Tag Archives: Agape love

Living in Harmony

Kingdom Building

November 24, 2019

Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:11-20

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. –Colossians 1:15-20

The various schematics used to describe God were the subject of a theology class I completed several years ago. We dissected each of the ideas. Is there a Trinity or not? If there is a Trinity how does it operate? We viewed various illustrations of overlapping circles and triangles with God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit appearing in differing arrangements. All the schematics were followed by well-documented discourses of what they meant with arguments for why one was better than another. I am a rather pragmatic person, but I do enjoy exploring the ideas of others, so I read and studied the variations. My conclusion was that no one can describe God. I rather think Paul somewhat agreed with me when he wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:12: For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.

The quote from Colossians recorded above seems to be one of Paul’s attempts at helping people gain understanding of God. I particularly like the phrase and in him all things hold together for it is in our divisiveness that we tend to get into trouble. God created a world designed to work in harmony that of necessity requires diversity. Paul discusses this in greater detail in chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians where he describes the Body of Christ and then in chapter 13 tells us the glue that holds us together is love.

This Agape* love means affection, good-will, love, benevolence, and more importantly it is a choice, our choice to love rather than to hate, to work together for the common good rather than to be divisive.

Prayer: Lord, guide us in always choosing to love one another as we strive together to create a harmonious world. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/26.htm

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

A New Me

A New MeLiving in the Spirit
June 12, 2015

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:6-17

From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! –2 Corinthians 5:16-17

This scripture describes well the cliché, it is easier said than done. Just yesterday, I had to deal with flashes of distrust about a person who some time ago treated me unfairly. I no longer have any formal relationship with this person who is held in high esteem by many. I actually think I understand why he did the things he did from a psychological viewpoint and recognize that he is blind to the hurtful nature of his actions. I know I am not the only person who has been caught by his crossbow. Because of that, to a degree I can feel agape love for him, not unlike Jesus did looking down from the cross saying, Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34)

I have not yet enter the realm of being able to love him as a sibling, which I think would more adequately reflect the love within a community needed to foster the Kingdom of God among us. A big part of my reaction is the result of either not allowing God to heal the hurt still written on my soul from that relationship or not realizing/accepting it has already been healed.  I wonder if the day will ever come when I might run into him at a meeting and this history never cross my mind as I greet and chat with him. I have had that happen with others later, realizing what had happened thanked God for the return to wholeness in the relationship. Until we can reach this point we cannot be conduits of wholeness for the other who needs it also.

Prayer: Lord, let your transformation continue to flow through me. Make me whole so that I can more fully be a part of your oneness. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Master Plan

Agape loveEastertide
May 16, 2015

Scripture Reading: John 17:6-19

I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. –John 17:9-12

Jesus’ prayer is poignant. He obviously loves his disciples as God loves them, what the Greeks call agape love, but this prayer has a sense of brotherly love in it, the love one sibling has for another. Jesus knows he is releasing these dear people into the world to face it as he has faced it. Historically, we know that the only one that was not lost (the word also could be translated killed or perished) because of their connection to him was John, perhaps the writer of this gospel.

The only disciple that died before Jesus died was, of course, Judas. I fear that the translation of the Greek word apollumi as “lost” calls forth our vision of judgement for Judas more than it recognizes him as one of Jesus’ disciples. In this prayer, Jesus describes Judas as a part of a greater plan. Chronologically this prayer occurs in the gospel of John before the betrayal.

It seems to me that God works most often through the normal aspects of life: weddings where the wine runs out, enough food for all, the return of mental stability, healing at the touch of a garment’s hem. It is a paradox but it seems to be a truth also that God does have a master plan that orders life even in the midst of what appears to be chaos. Paul may have said it best, In Romans 8:28: We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Prayer: Lord, the world continues in chaos to this day. Draw us near to you so that we may not fear what we do not understand but grant us your spirit so that we know you have our backs. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.