Posts Tagged: our response to God’s love
“ON DRIVING THE LOVE OF GOD”
For better or worse (or both?), I think analogically. Perhaps all human thinking is analogical, but that is way beyond me.
As I was driving to my twelve-step meeting this morning, the thought occurred to me that living in the love of God is rather like driving a car. The analogy is almost an allegory, valid even in the nitty-gritty details.
I did not build the car I am currently driving. Indeed, Sharon was the main provider of the car, since she was working full-time when “we” purchased it, and I was not.
Similarly, I do not make God love me. Yet, I have all too frequently acted as if I needed to do so—as if I need to make the God who is love (1 John 4:8) do what he already is! What stupid arrogance! It would be comical, if were not so serious.
And yet, if I get in my car and just sit there, I will not go anywhere. The love of God is not an inert substance. It’s goal is to energize us for holy, disciplined, loving living, and this requires our interaction.
Furthermore, there are other drivers on the road, and I need to take them into account. I need to be careful and courteous.
John, in his first letter, repeatedly connects God’s love for us with how we treat others. In 1 John 4:1-21 (whence came the quote about God being love), John makes it clear that love of God and love of other people cannot be divorced.
No doubt, you’ve seen the sign “HOW’S MY DRIVING?” Sometimes the question is followed by a phone number you can call, if you see anything unsafe or discourteous. Perhaps I need to wear a shirt that says “HOW’S MY LIVING?” What would my tee shirt say after these words? Perhaps, “COMPLAIN TO GOD IF YOU SEE ME LIVING UNSAFELY OR DISCOURTEOUSLY!” Or better, “CALL ME ON IT IF YOU SEE ME LIVING UNSAFELY OR DISCOURTEOUSLY!”
The analogy between the love of God and driving a car could be pressed much further, I suspect. However, I think I’ll just mention one more item, which I will put in the form of a question: Am I driving God’s love in a distracted manner? Distracted driving is a serious matter. So is distracted living. Unless I keep God’s love front and center in my life, I will be distracted. And the only worse thing that distracted driving of a vehicle is distracted living.
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
- “Even a Sliver of Light” April 9, 2024“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:6, English Standard Version) I missed the total eclipse yesterday. There were a number of good reasons for this, but […]
- “The Process in Miracles and the Miracle of Process” March 11, 2024“2 Kings 5:1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids […]
- “The Power of Encouragement—Even for Old People” March 10, 2024“But encourage each other every day while it is ‘today.’ Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you.” (Hebrews 3:13, New Century Version) Yesterday, I was walking at a nearby park. There was a large group of young people some of whom were running while other young people […]
- “Endurance” March 10, 2024“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” (Hebrews 10:36, English Standard Version) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us […]
- “The Limits of Non-Judgmentalism” February 24, 2024“Matt. 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. Matt. 7:2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2, English Standard Version) This morning, in my virtual 12-step meeting, we discussed the topic of judgmentalism. There were many wise […]
- “Delighting in Being Told What to Do?!?” February 23, 2024“Psa. 112:1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures […]
- “Character is the Real Lesson” January 19, 2024I am often confused about what lesson I’m really supposed to be learning. For example, this morning I was trying to knock out several Spanish lessons. My intentions were a lot better than my internet connection. I’ve done three lessons. Or rather, I’ve done two lessons. One of them I did twice because the internet […]
- “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked” January 1, 2024Each year, I try to come up with one word or a short phrase for what I intend to work on in the upcoming year. 2024 is “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked”. What?!! What does that even mean? So glad that you asked! Jesus said to his disciples, “Why do you look at the speck […]
- “Searching for the Noble One” December 26, 2023My wife and I were reading Luke, chapter 2 on Christmas Day. Luke 2 talks about the shepherds being told to look for this very special child—in fact, this King—in a stable. I prefer the word “barn”. I grew up on a farm. I know what a barn is. A stable is entirely too biblical […]
- “That Don’t Impress God Much” December 14, 2023DTEB, “That Don’t Impress God Much” “That Don’t Impress Me Much” (Song by Robert John Lange and Shania Twain) Micah 6:8 (MSG) “But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be […]
Recent Comments