“We have a little sister, and she has no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar” (vs8-9)
Love is the church’s response. After we have been loved so freely, we FREELY love those that love God. We are not judges, but the strong encourage and help the weak (Rom 15:1). Christianity isn’t a religion where the “high ups” are served; it is where we serve (Matt 20:28).
Luther said one clear illustration of the Pope’s heresy is that he bears no cross: he rules as a king, pampered and soft (Matt 11:8).
The gospel humbles everyone - as we FAIL and obtain mercy: we’re taught to humble ourselves and serve, rather than be served. Richard Sibbes, in “The Bruised Reed”, wrote, “After conversion we need bruising, that reeds may know themselves to be reeds and not oaks. Even reeds need bruising by reason of the remainder of pride in our nature, and to let us see that we live by mercy. . . . Thus Peter was bruised when he wept bitterly. This reed, till he met with this bruise, had more wind in him than [substance]. ‘Though all forsake thee, I will not.’ The people of God cannot be without these examples. The heroic deeds of those great worthies do not comfort the church so much as their falls and bruises do.” True religion is more than “doing it right” yourself; it is helping others do it right too. And, if your religion is “I’m better than you”, then you worship God in vain, and PRIDE keeps you from God - “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again.” (Mt 7:1-2)
True religion is forgiveness received and given. It is DEALING with my neighbor and God, both, in Christ, rather than just one. True religion is tender, merciful, and it speaks the truth in love, rebuking with tears and brokenness of heart.
My favorite preacher of the last century, Rolfe Barnard, was direct and bold, and yet gentle and tender. He could scream “hell” at the top of his lungs, but his love made it music, rather than irritation (1 Cor 13:1). And, if you give me a flaming love for people that’s gospel based, I don’t need a lot of talent to get my point across. We labor for knowledge, etc, to look good on the outside and be “orthodox”, but when we get love, then we are straight with scripture. Without love for my enemies, I don’t know the gospel as I ought. Without patience to weak saints, failing brethren, and those who are in need, I don’t know how much love God has to me. I don’t see it REALLY, because I don’t respond. I may see a glimpse, but I haven’t continued looking at Christ; I’ve looked away to some other assurance and confidence, because I boast in knowledge, rather than God - “Knowledge puffs up, but charity builds up. And if any man think that he knows any thing, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him.” (1Co 8:1-3 AKJV)
Let LOVE rule the day, and you honor Christ. He LOVES you and made it known, so you receive Him and desire for His love to be reciprocated. Now, because of FORGIVENESS and grace, we love failing brethren and help them. We don’t sit still and say nothing, but we rebuke in love, we pray for, and we live holy ourselves to exemplify what we want in others.
If your communion is strong, then your love to the weak is strong. You can’t have grace and not be gracious.
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