Thursday, December 17, 2009

NEW TESTAMENT LOVE

What does New Testament love do? Does it simply accept people where they are? Does it refuse to make any judgments regarding behavior/conduct/attitude? Is it always kind in the sense that it will never challenge thinking? Does it get angry? It is one of the most misunderstood doctrines in Scripture, yet it is at the root and core of all our hope. "God so LOVED the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son..." God's love poured out its anger on His Son so that we could be made acceptable. He didn't just accept us where we were, unholy enemies going our own way. He transformed us into what His Son is, holy and righteous, doing always the will of His Father. His love is never satisfied in leaving us where He found us. Rather, He, in no unmistakable terms, declares what His love wills for us: "This is the will of God for you, even your sanctification", which is an ideal toward which He is constantly moving us. So love isn't some soft, wimpy, emotional feeling God has for us. It is that which drives Him to continually be transforming us. So let's think about losing the warm fuzzies when it comes to Christian, New Testament, God-like love.