ON LOVE; PART MXCIII
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GoodWill IS Love in Action
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FIRST IS THE GREAT COMMANDMENTS: “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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WHAT THEN IS LOVE? In a general sense love is 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. While this IS from an older definition of Charity, which IS rendered in the King James Bible from the same Greek word agape which IS generally rendered as Love, we should amend our own definition here to include the idea that in the reality of Love a man will accord to ALL men ALL things that he would accord to himself and to say that Love IS our thoughts and attitude of the equality of ALL men regardless of their outward nature or appearance…that ALL ARE equally children of Our One God
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PLUS THE EVER IMPORTANT AND HIGH IDEAL TAUGHT TO US BY THE CHRIST: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12).
We ended the last essay with some words from the Old and the New Testament about John the Baptist. That John IS Jesus’ cousin IS a rather trivial part of the story of John; what IS important IS the reality that the Master reveals in the sayings that closed the last post, sayings which show that it IS the same Soul that was the person of Elijah that IS also the person that IS John. While Jesus IS responding to His disciples’ questions in saying this about John in both the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Mark, He also volunteers this same idea when speaking about the Baptist to the multitude of people; it IS Jesus’ voluntary comments that we repeat in greater context:
“And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:1-15).
We should note that the complete account including Jesus words about Elias IS only offered by Matthew and we can assume that this happens in the absence of His disciples whom He had sent out on their own. The point here IS that Matthew tells us that Jesus’ speech IS “unto the multitudes” which the Apostle Luke confirms saying that Jesus “began to speak unto the people concerning John” (Luke 7:24). In this we should see that Jesus’ words ARE neither parabolic nor restricted to His disciples….His words ARE for public consumption and for the understanding of those which “will receive it“, those who DO “hath ears to hear“.
The understanding that IS to be taken here IS that it IS “in the spirit and power of Elias” (Luke 1:17) that the Baptist IS born into this world, it IS “in the spirit and power of Elias” that the tabernacle which IS the body and the personality of John IS filled. As we relate this idea to the words from the Apostle Paul below we can perhaps see the deeper ideas that ARE being conveyed to us who “will receive it“, who DO “hath ears to hear“. Paul paints for us a picture of the dichotomy between the body and the Soul and if we can see this in his terms we can perhaps glimpse his idea as that the Spirit IS clothed in the “earthly house of this tabernacle” and that at the same time the Spirit has “a building of God, an house not made with hands” and it IS this “building of God” that IS the Soul. We read the apostle’s words again saying:
“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him” (2 Corinthians 5:1-9).
Paul’s words here, as many of his words, ARE analogies that contain the Truth and ARE likely designed to allow for one to understand relationships and NOT to offer literal ideas. In the end the idea presented should be see that to be “present with the Lord” IS to be consciously “clothed upon with our house which is from heaven” ‘ this IS to NO longer focus upon the former carnal Life which he shows us as “this tabernacle were dissolved“. While doctrines see the death of the body in Paul’s words, the real message IS NOT so; the real message IS in accord with the Master’s own words on a Life focused upon the things of God or a death where the focus is yet carnal. Can we see that Paul’s words here ARE an amplification of Jesus own parabolic words on Life which we see in His saying that “whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 16:25).
Doctrines of course DO NOT see Jesus words on Life in the same way as we DO; they DO NOT see the idea as a choice of one’s focus upon the carnal Life versus the spiritual Life….they DO NOT understand the idea here of Life as that True Life of the Soul in this Earth. There IS a duality in Jesus words that IS lessened in Paul’s; Jesus shows us that for one to “save his life” IS to maintain that Life of the tabernacle while Paul shows us that the men should be “earnestly desiring” to leave it. When we consider that the whole idea here IS tied to the focus of men, we can then better see their idea. From Jesus perspective there IS the duality of the carnal versus the spiritual and the idea here IS that to save, to continue one’s focus upon the carnal, IS to lose opportunity to live spiritually.
Paul shows us this same thing in a rather straightforward manner as he tells us to be “at home in the body” which IS to focus one’s Life on carnal matters, IS to be “absent from the Lord” which IS one’s spiritual Life. Both show us the converse ideas as well; Jesus shows us that to “lose his life” which IS to lose one’s carnal focus, enables the man to “find it“, that IS to find his spiritual Life. Paul, again rather straightforwardly, shows us that “to be absent from the body” IS “to be present with the Lord” and when we view these ideas in terms of focus, we have then the same idea.
The Apostle John shows us the same idea that we find in Matthew’s Gospel in terms of Love rather than saving; according to John the Master says: “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal” (John 12:25). The same duality it here but we now have a different reference point that should eliminate thoughts that Jesus IS speaking about physical death as much of doctrine suggests. Here in John’s words we find the Greek word philo used for this sense of Love which better denotes that mental and emotional attraction and attachment that most ALL ascribe to agape as well.
If we can measure this idea of philo against the Apostle James’ words where philo IS rendered as friend, we can perhaps gain much insight; James says: “know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4). Can we see the point here? Can we see the relationship between Loving one’s Life, one’s carnal Life, and Loving the world? ALL of these ideas ARE the same….if one holds True to the world, he will NOT be True to God and this IS the meaning that Jesus brings us as He tells us that “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon“, and His preceding words about the single eye (Matthew 6:24, 22).
None of these ideas from Jesus and from His apostles ARE understood in regard to one’s spiritual Life and the necessary dichotomy that exists between this True Life and the carnal life where one’s focus IS upon mammon; and, while one may believe, based on his doctrines, that he can focus upon both, there IS yet the Truth of James words saying “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8). The ONLY KEY to our spiritual Truth IS found in the single eye, the single minded focus upon the things of God, and should we merge this idea with Jesus words from the same Sermon that tell us to “Take no thought for your life” (Matthew 6:25), we can perhaps glimpse the totality of His meaning.
The deep reality here IS that the man whose focus IS upon the things of God IS NOT focused upon the things of the world….the totality of his desires IS the same as IS Paul’s which we read above as “we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven“. Perhaps the easier idea to see here IS that in one’s focus upon the things of God there IS NO desire for the things of the world and while one must conduct himself as a man in this world, if he will DO so according to the Master’s words and according to the trifecta which we repeat here again, he will receive his rewards; we read:
- “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free“ (John 8:31-32).
- “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
- “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me” (John 14:21-24).
And it IS in this, in having NO desire for the pleasures or the comforts which the illusion tells us that the world provides, a man will see the equality of ALL lives and begin to understand the Truth of Love that comes to everyman who will “continue in my word” as Jesus shows us. It IS in Love, in agape, that ALL things ARE resolved and to understand this in the depth that the many biblical words Truly show us, one must begin to express it and understand that without such expression one IS NOT keeping His words. Doctrines have long compromised these ideas on Love and on one’s focus upon the things of God and they have long compromised the dichotomy that DOES exist between the spiritual and the carnal….and they have done these things to enhance the carnal lives of men which purpose IS contrary to the whole of the Master’s teaching.
Perhaps we can see the crux of this dichotomy in these lost words from the Master who tells us “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). Doctrines twist and turn these words and some look at them ONLY in the totality as they refer to those who DID reach out to “gain the whole world“. The Truth however lies in the idea of focus and the reference IS NOT ONLY material gain; the greater point here should be seen in the context of the words that precede this in Matthew’s Gospel which we discuss above. When these ARE read and understood together the deeper reality can be seen: “whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?“.
We should try to see that the message here IS that there IS NO profit in worldly gain which IS both fleeting and temporary and if we can read these words along with Solomon’s we can perhaps see the Master’s greater intent. Solomon can be see in this idea of to “gain the whole world“; we read in the Book of Kings that “king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom” (1 Kings 10:23). And it IS he that tells us of the vanity of such gain as he writes: “As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?” (Ecclesiastes 5:15-16).
Solomon’s words here have a twofold purpose for us in this post; first IS that it shows us the reality of Jesus saying….that there IS NO profit in such worldly gain. Second we should see the relationship to our topic of reincarnation and rebirth and the way that the spiritual man IS the True man that IS born into this world. We should understand that one DOES NOT “return to go as he came” in terms of “his mother’s womb“; we should rather see that a man DOES “return to go as he came” in regard to the Spirit, the Soul, which for a time uses the body from “his mother’s womb“. It IS the Earth Life that IS over and we should note that Solomon repeats his charge here saying “in all points as he came, so shall he go” and while his intent IS to show that a man can bring naught of his worldly gain, his words also show that the origin of the man IS NOT “his mother’s womb“.
The reality IS that had Solomon, or any man for that matter, kept the commandments and the words of God, the riches and worldly gain, both physical and psychical, would NOT have been his focus….his focus would have been on the things of God. Here we should try to see that while it IS his failure in keeping the commandments that befell Solomon, and his father David before him. This IS what keeps them from the fullness of the promises but they ARE nonetheless counted among the Godly figures in scripture and by men. We should try to understand as well that this reality, the avoidance of this reality, IS what IS the Truth of the Master’s teaching as well as the amplifying and clarifying teaching of Paul. It IS in the teaching of the New Dispensation that men learn that to Love as originally commanded by those words “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Leviticus 19:18) and that in this Love ALL the law IS DONE. We read Paul’s words to the Romans again saying:
“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Romans 13:10-14).
This IS the greater point of the Truth that yet today goes unseen. It IS when a man can express such Love that he IS complete and it IS in this state that he sees the vanity of carnal Life and understands the foolishness of the focus of men upon the temporal and fleeting things, thoughts and ideas of that Life. And it IS as a man can come to realize this Truth of agape, that in this a man “hath fulfilled the law“, that men can Truly begin to strive toward the Truth of those “exceeding great and precious promises” by which they might be “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). And we should see here what Solomon and David could NOT; we should see here as well that to “put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” IS to allow the Soul, the anointing and the unction, to be the center of one’s Life. It IS in this way that one can fulfill the rest of Peter’s saying which IS that to gain those “exceeding great and precious promises” one must have “escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust“.
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 |
|
GOD, The Father |
Will or Power |
Spirit or Life |
Center where the Will of God IS KNOWN |
Life |
|
Son, The Christ |
Love and Wisdom |
Soul or Christ Within |
Heart of God |
Truth |
|
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.
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.
We repeat here a Quote of the Day that we spent much time with over the course of our essays. In this affirmation we find the Truth of discipleship as we have been ever been expressing and here we can relate our themes of the last few days; “take no thought” for the things of the world and that we approach the Kingdom and discipleship in the nature of the little child, in humbleness, meekness, unashamed in any way and unassuming. The message that this imparts for us today IS that it IS the Soul that is at work in the world of men as it expresses to some degree the purpose, power and the will through Life in this world. These words are from a meditation offered to his students by our Tibetan brother and in which we find greater understanding of the message of the Master. This IS Truly the way of the disciple.
