Without Love?

• As much as I have been enjoying the devotional that I read with the kids in the morning-- yes the same one that gave me my new favorite verse, and the kids least favorite verse!- I have found some things that cause me to be more aware. It is very easy for me who grew up in a christian home, school and church, and yet feel like my Bible knowlege is lacking, to disagree with devotionals. I usually go along with them if I know the publisher and figure they have it right. I think I tend to let that be my God breathed scripture, and fail to be as objective as I should be. After all, it is still just human interpretation, and humans tend to interperet to their own liking.

• So, as I re-read some missed devotions from what must have been a Thursday- I am getting ready for work on that one day and we tend to miss the laid back morning- I realized that I don't agree at all with this page. Anyway I am just going to quote the whole thing.

• "But how do I know when I love someone?" Patti asked. "Sometimes I feel love for people. But sometimes I don't." "Love is not a feeling," her mother explained, "It's an action."

"But what kind of action?" "When you help others in need, encourage people, give money, then you know you're loving others. Love is doing things for them." "But what if I don't feel anything? Is it still love?" Her mother smiled. "even if you feel nothing, it doesn't matter. Love is acting to help others. It's not just feeling good inside." "But when you help others, you do feel good inside. Right?" "Correct." As Patti discovered here, obedience is what God wants most. When we obey him, we are loving Him. And oh yes, the verse to accompany it: How do we know that we love God' children? We know it when we love God and obey his commands. 1 John 5:2

• While it isn't a bad sentiment, and yes, love is definately an action word, but, have we oversimplified? This passage is telling me that I don't need love, I just need to do things for other people. What?! What about 1 Corinthians 13:1-3? If I speak in tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowlege, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

• I do realize that the author was trying to simplify to speak to children. But it is my general feeling that kids can take in more than we give them credit for. I don't like the message being sent out that if they are robots simply doing, doing, doing, without love, that they are okay. The first commandment calls us to love. No, it doesn't come easily, and no, you can't say you love and not obey or serve either. You just can't have one without the other.

• If you are still reading at this point, wondering when exactly I will be stepping down off my soap box, and what the point is for this entire post, bear with me. I really just want to make myself aware, and if by happenstance anyone else gets my point, that we need to be aware of false prophets. The best way for that of course is to learn your scripture inside and out and to keep it in your heart. Its the best defense against the devil and all his attempts to hijack us. Just as you are aware of strangers in public around your children, be aware of what you are reading to your children -- and yourself. I am not saying this to preach, just because I myself needed that wake up and reminder.

Thanks for hanging in there! I am done now... Blessings, Alicia