day 12

1 John 2:9-11

As a Christian I know that I am not saved by my actions. I don’t have to achieve a certain level of goodness nor do I have to keep a balance sheet of my good actions verses my evil ones.

While not having to perform at a certain level, in order to be accepted, offers freedom there still remains the question of how to live. How does one really know if he or she is a true disciple of Christ? It is not impossible to externally look like a Christian even though, in reality, one is nothing other than a hypocrite.

If I am truly a child of the light then it has to be more than just pretty words and thoughts. It has to be manifested, over a very long period, in my words, thoughts and deeds. My words and deeds are the result of my thoughts. They are inseparable. It is impossible to have pure thoughts and evil deeds. So then my actions are a good indication of what is really happening on the inside.

Love and hate is what it is all about. Most people would say that they do not hate anyone only that they dislike certain people. This distinction is not how the Bible paints it. You cannot not love two masters said Jesus. He continued by saying that one of them you would love more than the other. It is not that Jesus is unaware of the “grey areas” it is just that from his perspective they do not exist.

Jesus says that I have to love my enemies, period. It has nothing to do with how my enemy responds or how unfair the situation is. The command is to choose to love. It is this choice, combined with the work of the Holy Spirit, which is at the foundation of Christian living for every believer. The good I do is a by-product of the Holy Spirit’s influence. He causes me to walk in the light and by doing so I am affected.

This effect of the Spirit is most clearly seen in how I treat a fellow believer. In 2 Peter 1:7 we are told to add brotherly (read sibling in Christ) love and to this love. In Galatians 6:10 we are told to do good to everyone especially to those who belong to the family of faith. In Matthew 25:31-36, 40 Jesus says that the basis for measuring our faith will be how we have treated our brother. St John takes this up in verses 9-11 of chapter 10.

If I have hate in my heart then I do not love God. There is nothing to discuss or try to make excuses about. Love is a choice, just like not loving is a choice. I have known people who have been really racist. Their view of their fellow man, based on only the exterior of a person, can cause them to cling to their hate even when they are confronted with an opportunity to love. This is so sad that such people call themselves Christian and by their actions of hate tarnish the name of Christ. While it would be easy to talk about racists and other prejudices there is a hate that is much more subtle. This kind of hate creeps into the Church undetected.

What I am talking about is when one chooses not to forgive or show hospitality. Love causes us to forgive the trespasses of others as we have had all of our trespasses forgiven us by God. It is extending the same courtesy to others that God extends to us. Hospitality means opening up out home and sharing what God has blessed us with, with others. Both take sacrifice and a dependence upon God to provide what we have given away.

On the surface this may seem trivial but it is everything but. In Matthew 9:13 Jesus says that the Pharisees needed to learn that God desired mercy above sacrifice. In Matthew 23:23 he chides them and says that they should never have neglected the weightier matters of the law like justice, mercy and faith. In Ephesians 4:32 we are told to be kind to one another and to forgive because Christ did the same thing for us. In Matthew 6:14 -15 and 18:35 Jesus makes it very clear for us to understand. He says the way we forgive is the way we are forgiven. If we do not forgive then we will be in danger of judgment.

The person who chooses not to love has not part in the kingdom of God. He still walks in the darkness and has not been transformed. This is very incriminating to far too many people today. This may be a difficult thing to say but I feel that it has been said too little. We all need to check ourselves and let the Spirit of God lead us into the light and out of the darkness of hate.

Now as I write this I need to say that you can think that some one is wrong or even sin and still love them. You see love is much tougher than what Hollywood tells you. Loving some one so much that you risk loosing their friendship, by telling them the truth takes great courage and inner strength. I believe that these come from God.

It may not be political correct. It may not be popular. It could even be illegal or cost you your job, but if you let love permeate your life then you will one day stand in a situation when you will have to practice tough love. The catch is to still be willing to walk beside that person and help them to improvement.

I cannot imagine trying to do this without God’s armour and strength.

Peace