December 30th, 2006
A Love of Others
“I love you, I just don’t like you.” Have you ever heard that being said? Have you ever said it? I’ve said it. It never sat right with me. There’s a good reason for that, and that’s because it’s garbage. You can’t love someone and not like them. Imagine what it would be like if your spouse never liked you, yet married you. Imagine what it would be like if your parents never liked you, yet raised you. Imagine what it would be like if God never liked you, yet watched over you. Now, of course, all of these tell you they love you but don’t like you. It doesn’t fly. It just doesn’t fly.
“Multitude” is an interesting word. In the NIV Bible, it is used ten times. In 1st Peter 4:8, I looked up multitude and found that the Greek word “plēthos” means a multitude such as a great number (of men or things). It can also go further to mean the “whole number” or a “whole multitude”. Dictionary.com simply says that a multitude is a great number and is also defined as “a very great number.”
Now, in this year of 2006, I have learned a few things. I have learned that I don’t like those who are like me, that is in my sinful nature. I see someone making the same mistake and I become angry. And if I am not careful, I end up saying a statement very much like that of: “I love you, but I don’t like you right now.” It doesn’t work. It doesn’t fly. I love baseball, I just don’t like baseball right now. That’s stupid. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever written.
Before I get into some scripture, I want to share one definition of love from Dictionary.com which defines love as “to have a strong liking for and to take great pleasure in.” This definition shows that when someone likes someone and that feeling grows, it blossoms into love. One cannot love without liking first. If I am to say that I don’t like someone, then loving them is not even in the equation.
1st Peter 4:1-11
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do - living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
***Love covers over a multitude of sins. Here’s the hang-up. If I love someone, then I should be able to see past their sinful nature and love the person, irregardless of what muck and junk they carry. Love covers this up. And if I don’t like someone, I don’t love them, and their sins are not being covered up by my sight. What I am trying to say, if I don’t love the person, I can’t look past their faults and I become critical of them and their shortcomings. How can I offer hospitality to them and not grumble in my heart if I am focusing in on their sin like a heat seeking missile? It’s not possible.
James 5:13-20
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
***In the book of James, the second “multitude of sins” verse is listed. By the way, there’s only two in the NIV Bible that carries that phrase. Elijah is a man of prayer. James is writing about him and then mentions that bringing someone back to Christ saves them from death and covers over their sins. Is this random? Nope, it is association. Sick? You should pray. In sin? You should pray and get others to pray as well. Someone leaves God? You should pray from them. If you don’t like them, but love them, then it is definitely a righteous prayer. WRONG! You have to like them to love them, and a loving heart will promote a righteous prayer. This is where I have fallen short, but I am growing. I’m not growing as fast as I would like, but a seed doesn’t turn into a monstrous oak overnight. This is what I will be working on in 2007. A New Year’s resolution? No, a New Year’s goal for the year 2007. Resolutions tend to get broken but goals are something to be attained and worked on over time. I don’t have New Year’s resolutions, but I do have New Year goals. Keep safe out there, Go Cowboys, Go Rangers, Go Mavs, may all three teams be blessed with success and not make me sick when I pay attention in your direction. Family and Friends, may the New Year bring you plenty more happiness and joy than the previous year. All take care and don’t forget to feed you pets. Johnny Out.
A Love of Others
“I love you, I just don’t like you.” Have you ever heard that being said? Have you ever said it? I’ve said it. It never sat right with me. There’s a good reason for that, and that’s because it’s garbage. You can’t love someone and not like them. Imagine what it would be like if your spouse never liked you, yet married you. Imagine what it would be like if your parents never liked you, yet raised you. Imagine what it would be like if God never liked you, yet watched over you. Now, of course, all of these tell you they love you but don’t like you. It doesn’t fly. It just doesn’t fly.
“Multitude” is an interesting word. In the NIV Bible, it is used ten times. In 1st Peter 4:8, I looked up multitude and found that the Greek word “plēthos” means a multitude such as a great number (of men or things). It can also go further to mean the “whole number” or a “whole multitude”. Dictionary.com simply says that a multitude is a great number and is also defined as “a very great number.”
Now, in this year of 2006, I have learned a few things. I have learned that I don’t like those who are like me, that is in my sinful nature. I see someone making the same mistake and I become angry. And if I am not careful, I end up saying a statement very much like that of: “I love you, but I don’t like you right now.” It doesn’t work. It doesn’t fly. I love baseball, I just don’t like baseball right now. That’s stupid. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever written.
Before I get into some scripture, I want to share one definition of love from Dictionary.com which defines love as “to have a strong liking for and to take great pleasure in.” This definition shows that when someone likes someone and that feeling grows, it blossoms into love. One cannot love without liking first. If I am to say that I don’t like someone, then loving them is not even in the equation.
1st Peter 4:1-11
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do - living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
***Love covers over a multitude of sins. Here’s the hang-up. If I love someone, then I should be able to see past their sinful nature and love the person, irregardless of what muck and junk they carry. Love covers this up. And if I don’t like someone, I don’t love them, and their sins are not being covered up by my sight. What I am trying to say, if I don’t love the person, I can’t look past their faults and I become critical of them and their shortcomings. How can I offer hospitality to them and not grumble in my heart if I am focusing in on their sin like a heat seeking missile? It’s not possible.
James 5:13-20
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
***In the book of James, the second “multitude of sins” verse is listed. By the way, there’s only two in the NIV Bible that carries that phrase. Elijah is a man of prayer. James is writing about him and then mentions that bringing someone back to Christ saves them from death and covers over their sins. Is this random? Nope, it is association. Sick? You should pray. In sin? You should pray and get others to pray as well. Someone leaves God? You should pray from them. If you don’t like them, but love them, then it is definitely a righteous prayer. WRONG! You have to like them to love them, and a loving heart will promote a righteous prayer. This is where I have fallen short, but I am growing. I’m not growing as fast as I would like, but a seed doesn’t turn into a monstrous oak overnight. This is what I will be working on in 2007. A New Year’s resolution? No, a New Year’s goal for the year 2007. Resolutions tend to get broken but goals are something to be attained and worked on over time. I don’t have New Year’s resolutions, but I do have New Year goals. Keep safe out there, Go Cowboys, Go Rangers, Go Mavs, may all three teams be blessed with success and not make me sick when I pay attention in your direction. Family and Friends, may the New Year bring you plenty more happiness and joy than the previous year. All take care and don’t forget to feed you pets. Johnny Out.
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