In Judaism, the number three represents spiritual completion. Thus, the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I want to suggest three other "groups of three" that involve spiritual wholeness.
God loves me, so I can love myself enabling me to love you. Agape love, which begins with God, is unconditional. As we experience God's love, we are able to love ourselves for who we are in Christ. Through the indwelling presence of God, we are then empowered to love others as we love ourselves.
God forgives me, so I can forgive myself enabling me to forgive you. It is an awareness of the cost and how much I have been forgiven by God, that I am able to forgive others. I exchange what others owe me for what I owe God. (Matthew 6)
God is faithful, so I can have faith enabling me to faith you. "...the just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17) For years I added the phrase, "faith in God alone." Then I realized that was not what the passage said. Our faith must be extended form the beginning point of "faith in God" to faith, belief and trust, in our fellow man. Our faith is all about relationships. faith in God allows us to be open to healthy relationships. John states the purpose of telling the Gospel story of Jesus is that we might have fellowship with one another. That fellowship is with the Father through our relationship with Jesus. (I John 1:1-5)
I challenge you to accept God's love, forgiveness, and faith and to let it flow through you to all other relationships.
What do you think? Do you have questions? I am here to continue the conversation.
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Hi Clyde,
ReplyDeleteGreat to see that you started this. God has blessed you with so much wisdom and you are using that to help and teach others. Thank you!
In regards to your challenge, I have learned that is the basis of all great relationships. However, trust in your fellow man? All the time?It's not easy all the time. I trust that if my fellow man harms me then God can step in and He can use the situation for good for those who love Him, that would be me. So, I trust God. I like "faith in God alone." This is a tough one for me.
It is difficult to trust people, but we must remember that God promises to work good in every situation. That good is to shape us into the image of Christ.
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Clyde,
ReplyDeleteYour writing is thought provoking and puts things in a new light, thank you.
I read Tina's comment and your response. Now, I am confused, so maybe some others are, too. Surely, you do not mean that we trust everyone, with everything. Is not trust to be earned? Are we not to be wise? The parable of the talents comes to mind, as the owner gave according to their abilities; he did not give 10 talents to each.
The bible tells us that "the heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked". Surely, we are not to trust all people, at all times.
I look forward to your clarification.
Thank you.
Jenny
Though trust is a process, we are challenged to trust one another. The Bible does say, “The just shall live by faith.” It does not limit faith to our relationship with God. The purpose of salvation is to restore relationships like they were in the Garden of Eden. I believe most of us are afraid to trust God enough to trust one another and wonder why our relationships are so hollow.
ReplyDeleteI believe the parable of the talents teaches that we are to use the gifts God give to us for the glory of God and good of others. We need to see God as a loving God who blesses those who give freely of that which is given to them. I believe that most of us are looking for an excuse so we can avoid being vulnerable I acknowledge that I am like the man who asked Jesus to heal his child. Jesus said if you “Faith” (believe) it will happen. The man replied “I faith, help my lack of faith.” By the way, there is no verb faith in the English language so the Greek word is usually translated believe. I acknowledge that my faith is small. I want my belief in the love of God to grow so my faith will also grow.
It is true there are levels of trust. Some people are more trust worthy than others. And we are to be wise. However, I believe we are to seek reconciliation with all people. Thus, we must be willing to go one level beyond where the other person is. We do this by “faithing” God to protect us. We are to take the imitative as God has taken the imitative in restoring the relationship with us.