To paraphrase the 5th Dimension- Where is the love?

In recent remarks I outlined my struggles with obedience versus willfulness, and my difficulties in following the will of God and the instructions of  those He has appointed as leaders in my life. I received great feedback from everyone on the team, and when AP made her remarks about it this commonly being a love issue in our relationship with God, it sounded a major chord in my spirit.

So, this week I have been concentrating on what I can do to deal with my obstinate, stiff-necked, obtuse and rebellious ways and have come up with a few strategies and some new revelation in this.

Okay, so they say confession is good for the soul. Those strategies were already there in the Bible and I just “discovered” them. That doesn’t dilute their value, and I have always maintained that the lessons we learn the best are those that come at the highest personal cost. Suffice it to say, the woodshed is a sobering and painful place.

Deut 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

When I consider this verse I have to realize that it says I will  love the Lord, for He is my God,  It doesn’t say I might, or I should, or I could but I will. Not only will I but I will do so completely with all that I is, my heart, mind, soul and strength. It doesn’t leave any part of me open to interpretation. This comes directly from the throne room.  The verse further describes all that I consider mine, and infers that since I didn’t give me to myself, I have no right to withhold any portion from my Creator.

This is pretty heavy stuff because it goes to the fundamental core of who I am, why I am and what is expected of me. My opinion, my understanding and my expectations have no weight here, it is all about my duty, indebtedness and obligation if I am the servant of God I claim to be.

Now I have to refer to my positional standing in the court of the Most High. Am I saved? Yes. Am I His? Entirely.  Is He my Lord and King? Yes. When we look at movies that depict the kings of old and the fealty shown by their subjects it gives a glimpse into how much honor and glory was due them. How much more do I owe the King of Glory?

Okay, now at least I can admit to having gotten that part straight.

Deut 7:13   And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

God Himself promises to love me, bless me and bearing in mind the historical context, all that to which I turn my hand, if I follow Godly principles and His leadership. (my wine, my kine, my valentine).

If, or should I say since Jesus promises all this to me, He is showing me what the nature of true love is, and how I am to love Him.  I am to love Him completely  in the same way He loves me, but I am also to love all others in the same fashion. This takes a lot of wind out of my sails. They’re His wind and His sails anyway? Who am I? And where was I when He hung the stars?

Since the blessing goes hand in hand with the love, doesn’t it stand to reason that every time I act in an unloving fashion to anyone, I am pushing the blessing away?

What kind of foolish, carnal and joyless an existence am I asking for anyway?

Since God defines love, it is up to me to recognize the characteristics of love, the implementation of love and the outworking of love.

 This again is a requirement. I am commanded to be a recipient of love from God, and a conveyor of that love to others. It says nothing about whether or even if I will be loved in return! This is a commandment to me not others.  Many years ago I used to pray daily that God would so fill me with His love that it would pour out of my eyes towards everyone with whom I came in contact , that they might recognize their need for Him, and wish to pursue the kind of relationship I had with Him, so that they might love and be loved in return by my King.

Where did that guy go?

Rom 13:10       Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law.

All too frequently I worketh ill to my neighbor. I am unintentionally injuring the love relationships God has placed me in with callous treatment, casual language, and flippant and uncaring actions.

May I apologize to all of y’all? I am convicted of my sin in this arena, and I realize that confession is in fact good for the soul. Even if it pertains to uncharitable thought it still demeans me in God’s eyes and makes a mockery of the love He has so patiently been trying to instill  in me.

In my pre-salvation state, I was a horrid abuser of language, uttering imprecations and obscenities with wild abandon. I was like the wild ass that runs on the hillside, braying at the wind and kicking up my heels at any perceived obstacle or threat. I was loud, obnoxious, uncouth and a general terror to be around.

Although God saved me and cleansed me and gave me a new family heritage, I am still struggling with stray hairs. So what’s a fella to do about the struggle between obedience and willfulness, antagonism and showing God’s love as it has been given to me?

 Gal. 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

How do you like them apples?  If I claim to be Spirit –filled, should I not, do I not, dare I not show the fruit thereof?  Love, by God’s definition, and not mine is the first requirement. Notice I didn’t say suggestion!  Okay, so most people who know me would say I'm a pretty joyful guy, but I still get moody and petulant sometimes. I realize God’s opinion is “snap out of it”....it’s about love remember!

Am I restless? Antsy? Ill at ease? The peace that passes all understanding is rooted in, you guessed it...love. If I understand His love, I know I can bask in it anytime and it’s guaranteed to remove the ants from my pants.

Am I short-tempered or rough handed in any given situation? Is it because I’m not getting my way? Is there any right way except the narrow way which leads me back to the cross?..............love again right?

Do I behave like a bad kid? Frequently. Do I pay the price? Always....Love will temper my ill will and teach me the patience that is lacking. I have no right to ride roughshod over anyone in my way. There I go again.....my way.  His way is what I love to follow. His love is what I want to feel and express.

My prayer, to close is: “Lord, you have been so patient with me in the area of my relationship with you. May I incorporate Your idea of love and anchor it deep within my soul by faith, that meekness and temperance will be the outworking and that I can show Your love in everything I do, say and be. As an act of my will, I engage my spirit, soul and heart to this, and claim the Holy Spirit’s assistance in this by the shed blood of my blessed Savior Jesus Christ”  Selah.