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First Love
buildontherock
2022-01-052025-02-26

AS LOVE AGES IT MUST MATURE AND SHIFT FROM REACTIVE EMOTION TO MANAGED COMMITMENT. THE PROBLEM WITH LOVE IS THAT SOMETIMES WORKS ARE SEPARATED FROM FIRST LOVE BY CONSIDERABLE TIME. THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF LOVE MAY WELL BE COMMITMENT. BECAUSE CHRIST SUSTAINED FIRST LOVE HE COULD DO THE FIRST WORKS WHICH WERE ORDAINED FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. HIS COMMITMENT TO LIVING UP TO THOSE FIRST WORKS NEVER WAVERED.

Dealing with ageing love

This article is an expansion and commentary on the key part of the letter to Ephesus, which is itself one of the seven keys to survival hi-lighted in Revelation 2. What is First Love? How do we master it? To answer the first question, first love is original love before Satan gets to it. It is associated with a type of behaviour called First Works. We master first love by maintaining First Works. One approach to First Works is that they are what we do before the sympathetic nervous system kicks in and corrupts them due to stress from fear and hostility. Love corrects and reverses the problem of hostility and we will deal with fear another time.

Love contrast Spirit with flesh as in Galatians 5:13-26. The flesh is what animals do naturally because they are controlled by chemicals and triggers that they have no control over. What raises men above beasts is the spiritual nature and control that we are given over the natural.

Ecclesiastes 3:21 (KJV) Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

Then Job explains that God raises mankind above the animals by giving us understanding which He does through the Spirit that he has put in us.

Job 32:8 (KJV) But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

What does Job mean by understanding? It may be difficult to define to everyone's satisfaction, nevertheless we recognise what it is by the activities that men do which are impossible for animals. Animals do not understand their existence enough to improve it, but people always do, and need to in order to raise themselves above the animals. For example each generation of dog functions exactly as the one before except when the are forced to adapt by the environment.

The rules of love that God gave us teach us the way to overcome the way of animals. It is unfortunate for me that I have to be learning some of these things now that I am old and set in my ways. Love has to do with how we impact others, so saying but I didn't do anything wrong is not sufficient, and when we recognise that we are not having a loving effect we have to deal with it promptly.

Matthew 5:23-25 (KJV) Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

We must identify the source of the problem by examining things like Galatians 5.

Galatians 5:13-26 (KJV) For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Paul did not understand the nature of hormones and the Central Nervous System but he recognised that the natural man is controlled by triggers that are autonomic (involuntary or unconscious). He tells us that we must improve control over our chemical, natural make-up in general. He shows that there is a constant battle going on but we can win. The laws in the Bible seek to elevate us from being controlled by these types of stimuli like animals are, and when there is no specific law we must distil from those that exist and synthesize a rule to bring the situation under control. As he puts it in the extract above, use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The natural man is under the control of these stimuli but the spiritual man takes control, guided by the Royal Law even when he is not bound by a law. That control has the objective of love in contrast to aggression, serving instead of taking. With relation to aggression he says but if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. So Paul tells us the objective: love thy neighbour as thyself, and shows us that aggression is how the animals do it, implying of course that if we want to be an animal then go right ahead. He gives us examples of both animal and spiritual behaviour. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like, and he contrasts it with the spiritual man that does not depend on automatic reflexes, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The Ten commandments and other rules in the Torah are a starting point, but we can improve and personalise them because the law is actually spiritual.

Romans 7:14-15 (KJV) For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

The law in the Torah was always intended to teach us and bring us to the point where we are ready for something better.

Galatians 3:24-26 (KJV) Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

The laws of nature teach us how to survive at the level of animals but Gods law is how to live above that. The symptoms show us how much of each describe our character. He makes the point that to be spiritual and have the nature of God is unnatural (opposed to the nature of animals) and the two natures war against each other. To rise to our potential we have to destroy the autonomic nature and replace it with something better, they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. He says that if we have this spirit we should demonstrate that by our behaviour, If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Of course naturally we just want to satisfy our animal nature because it is much easier.

So let me ask you something. When we say that we love God, what comes to mind? John 14:21 (KJV) says He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Christ also said that the two great commandments are to love him and love people, N.B. neighbour not brother (Matthew 22:36-40). He told Peter to feed his sheep not abuse them (John 21:15-17). So to say we love God is to say that we love people. How do we know that we love people, our family for example? Let's start with Corinthians.

Learning love from Corinthians

I Corinthians 13:4-8 [KJV] Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth...

Charity suffereth long, and is kind

Be kind regardless of how long we have been suffering or will have to suffer abuse

As an aside kindness and niceness is not the same. Kindness means doing right by people. Our parents punished us out of kindness. Niceness is keeping ourselves in other peoples favour or good books.

Suffer (Greek: makrothumeo) means to be longsuffering, which is to exhibit patience despite abuse or provocation like what Saul did to David. It means to forbear or hold back from being unkind or impulsive. What do you do when its getting on your last nerve? This verse says hold back for a lo-o-ong time (seventy times seven long) while showing kindness, not niceness.

How do we deal with exasperation? Men tend to retaliate openly with anger as with Moses hitting the rock. Women tend to frown on this and camouflage their reaction, but can be even more vicious than men as in Matthew 14:3-12 where Herodias caused John to be murdered. She did not say to murder him just get his head on a platter. In 1 Kings 21 Jezebel asked Ahab what are you fussing about? Naboth never knew what hit him.

For me the real answer is given in the scripture above. Learn to be kind during stress. I do not mean kill them with kindness because that is another form of retaliation. It comes up again in Romans 12 especially the end of verse 7.

Romans 12 :6-20 [KJV] Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without dissimulation (1*). Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

(1*)dissimulation = concealment of one's thoughts, feelings, or character; pretense.

Moses lost it after years of restraint and suffered the same punishment as the unrighteous. It seems like his head got hot and he was not thinking straight. In Exodus 17:6 Moses was told to strike the rock but in Numbers 20:8 he was told to speak to it. Moses struck it again like the first time and because of it he died in the wilderness. We have to somehow find genuine kindness when facing stress and it only comes by the Holy Spirit.

Charity envieth not

Work with what is yours

Envy is when we think that someone is not entitled to something that they have while we somehow are or that we are equally entitled. God says learn to be content Philippians 4:11 (KJV), I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Contentment and passivity is not the same thing because we should strive for the best (Matthew 5:48, Colossians 3:23-24) for ourselves and others. For some people doing their best means forcing others to help them get what they want. Martha grudged Mary for relaxing and listening to Jesus (Luke 10:38-42). The problem is that most people have wrong priorities. We are motivated by greed and envy and will grudge others. For example that is how our economic system works, it is based on competition. Envy is so common that God even addressed it in one of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:17 i.e. Thou shalt not covet . . .

Another place that we find this is in Matthew 20:8-10 where the workers that worked longer were jealous of the ones that came late because the all got a days wage. David and Saul present another good case study. Saul had far more than David but envied him while David wanted the best for Saul. The people who have the most somehow seem to be the most envious.

Ecclesiastes 4:4 (KJV) Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

The New English Translation (NET) puts it this way, Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitlesslike chasing the wind.

James tells us that it is extremely dangerous and proverbs encourages us to see the big picture.

James 4:2-3 (KJV) Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Proverbs 23:17-18 (KJV) Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. 18 For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

To me this is the same as Galatians 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. It shows a heart of wanting a type of glory that is worthless, just so that others would envy us, and itself resulting from envy. The presence of provocation and envy tells us that we have the wrong values.

Charity vaunteth not itself

No self praise. Shine brightly for others to see their way not to blind them

A light does not shine for itself but for others. Vaunt means boast, bragging. It means self praise. It is arrogance because it seeks to show how you are exalted and and simultaneously puts others down. God tells us to let our light shine but to light the way not not to blind everyone by always being up in their face.

Matthew 6:1-6 (KJV) Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. 5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

That is not natural. We know that it takes restraint because when we put effort into giving we like to be appreciated, but God says not to expose what we have done and then remind people of how wonderful we are like the world does. Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way that God does not like that boasting (Daniel 4:30-37). Boasting is really a subtle type of violence. It is an attempt to let everyone know that you are the boss you are above them. It is a type of hatred because it suggests that others are less than you. It is a type of tyranny because it seeks to keep others in their place below you. Don't deny a brother a chance to shine by blinding everyone around with our light.

Is not puffed up

Giving an enhanced impression of self worth

Being puffed up means embellishing who you are or making yourself appear more than you are. In God's eyes we are one. Being puffed up and being confident is not the same thing. We should be able to stand up for what we believe but we have to find the right way. This is something that the apostles learned from Jesus.

Acts 4:10-14 (KJV) Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Peter was not trying to show that he was better than anyone there. We have to stand firm and henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, Ephesians 4:14 (KJV), while being careful to be genuine and trying to avoid being superior. This can be a difficult rope to walk without falling off.

1 Peter 3:15-17 (KJV) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

Notice also that it says ALWAYS be ready to give an answer to every man that asketh, not to go poking our noses in when we are not invited or challenged. I also found that Philippians 2 helped me to see how it is done.

Philippians 2:3-8 (KJV) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
  • Step 1 – do not hold onto any reputation
  • Step 2 – make ourselves a servant
  • Step 3 – humble ourselves to GOD and do what He says unto death. It is painful and scary to change.

Confidence is real and has substance to support it while puffed up can be deflated. When it collapses people get hurt.

Doth not behave itself unseemly

mind our behaviour and be ambassadors of Christ

Proverbs 25:11-13 (KJV) A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. 12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. 13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
2 Corinthians 5:20 (KJV) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

This shows that unseemly does not only relate to what words we choose to say but how we listen and if our total actions refresheth the soul of our master. It is quite possible to be polite and very well appointed in all areas of manners and decorum while not focussing on refreshing the soul of our master in our hearts. Being well spoken and well dressed always helps but we could also be a whited sepulchre (Matthew 23:27).

Seeketh not her own

have no secret personal agenda but build others up

The main point here is that we should never have an ulterior motive. Just do right by people.

Matthew 7:12-14 (KJV) Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Nobody ever thinks that they are guilty so we have to do a real soul search.

Proverbs 21:2 [KJV] Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
Proverbs 16:2 [KJV] All the ways of a man [are] clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

We have to strive to serve God with our actions and not serve ourselves.

Galatians 1:10  [KJV] For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Even if we fool ourselves we cannot fool God.

Matthew 6:1 [KJV] Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

God knows our true motives.

1 Samuel 16:7 [KJV] But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Some people always have an angle when they appear to express love and we don't want to develop that trait.

Is not easily provoked

don't let people target you (push your buttons) and dump their emotional garbage on you

Life is sometimes difficult and we already said that we need to endure those situations while being kind. Sometimes we can shrug it off because it is not personal, but what about when people or situations just seem to be out to get us specifically. What happens when nobody else seems threatened but me. In this case only the Lord can help us because the humans involved are inconsequential and we know who is really targeting us. Christ said that was happening to the disciples in Luke.

Luke 22:31-34 (KJV) And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. 34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

We tend to underestimate those situations. Paul was grieved by his inability to escape it but understood that Jesus Christ was the only solution.

Romans 7:21-25 (KJV) I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

In 1 Corinthians 13 the Greek word used is paroxuno and its figurative meaning is to exasperate. God says that I should not let myself become a target but it happens. I have to take Paul's advice and look beyond the humans involved and recognise the sinister hand at work. It is a concern in the family for both parents and children.

Ephesians 6:4 (KJV) And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

So we are not to be exasperated and we should not exasperate others but it can only be done in Christ.

Thinketh no evil

Steer clear of people, places and situations that generate evil thoughts even if it is about an enemy

If it isn't good then don't think it even if it is about an enemy far less our own kin.

Luke 6:27-30 (KJV) But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. 30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

The letter to the Philippians describe the way to do it. Philippians 4:8 (KJV), Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.In order to protect our minds we have to avoid being exposed to the wrong environment.

In my opinion this next scripture that I am using to highlight the issue is not about doing people harm but stimulating them to change. This is probably what happened with Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar. Proverbs also has something to say:

Proverbs 25:21-22 (KJV) If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

Finally Joseph shows the right attitude to being ill treated.

Genesis 50:20-21 (KJV) But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth

two wrongs don't make a right

Iniquity and truth are opposites. Two wrongs don't make a right. Don't rejoice in iniquity (gross injustice, womens' lib when it means partiality to women, state oppression etc.). Get rid of it with mercy and truth. To rejoice in the truth often requires effort to get past the obvious or superficial bias. It is wonderful how God explains this to my understanding.

Proverbs 16:6-7 (KJV) By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. 7 When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

In this context it shows how the love fits in. We shouldn't gleefully rub our hands when we see someone in trouble, no matter how bad we think that they are, but seek out the real truth and show mercy. Our example of mercy and truth will purge iniquity for us and everyone else, but it is God that will do it. People sometimes focus on this part that wants evil to come on them:

Proverbs 24:17-18 (KJV) Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

They are not interested in the person but in them getting what is coming to them. We should want God to change them so that we all avoid unpleasantness and live to praise Him. That scripture is a warning to us who should know better, not a means for us to guarantee retribution to someone else. At the same time we have to bear in mind that Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil, Ecclesiastes 8:11 [KJV].

Beareth all things

like an umbrella, shield/cover others from the inclement weather.

I Corinthians 13:7 It is the Greek stegei ,from which we get beareth in beareth all things. Strong's Concordance says that Stegei means to cover closely (so as to keep water out), generally to bear up under. My understanding then is that you are attempting to protect someone from the ravages of inclement weather.

For me the imagery presented here is being like an umbrella and taking the rain so that someone else gets sheltered. However you look at it, this indicates that you make the other person secure from harm. Be a shield.

It is a divine characteristic that is shared by God and His angels.

Matthew 23:37 (KJV) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
2 Chronicles 5:8 (KJV) For the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.

It does not say to do it only if the person appreciates it and it does not say to pick and choose what things we will offer protection from. Just do what we can.

Believeth all things

Accept the truth both good and bad. Militate the bad and strive for the good.

First of all this does not say to believe everything we hear or to take things at face value, Prove all things; hold fast that which is good, (I Thessalonians 5:21 [KJV]). We do not control what is true, we just acknowledge it and act appropriately. Proverbs tells us.

Proverbs 14:15 (NET) A naive person believes everything, but the shrewd person discerns his steps.

Discerning steps means choosing your path carefully based on all of the facts. God has already warned us earlier in Proverbs not to be naive therefore that cannot be the intent of Paul's statement Believeth all things. People read this to say believe only the good but it actually says believe ALL THINGS, both good and bad, spiritual and carnal, once you have proved it. Life wants to stop us from striving for the best in people, so that we dispense with giving our best to people. People come as a package of good and bad so we work towards strengthening the good and the spiritual while compensating for the bad and the carnal. Ignoring either side can be disastrous. Remember that we must first Prove all things and then only hold fast that which is good, not all that we proved. This avoids recklessness. It means that we have to put things to the test not just accept them blindly before jumping in with both feet but testing things still involves risk. The Syrophonecian woman believed that Christ would help even though He insulted her. Insults of life cannot stop us from striving for the good. Belief is the step before faith. Faith requires works (James 2:14-26), striving. Notice that with faith all things are possible, not guaranteed, and even so it is not easy.

Mark 9:23-29 (KJV) Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. 26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. 27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. 28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? 29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

With enough prayer and fasting we can get much done but remember that Abraham had more faith than most and he never got Canaan in his lifetime. Believing means that we open up ourselves at the risk of being disappointed and hurt repeatedly, in pursuit of the good. Pursue the possible good in people even though our efforts could turn out to be futile or worse, but know this Romans 8:28 (KJV), And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. We are not wasting time.

Hopeth all things

Put our faith into action despite the risk.

Always want the best for others. Love always carries the risk of being hurt, betrayed or disappointed but also the hope of success. Both wishing and hoping express our desire for something different from the current reality, but whereas hope is used for things that we know are possible, wishing applies to things that that are not based on any path to success. Wishing is something that we want but is basically impossible. With believing it makes sense to accept all truth but moving to hope means making a choice, since we cannot strive for both good and bad simultaneously. Hope means acting on the evidence. Hope means living as though something that does not yet manifest itself is attainable. To understand this better I incorporate Hebrews.

Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Wishing requires nothing. You can wish to get a job but you have no hope if you do not go to the interview because otherwise there is no path to success. Faith can be just a wish. Hope adds works, it means that we do something, take some risk, make some sacrifice, and expect the reward based on the evidence that what we did has a reward. There must be some scripture, some process, some institution that we can rely on to create the path to success. Life wants to stop us from hoping when it comes to scripture; from doing our best for others in the hope that it will pay dividends. Let us focus on the word substance. The Greek for substance is given as G5287 hupostasis and literally means a setting under (support). So in Hebrews 11:1 our faith (our belief in scripture) is the support for what we hope for, what props it up. The scriptures provide us with at path to success, the evidence. Faith needs hope in order to bear fruit (James 2:14-26) so if we do nothing we support nothing. But from verse 6 in Hebrews 11 our faith has to do with how we please (or express love of) our God, so it depends on scripture and what our God says pleases Him. Our hope must therefore be grounded in scripture, not just whatever we dream up, because Christian faith depends on our God's pleasure. Once we find where our God says that something pleases Him we do that as an expression of love for Him. Consider this example. I hope that Judy will be my friend. That hope is sustained by my faith that I know what Judy likes, ice cream. I bring Judy ice cream in hope that she will be my friend. If I am wrong I am wasting time but if I continue my part with the ice-cream eventually we will be friends.

On of the things that I hear evangelicals use to point fingers at apostolic type, or Jewish type Christianity is that they always run to their proof text, but that is what hope is about. The proof text is what gives our hope a path to success. Scripture gives us reason to hope.

1 Timothy 2:3-5 (KJV) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Hopeth all things then is encouragement to keep on loving in hope that at some point it will be rewarded. Hoping is not wishing. Our path is based on what scripture says. Hope means that we do something that we expect will be rewarded.

Endureth all things

We have to soak up the pressure and hold on until the buzzer.

Life wants to put limits on love. Love goes on to the end and does not stop when things become increasingly difficult. My definition of endureth is to last until the end. As such it brings to mind other scriptures.

Galatians 6:9-10 (KJV) And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
(I Timothy 4:8-10 [KJV]) For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. 10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

Remember that this is in the context of love which is a characteristic of Godliness. Endure means that we labour and suffer reproach i.e. we do what is right and tolerate the abuse that goes with it until the Day of the Lord.

We cannot overcome if we can't even endure. When the bell rings we must still be standing, when the buzzer goes we must still be in the game. The only way to do that is to become and remain a child of God as is explained in Matthew 5:21-48. We can't let anything stop us from showing love. To endure we have to sustain that love of Christ's brothers to the end otherwise we can unwittingly undo our very goal. 1 John 5:1-5 (NET2) says, Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been fathered by God, and everyone who loves the father loves the child fathered by him. [2] By this we know that we love the children of God: whenever we love God and obey his commandments. [3] For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments do not weigh us down, [4] because everyone who has been fathered by God conquers the world. This is the conquering power that has conquered the world: our faith. [5] Now who is the person who has conquered the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the most clear translation of the verse that I could find. We are children of God by our belief in Christ and we only truly believe Christ if we love His brothers (which includes our families). We must provide support, not undermine them with hostility and impatience. The thing that we must endure is discouragement from loving.

So we must endure but how? The only way is to go to God promptly and seek His help. Next wait on Him for the correct solution and not follow the establishment. I will summarise a test case from the experience of Israel. When they were in the wilderness they quarrelled an complained about everything but nothing changed until it was brought to God's attention and He decided to intervene and provide. We like to quarrel and blame others but that is a waste of time. Go to God and ask, instead Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. [3] Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts, (James 4:2-3 [KJV]). Next step is to wait and not settle for the ways of the establishment. Israel could not wait and built a useless Golden Calf to solve their problems. That was what the establishment did and what they had learned in Egypt. We like to build Golden Calves because that is what we get from the big-ups in Egypt. Moses was on his way back down and if they had waited just a little bit longer all the misery that followed would have been avoided.

Never Faileth

Never lapse and let our relationships drift off course despite life's evils.

Strong's G1601( here in 1 Corinthians 13:8 translated Faileth) is found thirteen places in the Bible and one is Acts 27:17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.

The literal definition of G1601, ekpipto, is to drop away but can it also mean be driven out of one's course, to lose or become inefficient. To me this story in Acts 27 is an excellent object lesson. The quicksand here is actually the Syrtis. Apparently there were two of these sandbanks off North Africa. Love is a team effort. They took special precautions not to get stuck and be lost at sea, i.e. fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands. They saw trouble brewing and took steps to avoid it. They made a commitment to the vessel (their group), bound it up and kept it from impending destruction. There were all kinds on people on the vessel and some were prepared to kill the prisoners. Our lives can be like Paul's trip to Rome where our lives are bound to the lives of other people. Everybody will not have our best interest at heart but we not only have to remain on course, we also have to secure the vessel. If our love lapses then the vessel drifts off course and it can be the destruction of not only ourselves but others who are bound to us. If it breaks apart we all die. It is really hard to be looking out for people who are against us but that is not even the end of it. After all our best efforts the boat could still be wrecked and we still need to help everyone to safety. You can read the whole story to see how Paul's love of God and others saved the passengers. Paul took the approach to save them all even though the soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners.

learning love from Peter

Cover the multitude of sins

Cover up the sins of others

I suspect that what this will immediately bring to mind is the curse of Canaan Genesis 9:20–27. The brothers of Ham went backwards and covered their father's nakedness because in his state he was unaware.

I Peter 4:8 [KJV] And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Peter uses G2572 kalupto, to cover up not Stegei like Paul above in 1 Corinthians 13:7 when he encourages us to protect. This is an attempt to conceal.

Proverbs 10:12 (KJV) says Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. So we get back to the issue of hostility as opposed to love. Some people are able to stir up strife and wipe their mouths clean, but if we take that approach then we are only fooling ourselves. If we think that because nobody is aware of our deception then it is OK, then we should consider David and Bathsheba. The promise is to the peacemakers not strife-makers. Matthew 5:9 (KJV), Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

God was displeased when Ham did not cover Noah's embarrassment and it seems like He would look on similar acts of indiscretion in the same manner. The other two brothers did not even want to know the details so they went in backwards. We don't have to poke into peoples business, just help.

That's it for Corinthians and now for some issues of love recorded in writing to the Galatians.

learning love from Glatians

Galatians 6:1-5 (KJV) Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

restore such an one in the spirit of meekness

discretely help others overcome their spiritual faults

The first thing that we notice is that Paul addresses it to the one who is spiritual. It does not matter if we are the one at fault or not. Let us add to this what Matthew says: Matthew 5:21-26 (KJV), Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: [22] But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. [23] Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; [24] Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. [25] Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. [26] Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

To me this has always been a hard verse. Some of the difficulty of this scripture can be removed. Judgement is simply telling us that in spite of our confidence in ourselves the decision could go against us. In other words I may think that I am blameless but the court might see it differently, which gives us the context. Raca is calling the other person contemptuous when it could be us. Wikipedia and several other tools define the word raca to mean foolish but several Bible dictionaries point out that it means vain, empty, worthless and go on to say that Jews used it as a word of contempt. It is derived from a root meaning to spit. There is nothing of value in what they have to offer. Fool is just what it says, they do not have common sense. The point that Christ is making is that however you look at it, we could be the guilty party while we are assuming that it is someone else so be careful. He goes on to make that plain in the rest of the parable. When we substitute anything for love we run a risk, so we see the need for the spirit of meekness.

The issue here is seeing someone unworthy of our efforts. In other words that's his problem, he is an idiot, or I didn't do anything so tough for him, or I have more important things to do, or that's trivial. Christ explains that whoever has that attitude is in danger of that backfiring. Among other things, our disregard can lead to a festering problem. Whether or not we are the cause we must be a part of the solution. This is what Paul begins by saying in Galatians 6. Even if we don't think that it is our fault, if we are spiritual, we still address it and in humility because we could expose our own culpability (maybe in the same problem or an area that we did not think of) in the process. There does not appear to be any one way of going about this. It stands to reason then that any attempt to accomplish this would need to be done with prayer and possibly fasting too because otherwise we could end up using the wrong approach. By the Holy Spirit Paul knew that in the case of the Corinthian fornicator they had to put him out of the Church. The Prodigal son shows that sometimes we have to let them hit rock bottom. In the case of Korah they were never restored but all died. David was reprimanded by the prophet Nathan using a very clever ruse. God knows the right approach.

Bear ye one another's burdens

take some of the pressure off our brothers

Galatians 6:2 above says Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. The law of Christ was explained in Galatians 5:14 as You shall love your neighbour as yourself. In that spirit we should try to take some of the strain our brothers have to bear, especially if we claim to be stronger. Now some people claim that this only relates to exceptionally heavy burdens but it does not say that. It just says burdens so wash the wares, pick up the trash check the stove etc.

The other complaint that some people have is that the scripture contradicts itself with verse 2 and 5.

Galatians 6:2, 5  [2] Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. ... [5] For every man shall bear his own burden.

My understanding of the verse is that the state is different in verse 2 and verse 5. In verse 5 it is continuous and may be permanent, that is to say that you have to keep carrying it indefinitely. In verse 2 you are able to carry it for a period and stop. The state of verse 5 is the same as in Galatians 5:10:

Galatians 5:10 (KJV) I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.

A judgement is made once but the penalty is permanent, it is attached to the person forever. This is the condition of the burden in Galatians 6:5. It cannot be so in verse 2 because the giver is in complete control of their service. The act of bearing someone's burden implies reducing the pain and stress that person has to endure. The context reminds us that when we share someone's problem we can leave it after a while and get on with our lives but that person has to deal with it until it is no longer a burden. If love is taking a load of then hatred is adding to peoples troubles. When we give bad advice, or trivialise someone else's problem or discourage people or be flippant, we are falling prey to this. We go away feeling smart having put one more nail in our own coffin, so we can't only consider material things. If we can ease the burden a bit and all it costs us is a bit of awkwardness or discomfort then it is a reasonable trade-off. So it is not how smug we feel with ourselves but to what extent we have fulfilled the Royal Law.

Learning Love from Christ

The most clear example of first love in the Bible I believe is the example of Christ and Judas. At the root of the problem of first love is betrayal i.e. when is is fine to abandon family that has already betrayed you. Christ and the disciples were family although not biologically. We are to learn love in our biological families which we are then able to extend to our spiritual family as Christ defines to be the Church. The Church are people united in His Spirit. At the other extreme are our enemies and we are commanded to love them too, but apply wisdom. Betrayal hurts and our natural response is to lash out. That is not what Christ did. Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him; When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me (John 13:21 [KJV]). When Judas actually identified Him to His captors this is how Christ responded.

Matthew 26:47-50 [KJV]And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. 49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

He was Jesus' friend until the end. Jesus never abandoned Him. Jesus was God and therefore could not lie. The question then becomes, how do you react to hurt and betrayal?

The other cheek

At the same time learning from Christ is sometimes one of the most abused and misunderstood parts of scripture.

Matthew 5:39 [KJV] But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Luke 6:29 [KJV] And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.

What does that mean? Smiting on the cheek is an accusation that you are a toothless tiger or will be made into one if you do not back down. Vicious animals devour with their mouths which is effective because of teeth. Striking on the cheek is an implication that the jawbone is broken or the teeth are knocked out. Let's break it down.

Micah 5:1 [KJV] Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.
Joel 1:6 [KJV] For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.
Psalms 58:6 [KJV] Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD

We see the implication that the power of the animal is in the cheek teeth.

I Kings 22:24 [KJV] But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?
II Chronicles 18:23-24 [KJV] Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee? 24 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.

From the reaction of Micaiah being smitten on the cheek certainly does not mean the we capitulate. Let us see what Job has to say.

Job 16:9-12 [KJV] He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me. 10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me. 11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. 12 I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

What Job did was to recognise that God was active in all of it. Actually Micaiah did too. They realised that more was at play than what was obvious. David tells us what smiting on the cheek bone is really about.

Psalms 3:6-7 [KJV] I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. 7 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

David tells us that it is about breaking the teeth and that we need not have fear of that. The problem is that our teeth are not in our cheekbone, they are with our God. That is where we have to look for them when others try to render them useless. We do not slink away defeated.

Isaiah 50:5-6 [KJV] The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. 6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
Lamentations 3:27-31 [KJV] It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. 28 He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him. 29 He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. 30 He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach. 31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever: