These essays are written in sequence and build on each other. Read the preceding essay here.
As was discussed in an earlier essay, the unity of God’s Love and God’s Will is a fundamental spiritual insight revealed in The Word.
Ignoring this fact leads to misinterpretation of The Word and misunderstanding of how the world works (i.e. the Laws of Creation).
We have already discussed how, at the time of Christ, the Jews were making the mistake of trying to interpret God’s Will without reference to His Love; i.e. disconnecting The Will from The Love.
Today, a common Christian mistake is that of focusing on God’s Love without paying attention to His Will i.e. disconnecting The Love from The Will.
But before analyzing this issue in detail, we need to explore the nature of Love.
What is Love?
If thou knewest the gift of God,
— KJV, John 4:10
and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink;
thou wouldest have asked of him,
and he would have given thee living water.
The sending of the gift of The Word to earth is an act of Divine Love. Anything that is in tune with real love will be in tune with The Word.
This Act of Love is directed at man’s spirit. The digestion of The Word, as variously discussed in earlier essays, is a spiritual process that has nothing to do with earthly, materialistic progress.
Therefore the essence of true Love is spiritual. True Love is only expressed in that which benefits man spiritually.
The ultimate purpose of man’s existence on Earth is his spiritual development. Anything that is not directly aligned with this fundamental purpose is at best secondary, and at worst detrimental.
Therefore genuine love does not focus on what is materially pleasing, agreeable, or convenient to the other, but only what will uplift or benefit him spiritually.
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth:
— KJV, Matt 10:34-36
I came not to send peace, but a sword.
For I am come to set a man at variance against his father,
and the daughter against her mother,
and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
It is evident to any thinking Christian that the ultimate effect of The Word is peace and not strife. So it is evident that, as with all elements of The Word, the deeper meaning must be sought.
Christ is highlighting here the difference between human “love” and real love.
We are expected to exemplify the true Love of The Word in all our dealings. If we do this consistently, it is inevitable that we will often find ourselves at variance with those that have expectations of us based on the prevailing wrong concepts of love and the purpose of life.
We will often find ourselves in disagreement with social customs and traditions that have arisen based on materialistic concepts of love, and/or a general misunderstanding of how the world works (i.e. the Laws of Creation).
Indulgence has nothing to do with Love. In fact, to the extent that we are still steeped in materialism and misplaced concepts of love, true love will sometimes appear harsh and severe, as when a parent corrects an errant child.
Therefore it is inevitable that those who reshape their lives according to The Word must experience some strife, and will often be viewed as “hard” and “strict” by those around them.
When The Word states “Love Thy Enemies“, this can be interpreted as: “Consider their spiritual progress and act accordingly towards them. Discipline them if that is the only way they can come to understanding, but do so only in the spirit of love – not revenge, hatred, anger, or spite.”
Today’s Resolution
- We will kindle the spirit of true love within ourselves, seeking to serve our fellow man spiritually.
The Word, (Re)Discovered 