Proper Love

I love verse 2 in the modern worship song Great I Am (I love the whole song actually).  It says  "I wanna be close, close to your heart; loving the world, hating the dark."  Why do I love it?  Because I need to be reminded daily of how I'm view the world I live in:  I'm to love it as Jesus loves it while simultaneously hating the sin that is destroying it. In Luke 23:34, Jesus, while hanging on the cross, said 'Father, forgive them (the world), for they don’t know what they are doing.'  In Matthew 9:36 we're told that when [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Mark 10:45 tells us that he loved the world so much that he gave his life as a ransom for many.  And he reminded his disciples (us) to love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In other words, Jesus loved the world and calls us to love the world

But, part of loving the world is hating the sin that corrupts it and keeps it from loving a loving Savior.  John 3:19 tells us that God’s light (Jesus) came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light. So, God showed his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness (Romans 1:18). Isaiah 24:5-6 summarizes the problem of sin this way: The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted God’s instructions, violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse consumes the earth [and] its people must pay the price for their sin.  In other words, God hates sin because it destroys the people he loves.

So, as you live life today remember to love the world and have compassion on it as God does.  At the same time, don't be guilty of compromising Biblical standards for the sake of love.  To love the world IS to hate the darkness in it.  It's the darkness that keeps the world from knowing a loving God.

Such a powerful reminder in our present political climate wouldn't you agree?

If you want to enjoy the song "Great I Am" by Phillips, Craig & Dean, follow this link https://youtu.be/y_VR-zwp2KA