Fill my Way with Love...the Wayfarer 4/10/16

Fill my Way with Love
4/10/16

John 13:34King James Version (KJV)

³⁴ A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

The only commandment that was given us by Jesus transcends and assures the fulfilment of all law given by man, and that given, by God Himself,  through Moses, as well.

It would seem to be the easiest commandment to comprehend, on first blush, but is perhaps the most difficult to keep of any commandment given.

Note that it does not merely state, “that ye love those that love you”, but states parenthetically that that love must be equal to that given us by Jesus, whose love was for all men, not just those who loved Him.

It encompasses far more than mere affection between members of this poor excuse of a race called man, and extends to the willingness to assure that it is God’s love for us that is to be shared between us.

Jesus preached that love throughout His earthly ministry, and exhibited that love in all its facets through the miracles performed, the parables taught, the warnings given and finally through the willing sacrifice given on the cross for all men, not just those who loved the man, Jesus, but also loved God’s personification in Him, returning that love that He gave by heeding the complete commandment to love one another first through repentance of having failed to do so which became sin.

There is a children’s song, taught early, sung widely entitled Jesus loves me.

Jesus loves me and all others as well.

He loved us enough to expunge all the falsity of mere ceremony and lip service that corrupted that love by showing us the WAY, TRUTH, and LIFE available through that love.

The love he exhibited was both, gentle, and meek, yet harsh when called for, just as he expected all who would follow Him to be.

He minced no words, used no deceit, nor subtlety to convey his messages, even in the parables that remained so difficult for so many to understand.

The depth of the love He gave, and, expects, was taught throughout his ministry.

 Matthew 7:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Luke 6:31King James Version (KJV)

³¹ And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

These two statements of the “golden rule” are only the beginning of the requirement of that love, far from the clear statements made that that love need be extended beyond familial bond, or clique, or small circle of friends.

Matthew 5:44-48King James Version (KJV)

⁴⁴ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

⁴⁵ That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

⁴⁶ For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

⁴⁷ And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

⁴⁸ Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

That one commandment that He gave us was and is a “Dilly”!

I know of no one who does not wish to have their lives filled with the love of others… as they would prefer to recognize love, forgetting that that love goes beyond approval and affection and beneficence for themselves, and must extend to care and concern that allows for correction as well when needed.

The song chosen for title was written by George Sebren and copyrighted by R.E. Winsett.

It too requires a bit of thought, a bit of perception of the intent of Christ’s single commandment to love one another as HE loved us.

“Let me walk precious Lord in the way Thou hast gone, leading straight to the land above;

Giving cheer everywhere to the sad and the lone, fill my way every day with love.

Keep me close to the side of my Savior and guide, let me never in darkness rove;

Keep my path free from wrath, and my soul satisfied, fill my way every day with love.

Soon the race will be o’er and I’ll travel no more, but abide in my home above;

Let me sing blessed King all the way to the shore, fill my way every day with love.

Fill my way every day with love, as I walk with the heavenly Dove;

Let me go all the while, with a song and a smile,

Fill my way every day with love.”

Like many songs, this old standard should be rendered as were the Psalms as a heartfelt and constant prayer.

If we ask that our way be filled with that love that has been given us, and ask that we become a portion of that love in our dealings with all around us, then do our absolute best to give that prayer legs through our interactions with our fellow creatures, conveying all aspects of that love, gentle, meek correcting when needed, withholding wrath that would easily beset us when that love is returned by others whose refusal is conveyed by their hatred of that love, then perhaps we might BEGIN to meet the prerequisite of that commandment.

Romans 12:9-21King James Version (KJV)

⁹ Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

¹⁰ Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

¹¹ Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

¹² Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

¹³ Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

¹⁵ Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

¹⁶ Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

¹⁷ Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

¹⁸ If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

¹⁹ Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

²⁰ Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

²¹ Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

The last verse of this quoted passage states a goal that may only be achieved by following the guidance given throughout our scriptures that give us insight into what is and is not proper conduct in meeting the requirements of that commandment left us by Jesus.

Although we MUST ABHOR and expose evil for what it is, we must also cling to that which is good, the love demanded of us and given us by Christ that alone can and will overcome all evil, both that from without, and, that from within as well, when the message preached through that love is both heard and heeded:

“Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Strive daily to let your way be filled with love, both His love for you, and your love for Him shared with others, particularly those not aware of the vastness and completeness of that love that they may knowingly or unknowingly be refusing.

That love commanded may be refused, if its prerequisites are not met, but it will never be refuted once those prerequisites are accepted!

As for this old preacher, I plead daily, even more when that love is refused by others,  that my way continue to be filled with His love, and that I somehow may “go all the while with that song and a smile” in full appreciation of that love.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen

the Wayfarer