In the past couple of months I have been involved in counselling a dear friend. We have been friends for a long time, and the last time I was involved in counselling her (or anyone) at this depth was at the death of her husband, the love of her life. He was a lot older than her and she knew at one level that he would die before her, but when it happened she was shattered. A complete wreck. It took a lot of gentle love to get her anywhere near normal. Not just from me, but from her own church folk (she lives in a different continent to me), medical people, and her family.
This happened ten years ago, and she had found a gentleman who didn’t replace her husband, but whom she loved for his own merits, but readily accepted he wasn’t the love of her life, but still loved his companionship. They became engaged…quite some time ago. Now he has been diagnosed as having cancer. At the same time, her brother has also been diagnosed with cancer, so a double whammy. She has understandably been beside herself.
Ten years ago, I coped with all that I had to do for her. This time I haven’t been going so well. In fact I had a melt down, which to say the least was very inconvenient as I really wanted to be on deck to help her. So, being the pragmatist that I am, and to get to the bottom of my problems, I wrote myself a letter. I did this because I have noticed time and time again when people talk to me, as they get it all out, they often solve their own problem, and I was hoping to also do this. I had decided that if it didn’t I would turn the letter into an email, and send it to several friends for their comments.
So I wrote the letter. Three pages of it. And as I was writing the last paragraph, God spoke, and the healing happened. Not physically, the problems I have are still there. But emotionally and spiritually, I was healed. I was reminded of the great love God has for me (and everyone) and how part of that love was taking our problems on Himself. I Peter 5 tells us 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
This is what I tell others to do, and I hadn’t done it myself. I was trying to fix things myself. So once I read what I had written, I turned to Him and turned it all over. And I was healed. Just like that.
God’s love. Agape love. Unconditional love that transcends all other kinds of love. The very highest form of love. Love of God for us humans. So great that Jesus sacrificed Himself to save us. He redeemed us. “Unending love, amazing grace.”
Jesus spoke many time in the New Testament about love. So did the apostles. Jesus even left us commandments about it. When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus didn’t mention any of the ten, He mentioned the two, and the subject of them is love. Matt 22: 37And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the great and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Also, in John 13:34“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” What does this tell us? Jesus wants us to love the Father, and our neighbour. He wants us to love one another. This is the sign we love HIM. If we love each other as HE has loved us. Now that’s pretty deep. He loved us so much He died for us. Do we love each other that much? I mean that’s a pretty big ask, isn’t it?
He really stressed this. Love is the sign. He didn’t say the Sabbath was the sign, or eating/not eating particular foods, or wearing/not wearing particular clothes. Love. Like He loved us.
Under normal circumstances, we won’t be called on to die for our friends, or our neighbours, or our enemies. But we ARE called on to show them kindness, in whatever way is appropriate at the time. One way that formers show SDAs is to go into their groups and tell them the Gospel. They have a burden for these folk. They themselves have left the SDA denomination, but want to share the love and peace and joy they have found in Jesus, and in the Gospel, so they share the Truth with them. The Gospel. Often times this is misconstrued as hate, but love is still love, even when it’s tough. And doesn’t God at times have to give us tough love?
Love can be shown in so many ways. One of my lovely neighbours takes it upon herself to organise me a meal at least once a week. Another one is always available to drive me wherever I need to go, as I no longer drive. One way I can show love back is to graciously accept these gifts of kindness. I used to do these things myself when I was fitter. I would have done them anyway, but I was always thrilled to be thanked. Or maybe you can buy someone a loaf of bread or bottle of milk when they’re short till payday. It is really that simple. And of course there are so many other ways you can show love.
This is not sentimental, or emotional. It is not about feelings. It is not really even duty as humans see it. It is love. It is unconditional, and not about whether you get thanked or the favour returned. It IS about obeying God’s commandments: commandments of love. I don’t know how many times I have heard from SDAs, if you love me keep my commandments. Well you know God CAN count. If He had meant the TEN commandments He would have said TEN. But no, He said MY. His commandments of love. These are the commandments used to judge the sheep and the goats. The ten are not mentioned.
You know, I am surrounded by love. I have a great family and church family, both “in the flesh” and online. It has been brought home to me lately how wonderful all these people are, and how wonderful their love for me. I appreciate it so much. Particularly because I don’t deserve it. I don’t consider myself special; I am just a normal human being, but these people love me anyway. It’s a bit like grace isn’t it. God loves us so much He has given us the gift of salvation, and eternal life. We don’t deserve it, but He has given it anyway.
These people have all, in so many different ways been the hands and feet of Christ to me. I hope I can in some small way be the same for them.
Light of Christ 