Launching into a subject today on what love is by the worlds standard and contrasting that with the Love in which God has shown us in Christ. The difference is a HUGE stumbling block to Jews and Gentiles. The difference is eternal and the one way a person will give glory to there pride and well the other takes your pride and DEMANDS it to bow down and depart. Lets take a look.
Dr. Phil
1 "When you love yourself first, you're ready for a committed, romantic relationship. When you love smart by loving yourself first, others will love you for who you really are."
In other words as you work at loving yourself and meriting love by another they will become more attracted to you because you recognize your self worth. Come on!!! First off if you end up loving yourself why do you need anyone else? Second, that is the most selfish thing you can do is start a relationship by loving yourself.
There is freedom in the cross for this which is sin. Looking for your self worth apart from God is ignoring your creator and turning the love due to Him onto you. He loves without merit of yourself and He gives more love than you have ever given even yourself.
Deuteronomy 7:7
The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples, but becaseu the Lord loves you,
Now that verse was indeed to a nation that was undeserving. A nation who continually placed there own desires above that of the Lords. Grumbled after every blessing and had no problem focusing on themselves and not the Lord. Yet God showed them true love apart from there selfishness. Does this principle fall into the NT to us? YES
Titus 3:4-5
But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we had done, but according to His mercy He saved us
Dr. Phil on how to lead in your marriage...
2 Create what you want in your family instead of whining about your family situation. Marriage is not a 50/50 partnership. It's a 100/100 partnership. That means you give 100 percent. And remember,
you get what you give.
Stephen the Martyr after preaching the truth of Christ and his fulfillment of the messianic prophecy to those he loved reacted this way...
Acts 7:54
When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.
Acts 7:57-58
Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and cast him out of the city and stoned him.
Hmmm I just don't see the science of reciprocation working here.
How about Paul the great apostle who gave his life to preach the cross to thousands of lost people?
Acts 16:22-24
Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Hmmmmm so tell me again how this works. Paul preached the best news the world has ever heard. Not only better than any have half heart compliment a husband can give to his wife to "get back what he gave" but Paul gave his life to the Glory of God and the salvation of men and he did not get back from them what he had given. Should we expect more them him?
What about Jesus?
Before giving His life for humanity on a bloody cross this is some of the things he was "getting" from those whom were the closes.
Matthew 26:40
Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?
Matthew 26:43
And He came and found them asleep again
Matthew 26:45-46
Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand."
Matthew 27:74-75
Peters Denial..
Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So he went out and wept bitterly.
After that his own people do this...
Matthew 27:1-2
When morning came, all the chief priest and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
And the worst and final act they did..
Matthew 27:35
Then they crucified Him.
