God's Love and Ours

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Originally uploaded by andebos.

First John Chapter Four has many interesting verses that I had not thought over for quite some time...until i heard something very simple yet very profound this weekend. Those of you who love logic will understand the relationships in the following explanations. I'll give a few examples throughout but let me provide context to where this thought comes from. I've often said and heard others say something along the lines of this: I trust God but I don't trust people. I realize that this statement typically orginates or is said from a place of pain and wound...but none the less we say it constantly and a lot of times don't say it but mean it. I worry about this line of thinking because I think it's rooted in a deep lie. The lie sounds reasonable. We believe its alright not to trust people because obviously they are flawed and trusting them runs the line of putting our "hope" in them, as lame as that cliche is. It's not about hope its about identity, but that's another conversation. It's okay to trust in God and not people because he is perfect and will always come through - but people on the other hand, well they've really hurt me before. Therefore, I will trust in God but not people...and the unsaid part of that is until they've earned my trust. I worry about my relationships when I or someone else thinks this way - because trust flows along with forgiveness which goes with pride etc etc etc...so when we say we don't trust we eventually mean I can't forgive, until you're worthy of my forgiveness - and we all know the dangers of that thinking, yet we don't realize that we're there...and we have no idea how we got there or how to get back. You may be thinking just because I don't trust someone doesn't mean I don't love them or don't have a great relationship. But I disagree and I think we're called to ultimately trust God and find our identity there - but also trust and hope for the best from people. This doesn't mean we place our entire lives in their hands necessarily but we also don't hold a negative view of disbelief in their soul which we do by saying "I trust God but not people." For listen, "If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen." According to First Corinthians Thirteen love is trust and the two are one. It's not, sometimes love is trust, it's love IS trust. Therefore listen again, "If anyone says, 'I trust God,' yet hates (does not trust) his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not trust his brother, whom he has seen, cannot trust God, whom he has not seen. This is the commend: Whomever trusts God must also trust his brother." However, with all this, don't be a naive fool - this comes from the same chapter that says test the spirits...but with your fellow brother and friend, trust in the goodness and Christ that inhabits their soul. "You have already won a big victory over false teachers, for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world." "The person who refuses to trust doesn't know the first thing about God, because God is trust - so you can't know him if you don't trust." First John Chapter Four verse Eight.

Trust and Love in us brothers and sisters, even when we hurt one another - I know it's hard but you're called to do it and will be better for it...this was for you and me, friend