- Jan 24, 2023
- 3 min read
In Mark 9:2-5, Peter, James, and John were on a high mountain with Jesus and saw Him transfigured and standing with Moses and Elijah. They were so touched, that immediately, Peter said, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." But Jesus was not interested in them doing that; in fact, He told them not to say anything to anyone until after He had risen from the dead.
When we have been touched by God, we want to do something great for Him also. But what does God want? My husband John had a story to illustrated this concept.
A teenager had just obtained his driver's license and was eager to drive his dad's car. Dad had been ready to make a sandwich for himself and realized that he didn't have any bread. When the son asked for permission, his dad said that he would let the son drive the car if he would get a loaf of bread for him while he was out. Of course, the son readily agreed and took the car for a drive. Upon the son's return, the dad was eagerly awaiting the loaf of bread, but when the son walked in, there was no bread. Instead, the son said, "Dad, I wanted to show you how much I appreciated having the chance to drive the car and that I would take good care of your car, so I took it through the car wash, and I filled it with gas." The father said, "I appreciate all that you did, but all I wanted was the loaf of bread."
Aren't we a little like the son when showing appreciation to our Father, the Lord? Sometimes we will go out of our way to do great things for God, but what is He asking of us? In Micah 6:8, Micah was asking what he could do for God. "He has told you, o man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
My husband, John, would often say, "It's not hard for God to get people to do the big things, but sometimes it seems difficult for Him to get people to do the little things, like smile at the cashier who looks like she is having a bad day, or saying a kind word to someone who may need it. All those little things that seem like nothing to us are a big deal to God."
In 1 Corinthians 13, often called the love chapter, Paul writes in 1 Cor. 13-1-3 that if I speak in tongues but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong. If I have all knowledge and faith enough to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. In verses 4-13 he explains what Godly love is. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. And now these three remain: Faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
That definition of love is a pretty tall order. In fact, we are incapable of loving like this by ourselves. In order to love like God loves, we must draw close to God. Then He will draw close to us (James 4:8). As we abide in Him, He will abide in us and give us the power to love unconditionally (John 15:4-5).
And finally, when Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was, He answered in Mark 12:30-31, "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."
So what is God asking of us? Love God, love our neighbor, love ourselves, love kindness, show mercy, realize that even the smallest kindness we can do for others can be used mightily by God in that person's life. As we seek to walk with the Lord, according to His ways, He will empower us to love. Try it. I can assure you, you will like it.
