Learning About Love

I could post this as a quiz but it is something I have been thinking about lately (especially when I see someone preparing food).

Why do food preparation workers to wear those plastic gloves:
a) To keep their hands clean
b) To keep their bosses happy
c) To keep the food sanitary
d) All of the above

I often see people who think 'a' and 'b' are the correct answers. They are just doing what they are told but they don't really know why they do what they do. Option 'c' doesn't happen because the person doesn't know or perhaps they don't care why they need to do what they are being asked to do.

Perhaps the person thinks, 'We only have one box of these so I'll wear this pair as long as possible to make the gloves last. The boss will see me wearing gloves and I won't use very many of them and that will make my employer even happier.'

The purpose of the gloves is to keep the food sanitary so the customer gets a clean wholesome meal. The bosses happiness is just misunderstood even though it may have been explained once after the person was hired. If the person who doesn't understand the gloves trains other people they further perpetuate the myth of false compliance.

'All of the above' is a good answer because if the food is sanitary then the other things are also happening as a side effect.

" 'You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." - Matthew 5:43-48 ESV

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." - 2 Corinthians 13:14 ESV

Do we understand what love really is and what it is for? No, I don't think we do. The Holy Spirit must teach us, illuminate us and fill our heart with love in order for us to have a moment by moment understanding that love is unity with the Father. Love has side effects but those effects are not the primary goal.

If we misunderstand the gloves we handle the food and trash with the same gloves and think we are exceeding what is expected.

Jesus is the way we understand Love. He is the description of love. He is the bridge and conduit of love.

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." - Romans 5:1-5 ESV

Wow. Yes.

The Holy Spirit must be our teacher and we are fortunate that He Is a wonderful capable instructor. He shows us that we are loved by a perfect love. If we are good we are loved. If we fail and weakness or even rebellion fills our heart for a season God's love is unchanged. His love is holy love.

Jesus knew the Father's love was 'for' the people who were crucifying Him. He could and did love because He understood love. That love brought Him to a cross.

That love is 'The Love' the people around us need to experience.

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