Today's Scripture Reading (July 20, 2022): Psalm 103
The American philosopher and writer Elbert Hubbard
(1856-1915) argued,
"A friend is someone who knows
all about you and still loves you." We are lucky if we can share our lives
with that kind of someone. I know that I have been one of those fortunate
people. I have several people who know me well, beginning with my wife and
family, who I have given many reasons not to love me, yet they still do. And I
hope I return that kind of love to them because there is great security in
knowing that someone loves you despite all you have done. Someone who
understands that love was never designed to be conditional on behavior; rather,
it is meant to be shared in all circumstances. I want to be that kind of person.
Maybe that is the definition of true love. Love is never something we earn, but
something that is freely given to us, despite what we might have done.
I have recently been criticized for
reading the Bible through the lens
of love. I admit it. I do think that love is an important factor in understanding God. Sometimes we have the mistaken opinion that
love is only something that is promoted in the Christian Testament. But a
superficial reading of the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible repeatedly reveals a God of love. Yes, the God of the Tanakh is a God of righteousness and justice. But, according to the Bible, before he is either one of those things, he is a God of love. Sometimes there is anger in God, but the anger comes
slowly, long after multiple attempts of grace and mercy have been extended to
us.
David had experienced the
love of God. He understood God's anger, but despite his shortcomings, he knew that God still loved him.
His sins, even
though they were great, had never grown to the point where God had removed
his love. There was a difference between the love David had experienced from God and
the ways humans
treated him. People often excel at wrath, keeping the argument going, and parceling out their love to
those who they think deserve it. But I don't believe that that is real love.
I want to aspire to God's kind of unconditional love; I want to give up my grievances and just love those around me. I want the
feuds to stop at my door. Like David, I pray that I will somehow be able to love those who don't like me. And love even those who criticize the doctrine of love through which I read my Bible. I
want God to reshape me, help me love those who disagree with me
and pray for them without reservation, knowing that God loves them as much as
he loves me. The world would be a much better place if we could just learn to live that kind of love.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading:
Psalm 109
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