandment, we miss everything about relating to God and our fellow man. Every other directive in the Word, in the teachings of the Prophets, and in the fullness of God’s Spirit, are bound up in this command to love, for God is Love. We were created in His image that we too would love. The deeper order of all that is meaningful in our lives, to becoming more and more like Jesus, is rooted in His love.
Reaching this attitude is not for the timid of heart. It requires a diligent effort to remain in an attitude of lowliness and meekness. We must be willing to submit ourselves, in order that we may be useful to God and to one another. We must because of the love of God in us place the well being of others above our own.
When we come to the place that we are able to serve because to the intimacy of our love of the Lord, we will find the mark of our Master’s hand upon us, and our lives will bear much fruit for his kingdom. Love never fails when it is divinely inspired.
Of course human love can fail; there is an abundance of evidence around us to sustain that fact. There is no good thing within our old human nature. Therein lays the difference. Human love has failed from the beginning, and it always will be frail at best.
The issue is simple: are we living in the old nature, or as a new creation in Christ. For within the newness of life in Jesus, there is exemplified an attitude of lowliness and humility that produces meekness (Godly control) which brings us to the place of being separated unto the Lord. It is in this place that we know the intimate touch of our Master’s hand, hear the sweet guiding voice of His Spirit, and experience the inner peace that His presence alone can bring. It is here that the presence of God brings understanding and the outward demonstration in our testimony, that we are free from the power of the enemy’s lies.
One of the greatest plans that Jesus demonstrated in His ministry was this attitude of servitude. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
John Gregory Mantle Beyond Humiliation The Way of the Cross (p. 38)
The Love Command:
Jesus said, “I am among you as One who serves.” (Luke 22:27)
He also gave us the command to love one another. (John 13:34) If there is one thing that depicts the fallen world around us, it is a lack of love and servitude.
If we miss this later commandment, we miss everything about relating to God and our fellow man. Every other directive in the Word, in the teachings of the Prophets, and in the fullness of God’s Spirit, are bound up in this command to love, for God is Love. We were created in His image that we too would love. The deeper order of all that is meaningful in our lives, to becoming more and more like Jesus, is rooted in His love.
Reaching this attitude is not for the timid of heart. It requires a diligent effort to remain in an attitude of lowliness and meekness. We must be willing to submit ourselves, in order that we may be useful to God and to one another. We must because of the love of God in us place the well being of others above our own.
When we come to the place that we are able to serve because to the intimacy of our love of the Lord, we will find the mark of our Master’s hand upon us, and our lives will bear much fruit for his kingdom. Love never fails when it is divinely inspired.
Of course human love can fail; there is an abundance of evidence around us to sustain that fact. There is no good thing within our old human nature. Therein lays the difference. Human love has failed from the beginning, and it always will be frail at best.
The issue is simple: are we living in the old nature, or as a new creation in Christ. For within the newness of life in Jesus, there is exemplified an attitude of lowliness and humility that produces meekness (Godly control) which brings us to the place of being separated unto the Lord. It is in this place that we know the intimate touch of our Master’s hand, hear the sweet guiding voice of His Spirit, and experience the inner peace that His presence alone can bring. It is here that the presence of God brings understanding and the outward demonstration in our testimony, that we are free from the power of the enemy’s lies.
One of the greatest plans that Jesus demonstrated in His ministry was this attitude of servitude. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant,
and coming in the likeness of men.
And being found in the appearance of man,
He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death,
even the death of the cross.”
Philippians 2:5-8
In His service and love,
30
fkj
In His service and love,
30
fkj
No comments:
Post a Comment