What is love?
Is love a process or is it an event?
Love is a process - we ought to practice it for there is no lack of opportunities to do so. It is not a whimsical, wishy-washy, mere feelings based affair but requires us being constantly engaged in preserving it, God is its source. The church is supposed to be the extension of God's kindness and love. We are to be merciful to all. Matth. 5:43-45.
"Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old." Micah 7:18-20.
Is the God of the OT different than the God of the NT? No.
God is kind to those who are ungrateful and evil.
If a man will not exercise his arm, it becomes weak and deficient in muscular strength. Unless the Christian exercises his spiritual powers, he acquires no strength of character, no moral vigor. Love is a very precious plant and must be cultivated if it was to flourish. The precious plant of love is to be treated tenderly (practiced), and it will become strong and vigorous and rich in fruit-bearing, giving expression to the whole character.
In your association with others, put yourself in their place. Enter into their feelings, their difficulties, their disappointments, their joys, and their sorrows. Identify yourself with them, and then do to them as, were you to exchange places with them, you would wish them to deal with you. This is the true rule of honesty. It is another expression of the law. "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Matthew 22:39. And it is the substance of the teaching of the prophets. It is a principle of heaven, and will be developed in all who are fitted for its holy companionship.
The golden rule is the principle of true courtesy, and its truest illustration is seen in the life and character of Jesus (if true courtesy exists, there must also be the counterfeit, those of evil). Oh, what rays of softness and beauty shone forth in the daily life of our Saviour! What sweetness flowed from His very presence! The same spirit will be revealed in His children. Those with whom Christ dwells will be surrounded with a divine atmosphere. Their white robes of purity will be fragrant with perfume from the garden of the Lord. Their faces will reflect light from His, brightening the path for stumbling and weary feet.
No man who has the true ideal of what constitutes a perfect character will fail to manifest the sympathy and tenderness of Christ. The influence of grace is to soften the heart, to refine and purify the feelings, giving a heaven-born delicacy and sense of propriety. (it means there is no meanness , no sharp edges) {MB 134.3-135.2}
It is the power from the Source, to the power that makes it work for everybody. - This principal was demonstrated by Elisha when he bid the king to feed the Syrians rather then slay them, 2.Kings 6:21-23.
Have you ever felt that you were struggling all alone, that no one cared?
Do you realize that you are not alone feeling that way?
But is it true that you are alone? Or are you missing some relevant information?
True Christians, in varied ways, ought to know the following high principles of Christian living and behavior toward their fellows.
A Christlike nature is not selfish, not unkind, and will not hurt the souls of those who are struggling with Satan's temptations. It will enter into the feelings of those who are tempted that the trials and temptations shall be so managed as to bring out the gold and consume the dross.
This is the practice which God appoints to all. In this, Christ's school, all may learn their lessons daily, both teachers and pupils, to be patient, humble, generous, noble.
All Christians will all have to seek God most earnestly in prayer mingled with living faith, and the molding hand of God will bring out His own image in your character.
Temptations will come, but not overcome.
What does that mean? It means Christians, followers of Christ, will at times fail and sin. But then they remember Jesus again, and they will bethink themselves, and come back to Christ, confess, repent, and ask to be forgiven.
Will God forgive you? Yes, seventy times seventy - till you loose count. - Then you are prompted and the following happens . . .
But through grace found in opening the heart to the knock and voice of Jesus, Christian character and experience are growing more and more beautiful and heavenly.
Let us bear in mind that we are dealing with souls that Christ has purchased with infinite cost to Himself.
Don't fail to tell the erring, God loves you, God died for you. Weep over them, pray with them. Shed tears over them, but do not get angry with them. They are Christ's purchased possession.
Let every one seek a character that will express love in all his actions. For we know, "Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depths of the sea."
It were better not to live than to exist day by day devoid of that love which Christ has revealed in His character, and has enjoined upon His children.
Said Christ, "Love one another as I have loved you."
We live in a hard, unfeeling, uncharitable world. Satan and his confederacy are plying every art to seduce the souls for whom Christ has given His precious life. Every one who loves God in sincerity and truth, will love the souls for whom Christ has died.
If we wish to do good to souls, our success with these souls will be in proportion to their belief in our belief in, and appreciation of, them.
How are Christians to help people overcome?
Respect shown to the struggling human soul is the sure means through Christ Jesus of the restoration of the self-respect the man has lost.
Our advancing ideas of what he may become is a help we cannot ourselves fully appreciate. We have need of the rich grace of God every hour, then we will have a rich, practical experience, for God is love. He that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God.
Give love to them that need it most. The most unfortunate, those who have the most disagreeable temperaments need our love, our tenderness, our compassion.
Those who try our patience need most love.
We pass through the world only once; any good thing we can do, we should do most earnestly, untiringly, with the same spirit as is stated of Christ in His work. He will not fail nor be discouraged.
The rough, stubborn, sullen dispositions are the ones who need help the most.
How can they be helped? Only by that love practiced in dealing with them which Christ revealed to fallen man.
While you may treat them, as you may think, they deserve.
What if Christ had treated us thus?
He, the undeserving, was treated as we deserve.
Still we are treated by Christ with grace and love as we did not deserve, but as He deserved.
Treat some characters, as you think they richly deserve, and you will cut off from them the last thread of hope, spoil your influence and ruin the soul.
Will it pay? No, I say no, a hundred times no.
Bind these souls who need all the help it is possible for you to give them close to a loving, sympathizing, pitying heart, overflowing with Christlike love, and you will save a soul from death and hide a multitude of sins.
Had we not better try the love process? {FE 280.1}
"Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." James 5:20.
We always ought to keep that in mind. And again it says,
5:43 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:43-48.
So far we have brought to view the life of seeking, converting Christians who have accepted the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and have decided to follow Him in their daily life.
They find soon numerous additional truths and promises to be true,
33:10 "The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
33:11 The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
33:13 The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
33:14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
33:15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
33:16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
33:17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
33:18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
33:19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
33:20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.
33:21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
33:22 Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee." Psalm 33:10-22.
A real life example follows. Through God's love for Elisha, the king of Syria wants to cast Elisha out.
8:15 "Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
6:9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
6:10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice (but several times).
6:11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?
6:12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
6:13 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
6:14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
6:15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?" 2.Kings 6:8-15.
How would we react? - Lets say, one of us experienced a real setback in his affairs of daily living. Even though he can't think of a wrong he has done, things seem to go against him. What then?
6:16 "And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." 2.Kings 6:16,17.
How did Elisha dare to say something like that? - Well, he had seen it before - 
when he saw Elijah being taken up into heaven. 
So, Christians everywhere, take heart. Confirm daily your walk with the Lord in all truths you know to be true, and His chariots will compass you about.
It is useless to speculate upon the question of how they all knew it. We know that they did know it.
On that day when Elijah was taken up, the fact that Elisha saw it, was sufficient reason for his determination not to leave Elijah.
Ah, yes, Elisha knew "it", those chariots and their angels are everywhere.
. . . Nor need we suppose that this determination was the result of curiosity; but rather of a desire to be a partaker of the rich experience, and the immense hold to his faith, that would be afforded by his walking by Elijah's side, even to his entering into Heaven, and by seeing, himself, as it were, the rending of the veil that separates us from the other world.
We know that this was so, because several years afterward, when the king of Syria had with "horses, and chariots, and a great host," compassed about the city where Elisha was, Elisha's servant cried out, "Alas, my master! how shall we do?"
The prophet replied, "Fear not; for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw; and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." 2 Kings 6:13-18.
Elisha did not pray that his own eyes might be opened, but that the eyes of the young man might be opened, that he might see what Elisha already knew was there. As for himself, he had seen the heavenly horses and chariots take away Elijah, and he knew that they were ever ready to protect the servant of God. He did well to go with Elijah to the furthest possible step." {August 27, 1885 ATJ, SITI 518.3}
"The faithful, praying ones are, as it were, shut in with God. They themselves know not how securely they are shielded. Urged on by Satan, the rulers of this world are seeking to destroy them; but could their eyes be opened, as were the eyes of Elisha's servant at Dothan, they would see the angels of God encamped about them, by their brightness and glory holding in check the hosts of darkness." {5T 475.1}
The affairs of Joram, King of Israel (852-840), show that those controlled by Satan have no rest, 2.Kings 6:24,25, 26-29, ESV. - In his days Samaria was put under siege. Nothing could come in or out of the city and after a while famine set in so bad that the head of a donkey was sold for food for the price of 80 pieces of silver, and feces of doves were sold for five pieces of silver - that is how bad things were - it led to cannibalism, people eating their small children, 2.Kings 6:26-29.
Who was to be blamed for this, 2.Kings 6:32,33? Would some blame the Lord? Why?
The siege was allowed for a reason. What was the reason? Was anyone waiting upon the Lord, what to do, 2.Ki. 7:2?
In matters of faith, are we to determine what to do based on our logic only? or are we to find out what to do based on the will of the Lord only? How can we decide?
The Case of the Leppers - A Lesson Study
"And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die." 2.Kings 7:3,4.
The famine being so great in the city, these men of course could obtain no food from there, and as they were about to perish any way, they concluded that nothing greater than that could befall them even though the Syrians should get them; but if the Syrians should happen to favor them, and give them food, their lives would be saved. So they determined to go. {October 1, 1885 ATJ, SITI 583.1}
Amazingly what happened?
5:7 "And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.
7:6 For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.
7:7 Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life." 2.Kings 7:5-7.
There are today close beside us many who are hungry, naked, and homeless. A neglect to impart of our means to these needy, suffering ones places upon us a burden of guilt which we shall one day fear to meet. All covetousness is condemned as idolatry. All selfish indulgence is an offense in God's sight. {COL 261.3}
The Lord has warnings and reproofs for His people, that they may not, by their unbelief, imperil their own souls or the souls of others. But the natural heart is not inclined to yield to these warnings, because self struggles for the mastery. There is an inclination to pick flaws. This is done carefully at first, the doubter not daring to reject; but if he continues in this course, he will at length handle sacred things as he would the common, and the word of God to him in counsel and reproof is made void. The word cannot do its office work in the unbelieving heart.
Some there are who accept the word of God with its reproofs and corrections. They receive it "not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh" in them that believe, and they rejoice in the light, and yield in their lives the peaceable fruits of righteousness. To these God gives abundant blessings. And His treasures of truth, of light, and of grace are placed in earthen vessels, not to remain there stagnant, but to be poured out to the world in all their richness and heavenly fragrance. {BEcho, September 2, 1895 par. 6, 7}
"Battles are to be fought every day. A great warfare is going on over every soul, between the prince of darkness and the Prince of life. There is a great battle to be fought, that the inhabitants of the world may be warned of the great day of the Lord, that the strongholds of the enemy may be entered, and that all who love the Lord may be gathered under the bloodstained banner of Prince Emmanuel, but you are not to do the main fighting here. As God's agents you are to yield yourselves to Him, that He may plan and direct and fight the battle for you, with your cooperation.
The Prince of life is at the head of His work. He is to be with you in your daily battle with self, that you may be true to principle; that passion, when warring for the mastery, may be subdued by the grace of Christ; that you come off more than conqueror through Him that hath loved us. Jesus has been over the ground. He knows the power of every temptation. He knows just how to meet every emergency, and how to guide you through every path of danger. Then why not trust Him? Why not commit the keeping of your soul unto God, as unto a faithful Creator?"
These are the secrets of Christian living. When we live godly lives, exercise faith and look upon Christ for everything, we will be experiencing the blessings only God can give.
But in the real life experience, . . .
6:18 "And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
6:19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.
6:20 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria." 2.Kings 6:18-20.
"And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?" 2.Kings 6:21.
6:22 "And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow?set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.
2.Kings 6:22,23.
6:23 And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel."
Doing good to your enemies will turn things around in your favor - at least, then you can be sure that you are within the will of God and trust in His guiding the affairs for you. It illustrates how the `love process' is practiced; how God makes friends out of enemies - it is an estimate of the cross of Christ.
If you are in communion with Christ, you will place His estimate upon every human being. You will feel for others the same deep love that Christ has felt for you. Then you will be able to win, not drive, to attract, not repulse, those for whom He died. None would ever have been brought back to God if Christ had not made a personal effort for them; and it is by this personal work that we can rescue souls. When you see those who are going down to death, you will not rest in quiet indifference and ease. The greater their sin and the deeper their misery, the more earnest and tender will be your efforts for their recovery. You will discern the need of those who are suffering, who have been sinning against God, and who are oppressed with a burden of guilt. Your heart will go out in sympathy for them, and you will reach out to them a helping hand. In the arms of your faith and love you will bring them to Christ. You will watch over and encourage them, and your sympathy and confidence will make it hard for them to fall from their steadfastness.
In this work all the angels of heaven are ready to co-operate. All the resources of heaven are at the command of those who are seeking to save the lost. Angels will help you to reach the most careless and the most hardened. And when one is brought back to God, all heaven is made glad; seraphs and cherubs touch their golden harps, and sing praises to God and the Lamb for their mercy and loving-kindness to the children of men. {COL 197.1,2; 2.Timothy 2:23-26; 1.John 3:14-16, ESV.}
"The children of God are those who are partakers of His nature. It is not earthly rank, nor birth, nor nationality, nor religious privilege, which proves that we are members of the family of God; it is love, a love that embraces all humanity.
Even sinners whose hearts are not utterly closed to God's Spirit, will respond to kindness; while they may give hate for hate, they will also give love for love. But it is only the Spirit of God that gives love for hatred. To be kind to the unthankful and to the evil, to do good hoping for nothing again, is the insignia of the royalty of heaven, the sure token by which the children of the Highest reveal their high estate."
"`But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.' Matthew 6:15.
Nothing can justify an unforgiving spirit. He who is unmerciful toward others shows that he himself is not a partaker of God's pardoning grace.
In God's forgiveness the heart of the erring one is drawn close to the great heart of Infinite Love. The tide of divine compassion flows into the sinner's soul, and from him to the souls of others. The tenderness and mercy that Christ has revealed in His own precious life will be seen in those who become sharers of His grace. But "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." Romans 8:9. He is alienated from God, fitted only for eternal separation from Him."
So we ask, `Is the God of the OT different than the God of the NT?'
Can you see now why the answer is, `No?'
The love of God is demonstrated in the OT scriptures cited above. Those who have maligned the God of the Bible (as some atheists do), `insinuating that God is unjust or worse,' have just not read His word. They have not comprehended the words they read, or missed scriptures, and thus have only partial knowledge. Thus they missed what they could have known if more honest in their search. If they would not have been so negative in their prejudice, they could have saved their soul.
5:6 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."
So, do you believe that Christ died for you?
You say yes? Does that mean then that you are one of the ungodly?
Yes, you affirm, you were one of the ungodly, but then you realized Christ died for you and you changed allegiance to be from then on counted on Christ's side. - Wow.
You know, we all were sinners. We all were ungodly. But then Christ changed you by beholding Him.
5:7 "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." Romans 5:6-11
Amen. I hope you were fed as on a table of plenty in your search for a good word of the Lord for you.
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