LOVE
& GOD
By Kattukaren Devassy Paul
Dear bothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. Today the talk is on LOVE and GOD.
Let me start with the concept of GOD.
Who is God? Where is God? Can you see God?
Kevin a boy of age three would point to the Cross or a Holy Picture ; an older boy would say Christ is God. And, the grown up people here would say – hey! What the heck! Why is he wasting our time ? We all know that Jesus is God. We all pray to him, sing to him, we beg favours of him----- he grants us too!! Is that all?
Oh no! God is the most powerful supreme force ----- the alpha & omega ----- a Superman --- an Invisible man -------- yes, difficult to define. But then who can define God?
To the ancient people , Yahweh was in the wind – in the storm --- in the clouds – in the fire – in the earthquake ---------- those powerful elements that affected their lives .
Then came the stage of idol worship----- making statues and pictures in their image of God. But it reached a stage where they believed that it was God .
Well, today in the modern world we have progressed further in our concept or understanding of God. Or, have we really ?
Christ asked his followers --- WHOM DO YOU SAY I AM ?
And what did these poor simple fishermen reply: YOU ARE OUR LORD & MASTER – YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE .
Wow ! what simple words but what eloquence !
YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE.
What are his words of eternal life?
IT IS HIS LIFE & TEACHINGS- what he stands for!
The greatest commandment I give unto you – LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU.
He replaced all the archaic laws of the Pharises and the Ten Commandments of Moses with this one Commandment. Did you know that ?
CHRISTIANITY IS ALL ABOUT LOVE .
2000 years ago—a baby cried – waa aahh. His name was Jesus ---- born in a stable, this Son of God became Man for love, for love of us. He came to show us the Way. His Life, His teachings bear witness to that LOVE. And, he died a shameful human death on the Cross- just for love of us.
What greater love a man have than that he lays down his life for his friends.
A passage in the Bible which has had a profound influence on my life is this passage from St. Paul to the Cornithians Chpt. 1 .13 which says all that I want to say:
I may be able to speak in the languages of men & even of angels, but if I have no love , my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell.I may the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move mountains – but if I have no love, I am nothing . I may give away everything I have, and even give up my body to be burnt – but if I have no love, this does me no good.
Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill- mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail.
Love is eternal. There are inspired messages, but they are temporary; there are gifts of speaking in strange tongues, but they will cease; there is knowledge, but it will pass. For our gifts of knowledge and of inspired messages are only partial; but when what is perfect comes, then what is partial will disappear.
When I was a child, my speech, my feelings and thinking were those of a child; now that I am a man, I have no more use of childish ways. What we see now is like a dim image in the mirror; then we shall see face to face. What I know now is only partial; then it will be complete – as complete as God's knowledge of me
Meanwhile these three remain; faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is LOVE.
In conclusion what I wish to say is that Love is God or rather I see God in Love. My God is a God of Love. W hen two or three are gathered together in my name I am there in the midst of them. Yes God is here right now in the love that emanates from us.
Bind us together Lord with cords that cannot be broken
Bind us together Lord; bind us together WITH LOVE !
