May 2 - Teach Love

Diane says:
Paul set a huge task in front of Timothy. Not only did he expect him to contradict their false teachings, but to teach love. These false teachers were bringing up stories that had no basis in fact to prove their points. This caused a lot of confusion in the church in Ephesus. Remember what Jesus said to the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:2? "I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance; I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false." Timothy's work here in correcting these false teachings was obviously successful.

But, from that letter to Ephesus in Revelation we also know that though they 'persevered and endured hardships for Jesus' name and did not grow weary,' they also lost their passion for Jesus - their first love. (Rev. 2:3-4)

Paul reminds Timothy that the law is good if it is used properly. The people of Ephesus were ready to deal with the false teachers in their midst once they had Timothy's leadership, but it looks as if they allowed their hard work to become more important than their passion for Jesus. Paul reminds him that the law is made for those that move against sound doctrine, not for good men. The glorious gospel of the blessed God had been entrusted to Paul and through him to Timothy. It was Timothy's job to teach love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (Timothy 1:5)

Timothy, and later the Apostle John were instrumental in forming the church at Ephesus after Paul had established it. When we read the letter from Paul to the Ephesians, he emphasizes love over and over. Ephesus was a large city and was the home of the goddess Artemis. The city was filled with culture and was a leading trade center for the Roman Empire. Not only did Timothy need to bring the leaders in the church under control, but he needed to equip the church to reach out to the city in love.

Rebecca says:
Love is the prevailing theme of today's verses. It is a heady topic and one that I adore. I have loved many in my life but the one that outshines them all was my father, the most amazing man I've ever known. My father's love had deep roots, like a tree planted in deep tumultuous soil. When I was 3, I watched him go to court to fight for custody of me over and over. He watched me like a hawk to protect me, and to the day he died there was never once that I left his presence without him offering a hug, a kiss and the words "I love you."

I don't share all of the wonderful stories about my dad. When I do, people change the way they think of him. They form a picture based on their interpretation and delve into the psyche of him, why he did what he did. Suddenly his image gets tarnished and I get frustrated because they missed it. The stories are told not so that he could be understood, but because I want you to crawl into my head and my heart and taste the love that exists from him in me. If you did the rest would vanish.

I thought about that this morning in reference to these verses. When I sit in church or listen to someone speak I feel a disappointing pang in my chest. The Word of God is beauty, golden treasures that God allowed someone to capture, but not so we could understand Him. There is no understanding God, His thoughts are not our thoughts. The Word is a vessel used to taste a glimpse of His all encompassing love. We don't read Timothy and Titus and Philemon to understand the psyche of God, yet we get into debates, discussions and dialogue centered around His character and His truth, and His plan - as if we could ever really figure Him out.

What if the only question we asked ourselves was "What part of His love is God trying to show me through this verse?" Is it His patience, or kindness? Is He showing me that envy is not an option for Him and that He does not boast or is not proud? Do I see that He is not rude and is selfless? Does this verse show me that He is slow to anger and keeps no records of my wrongs? Am I finally able to see through this verse that His perfect love does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth? Or do I now know because of this verse that He will always protect me, always trust me, that He is my hope and because of Him I can persevere?" (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

We easily wander away from these and turn to meaningless talk and I wonder what God must think when his children use His words to debate Him instead of worship Him. It is easy to point a finger at churches, pastors, evangelists, and Christians as the perfect illustration of this verse. But if I am honest, then I must ask myself "Am I a perfect illustration? Have I wandered from His love? Is His love my priority, my goal and what I seek? Do I attest to be a teacher on a subject I know little about?"

If the only reason I share my dad's stories are to give others a chance to crawl into my head and heart and taste the love that exists from him in me, should I not be the same way with my Lord? Is there any other reason to even talk about anything? Does anything else really matter?

There is a verse that came to mind that I think expresses beautifully what our prayer should be from this point forward, and so I will close with this and pray you all feel the love of God.

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21)