Love in any Language

Sandi Patti sings this song, and it is on YouTube, and the chorus is as follows; “Love in any language, straight from the heart, Pulls us all together, never apart, And once we learn to speak it, all the world will hear, Love in any language, fluently spoken here.”  It is so true, “Love” is an action and a function, it is the doing and the caring for others around us, it is caring and compassion for both friend and neighbour, Love is wide and broad, deep and high.

Matthew 22:37-39 “Jesus said; “Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.”  This is the most important, the first on any list.  But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commandments are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” {MSG}  Here Jesus sums up the whole of the 10 Commandments from the two tablets that were originally written out by God, the first four deal with a proper relationship with God himself, and Jesus admonishes us to “Love GOD” with everything.  Jesus then summarizes the last six as “Love thy neighbour as thyself.” Romans 13:10 “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law.”

Here Paul takes the simple and simplifies it even more, and now “The whole duty of man, is to Love.”  This is not “What can I get out of this and to benefit from this,” it is unconditional, non-judgemental, kindness and compassion, with no demand for payment or glory and adoration.  We have “The Love Chapter” in 1 Corinthians Chapter 13, which breaks this “God Love” down into smaller bite sized, lumps, Jesus Christ summed up the whole of the Law, and even the whole of Scripture, the whole plan of Salvation into one word, “Love,” “Unconditional Love.”

“Love in any language, straight from the heart, Pulls us all together, never apart, And once we learn to speak it, all the world will hear, Love in any language, fluently spoken here.”  So, how fluently do you, how fluently do I, speak, act, function in “True Love,” that unselfish caring and compassionate, un-judgemental love, as shown in Christ Jesus, in what he did for others and what he has done and is doing for us every day.  So, how clearly do you speak “Love” for the song says, “Love in any language, fluently spoken here,” But is that a reality of a fantasy, is it “Christ in you” shining forth in word deed and action, or is it “Self” manipulating and grasping for everything possible, and then to get all the praise and glory and honour possible?

Matthew 6:1-4 “Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it.  It might be good theatre, but the God who made you won’t be applauding. When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure-‘play actors’ I call them – treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds.  They get applause, true, but that is all they ever get.  When you help somebody out, don’t think about how it looks.  Just do it – quietly and unobtrusively.  That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.” {MSG}  

Matthew 5:43-44 “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’  I’m challenging that.  I’m telling you to love your enemies.  Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst.  When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves.  This is what God does.  He gives his best – the sun to warm and the rain to nourish – to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty.  If all you do is love the loveable, do you expect a bonus?  Anybody can do that.  If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal?  Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.” {MSG} “Love in any language, fluently spoken here.”

 

2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 1 Peter 2:20 “For what glory [is it], if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye take it patiently, this [is] acceptable with God.”  Or from the {MSG} “What counts is that you put up with it for God’s sake when you’re treated badly for no good reason.  There’s no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve.  But if you’re treated badly for good behaviour and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God.” {MSG} 1 Peter 3:17 “For [it is] better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.” Or from the {MSG} “Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick.  They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath.  It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad.” {MSG}

Finally; “Love in any language, straight from the heart, Pulls us all together, never apart, And once we learn to speak it, all the world will hear, Love in any language, fluently spoken here.”  So then how Fluent are you?  Are you well known for your God-Love?  If you fall short, Why?  Jesus has an abundant supply, so go get some more right now.