Sun 9:30a Class; 10:30a Worship; 11:35a Communion
Bible Bites
A Love of Historic Dimensions
The title of Robert Rutland’s book, James Madison: The Founding Father is not a misnomer. Madison almost single-handedly forged the core and reason for our nation’s existence: The Constitution of the United States. Rutland relates a story about Madison and Thomas Jefferson, who were close friends and colleagues in our nation’s formation. The story seems out-of-place beside such august events as the Declaration and War of Independence; the Constitution, etc. Listen to it though, for its roots run deep into the wellspring of our founding values.
Madison sold Jefferson a horse for 25 pounds sterling, but the creature had hardly been saddled when he took sick and died. Both men were embarrassed—Jefferson listened to Madison’s suggestion that a mutual friend should decide a fair settlement—but Jefferson insisted in paying for the dead horse.... Typically, Jefferson erred on the side of his friend, sending about twelve dollars more than their agreed price. Two Virginians who could sell a sick horse and pay for a dead one without an angry word thus maintained a friendship of historic dimensions (95).
Madison and Jefferson liked each other immensely. But even liking one another—selling a sick horse and buying a dead one— could strain the most amicable of relationships. Madison and Jefferson were deists, not Christians. Yet they maintained a friendship which serves as an embarrassment for the lack of such among Christians who ought to have a greater motivation for such friendship between brothers in Christ than two deists!
Our reason to love one another is far nobler than “liking” each other. We are here to serve one another in spite of who we like or don’t like. We are here to love one another as Jesus loved us. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). This is a huge command to fulfill, but one of absolute necessity. The world will see us for what we really are. If they see those – who in spite of differing personality traits which grate on one another nerves – truly affirm their love in deed and word, then they will be drawn to us. Drawn not because we are anything special from other human beings, but because of what Jesus has made of us. We will stand out from the “hating and hateful” of this world (cf. Titus 3:3). We must stand out!
How is our love for one another? It must run deep and be shown in many ways. I know how easy it is not to have anything to do with those we don’t like. I know how easy it is to speak only to those we like. I know how easy it is not to invite to our home the ones we have a difficult time liking. But Jesus did not command “liking.” He commanded the deepest, most abiding kind of love—the kind He revealed to us by going to the Cross for us. Some would dare to die for a good, benevolent man, but God demonstrated a vastly superior kind of love in that while we hated Him as sinners, He died for us (Romans 5:7-8)!
God demands a love of historic dimensions, and Judgment Day will ask the question that must be answered daily: “Do we truly love one another?”
— In "Pressing On" Magazine, February 2013
