Archive for the 'Bible Studies for Life' Category
Stick With Love
Regardless of the romantic comedies that dominate the movie box office and the never-ending stream of love songs that fill the airwaves, love seems elusive for many. Marriage licenses are followed by too many divorce proceedings. Spouses and children are battered, being assured by the violent offender, “I love you so much.”
Writing in Bible Studies for Life, Like Glue, Ben Mandrell says, “Are you disappointed in the way your relationships are turning out? Are you sick and tired of watching people walk out of your life? Do you long to go deeper with those around you? If so, look closely at the words of Jesus as He explained the dynamics of love.”
The Bible and Love
The Bible has an enormous amount to say about the subject of love. One of the most well known verses speaks of God’s love for the world (John 3:16). Believers are reminded a lack of love is evidence of not knowing God at all (1 John 4:8). Followers of Jesus are commanded to love each other because “love is of God” (1 John 4:7). Love in so integral to the Christian life it is called a fruit of the Holy Spirit’s work (Galatians 5:22).
Meeting the Forces of Hate
Through the course of our lives we have plenty of opportunities to choose hate over love. Marriages fall apart. Adult children forget their parents. Co-workers cheat to get a promotion. A spouse or child is killed by a drunk driver. The fallenness of this world provides many opportunities to exchange hate for love. Martin Luther King, Jr. recognized the burden of hate when he said, “We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love.”1
Sticking With Love
Jesus said, “You have heard it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”2 Jesus wants us to stick with love.
How are we to love others? We are to love others as we love ourselves. How can we do that? We can do that when we love the Lord with everything we are: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”3 The moral imperative to love others follows the command to love God. Love for God makes love for others possible.
Love for those around us is evidence of God’s love in us. God’s love in us makes it possible–we might even say inevitable–that we will love others. It’s what God does, so it should be what His children do, too.
Mandrell says, “Jesus was not nebulous or vague about His command to love. He directed us to love people in the specific way He loved. How did Jesus show His love? He gave. He forgave. He pardoned. He was gracious, kind, merciful, sacrificial, and intentional.”4
“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, HCSB). “But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!” (Romans 5:8, HCSB)
This love is the love God has for us, and gives to us. This is the love God wants us to have for others. It is better to stick with love.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church General Editor, Bible Studies for Life President, Southern Baptist Convention References1– http://mlk.wsu.edu/about-dr-king/quotes/2– Matthew 5:43 (HCSB)
3– Matthew 22:37, 38
4– Bible Studies for Life, Like Glue, Ben Mandrell
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
Jesus Christ, Exalted Like No Other
At Jesus’ exaltation, His eternal glory was restored. Despite artistic representations to the contrary, Jesus was not born with a halo. Jesus did not live His earthly life bearing a glow of the next world. His countrymen asked, “Is this not the Son of Mary?” When Judas betrayed Jesus, he did so with a kiss. He didn’t tell the officers, “Just arrest the glowing guy.” The only glimpse of Christ’s glory seen on earth was on the Mount of Transfiguration, which was so astounding, Peter wanted to build tabernacles on the spot.
In John 17:4-5 Jesus prayed, “I have glorified You on the earth by completing the work You gave Me to do. Now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with that glory I had with You before the world existed” (HCSB). Part of Jesus’ exaltation was the restoration of His glory. The glory He set aside for the incarnation was restored at His exaltation.
Returning King of Glory
After His resurrection, Jesus saw Mary Magdalene in the garden where His former tomb was located. He instructed her to stop clinging to Him, because He had “not yet ascended” to the Father. Although the full meaning of this particular passage is not agreed upon, Jesus clearly intended to return to His Father and receive His exaltation!
At His exaltation, His position is established. One of David’s psalms is a song for a victorious king. The song and refrain goes like this:
“Lift up your heads, you gates!
Rise up, ancient doors!
Then the King of glory will come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
The LORD, mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, you gates!
Rise up, ancient doors!
Then the King of glory will come in.
Who is He, this King of glory?
The LORD of Hosts,
He is the King of glory.”1
One possible context for this psalm is the return of the Ark of the Covenant to the tabernacle or the temple. The Ark represented the presence and power of God. The call and response focused praise on the God of Israel, strong, mighty, and glorious. Some Bible scholars believe that this psalm is a prophetic poem referring to Jesus. If so, the scene is the return of Christ to heaven at His ascension. He is the returning King of Glory!
Everything You Need for Victorious Living is in Jesus
Jesus Christ has been exalted like no other, but His exaltation is not without meaning for us today. Tony Evans writes in Bible Studies for Life, “In Jesus, the One who stands exalted like no other, you will discover both the fullness and the summation of everything you’ll ever need in heaven and on earth. It’s all there–in Him. Everything you need for victorious living is in Jesus.”2
He has been exalted and received a name above every name. At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow in the entire universe–heaven and earth–and the tongue of every person will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of all.3 When we accept that fact that Jesus’ exaltation was on our behalf, it will increase our faith, strengthen our hope, and revolutionize our lives.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church General Editor, Bible Studies for Life President, Southern Baptist Convention
References
1– Psalm 24:7-10 (HCSB)
2– Bible Studies for Life, Like No Other, Tony Evans
3– Philippians 2, paraphrase
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.