V.4, "Whoseoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."
V.7, "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous."
V.9, "Whosover is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin because he is born of God."
V.14, "We know that the we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."
V.18, "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."
Half of the church are standard versions but God wants us to become "The Extended Version". "The Extended Version" is an "Extension" of Him. As stated in verse nine, we are born of God and in verse one, we are called the sons of God; we are "The Extended Version". Standard means a rule or model that is used to judge or measure how good something is. Extend means to make something longer or bigger; to stretch out to the fullest length; to offer and to exert to full capacity.
When we think of an extended version; we think of software, warranties, games, etc. When companies offer an extended version they persuaded us that it's a better product than the standard version they sold us (which usually is). "The Extended Version" is made to offer more; an extension of the standard. When looking at the options given we find that the extended version is better but it also costs more than the standard version.
Love is a crucial part of this extended version. Ninety percent of us love on condition. Conditional love is the standardized version. Agape love is "The Extended Version". Agape love causes us to love at our fullest capacity. It causes love in us to be stretched to it's fullest length. Many of us are giving a standardized love, a love that everyone understands, even the world understands this love because it's the love they give. But "The Extended Version" is a love that no one understands nor is it anything anyone is able to comprehend. Many don't understand nor accept the kind of love that Jesus gave because His love is the love that caused Him to be stretched to His fullest length (His arms stretched wide) so much so that he yelled, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." He yelled forgiveness but we yell "Forget this, it ain't worth it," or "I'm through." What if Jesus yelled that instead? Where would we be? We would still be under man's standard love versus God's agape love (extended version).
The world expects standard love. They are used to it and it's what they give in return but what they don't expect is "The Extended Version" of love. We don't expect for people to love us when we've messed up. Sometimes it's hard for us to love ourselves. If we would allow for Christ's love to dwell in us instead of our own "The Extended Version" wouldn't be as hard. Side note (Prov 13:15, "...the ways of a transgressor are hard." When we decide not to love we transgress the law of grace and that's what makes it hard.)
LET'S BECOME "THE EXTENDED VERSION"!
No comments:
Post a Comment