Over All, Put on Love

And over all  these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 

Colossians 3:14

Love makes things truly work. What is compassion without love?What is kindness, humility, gentleness and patience without love? Is it possible to truly forgive someone from the heart without love? 

A godless, loveless attempt at compassion does not see someone who is bound by sin in a sinful godless world and therefore in need of the mercy and grace that can only be found in Christ. In Christ we are all sinners saved Christ. 

My grandmother, whenever we saw or encountered someone less fortunate than us would remind us that, "There, go I, save by the grace of God." We forgive because Christ first forgave us. We serve others because Christ first served us. Paul said, "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst" (I Timothy 1:15).  We are compassionate, kind, gentle, and patience because Christ is compassionate, kind, gentle, and patient with us. We love because Christ first loved us. Love binds it all together. 

PRAY LIKE A MAN: I Timothy 2:8

I think the single most challenging leadership experience I ever had (outside of being a husband and a father) was as Dorm Council President in Bible College. Getting half a dozen twenty-one year old young men, who all think they hear from God, to agree was wonderful preparation for just about any situation I have encountered since. The only thing that comes close is dealing with teachers. So, I totally get why Paul felt the need to tell men how to pray together. 

"I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing." I Timothy 2:8

It is hard to imagine an argument breaking out at a prayer meeting. But, the danger in thinking they we hear God better than anyone else is thinking that we hear God better than anyone else. 

God himself makes us holy. Jesus Christ died for our sins to make us holy, and he does. The idea of lifting up holy hands is a reminder that God himself makes us holy, not we ourselves. That should lead to thankfulness and humility. 

I am not sure that the anger Paul was talking about was just toward each other. It is pretty easy to get all worked up about the evil in this world, which is some sense should get us angry. But, remember, God did not meet us with anger, but with grace. His love compels us. We love because he first loved us. He so loved the world that he sent his only Son. 

The word disputing is translated "doubting" in the KJV. The Greek has the idea of deliberated within yourself, hesitation, doubting. James 1:6 said, "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt...". I am not trying to push a name it and claim it doctrine. I just think the idea is to pray Biblically. If it is in God's Word, it's God's will. (Use common sense please. No so no Judas hung himself, so you should...) 

Father, help us to pray with love and assurance. May your kingdom advance in and through us today. Grant us at least one redemptive conversation. Praise be to you in us today!