Right School!

When we are seeking to learn something, it is good to make certain we are attending the right school or listening to the right teacher. In this world there are and have been many varying schools of thought on a variety of subjects.

When Jesus stated, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall LOVE your neighbor and hate your enemy.'" ( Matthew 5:43), He was referring to something being learned from the wrong school. Jesus went on to correct the focus, broadening its scope in view of relating to others. Just as the world has its own "love curriculum" that is out of sync with what God has in mind, so did some of the Jewish teachers of that day.

Note the compliment Paul paid to the church at Thessalonica.
"(9) Now CONCERNING BROTHERLY LOVE you have no need for anyone to write to you, for YOU YOURSELVES HAVE BEEN TAUGHT BY GOD TO LOVE one another, (10) for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more," ( 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 ESV)

Though they were urged to continue growing in their love for one another, they appeared to have been getting that LOVE right. Should it be any surprise since Paul said they had "been taught by God"? What better "love curriculum" could we find than that which God has taught! God demonstrated what LOVE is by sending His very best on our behalf. ( John 3:16) That LOVE was also expressed on our behalf in Christ dying for us even "while we were still sinners" ( Romans 5:8), revealing the greatness of God's LOVE even in face of the reality we did not deserve it. When we know we have been LOVED in such a way, should we not be more ready to LOVE others in the same manner?

John stated. . .
"WE LOVE BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US." ( 1 John 4:19 ESV)

Our love for others is actually one of our responses to the LOVE God has for us. Are we continuing to learn from His "love curriculum". If we are looking to the world to learn what LOVE is we will still find many varied ideas today and will fall short of passing God's test of what LOVE is truly all about. May it be from God -- Who "IS LOVE" ( 1 John 4:8) -- that we learn what it truly means to genuinely LOVE not only Him, but others as well. He wrote the book on it!

Have a great day LEARNING FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL OF GOD!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Love