Love 2

Loving  2

I quoted Paul’s admonition in Philippians 4:8-9 in the last issue on Loving.  I am particularly focused on the statement:

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice!!!!

Even more specifically I want us to consider the word, “practice.”

Πράσσω   prassō

Thayer Definition:

1) to exercise, practice, to be busy with, carry on

1a) to undertake, to do

2) to accomplish, perform

2a) to commit, perpetrate

3) to manage public affairs, transact public business

3a) to exact tribute, revenue, debts

4) to act

 

An earthy way of stating this is, “Keep on Keeping on!” 

 

Now we also need to consider that concept of “practice,” as we commonly use it.  When we desire to learn something new (and loving this way is definitely something new) and become proficient in it we have to – practice.  This means we have to be appreciative of several things.

1.    We may have little idea of how.

2.    We may need to be “taught.”

3.    We will be pretty bad at it at first.

4.    We will need to expend time and effort.

 

1 and 2 are addressed in the above admonition from Paul.  It is in the example of Ruth, David, the Prophets, Jesus, Stephen, Paul and others throughout the history of the church that we learn the how and are taught.  In reading, really thinking about and praying about their stories, the examples we see, we can translate their experience into our own.

 

Now let me give a warning here.  It is not about getting a list of “don’ts.”  What love Is Not won’t help you.  When we lay a foundation of “nots” we are just setting ourselves up for a fall.  Why?  Well it’s the danger of the default. 

 

We all have our ways of relating; some good and some not so much.  If we lay out a list of “don’t do’s” we have accomplished little.  If that’s all we have then when we are faced with a challenge we will “default” back to what we know.  But if we carefully and prayerfully build a list of “do’s” then the danger of the default is greatly weakened. 

 

I suspect that’s why Jesus said to love our enemies.  The default is hate.  For us as fallen creatures it’s, well, normal.  It’s what we do and is encouraged to do.  So He tells us, “love” them.  We only need to determine what that looks like.

 

#3 is just common sense.  Remember, loving as he calls us to is predominantly His problem.  We are not going to do it on our own.  But he has provided everything we need for life and godliness – we just need to learn to use it and to practice so we may use it well.

 

NOW – this means that in the early stages, we ARE GOING TO DO IT BADLY.  LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN LOUDER >>>>  WE  ARE  GOING  TO  DO  THAT  BADLY !!!!!!!!!!!!  Got it?  Say it again:  WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT BADLY!!!!!!!!!!!! 

 

Accept that – embrace it.  He knows – He’s not going to be shocked when we do it badly but I think He will smile (really really big) as He sees us working to do it well. 

 

#4  time and effort.  Loving as He has called us to love is WORK.  It is hard work.  It rubs us

the right way but it rubs us.  It is not easy and it is not fun.  We have to study, think, pray and

seek counsel.  We have to examine our mess-ups and our successes.  We have to THIINK and

think biblically.

 

Prepare:  That’s prayer and study and seeking council if needed.

Plan:  Don’t try to love everyone all at once.  Start where you are doing it and work from there.

Practice:  Being bad at it is normal.

Persevere:  this does not mean push yourself over the edge.  It just means keep going.  It does not matter if you sprint, run, jog, hop, skip or crawl on your belly – FOLLOWING THE MASTER IS FOLLOWING THE MASTER >> PERIOD!!!!!!!!

 

He has set the goal.  Love as He loves.  But between where you are and where He will take

you; there’s lots of room for you to think, plan, evaluate and mess-up.  Make it good for you –

it will never be easy but the idea of “not pain, no gain,” does not mean you damage yourself.

Yes, there will be pain – but do not push through it – respect it – rest and heal.

 

There is no “sell by” date on your salvation.  There is no deadline.  There is no PERT chart or

schedule.  We are to press on toward the goal.  He is the one who will get us there.

 

Next, “MY ENEMIES.”