Love never fails

A battery is truly a wonderful thing, an invention from the late 1800’s that brought about so many, many different technological advancements and operative independence.  I remember reading about the control function a battery operated radio had in the hands of the Nazi’s and how it was central in brain washing the German nationals in order to dominate all stake holders for many years. The same radio waves have been carrying the magnificent Gospel, reaching people’s hearts beyond physical means and all sorts of barriers.  In my handyman-husband’s life, cordless just makes things happen faster.

The nice thing about batteries is that they are most convenient when you need them.  You can choose from a variety of expensive rechargeables that gives power shot after shot, or you can buy a quick fix and chuck it away after it has been used up.  Batteries are there for you to use until there is nothing left of their energy value.  I was wondering if you think that Jesus thinks of people as batteries?

Do you think God creates humans and determines us as useful or adequate energy sources so as to extend His Kingdom? He is after all the One who gives us every single thing we have as well as the means to acquire lots and then some more.  How we spend His providence is an interesting point of discussion often touching believer’s sacred cows. For our discussion we accept that strategizing to begin a Kingdom project and sustain it, depends on people's funding and them volunteering for its functions and duties.

There are a myriad of factors that motivate people to put shoulder to a specific wheel or not, it really depends on an enormous range of variables. For some it might be honoring a good friendship, or perhaps a privilege to co-partner with our Father in His work.  For others it is a vehicle of interest to utilize their own gifts and talents.  Getting involved with Jesus’ earth-work is always a good time to grow ones faith and character of course, the infamous plan & purpose that we so often refer to. Whichever way, there are projects and movements happening, there are believers and non-believers alike out there and somewhere in a 7 day week they hopefully meet to produce something of value in God’s hands that is precious to Him and Life giving to us.

The point is, what happens to a person or a platform if they rate another brother or sister in Christ on their perceived usefulness because of the amount of resources they are yielding towards a project or not? With other words, if people decide to give funds towards a cause but stay personally uninvolved then they would be seen as ‘batteries’ because they are perceived as merely supplying a means to an end and not laying down their whole lives for a Kingdom cause.  And so, should people donate and volunteer of their time, money and other resources to this or other initiatives, then they are valued as true Kingdom workers and partners, worthy of after-life rewards.

Let’s look at what Jesus does: He invites and welcomes all to participate in His Kingdom.  First he invites the most influential and upper crust of society but they were too busy. Then He extends the invitation to the next level of influencers, but yet not all responded reasonably and so there was still room for more.  This time He also invites all the others that are not of the norm, those who haven't worked hard and necessarily laid down their lives for others.  But then He can do that because He knows for us to be a shining Lamp is to let Him through and in us drive the darkness away.  He rates our relationship with Him supreme because in that secret place we are changed into His image.  The result is a change of heart, something He alone really knows.  Humbleness is another biggie for Him.  Aaa and then there is Agape love – supernatural and of His kind. Ours is unfortunately cockeye, dependent on maturity and runs out at some point.  But seriously, the bible says in Romans that it is God’s kindness that brings people to a change of heart, not man’s facts, strategies or how right he is.  Paul writes in 1 Corinthians that it is Love that never fails.  For God so loved the world that He gave Jesus. Love one another as you love yourself. If you don’t love your brother whom you can see, how can you love God that is unseen? ‘And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.’(Hebrews 10:24)

Father God enjoys it a lot when we are involved in something that is bringing Heaven to earth, as long as it is with Him.  He gives us a wide hand to choose from, and ag how He uses people in spite of their strengths (or is it weaknesses?) and their uselessness!  He also prefers those who hungrily follow Him to be an attractive force, instrumental in acts of reconciliation, exercising the fruit of the Spirit (sic!) usually when we need to portray it most and are least capable.  His redemptive methods factors in the always present head-winds and as much as we will to do it ourselves, we can’t.  We need His Spirit in us to manifest that kind of behavior and Love through us so that it has a God outcome for all people in the end.

Viewing people and thus rating them as batteries is a major dysfunctional and fundamental flaw in one’s thinking.  Unfortunately everything starts to slide from here, distorting reality and viewing the Lord’s church and its people critically to the point of becoming a dividing factor as well as the accuser of the brethren, which is Satan’s preferred pre-occupation.  And so one cannot and does not want to see their own blind spots prohibiting detection of toxicity within one's own theory about how things are in God’s Kingdom on earth.  Without a paradigm shift, churches, people and their provisions will be used and abused without remorse or accountability.

Missing God’s heart for your own kind is missing it big time.

Jesus came to put a face on God and Christians are there to put a face on Christ.  Without unity among ourselves and Agape love for one another, the world and other Christians cannot see His love in our hearts and lives. Gandhi said ‘Whenever you are confronted with an opponent. Conquer him with love.” And Jesus said ‘But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?’’ (Mathew 5)

I say “whom you fight you can’t win”.