1135AFC090211
Read it online here.
Roman 8:10-13 (NLT)
Love Fulfills God’s Requirements
8 Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. 9 For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.
As the expression goes “Easier said than done.” At some time or another all of us are difficult to love. At some time or another all of us have trouble loving someone. I am, we are, you are, they are – well, irritating! Infuriating! Insulting! Unfaithful! Liars, cheats, and scoundrels! I am, we are, you are, they are – imperfect. Human. Sinful. Disillusioned. Hurt. Confused, uncertain, ambiguous. Those are the constraints of being alive on this earth.
Fortunately, God is not like us – although we are, in some ways, like him. His perfect integrity is shown to us by his goodness, truth, mercy, kindness, and … LOVE all joined together in his Son, Jesus, the Christ. The Holy Trinity designed Creation to work a certain way, God’s way, but he lets us try to use it our way, and that’s when we get all messed up. It is hard to be lovable when I am, we are, you are, they are unloving. And sometimes it’s hard to be loving when I am, we are, you are, they are unlovable.
But hold on a sec; is anyone really “unlovable?” God doesn’t think so, even if I am, we are, you are, they are sure that somebody we know must be! God just doesn’t see it that way, and he wants us to stop thinking like that. So, he sent Jesus to help us figure it out – and that was after a very long succession of Priests, Prophets, Kings, Judges and Apostles. We’re still trying to figure it out.
Here’s some additional advice from our dear friend, St. Paul in Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” So maybe it’s time to put away the rap with all the nasty words, put away the Internet “distractions,” the gory violence in the cinemas, and all the filth that confronts us in every community at all hours. “Garbage in, garbage out.” Where is the value in trying to entertain us with suffering, to enlighten us with violence, or to encourage us with deceit?
I have often said, “You don’t have to have fun to be happy. You have to be happy to have fun.” Or like the little green frog said, “Time’s sure fun when you’re having flies!” So today I want you to experience, to think about something that is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and FUN!! If you can get YouTube, this should give you a few moments to enjoy Gifts for the Giver of All Good Things – Music for example!
For just the sheer fun of it I invite you to listen to this.
That’s all for today, Beloved. Pray for one another. Please spend a few minute in heartfelt prayer for people you think might just be unlovable – for whatever reason. Love them and forgive them and hold them in your heart like a beautiful song.
I also ask you to pray for JE who continues his perilous dance on the border between life and death. He had his 48th and 49th surgeries this past week, and yet clings to the Goodness of God and the love of all of us, his family – that includes you, MBN!
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service, Beloved.
WBS, OK?
PS: Thank you AT for sending us that link!
Time's sure FUN when you're having FLIES!
1135AFC090211
Read it online here.
Roman 8:10-13 (NLT)
Love Fulfills God’s Requirements
8 Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. 9 For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.
As the expression goes “Easier said than done.” At some time or another all of us are difficult to love. At some time or another all of us have trouble loving someone. I am, we are, you are, they are – well, irritating! Infuriating! Insulting! Unfaithful! Liars, cheats, and scoundrels! I am, we are, you are, they are – imperfect. Human. Sinful. Disillusioned. Hurt. Confused, uncertain, ambiguous. Those are the constraints of being alive on this earth.
Fortunately, God is not like us – although we are, in some ways, like him. His perfect integrity is shown to us by his goodness, truth, mercy, kindness, and … LOVE all joined together in his Son, Jesus, the Christ. The Holy Trinity designed Creation to work a certain way, God’s way, but he lets us try to use it our way, and that’s when we get all messed up. It is hard to be lovable when I am, we are, you are, they are unloving. And sometimes it’s hard to be loving when I am, we are, you are, they are unlovable.
But hold on a sec; is anyone really “unlovable?” God doesn’t think so, even if I am, we are, you are, they are sure that somebody we know must be! God just doesn’t see it that way, and he wants us to stop thinking like that. So, he sent Jesus to help us figure it out – and that was after a very long succession of Priests, Prophets, Kings, Judges and Apostles. We’re still trying to figure it out.
Here’s some additional advice from our dear friend, St. Paul in Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” So maybe it’s time to put away the rap with all the nasty words, put away the Internet “distractions,” the gory violence in the cinemas, and all the filth that confronts us in every community at all hours. “Garbage in, garbage out.” Where is the value in trying to entertain us with suffering, to enlighten us with violence, or to encourage us with deceit?
I have often said, “You don’t have to have fun to be happy. You have to be happy to have fun.” Or like the little green frog said, “Time’s sure fun when you’re having flies!” So today I want you to experience, to think about something that is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and FUN!! If you can get YouTube, this should give you a few moments to enjoy Gifts for the Giver of All Good Things – Music for example!
For just the sheer fun of it I invite you to listen to this.
That’s all for today, Beloved. Pray for one another. Please spend a few minute in heartfelt prayer for people you think might just be unlovable – for whatever reason. Love them and forgive them and hold them in your heart like a beautiful song.
I also ask you to pray for JE who continues his perilous dance on the border between life and death. He had his 48th and 49th surgeries this past week, and yet clings to the Goodness of God and the love of all of us, his family – that includes you, MBN!
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service, Beloved.
WBS, OK?
PS: Thank you AT for sending us that link!
Time's sure FUN when you're having FLIES!
About Chick Todd
American Roman Catholic reared as a "Baptiterian" in Denver Colorado. Now living on Kauaʻi. USAF Vet. Married for over 50 years. Scripture study has been my passion ever since my first "Bible talk" at age 6 in VBS.
