Today's Scripture Reading (September 14, 2025): Psalm 145
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 someone like that. I know that I have been one of those fortunate individuals.
I have several people who know me well, beginning with my wife and family; I
have given them many reasons not to love me, yet they still do. And I hope I
return that kind of love to them because there is excellent security in knowing
that someone loves you despite all you have done. These are people who
understand 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 been criticized for reading the Bible through the
lens of love. I admit that I possess that bias. I do believe that love
is an essential factor in understanding God. Sometimes
we have the mistaken opinion that love is only promoted through the pages of
the Christian or New Testament. However, even 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 whom they think
deserve it. But nothing about this human response reveals God's unconditional
love.
I aspire to God's kind of unconditional love,
giving up my grievances, and loving 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, loving 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 learn to live that
kind of love.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading:
Psalm 42
See also Psalm 103:8
No comments:
Post a Comment