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In my previous post, I touched on loving and being “in” love.
Here is an excerpt of the story.
First, do you love the Lord, or are you in love with the Lord?
People “in love” act differently than people who say they love. For example, when my wife and I were dating, I was “in love” with her. My world, routine, and life changed so I could be with her.
We have “loved” each other through the years, but the passion of changing everything to be with her has given way to more reasoned responses. For example, “Honey, can you give me a hand with this?” is responded to by saying, “Certainly. I will be there as soon as I finish this.”
(Can anyone relate to that?)
It isn’t that we do not love each other, but the passion of being in love (this isn’t in a sexual context) doesn’t drive our actions as it once did.
It isn’t a bad thing, although it could lead to something bad; it is a fact of human nature.
When I say, “I love the Lord,” do I understand what I am saying?
Can I say I have a passion for him, like being “in love” with him, or do I respond more reasonably, like, “Certainly. I will be there as soon as I finish this?”
In other words, I do love you and will do this as soon as it is convenient for me.
This isn’t to say one (love) is better than another (although being “in love” is a strong motivator).
The second element of love is found in the story of Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane just before his betrayal.
He left the eight (Judas was already betraying him) in a safe place, took the three (Peter, James, and John), and went to a quiet place.
Jesus instructed the three to pray while he went off to pray alone.
Upon returning to the three, he finds them asleep.
“When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, “Can’t you stick it out with me a single hour?
Stay alert; be in prayer so you don’t wander into temptation without even knowing you’re in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there’s another part that’s as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.”
Matthew 26:40-41 The Message
The New Living Translation records it this way:
“Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the Spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”
Matthew 26:41 The New Living Translation (NLT)
Jesus says to Peter (Evans paraphrase) I know you love me, Peter, or at least a part of you does. However, the other part struggles with loving me, and will get you in trouble if you don’t corral it.
In other words, (using the language of the NLT) Peter, the spirit part of you is fully in love with me and committed to me, but the body part of you hasn’t fully committed to me. If you don’t get it under control, it will lead you down a broken path.
Peter’s desire to surrender was strong because he deeply loved the Lord in his Spirit. However, the body part of him (using the language of the NLT) was also strong and fought him every inch of the way.
This illustration of Peter explains why it is difficult to surrender to the Lord when you love him.
Jesus puts it this way.
“If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you.”
John 14:15 The Message
The question is, how do you “show it” when you struggle to surrender?
It may be so difficult to surrender when you love the Lord because of the uncommitted part of your body, such as hurts, unforgiveness, or some other painful past experience.
The question then becomes, what do you do?
The good news is it isn’t hopeless (let the Apostle Peter be your example).
The Bible says that Peter bitterly wept after denying Jesus three times. This means the power of the Holy Spirit touched his Spirit, releasing conviction (the part of him that loved Jesus). The conviction was strong enough to over-ride the body (in Peter’s case, his fear of human opinion and death).
Peter’s tears are evidence of his repentance, which brought about a cleansing that brought his body under control.
Heartfelt words are essential
Like Peter, you cry out (speak or talk to God out loud).
You say things like:
- A part of me wants to do this, but the part that doesn’t is getting in my way.
- Your word says it isn’t by my strength or human ability but by the power of your Holy Spirit.
- I call on you, Holy Spirit, to empower me to overcome my body to obey you.
- I surrender the part of me that is willing, and I permit you to deal with the part of me that isn’t.
“Then he said to me, “This is what the LORD says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.”
Zechariah 4:6 The New Living Translation
The Bible doesn’t say what happens next (which tells me it is an individual encounter with God the Holy Spirit). However, the next time we see Peter in the Bible, he “shows” his love for Jesus by preaching the first Pentecostal sermon.
There is hope for you.
The call of the Spirit is going out across the land for light bearers and (wisdom-speaking) truth givers to bring the words of life to a lost and dying world—one person at a time.
Will you join me?
The journey is exciting and scary, and I am thankful for everyone who is willing to accompany me on it.
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