As I sat down this week my mind raced considering all the turmoil extolled in the press, media, and blogs. As darkness seems to be a pervading point, I was reminded this week by one of the Bright Young Masons in our Fraternity particularly in South Carolina. W. Brother Tommy Moran reminded me what our esteemed Brother said "There is no dishonor in acknowledging a mistake---there is much in obstinately persisting in it" Albert Gallatin Mackey. I reminded him what another Great South Carolinian said "Every man has a right to his opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts" Bernard M. Baruch.
Love in the Midst of a
Persecuting World
“Let the morning bring me word of
your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I
should go,
for to you I entrust my life.” (Psalms 143:8)
We entrust
GOD by:
Ø Surrendering our Pains
to HIM
Ø Surrendering our Desires
to HIM
Ø Surrendering our All
to HIM
Establishing our Witness!
Life after COVID-19 will result in many not returning to the fellowship of Church, Lodge, or Fraternal Organizations. The lodge has always placed a high emphasis on worship. This is accomplished by Brotherly Love. "By the exercise of brotherly love, we are taught to regard the whole human species as one family; the high and low, rich and poor; who, as created by one Almighty Parent, and inhabitants of the same planet, are to aid, support, and protect each other. On this principle, Masonry unites men of every country, sect, and opinion, and conciliates true friendship among those who might otherwise have remained at a perpetual distance."
Often,
we are tempted to allow the hurts of our past to prevent healing, restoration,
and LOVE from shining forth in a persecuting world. “And now
these three remain faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1
Corinthians 13:13). Amid life with
COVID-19 the church may no longer gather where we can be present to support one
another, yet through calls and notes of encouragement, we can support one
another. Therefore, Satan now seeks to convince
the Body of Christ / Church with two lies.
v First Lie: Church is outdated, you need not return
after the Pandemic.
Many Churches, St.
Mark particularly seeks to meet all who desire an intimate relationship with Christ! We offer traditional, contemporary, blended service, and virtual
services as well as weekly devotions via YouTube to support your walk with Christ.
v Second Lie: You have tried, but you are not good enough
to deserve GOD’s love, the
Pandemic has proven this fact.
We all have fallen
short of the Glory of GOD; this is where grace comes in. We serve one another to the
Honor and Glory of GOD, not one another. We serve to demonstrate GOD’s Love in the midst of a
persecuting world. When the world declares, “take care of yourself because
no one else will,” JESUS is tenderly calling us in service.
When GOD Blesses us with old age, we need to seek out younger Christians
and share our Faith to help them along this wonderful journey of
life. Although pitfalls certainly lie ahead, JESUS Love will never fail! For me, the following poem sums it up best.
The Bridge Builder
\
An old man going a
lone highway,
Came, at the evening
cold and gray,
To a chasm vast and
deep and wide.
Through which was
flowing a sullen tide
The old man crossed in
the twilight dim,
The sullen stream had
no fear for him;
But he turned when
safe on the other side
And built a bridge to
span the tide.
“Old man,” said a
fellow pilgrim near,
“You are wasting your
strength with building here;
Your journey will end
with the ending day,
You never again will
pass this way;
You’ve crossed the
chasm, deep and wide,
Why build this bridge
at evening tide?”
The builder lifted his
old gray head;
“Good friend, in the
path I have come,” he said,
“There followed after
me to-day
A youth whose feet
must pass this way.
This chasm that has
been as naught to me
To that fair-haired
youth may a pitfall be;
He, too, must cross in
the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am
building this bridge for him!”
WILL ALLEN DROMGOOLE
v
Who was my first love?
v
Why did the end of my first love hit me so much harder than my last love ending?
v
Why do some people place the love of best friends above
the love for their spouse?
Far too
often people reconnect with what they perceive as their first love on social media only to throw away and discard a secure Love right in front of themselves. Love of the past has an
imperfect memory. In our imaginations everything in the past was perfect,
therefore some find themselves searching for their endless love, only to end Love. Perhaps the words
from Adel’s song “I Can’t Make You Love Me” will provide something to
thing about this Valentine’s Day 2021.
Lay down with me 'Cause I
can't make you love me And even in the dark
And tell me no lies If you don't These
final hours
Just hold me closely You
can't make your heart feel I will lay down my heart
Don't patronize Something
that it won't But you
won't
No,
you won't
'Cause I can't make you love
me
When we realize we cannot make anyone Love us--our friends, our family, our children, or even our Spouse--we are freed to Love them unencumbered by memories of our past in the midst of a persecuting world. Take time this week to let your spouse know the depth of your Love. Jesus told us to Love one another. Love takes commitment. Let each of us renew our Love for GOD, our spouse, our children, our family, our friends, and the Body of Christ.
Let us
look at the three most referred to Loves:
Philos
Philos love is the one we ought to have toward friends, family, and humanity. It’s the
feeling of affection and friendship we have for others.
Philos love is represented in the relationship that Jonathan had for David.
1 Samuel 18:3
“And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he
loved him as himself.”
Philos love is represented in our circle of acquaintance.
Romans 12:10
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another
above yourselves.”
We
each have been blessed with Philia love of friends. We have laughed, picked on one another, and even cried
together. The older we get often we don’t even need to speak; all we need to do
is be available and present when needed. This is one reason for us once again to return to Church and Lodge when it is possible to return safely.
Philia refers to love based on mutual
respect, shared devotion, joint interests, and common values. It is the love near, and dear friends have for one another. When Jesus Christ was described as a "friend of sinners" in
Matthew 11:19, philia was the original Greek word applied.
When the Lord called his
disciples "friends" (Luke 12:4; John 15:13–15), philia was
the word he used. And when James named Abraham the friend of GOD (James 2:23), he employed the term philia.
Eros
Eros love is the physical form
of Love. GOD created us with the desire for intimacy which is meant to take
place between a husband and a wife. While Eros love is important in a marriage, it is not enough to maintain
the covenant relationship. The physical body will weaken, transform, and die.
If each person does not strive to keep the flame of Love alive Eros love will not be enough to
maintain the covenant, and separation and divorce will certainly ensue. Both
must be willing to fulfill the Eros love in their spouse.
1 Corinthians 7:3-5
“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his
wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have
authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the
husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his
wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by
mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to
prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt
you because of your lack of self-control.”
Song of Solomon 1:2
“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth for your
love is more delightful than wine.”
Consider how our relationships define us more than anything
else. Relationships are more than biographical information. Today we can't go
anywhere without acknowledging who we are or who we belong to, i.e. parents,
family name, identified by our employment, or even the church we attend. The
dominant relationship in life is our relationship with GOD by defining our past, present, and future. We are GOD’s masterpieces. GOD calls us his children
from sin and death to salvation and life. GOD knows the number of
hairs on our heads, and even with the sunset of age as the number of hairs decreases,
GOD’s Love will never decrease. GOD knows when each of us
lies down to sleep and he knows when we rise. GOD knows the number of beats our hearts will have and he
knows the number of days we have on this earth. GOD is familiar with every detail of every single one of us
yesterday, today, and tomorrow. This Love is unconditional and complete, isn't this what we all have been searching
for? GOD’s Love truly defines us, because GOD Loves us with an Eros Love. This Love stands out above the rest, above every relationship, and every memory of
the past.
Agape
Agape love is the unconditional love GOD has for us. There is nothing we can do to change how our
parents feel concerning us. Agape love takes place between GOD the Father and His Son JESUS.
Ephesians 2:4-5
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is
rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even
when we were dead in transgressions it is by grace you have been saved.”
1 John 4:9-10
“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one
and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This
is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as
an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
Agape defines GOD’s immeasurable,
incomparable love for humankind. It is
his ongoing, outgoing, self-sacrificing concern for lost and fallen people. GOD gives this love without condition,
unreservedly to those who are undeserving and inferior to himself.
An important aspect of Agape love is how
it extends beyond emotions. Agape love is much more than a feeling or sentiment. Agape love is active. Agape love demonstrates through
actions, daily, and never keep a ledger.
Agape love is expressed through actions. The all-encompassing love of GOD for the entire human
race caused GOD to send his Son, Jesus Christ, to die and, thus, save every person who would believe in
him:
JOHN 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he
gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have
eternal life.”
1. Jesus’ love exemplified the Father’s
Heart.
John 1:14
“And
the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as
of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
2. Jesus’ Love provided
the only Way to the Father.
John 14:6
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the
life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
3. Jesus’ Love interceded for us to
the Father
John 17:20-21
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which
shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou,
Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the
world may believe that thou hast sent me.”
4. Jesus’ Love was a daily walk
with the Father.
John 5:19-20
“Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth
the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son
likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all
things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that
ye may marvel.”
5. Jesus’ Love Glorified the Father.
John 14:28
“Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come
again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the
Father: for my Father is greater than I.”
6. Jesus’ Love pointed to the
Father.
John 14:31
“But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as
the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.”
7. Jesus’ Love enables us to
remain in the Father’s Love.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
“Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and
hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the
Spirit in our hearts.”
|
“There are dire consequences when we turn earthly
things into eternal things” SDGJAP |
1 Corinthians 16:14
“Let all that you do be done
in love.”
“There are dire consequences when we turn earthly things
into eternal things” SDGJAP
