“The Power of Love”
Communion
October 2, 2011
In his novel The Brothers Karamazov the Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky relates a moving story of a Russian village and the daily lives of those who live there.
In one moving scene a woman goes to talk with a priest about her problems with faith and not being sure that this life is not all there is.
”What if I’ve been believing all my life, and when I come to die there is nothing but Burdocks growing over my grave?
How can I prove it? How can I convince myself?” the woman asked.
The priest thinks for a few moments — then responds:
“By the experience of active love.
Insofar as you advance in active love, you will grow surer of the reality of God and of the immortality of the soul.”
The power of active love.
That is what our faith is all about – the power of God’s active love in our lives – and the power of God’s call to each of us to have active love for Him and for all people.
The power of God’s love.
Our call to worship for today was Exodus 20:1-17 – what we know as the 10 Commandments. These commandments have always been important – but have become a hot issue lately with some groups forming to bring them back into the public life and other groups forming that are against any public show of religion. From courthouses in Alabama to Washington state there are battles over the public display of the 10 Commandments.
What should you make of – and how should you consider – the 10 Commandments?
Are they laws “written in stone” by God — who will strike you down if you attempt to break them?
Are they 10 laws meant to restrict what you do that have been handed down to by a God who is only interested in limiting your actions?
Or – are they 10 rules for you to closely follow – - to keep track of your obedience to – - and to take great pride in your ability to follow – - while at the same time looking down on those you do not feel keep the Commandments as well as you think you do?
Actually, all these ways of interpreting the 10 Commandments are fairly prevalent. Some people see them as rules that restrict them and others see them as rules that cause them great pride when they feel they follow them better than others.
But – - wait a minute.
Are there other options for interpreting the 10 Commandments – - and even other options for thinking about God?
Surely there must be.
Let’s take another look at God giving the 10 Commandments to the Israelites and see if we can come up with another way to interpret them — and another way to think about God.
When God gave the 10 Commandments God had just freed the people of Israel from slavery. Through Moses God had worked miracles and mighty deeds that made clear God’s will for freedom for God’s people.
They had been freed by God – but now what?
Should their freedom change how they live?
Are they to live any differently because they have been freed from slavery by God?
In a word, yes.
The glorious fact that they had been freed from slavery by the power of God was to be the deciding factor in how God’s people lived. God had blessed them with their freedom, and in response to that blessing they were supposed to live their lives differently from others.
But – - how were they to live differently?
At Mt. Siani they found out.
In the fire and the smoke and the quaking of that holy mountain they found out how God wanted them to live.
They had been freed from slavery by their freeing – - life-giving God — and now they were to have undivided loyalty to God – - a loyalty that would not allow them to try to manipulate God by carving idols — or to take God’s Holy name lightly – - and that would require them to take a Sabbath day of rest out of every 7 days to remember and worship God.
They were also to live in a special relationship with others — honoring their parents — refraining from murder, adultery, stealing, lying and coveting — or doing anything else that might keep them from living in this special relationship with God and others.
The 10 Commandments were indeed commandments – - but they were not Commandments that restricted what the people could and could not do as much as they freed the people to do what God wanted them to do. The 10 Commandments freed the people to love – - to love God and to love others — to honor and respect and worship God and to treat others with love and honor and respect.
So — the 10 Commandments are commandments to love God and to love others.
They are not commandments to restrict you from doing things or make you feel proud when you feel we are keeping them — they are instead commandments to love.
You are commanded to love.
You can feel the power of God’s love in your life – and share God’s love with others in powerful, active ways.
The 10 Commandments are all about the power of God’s love.
Jesus understood what the 10 Commandments were all about.
When he confronted the Jewish leaders who for centuries had thought that they were better than all others — and who used the Commandments as a measuring stick to see how much better they were than others — He made it plain that just having the Commandments – just being God’s people — just being in God’s vineyard, so to speak – is not enough for the Kingdom of God.
Unless you let the Commandments lead you to be open to God — loving and respecting God and loving and respecting all people — you are not living in the ways God calls you to live — no matter how good a person you are or how closely you keep the commandments.
If you do not let God lead you to love for Him and others — you are not living in the ways of God.
If you do not realize the power of God’s love – let the power of God’s love change your life – and share the power of God’s love with others – you are not living in God ‘s ways.
Living in God’s ways is not so much about strict obedience to the commandments as much as it is about the power of love.
The tenants in Jesus’ parable thought they had it made there in the vineyard — so much so they did not care about the landlord’s servants or his son. They didn’t let the privilege of being in the vineyard change them and their attitudes towards the landlord.
You see — having the love of God — having salvation — should change you – the powerful love of God should change you — and it should bring about a change in your attitudes – a change in your devotion to God – - and a change in the ways you share God’s love with others.
That’s the power of God’ s love
God’s love can change who you are
It can change how you relate to God
It can change how you relate to others
That’s what the 10 Commandments are all about – they are all about the power of love.
Paul finally understood this.
He thought his life was perfect until he met Jesus — and saw just how imperfect he was. That’s when he began striving to live in love – the power of love – the power of love for God – and love for others.
He finally discovered that his life was not meant to be spent feeling superior to others — but it was meant to be spent loving others.
He finally understood that the 10 Commandments that he had taken such great pride in were actually commandments to love God — and to love others.
He finally experienced – and committed himself to sharing – the power of God’s love.
Here’s that thing, friends — you can experience and share God’s active, powerful love with others.
This is not easy – but God makes it possible.
Paul understood how difficult it was — and yet he let God strengthen him as he tried to live a life that shared God’s love with others.
It is only when you let God’s love take root in you and grow in you that you can truly love others.
Jesus said the greatest commandment was to love God with all your heart — soul — mind — and strength — and to love others as yourself.
So – the question for you to consider is:
How much do you love?
How much do you love God?
How much do you love others?
Do you let the active, life changing love of God work in your life?
Do your actions show God’s active, life changing love to others?
I found this on Facebook the other day and want to share it with you today:
When I say “I am a Christian”, I am not shouting “I am clean living”, I’m whispering “I was lost, but now I’m found and forgiven.”
I don’t speak of this with pride. I’m confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
I’m not trying to be strong. I’m professing that I’m weak and need His strength to carry on.
I’m not bragging of success. I’m admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
I’m not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.
I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon HIS name.
I’m not holier than thou, I’m just a simple sinner who received God’s good grace, somehow!
Friends – my prayer for you is that you remember the love of God – let that love touch you in a new way – and commit yourself again – or maybe for the first time — to living in and sharing with others the active, powerful love of God.
I pray that you will learn again the power of God’s love. Amen.
