12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. (1 Thessalonians 3; from 1st Sunday of Advent)
9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1; from 2nd Sunday of Advent)
I've been struck this year by this emphasis in Paul's letters, actually in Paul's prayers, which we heard on each of the first two Sundays of Advent. It is love that prepares us to greet Jesus the Messiah when he comes again in glory to make all things right.
Paul does not exhort moral behavior, disciplined religiosity, or law keeping as the way to prepare oneself to meet the Lord. In fact, he says it's the quality of our relationships with other human beings (the horizontal relationships, if you will) that will determine our posture or attitude or disposition with regard to our relationship ultimately with our creator, redeemer, sustainer, and judge.
It is abounding love alone that can make us blameless, unashamed and prepared to meet our king and judge and savior. It is this agape (selfless, sacrificial) love that bears the kind of fruit that lasts, that satisfies, and that renews and heals the world.
May God answer Paul's prayers in me and you.
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Monday, December 07, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)