Many days ago at work ,I heard someone mentioning Christians and a sign on their vehicle that pitch a well known and used statement "Jesus loves you" they seemed to ridicule the brazen Christian for being so vocal in a truth that is often seen has a cliche, by the world. Three words that have been used and abused and served on plaques, stickers, car plates,etc...and basically have become a cliche.
Now first thing first, this phrase or saying does not appear anywhere in the Bible, it is a saying that was coined out of the belief that Jesus loves, or loved. The word Jesus followed immediately by the verb love appears only in s few instances. Once in relation to Martha, Lazarus 's sister and the other time in relation to John the disciple. There is however a few instances where it appears as part of what Jesus said to his disciples and these though only a few are well,a definite declaration of his love for them
John 15:9-12 NIVUK
‘As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: love each other as I have loved you.
Now if this is not a declaration of love from Jesus then it's nothing. Now it is not just a simple declaration, it is also a command. Then how can it be a command if it is a feeling, that is suppose to give you warm fuzzies and makes you see butterflies and daisies and hearts floating in the air. Don't get me wrong love is not empty of feelings but it is filled with intent that transcend the feelings, intent that say I want the best for you,I care,I will be there for you
A few days ago we , me and my wife, had to make that trip you wished you would not have to do, when one of her brother, (my wife is the baby sister so all her siblings are older), younger then me passed to a better place, he knew Jesus he new his love, so believing the promises of God we know he is in Heaven. At the memorial there was one thing that was clear, Dave will be missed, and the ones who knew him and will miss him knew that he loved them and how would they know that? Is it by some kind of feeling? No, it is because of who he was to them, how he cared, what he did, Dave did not need a plaque or sticker telling people he loved them, he lived it.
Now I am not necessarily against plaque or stickers, or anything of the sort, but I am for action that speaks louder, and unembellished truth. The love of God is not a warm cozy feeling, though it can be that at times when it is needed but it's found more so in what he did
John 3:16 NIV
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 5:6-11 NIV
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Who knows if it was a used car, and the sticker was just there, who knows if the driver really knew Jesus loves.
Be careful of cliches, let you life speak louder, Jesus's life did and that's the truth
As a treat have a listen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaFfnTbM3AU&feature=youtube_gdata_player
No comments:
Post a Comment