ON LOVE; PART DLIII
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GoodWill IS Love in Action
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“The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31).
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“Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:36-40).
There is much to say about the Master’s words “take no thought” that IS difficult to understand and to accomplish and perhaps here in these words there IS a True dividing line between the man who is seriously seeking spiritual Truth and his own spiritual reality and the man who IS content with his Life in the world. Here, in our reality, we see the Master’s message clearly saying that to “take no thought” is to NOT focus upon the things of the world and to NOT attend to those things as one’s way of Life and to gain what one needs. It IS rather to Live one’s Life according to His words on Love, on attaining the Kingdom and on discipleship; to live the Life of Peter and Paul and the others who lived in their way; and to do so in this much more modern world. This IS the ultimate Truth in ALL of Jesus words, there ARE NONE that offer shortcuts to His goals for ALL men, that ALL men should reach the Kingdom of God and that ALL become disciples and this IS His message, His Great Commission if you will, which He delivered to His apostles in the end and, in so doing, delivered them to us who would accept it. We read in this in the Gospel of Matthew as: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Of course doctrine sees this as their command to evangelize and to proselytize; to spread their own individual doctrines around the world and to baptize men according to their individual rites. To take men away from their own religions and to have them seek the Lord and Love Jesus as they teach Him which IS in many cases that they ARE saved by His Redeeming Blood; that ALL they need to do IS to believe and to carry on with their lives. That Christians should be doing this evangelizing and proselytizing IS NOT our issue here; our issue is ONLY the interpretation that these missions have put upon their own goals of spreading their own doctrines around the world while the reality of the Master’s message IS that the Truth of His words IS to be spread. According to our own understanding of the words and their intended meaning, we see this Great Commission as: “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of ALL men, immersing them into the Truth of the Trinity of God: Teaching them to keep ALL things that I have commanded you as disciples: and, behold, I am with you ALL the days, even unto the consummation of the age“. Our view here is based in the True meanings of His words; baptism, teach and nations have wholly different meanings than the King James has recorded them and while some may offer different renderings of these, they DO NOT seem to teach them any differently. Of ALL the words of this Commission however, the most important and the most missed ARE those clearly stated ideas where there IS NO translation issue. these ARE stated clearly saying “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you“; and this IS clearly NOT done by most. Our views on this and the development of our own rendering are discussed in In the Words of Jesus part 725.
The most basic issue here IS that the Master instructs disciples and apostles to do this work, he instructs men who ARE keeping His words to teach others to do the same and while there ARE many well meaning people in the missionary field, few are likely in this class of discipleship and few teach as He has instructed. In this ALL the basic flaw IS that there are few that KNOW the Truth of His words….most ALL KNOW ONLY what their doctrines have taught and then in the way that this was done; they KNOW their version of baptism, their version of salvation and their version of who the Christ IS and man’s relationship to Him. What does this mean as a part of our discussion on “take no thought“? Only this; that the Truth of the Master’s words are lost in the confusion of doctrine as most ALL doctrine dilutes and changes the Truth to better conform with the realities of the lives of men; and, the men who write these doctrines, while perhaps among the religious leaders, are at the same time men living in this world of illusion and glamour. And it IS NOT only this idea of “take no thought” that are confounded by doctrine but the more important teaching that fuels these words…the Master’s teaching on Love as most clearly stated in the Great Commandments above.
We should say again here that there ARE many benefits for those who follow the doctrines of Christianity as in doctrine they have a reason to stay closer to the Lord in heart and mind and in such a state they CAN, if they are listening to their own Inner self, to their own Souls, catch a glimpse of the Truth that flows forth in whatever amount of Light a man will allow into his Life. However, for us who claim to KNOW, there IS the greater reality in these things, the greater Truths of Love and of forsaking whatsoever IS necessary to lose so that on can Truly keep His words. It IS in this Light that we see and we write about this simple thought of “take no thought“. It IS with this in mind that we have been writing about the reality that these words ARE NOT for ALL men but rather for those that ARE Truly seeking the Kingdom as until one’s focus comes to be on the things of God, these words make little sense. This IS likely why they are understood by most as do not be anxious and do no worry. The degree of faith required for the reality of “take no thought” as to mean DO NOT even think on these things of the world. DO NOT focus upon them, IS yet beyond even we who write these words. In these ideas IS the essence of that forsaking that the Master later teaches us saying: “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33).
There is little difference in the Master’s Truth that we Love ALL men, that we give to ALL that ask and consider the loan and the theft as giving as well, and this idea that we “take no thought“; ALL are intended to take the aspirant and the True seeker closer to his own spiritual reality and further from the ways of the world. This IS the way of the disciple and in this journey it seems beneficial to KNOW what it IS that keeps our brother back and, as we can see in our more recent essays, we see that it IS doctrine that accomplishes this purpose. Here we see our responsibility as that we must keep expounding the Truth of His words as we do in this forum which is very unlikely to be read by the casual Christian. In other forums however we must temper our words to fit with the overall attitude of the audience as we DO NOT want to offend any that may be offendable based in their own deep conviction; we must ever realize that many ARE NOT ready to Truly seek the Kingdom of God as we see that journey. Many are so entwined in the doctrines that they have learned that it will likely not be possible for them to change and in this it IS likely the better idea to not try; however, we must expound the Truth as we see it, the selfless Truth of Love and of the Kingdom of God and do so in the hope that those that teach the world’s doctrines will see or hear some bit of the Master’s Truth which will allow their teaching to change a bit more toward the reality of the message of the Christ.
And so we have His message of “take no thought” and the doctrinal belief that He IS telling His disciples the those listening to His Sermon on the Mount not to worry or to be anxious. Here we also have our view that this whole segment of His words IS designed to show us that we need not focus upon the things of the world as we will ever have what it IS that we need IF we can understand and attend to His next instruction:”seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). As we said in the last essay, this IS the ultimate test of faith, of True faith; that we can, as men in the world, let go of our attractions and our attachments to the things of the world, let loose of our desires for the self in the world, and focus so totally upon the Good, the Beautiful and the True that we can find the wherewithal to “take no thought” for any worldly thing. NO focus, NO attention, NO plan and schemes; just the simplicity of having what one needs, one’s daily bread if you will, without driving for more or for better. The apostles echo this sentiment in a word that IS rendered as content and which IS a state that they tell us to be in; we read:
- Presumably reacting to a gift which many see as spiritual, that these Philippians have shown their own spiritual fruit, Paul writes this to them which we should understand according to our context above: “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:10-13). Paul’s demeanor here should be seen as his Life attitude, that he is content in whatsoever he has and that he simply moves on in quiet rectitude KNOWING the promise that ALL things ARE added the man who can “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness“. We should remember here that we speak NOT of what one may want but of what one may need. In this realm of “take no thought” what can we want for that IS of the world?
- In the simplicity of the Life of the disciple, Paul advises Timothy, who he calls his “own son in the faith“, about the this virtue of contentment saying: “godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content” (1 Timothy 1:2, 6:6-8). This IS Paul’s sound advice which he offers and then tells of the peril of those who seek for more and the snare of the temptations of the world.
- As he closes his epistle, the writer of the Book of Hebrews tells us: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:5-6). In this IS a reflection of that faith in KNOWING that the Lord “will never leave thee, nor forsake thee“.
This IS the reality of this idea of “take no thought” as seen through the eyes of the apostles who reserve ALL their striving for the things of God and who have found that faith to endure and to overcome the fears of not having; a part of the human condition that is built and reinforced by the illusion and the glamour of Life in the world. The Master’s examples and His reasoning may seem to be obscure to some and we should remember that the ideas here ARE much broader than the food, drink and clothing that Jesus mentions by name. These are intended to be representative of the things that men need in the world while those ALL those things that a man can desire ARE included in His words “take no thought“. In the final analysis, the Master is telling us about faith and He does so by reminding us that this is sorely lacking in the world of men and, in His closing words, He ties this ALL together for us saying: “O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: ) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things” (Matthew 6:30-32). Here we should be reminded of His words on prayer, that we be not like the hypocrites who make long prayers and babble because “your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him” (Matthew 6:8). Can we see the connection here?
And the final words that we show a part of above, words which show us that there IS a price for this receiving without wanting and asking and striving for, there IS a cost that Jesus defines as that we must “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness“. This He tells us as this segment, this middle third of His Sermon, comes to a close and he reminds of again to “take no thought” saying emphatically that we should “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matthew 6:32-33). Here we should understand that this follows upon the instruction to “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” and should be seen in that context and the Parable of the Rich Fool who spends his time thinking and planning for the next day and about what he will do to protect and secure his wealth.
We will continue with our thoughts in the next post.
| Aspect |
Potency |
Aspect of Man |
In Relation to the Great Invocation |
In relation to the Christ |
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GOD, The Father |
Will or Power |
Spirit or Life |
Center where the Will of God IS KNOWN |
Life |
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Son, The Christ |
Love and Wisdom |
Soul or Christ Within |
Heart of God |
Truth |
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Holy Spirit |
Light or Activity |
Life Within |
Mind of God |
Way |
Note on the Quote of the Day
This daily blog also has a Quote of the Day which may not be in any way related to the essay. Many of these will be from the Bible and some just prayers or meditations that may have an influence on you and are in line with the subject matter of this blog. As the quote will change daily and will not store with the post, it is repeated in this section with the book reference and comment.
Staying on the theme of Love we repeat again the sayings of the Apostle Paul that puts this Love into perspective.
But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 12:31, 13:1-3,13 (New King James Version)Regardless of our daily theme, the underlying theme of our posts and of this entire blog is Love. In these words from Paul we should be able to see the overriding importance of Love in the Life of each of us. This is a common theme throughout the gospels and the other writings of the apostles and a theme that is not nearly understood. As in the ideas above from Sermon on the Mount and our comments on the affirmation that had been our Quote of the Day, these words from Paul impart a better understanding of the reality of Life, the Life of the True man as the Christ Within, the Soul, through a True understanding of the power and the purpose of Love and we should note here as well that this expression of Love IS the Will of God and this we should see clearly in the Truth that “God IS love” (1 John 4:8).
We repeat here what we said about these verses in a prior post: Today’s Quote of the Day from the Apostle Paul is his testimony to the power of Love. After speaking at length about the gifts of the Spirit that one should desire in order to be of service to the Lord, he says plainly that Love is a more excellent way. Love in the context of these verses is not the sentimental or affectionate kind that we ordinarily think of but rather benevolence, good will; that disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow men, and to do them good. In a theological sense, it includes supreme love to God, and universal good will to men. This
Let the peace of God rule in your hearts!
- 4 Word Studies in the New Testament; Marvin R Vincent D.D. 2nd edition, 1888
