It's the Easter season. It's also the season of Passover and unleavened bread. Most people are vaguely aware of the celebration, since most know of the way the Israelites left Egypt after the plagues and the protection of the blood of the lamb on the doorposts. It's a very meaningful time for all who love the idea of redemption. The celebration of the holy days that God declared for his people are always a time of refection and self examination, Passover being no exception. Paul reminded the Corinthians: "Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup" 1 Corinthians 11:28. Removing the leaven from homes and diet is a physical reminder to clean out our hearts. And the time of the Counting of the Omer is traditionally regarded as a time of spiritual renewal.
We were discussing this subject with a friend who challenged us. He said, "What is your definition of love?" We had lots of what I thought were good answers. Then he said, "What is the definition of love in the Scriptures?" Since I am in a season of examining my heart, I wonder how much I could put in there about what God says about love. I have always been one to search for truth. I think I always will be. But I'm not sure how much searching I've done, really honestly done, on love. I think that is going to be my goal for this season.
I thought I would start with the "Love Passage" of 1 Corinthians 13. But I got sidetracked with Leviticus 19. God had (has) a lot to say about love right there. I've skimmed over a lot of it in the past. This section is what my Bible entitles "Holiness Code" because in verse 2 God says, "You shall be holy because I am holy." Whew! And then he gives a few instructions.
He describes how part of the harvest is to be left in a field for others. He ends the passage with, "I am the LORD (Adonai) your God."Translated today he wants us to be generous to those in need. He wants his people to be generous because HE is generous. Next is the section of honest dealing with others—stealing, denying falsely (or deceiving one another) and swearing by God's name falsely. Wages should be paid as they were promised.
"You are not to curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God. I am the LORD." If a person can't hear a curse, what difference should that make? It seems like a big deal to God. He knows what others can't hear. Of course no one should ever make a blind person stumble, but manipulating an unsuspecting person or causing someone to sin could be said to put a stumbling block before the blind. He sees what others can't see. God can't be deceived.
Judge with fairness, showing no partiality because of status—rich or poor. Give others the benefit of the doubt.
Don't "go up and down as a talebearer or gossipmonger and, in so doing, endanger lives. Gossip can absolutely destroy a life. Gossip is one of the bigger deals in God's eyes. And yet it is so common and we don't think much of it. He does. Along with this is the statute not to stand aside if someone's life is endangered. Once again, "I am the LORD."
"You shall not hate your brother in your heart." This sounds familiar. And with this comes an instruction to confront wrong behavior. "You are to firmly rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him." Rebuking should not be to embarrass or antagonize someone but to persuade him to see the error of his ways in a loving way, the only way it would be effective. Not taking vengeance and bearing a grudge are next on the list. And now comes the one we are all familiar with: "but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." In every corner of this great Bible—this message of our Creator to his creation is the message of love—his love for his creation and his desire for relationship and his provision to enable that to happen.
That is who God is. He is love. And he wants us to imitate him. He has given us all many of the circumstances where we would need to know what to do. It's unfortunate that we would need it. But we did. And Jesus came to show everyone how to live it out. He didn't need the prompting, but he absolutely obeyed all of it. And more. He went further into the heart of God and with his huge heart loved mankind enough to suffer and die to bring the next redemption. It's a huge, hard thing to do sometimes—to love like he wants us to. He even went so far as to say it's really love if you are willing to lay down your life for another. That is really love. I could at least take small steps to move in that direction and care about others the way he wants me to. Care if someone is in need, whether physically or if maybe someone needs a friend. Get outside my circle or my comfort zone and reach out to someone who is new in my group. Resist the urge to be critical. Only want the best for someone instead of feeling competitive. In love, help someone see how bad choices can destroy lives.
He called us to be a light. May the light of the Savior, who is the Great Redeemer, shine in our lives now in this holy season and in all seasons as we go out in his name and love our neighbor as we should.
And now for the greatness of living out love in 1 Corinthians 13: Love is patient, kind, not envious, doesn't brag, not puffed up with pride, does not behave inappropriately, does not seek its own way, is not easily provoked, does not keep an account of wrongs, does not rejoice over injustice but only in truth, bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
