The Love of God
I Corinthians 13:8 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. (NRSV)
The great Swiss-German theologian Karl Barth delivered one of the closing lectures of his life at the University of Chicago Divinity School during his only visit to the United States in 1962. At the end of the lecture, he was asked, "Of all the theological insights you have ever had, which do you consider to be the greatest of them all?"
This was a remarkable question to ask a man who had written tens of thousands of pages of some of the most sophisticated theology ever put on paper; the students had their pads and pencils ready. Karl Barth closed his eyes and thought for a few moments. Then he smiled, opened his eyes, and said to the young seminarians, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so!"
The older I get the more amused, and somewhat perturbed I am at what we try to make the Bible. It is not a history book, not a geography book, not a science book, not a self-help manual. It is the revelation of God to humankind! It is the revelation of a love that cannot be understood by the human mind alone. No other religion in history claims that God, the Creator, Divine Love itself chose to come to Earth as a human being to teach us how we could be in God. it was not revealed to a human being in some vision or experience. God came to show us how to live, by living with us, as one of us,.
The very day I was thinking of this subject, I was on my Meals on Wheels route. Generally every Tuesday about midway through my route, I stop by Mr. Perkins house. I always have to wait quite a few minutes for Mr. Perkins to come to the door. He has been in poor health ever since I first met him. But without exception, when I ask him how he is doing today, he tells me he is blessed. On this Tuesday, I felt something was not right as I approached the door. No one responded to my knocking and after a few minutes, I walked back toward my car. A neighbor was walking up the street and told me that Mr. Perkins had passed away that morning.
I only knew Mr Perkins through a weekly five minute meeting in the doorway of his home. But somehow, in the mystery of it all, I experienced the love of God through Mr. Perkins and his wife. I believe it is because they understand what being in God is all about..
The Gaither Vocal Band sang the following lines in “The Love of God”:
The love of God is greater far, than gold or silver ever could afford.
It reaches past the highest star, and covers all the world.
It's power is eternal; It's glory is supernal.
When all this earth shall pass away, there'll always be the love of God.
At Christmas, may God open your heart to His love, your mind to His wonders, your ears to His voice and your life to His presence.
The great Swiss-German theologian Karl Barth delivered one of the closing lectures of his life at the University of Chicago Divinity School during his only visit to the United States in 1962. At the end of the lecture, he was asked, "Of all the theological insights you have ever had, which do you consider to be the greatest of them all?"
This was a remarkable question to ask a man who had written tens of thousands of pages of some of the most sophisticated theology ever put on paper; the students had their pads and pencils ready. Karl Barth closed his eyes and thought for a few moments. Then he smiled, opened his eyes, and said to the young seminarians, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so!"
The older I get the more amused, and somewhat perturbed I am at what we try to make the Bible. It is not a history book, not a geography book, not a science book, not a self-help manual. It is the revelation of God to humankind! It is the revelation of a love that cannot be understood by the human mind alone. No other religion in history claims that God, the Creator, Divine Love itself chose to come to Earth as a human being to teach us how we could be in God. it was not revealed to a human being in some vision or experience. God came to show us how to live, by living with us, as one of us,.
The very day I was thinking of this subject, I was on my Meals on Wheels route. Generally every Tuesday about midway through my route, I stop by Mr. Perkins house. I always have to wait quite a few minutes for Mr. Perkins to come to the door. He has been in poor health ever since I first met him. But without exception, when I ask him how he is doing today, he tells me he is blessed. On this Tuesday, I felt something was not right as I approached the door. No one responded to my knocking and after a few minutes, I walked back toward my car. A neighbor was walking up the street and told me that Mr. Perkins had passed away that morning.
I only knew Mr Perkins through a weekly five minute meeting in the doorway of his home. But somehow, in the mystery of it all, I experienced the love of God through Mr. Perkins and his wife. I believe it is because they understand what being in God is all about..
The Gaither Vocal Band sang the following lines in “The Love of God”:
The love of God is greater far, than gold or silver ever could afford.
It reaches past the highest star, and covers all the world.
It's power is eternal; It's glory is supernal.
When all this earth shall pass away, there'll always be the love of God.
At Christmas, may God open your heart to His love, your mind to His wonders, your ears to His voice and your life to His presence.
Posted by phillipallen at 12/24/2011 1:04 PM 
Categories: Christianity, Personal Thoughts
Tags: Karl Barth Christmas Perkins Gaither Vocal Band
Categories: Christianity, Personal Thoughts
Tags: Karl Barth Christmas Perkins Gaither Vocal Band
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