Loving God and our neighbors doesn’t come naturally to us. We have to learn it, and the place to begin learning love is the Word of God. Today’s excerpt from The Kingdom Turn is found on pages 151 and 152:
“If you want to understand the Bible, you have to make love the aim of your quest. This is the argument Augustine put forth in the opening book of his great treatise on understanding Scripture, On Christian Doctrine. Scripture is about God, God is love, therefore, if you want to learn the Scriptures, look to learn love. If your passion is to know the Lord, your goal must be to love.
“Jesus put it as plainly as possible: If you only read the Scriptures in order to gain information or perspective, or to increase your understanding of doctrine, then you’re not reading them according to the purpose for which they were given. God gave the Scriptures to equip us for good works, works motivated by and expressive of love – the treasure we’re trying to increase.
“And everything about the Scriptures – every book, section, story, doctrine, or theme – is intended by God to promote the practice of love.
“But what is love? We’ve said it is the great treasure in which our hearts and lives are to be invested, and that the whole of Scripture is given to encourage us in lives of love. Love is the defining practice of all who have made the Kingdom turn. The Apostle John said that God is love. We may turn that around and say that love, whenever it is purely expressed, is God. “
For reflection or discussion
1. How would you counsel a new Christian to learn love from the Scriptures?
2. How can believers help one another to grow in the love of Jesus?
Since Jesus is the theme of all Scripture, learning to love means focusing an attentive eye on Jesus and allowing the Spirit of God to make us more like Him. This is a daily and moment-by-moment calling, and it leads us into the joy of the Lord and His Kingdom. Share today’s podcast with a friend, then get together to discuss what you’re learning. Order you copy of The Kingdom Turn from The Ailbe Bookstore today.
T. M. Moore
