1. MENTORING-2
(LOVING GOD, ABUNDANT LIFE, HIDUP KUDUS,
MENJADI MANUSIA ROHANI, KERENDAHAN HATI, UMAT YANG LAYAK,
7 MOUNTAINS, JANGAN KEHILANGAN MAKNA NATAL)
BMF collections - 2015
2.
3. i |Loving God
Table of Contents
PENDAHULUAN.........................................................................................................iv
1. LOVING GOD..................................................................................................... 1
INTRODUCTION: ................................................................................................... 2
I. WHAT LOVING GOD IS NOT............................................................................... 5
II. WHAT LOVING GOD IS ...................................................................................... 7
III. HOW TO LOVE GOD MORE .............................................................................. 9
2. Secrets Of The Abundant Life ......................................................................... 16
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................... 16
The Secret Of Bearing Fruit Is Abiding................................................................ 20
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................... 20
I. DISCERNING THE SECRET OF BEARING FRUIT.............................................. 20
II. EVIDENCES OF ABIDING IN CHRIST............................................................. 22
CONCLUSION .................................................................................................. 24
The Secret Of Abiding Is Obeying ....................................................................... 25
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................... 25
I. THE SECRET OF ABIDING.............................................................................. 25
II. THE IMPORTANCE OF OBEDIENCE.............................................................. 26
CONCLUSION .................................................................................................. 26
The Secret Of Obeying Is Loving ......................................................................... 28
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................... 28
I. LEVELS OF OBEDIENCE................................................................................. 28
II. THE SECRET TO OBEYING IS LOVING........................................................... 29
CONCLUSION .................................................................................................. 30
The Secret Of Loving Is Knowing......................................................................... 31
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................... 31
I. THE SECRET OF LOVING IS KNOWING.......................................................... 31
II. THE KEY TO KNOWING GOD ....................................................................... 32
4. ii |Loving God
CONCLUSION...................................................................................................33
3. MENJALANI HIDUP KUDUS..............................................................................35
Hidup kudus adalah kehendak Allah...................................................................35
Menghindari/menjauhkan diri dari dosa. ...........................................................35
10 HUKUM ALLAH (Keluaran 20:3-17) ................................................................36
4. MENJADI MANUSIA ROHANI...............................................................................39
1. Menjalin hubungan pribadi dengan Tuhan setiap hari...................................39
2. Mengambil keputusan dengan hikmat Tuhan. ...............................................39
3. Dituntun dan dikendalikan sepenuhnya oleh Roh Kudus dlm ........................39
4. Memancarkan kasih Tuhan. Baik hati. ............................................................39
5. Menjadi saluran berkat Tuhan: damai sejahtera, sukacita, & kebenaran. .....39
6. Pola pikir rohani. .............................................................................................39
7. Memiliki integritas iman..................................................................................39
8. Disiplin dan hidup yg dapat diteladani. Memuliakan Tuhan...........................40
9. Senantiasa mencari perkenan (menyucikan hati Tuhan) dan kehendak Tuhan.
.............................................................................................................................40
10. Memahami supremasi Kristus dan arti penyembahan pd Tuhan.................40
11. Dewasa dalam Kristus. ..................................................................................40
12. Kristus tinggal dlmku.....................................................................................41
13. Hidup bagi Kristus..........................................................................................41
14. Tdk sombong/angkuh....................................................................................41
15. Mematikan dosa............................................................................................41
16. Percaya segenap hati. Berserah pd Tuhan. Mengandalkan Tuhan dlm segala
perkara. ...............................................................................................................41
5. KERENDAHAN HATI ............................................................................................42
BELAJAR DARI TOKOH-TOKOH KATOLIK..............................................................42
Belajar dari Kerendahan hati seorang Mother Teresa........................................55
KERENDAHAN HATI DALAM ALKITAB..................................................................58
------DALAM PERJANJIAN LAMA----- ................................................................58
5. iii |Loving God
------------- Dalam Perjanjian Baru ----------- ..................................................... 59
6. UMAT YANG LAYAK BAGI TUHAN....................................................................... 61
7. Seven Mountain.............................................................................................. 66
The 7 Mountains................................................................................................. 66
What are the seven mountains?..................................................................... 66
7 Pilar-7 Gunung Budaya............................................................................ 69
Ada apa di Keluargaku?...................................................................................... 71
Kontribusi Keluarga Kristen Dalam Pembentukan Masyarakat Sejahtera ......... 75
Titik Berangkat Kontribusi Keluarga Kristen ................................................... 76
Keluarga Kristen di Tengah Realitas Plural ..................................................... 77
Peranan Gereja dalam Membentuk Keluarga Kristen yang Berkontribusi..... 78
8. Jangan kehilangan makna Natal ..................................................................... 81
Sikap Rendah Hati............................................................................................... 81
Bayi Yesus ........................................................................................................... 82
Pengorbanan Tuhan............................................................................................ 84
Natal bagi semua orang: Allah ada untuk kita.................................................... 85
Pergeseran Makna Natal............................................................................ 86
Makna Emas, Mur dan Kemenyan di Hari Raya Penampakan Tuhan..................... 90
KEMENYAN dan MUR ............................................................................................. 92
I. KEMENYAN ...................................................................................................... 92
II. MUR................................................................................................................ 95
PENUTUP ................................................................................................................ 98
6. iv |Loving God
PENDAHULUAN
Apakah hukum yang terutama dalam Alkitab? MENGASIHI TUHAN.
Apakah hukum yang kedua? MENGASIHI SESAMA MANUSIA.
Buku kedua ini diawali dengan pembahasan mengenai makna MENGASIHI ALLAH.
Hal ini sangat penting sebab mengasihi Allah bukanlah pilihan. Itu WAJIB.
Bahan-bahan pendukung lain adalah makna hidup berkelimpahan yang sering
disalah-artikan dalam kekristenan, dan bahan-bahan praktis lainnya seperti:
Menjalani hidup kudus, kerendahan hati yang harus dimiliki oleh setiap orang
Kristen, bagaimana menjadi umat yang layak bagi Tuhan, bagaimana peran orang
Kristen di dunia (7 mountains), dan sekilas mengenai pergeseran makna Natal.
Tuhan Yesus memberkati.
BMF collections - 2015
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8.
9. 1 | L O V I N G G O D
1. LOVING GOD
Outline - Selected Scriptures
Dennis McBride 8/92
Primary Text: Deuteronomy 6:4-15
Note: Click on an outline topic to advance to the corresponding section of
the study.
INTRODUCTION
I. WHAT LOVING GOD IS NOT
A. Loving God Isn‟t Optional
B. Loving God Isn‟t Merely Emotional
C. Loving God Isn‟t Thoughtless or Arbitrary
II. WHAT LOVING GOD IS
A. Loving God Is A Relationship
B. Loving God Is A Lifestyle
C. Loving God Is Practical
III. HOW TO LOVE GOD MORE
A. Remember His Love for You
B. Make Him Your Singular Focus
C. Learn His Word
D. Internalize His Word
E. Apply His Word
F. Remember His Faithfulness
G. Worship and Fear Him
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LOVING GOD
Selected Scriptures
Dennis McBride 8/92
INTRODUCTION:
1. Primary text = Deuteronomy 6:4-15
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! And you shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all
your might.
“And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your
heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them
when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie
down and when you rise up.
“And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as
frontals on your forehead. And you shall write them on the doorposts of
your house and on your gates.
“Then it shall come about when the Lord your God brings you into the land
which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you,
great and splendid cities which you did not build, and houses full of all good
things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig,
vineyards and
olive trees which you did not plant, and you shall eat and be satisfied, then
watch yourself, lest you forget the Lord who brought you from the land of
Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
“You shall fear only the Lord your God; and you shall worship Him, and
swear by His name. “You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the
peoples who surround you, for the Lord your God in the midst of you is a
jealous God; otherwise the anger of the Lord your God will be kindled
against
you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth.”
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2. “Deuteronomy” = Deuteros/Nomos = “Second Law”. It is, in actuality, a
restatement of the Law for the generation born during the wilderness
wanderings, thereby preparing them for entrance into the Promised Land.
3. The book came at a pivotal time in Israel‟s history:
• The wilderness wanderings were over.
• They were preparing to enter Promised Land under new leadership.
• Moses was recapping God‟s promises and Law.
• Moses was calling God‟s people to obedience.
• He offered them two options: blessings or curses.
Deut. 28:1-2, 15 - “Now it shall be, if you will diligently obey the Lord
your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you
today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.
And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you will
obey the Lord your God. . . .
“But it shall come about, if you will not obey the Lord your God, to observe
to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you
today, that all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you.”
4. When Joshua took command, God said to him,
Josh. 1:8 - “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you
shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do
according To all that is written in it; for then you will make your way
prosperous, and then you will have success.”
5. Some important parallels to situation at Trinity Baptist Church:
• We enter a new era of ministry under new leadership.
• Others have laid a foundation upon which I now have privilege of
building.
• My sacred duty is to call you to love and obey God, so that He might
continue to bless you and this church.
6. My greatest desire is for us to know God‟s abundant blessing,
and to know He is pleased with our church.
7. I want us to be successful in God‟s eyes, so one day we will
hear: “Well done, good and faithful servants.”
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8. To do that, we must pursue God‟s work in His way, and our
priorities and non-negotiables must be clear. Loving God is
certainly of utmost importance.
9. God‟s glory is to be the goal of everything we do, and our motive
is to be our love for God.
10. That brings us to the passage that was to every devote Jew the most
significant and best known in all of Hebrew literature:
Deuteronomy 6:4-5.
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! And you shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all
your might.”
11. But loving God certainly wasn‟t confined to the Old Testament:
When a lawyer tested Jesus, asking, “Teacher, which is the great
commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied, “You shall love the Lord your
God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind”
(Matt. 22:37).
Mark adds, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with
all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark
12:30).
12. That‟s a unique characteristic of the Christian faith:
• Buddhists don‟t speak of loving Buddha.
• Muslims don‟t speak of loving Mohammed.
• But Christians love God--that‟s what makes us Christians!
9. Christianity goes beyond affirming certain doctrines. At its heart
is love for God and for His truth.
10. Similarly, to be a church that God can honor we must look
beyond programs and services and examine our love for Him. Do
we truly love Him, and demonstrate that love by embracing the
priorities and practices that are dear to Him?
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15. Before we can answer that question, we must first consider three things:
• What Loving God Is Not
• What Loving God Is
• How To Love God More
I. WHAT LOVING GOD IS NOT
A. LOVING GOD ISN‟T OPTIONAL
1. Failure to love the Lord brings a divine curse.
1 Cor. 16:22 - “If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be
accursed.”
2. True believers love Christ.
John 8:41-42 - Jesus said to some Jews, “„You are doing the deeds of your
father.‟ They said to Him, „We were not born of fornication; we have one
Father, even God.‟ Jesus said to them, „If God were your Father, you would
love Me; for I proceed forth and have come from God.‟“
Implication: All of God‟s children love Christ. There‟s a sense in which if
you‟re a child of God, you love God.
3. Love is present but not perfect.
However, that love isn‟t absolute--it can fluctuate--it can be
neglected--it can languish.
John 21:15-17 - “When [the disciples] had finished breakfast, Jesus said to
Simon Peter, „Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?‟ Peter
said to Him, „Yes, Lord; You know that I love you.‟ Jesus said to him,
„Tend My lambs.‟
“Jesus said to Peter again a second time, „Simon, son of John, do
you love Me?‟ Peter said to Him, „Yes, Lore; You know that I love You.‟
Jesus said to him, „Shepherd My sheep.‟
“Jesus said to him the third time, „Simon, son of John, do you love Me?‟
Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, „Do you love Me?‟
And he said to Jesus, „Lord, You know all things; You know that I love
You.‟ Jesus said to him, „Tend My sheep.”
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4. The Ephesian church didn‟t love Christ.
Rev. 2:1-7 - “I have this against you, that you have left your first
love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent
and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you, and will
remove your lampstand out of its place--unless you repent.”
5. What a tragedy!
Some of you, no doubt, have left your first love. This speaks to
motive. The things you once did out of love for Christ you now do purely
out of duty or habit or because it‟s expected of you
Outwardly no one knows, but God knows, and He calls you to
repentance.
B. LOVING GOD ISN‟T MERELY EMOTIONAL
John 15:17 - “This I command you, that you love one another.”
You can‟t command emotions. You may be overwhelmed emotionally by
your love for God, but true love isn‟t purely emotional.
C. LOVING GOD ISN‟T THOUGHTLESS OR ARBITRARY
Biblical love is always according to truth.
1. Phil. 1:9-11 - “This I pray, that your love may abound still more and
more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the
things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of
Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes
through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
2. John 8:42 - Jesus said to some Jews who thought they belonged to God,
“If God were your Father, you would love Me.”
• They thought they loved God.
• They thought they were part of His family.
• But they didn‟t even know Him:
Jesus said to them, “„It is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say,
“He is our God”; and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and
if I say that I do not know Him, I shall be a liar like you, but I do know Him,
and keep His word‟“ (vv. 54-55). “You are of your father the devil” (v. 44).
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II. WHAT LOVING GOD IS
A. LOVING GOD IS A RELATIONSHIP
1. An example from marriage:
If you were to ask me if I loved my wife, I wouldn‟t look to my
emotions only, I‟d look to the quality of my relationship with her.
Do I demonstrate the attributes of love? If not, my love is lacking, no matter
how I may feel about her.
2. Some examples from Scripture:
a. 1 John 4:7-8 - “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is
from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows
God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God
is love.”
You‟ve heard the expression, “To know me is to love me?”
That‟s true of God: to know Him is to love Him.
Believers are in a love relationship with God. By love He
chose and redeemed us. His love is shed abroad in out hearts
by the Holy Spirit, who indwells us (Rom. 5). And He
produces the fruit of the Spirit, which includes love, joy, peace.
b. John 14:21, 23 - “He who has My commandments and keeps
them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be
loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose
Myself to him. . . . If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word;
and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and
make Our abode with him.”
3. Implications
Communication (prayer) and every other element of a relationship must be
present.
The quality of your love will be reflected in the quality of your
relationship.
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B. LOVING GOD IS A LIFESTYLE
1. 2 John 1:6 - “This is love, that we walk according to His
commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the
beginning, that you should walk in it.”
2. “Walk” = a lifestyle:
Eph. 2:1-3 - “You were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you
formerly walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now
working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived
in the lusts of our flesh, etc.”
Col. 3:5-7 - “Consider the members of your earthly body as dead to
immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to
idolatry. For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come,
and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them” (see also
1 John 2:6).
C. LOVING GOD IS PRACTICAL
Love is best understood by the company it keeps: the godly virtues and
disciplines that accompany it in Scripture.
Examples:
1. Love is accompanied by obedience and service (an oft-repeated theme in
Scripture):
Deut. 10:12 - “Israel, what does the Lord your God require from
you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him,
and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Deut. 11:1 - “You shall . . . love the Lord your God, and always
keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances, and His
commandments.”
This point was very important to Jesus:
John 14:15 - Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My
commandments.”
John 14:21 - “He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who
loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love
him, and will disclose Myself to him.”
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John 14:23 - “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father
will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him.”
2. Love accompanied by hatred for evil.
Ps. 97:10 - “Hate evil, you who love the Lord.”
3. Love accompanied by sacrifice.
John 3:16 - “God so loved the world, that He gave His only
begotten Son.”
Rom. 5:8 - “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
1 John 3:16 - “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and
we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
1 John 4:10 - “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He
loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
4. Love accompanied by ministry.
John 21:15 - “Jesus said to Simon Peter, „Simon, son of John, do you love
Me more than these?‟ [Simon] said to Him, „Yes, Lord; You know that I
love You.‟ [Jesus] said to him, „Tend My lambs.‟“
III. HOW TO LOVE GOD MORE
Now we return to Deuteronomy 6:4-15, the Hebrew Shema (“to hear”),
which became Judaism‟s basic confession of faith:
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! And you shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all
your might.
“And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your
heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them
when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie
down and when you rise up.
“And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as
frontals on your forehead. And you shall write them on the doorposts of
your house and on your gates.
“Then it shall come about when the Lord your God brings you into the land
which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you,
great and splendid cities which you did not build, and houses full of all good
things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig,
vineyards and
18. 10 | L O V I N G G O D
olive trees which you did not plant, and you shall eat and be satisfied, then
watch yourself, lest you forget the Lord who brought you from the land of
Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
“You shall fear only the Lord your God; and you shall worship Him, and
swear by His name. “You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the
peoples who surround you, for the Lord your God in the midst of you is a
jealous God; otherwise the anger of the Lord your God will be kindled
against
you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth.”
A. IF YOU WANT TO LOVE GOD MORE, REMEMBER HIS
LOVEFOR YOU - vv. 4
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!”
1. God is unique.
This verse doesn‟t speak of His indivisible nature, but of His
uniqueness. He alone is the Lord. He is the only One to whom the title
“Lord” rightly applies.
2. “Lord” = Yahweh, Jehovah, Lord.
3. God is personal.
In the Pentateuch (first five books of the Old Testament), “Lord”
denotes that aspect of God‟s character that is personal rather than
transcendent. It occurs in contexts in which the covenantal and redemptive
aspects of God are predominate.
4. The focus is on relationship.
That brings us back to the idea of relationship. It is as if God is
saying:
“Hear, O Israel! I am the One who personally chose you as My
people, and entered into covenant with your fathers: Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob. I am the One who redeemed you from Egypt and have brought you to
the threshold of the Promised Land, in keeping with my covenant. I alone
am Jehovah, your Lord.”
5. Why did God do all that?
Deut. 7:8 - Moses told the people, “Because the Lord loved you
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and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord
brought you out by a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the
house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”
6. How does that relate to you?
a. Eph. 1:4-6 - “[God] chose us in [Christ] before the foundation
of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.
In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus
Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to
the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed
on us in the Beloved.”
b. Titus 3:4 - “When the kindness of God our Savior and His love for
mankind appeared, He saved us.”
c. Note Luke 7:36-50 - Those who have been forgiven most, love most.
B. IF YOU WANT TO LOVE GOD MORE, MAKE HIM YOUR
SINGULAR FOCUS - v. 5
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your might.” (And Jesus added “mind”).
1. This is a conscious, deliberate act of your will as to the place that God
will occupy in your life.
2. That doesn‟t eliminate other quality relationships; it governs and
enhances them:
Eph. 5:25 - “Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church
and gave Himself up for her.”
3. That doesn‟t eliminate other quality pursuits; it governs and
enhances them also:
Col. 3:23-24 - “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord
rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward
of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
C. IF YOU WANT TO LOVE GOD MORE, LEARN HIS WORD - v. 6a
“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.”
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1. The Israelites needed to know God‟s Law, so they would know what
God required of them.
2. This is very practical because biblical love is always directly
related to behavior. And you can‟t manifest loving behavior if
you‟re ignorant of biblical truth.
That‟s why Paul said, “I pray that your love may abound still more and
more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the
things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of
Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes
through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Phil. 1:9-11, emphasis
added).
D. IF YOU WANT TO LOVE GOD MORE, INTERNALIZE HIS WORD
- v. 6b
“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.”
1. The heart is the very center of man‟s being--the seat of rational and
spiritual deliberations.
“The heart is the laboratory and place of issue of all that is good and evil in
thought, word, and deed” (Merrill Unger).
Prov. 4:23 - “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the
springs of life.”
2. To surrender your heart to God is to surrender your entire self.
3. To take God‟s Word to your heart is to infuse and suffuse your life with
biblical truth.
4. It is paralleled in thought by the Psalmist:
Ps. 119 - “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it
according to Thy word. With all my heart I have sought Thee; do not let me
wander from Thy commandments. Thy word I have treasured in my heart,
that I may not sin against Thee. . . . O How I love Thy law! It is my
meditation all the day. . . . How sweet are Thy words to my taste! Yes,
sweeter than honey to my mouth. . . .
Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path” (vv. 9-11,
97, 103, 105).
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E. IF YOU WANT TO LOVE GOD MORE, APPLY HIS WORD - v. 7-9
“You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when
you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down
and when you rise up. And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and
they shall be as frontals on your forehead. And you shall write them on the
doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
1. Saturate your life with biblical truth. Apply it in every area of life.
• Your speech - teach them diligently.
• Your value system (what you teach your children and entrust to another
generation).
• Your entire world view. Every aspect of life, night or day.
2. Regarding Jewish Phylacteries, Merrill Unger writes,
“The line of thought referred to merely expresses the idea that the Israelites
were not only to retain the commands of God in their hearts, [and] to
confess them with the mouth, but to fulfill them with the hand, or in act and
deed.
“But the Jews, after returning from Babylonian captivity, took this
injunction literally, and had portions of the law written out and worn as
badges upon their persons.
“They are still worn by modern Jews and consist of strips of
parchment, on which are written four passages of Scripture (Ex.
13:2-10, 11-17; Deut. 56:4-9, 13-22). These are rolled up in a case of black
calfskin, attached to a stiffer piece of leather having a thong one finger
broad and 1 1/2 cubits long (for the head). . . .
“[The Phylacteries were] thought of as safeguards to ward off evil spirits.
They are worn by the male Israelites, and consist of a strip of paper on
which is written the four sections of law mentioned above, which are rolled
up and tied with the white hair of a calf‟s or cow‟s tail, and placed in one of
the compartments of a small box. The box is attached firmly with leathern
strips to the forehead between the eyebrows, and on the left arm so as to be
near the heart.”
3. Phylacteries are still posted on doorposts in modern orthodox Jewish
homes.
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F. IF YOU WANT TO LOVE GOD MORE, REMEMBER HIS
FAITHFULNESS - vv. 10-12
“Then it shall come about when the Lord your God brings you into the land
which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you,
great and splendid cities which you did not build, and houses full of all good
things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig,
vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you
shall eat and be satisfied, then watch yourself, lest you forget the Lord who
brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”
1. Ironically, often while enjoying God‟s blessings we forget GodHimself.
2. On a human level:
a. I see that in our society.
Generations who‟ve inherited freedom often take it for granted
because they didn‟t have to pay the price. They speak against
the very country that gives them the freedom to speak at all.
b. I see that in families.
Children who‟ve inherited the relationships, shelter, and
provisions that others worked so hard to supply, often are
dissatisfied and ungrateful. They didn‟t have to pay the price.
c. I see that in churches.
Some of you were founding members of this church. You‟ve
prayed and worked hard over the years to see that it had
proper leadership and resources. Some who don‟t have that
perspective or sense of ownership are more easily disgruntled
when things don‟t go the way they think they should.
3. But on a spiritual level, it‟s a far more serious thing to forget God‟s
faithfulness.
It happened to Israel, and it can happen to us.
G. IF YOU WANT TO LOVE GOD MORE, WORSHIP AND FEAR HIM
- vv. 13-15
“You shall fear only the Lord your God; and you shall worship Him, and
swear by His name. You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the
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peoples who surround you, for the Lord your God in the midst of you is a
jealous God; otherwise the anger of the Lord your God will be kindled
against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth.”
That doesn‟t sound very loving!
1. Worship is the proper response of a loving heart.
2. Fear is reverential awe. This is God we‟re dealing with.
3. Remember, loving God is a command, not a suggestion.
CONCLUSION:
1. True salvation goes beyond believing in God to loving Him!
2. That’s the test of a true believer. I believe it’s also the test of a
true church.
3. Perhaps there is no higher compliment than for others to say,
“There’s a church--or an individual--that loves God.”
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2. Secrets Of The Abundant Life
The Secret Of Living Is Bearing Fruit
INTRODUCTION
1. Suppose I could offer you a life that is guaranteed to give you...
a. A “joy” that is greater than any other
b. A “blessedness” that is happiness in its fullest measure
c. An “assurance” of entering the everlasting kingdom of our Lord
d. A “peace” that surpasses understanding
-- Would you be interested?
2. Of course, I myself cannot offer such a life; but Jesus can and does! As
He stated in Jn 10:10...
“...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more
abundantly.”
3. Jesus offers this “abundant life” not only by His sacrificial death on the
cross, but also by His teachings recorded by His apostles; notice Jn 15:11...
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and
that your joy may be full.”
4. Through His teachings, then, we can learn the “Secrets Of The
Abundant Life”...
a. Many of which are found in this very chapter (Jn 15)
b. Where Jesus pictures Himself as the Vine and His disciples as the
branches - cf. Jn 15:1-5
5. As branches we are to bear fruit, and this leads us to the first secret of
abundant living: “The Secret Of Living Is Bearing Fruit” [To appreciate
how this is true, consider...]
I. DIFFERENT KINDS OF FRUIT WE ARE TO BEAR
A. WINNING SOULS TO CHRIST AND HELPING THEM GROW...
1. Paul speaks of this kind of “fruit” in Ro 1:13
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2. One characteristic of a branch bearing fruit is that it produces a product
identical to itself
3. Therefore, one way a disciple bears fruit is by producing another disciple!
B. SHARING WITH THOSE IN NEED...
1. Paul speaks of contributing to the poor as a “fruit” in
Ro 15:25-28
2. In His own way, Jesus certainly did this - cf. 2 Co 8:9
3. So if the Vine did this, we should expect His branches to do the same - cf.
1 Jn 3:16-18
C. DEVELOPING CHRIST-LIKE CHARACTER...
1. Notice that “the fruit of the Spirit” is the development of certain graces -
Ga 5:22-23
2. One who abounds in such qualities is growing in the “knowledge of Jesus
Christ” - 2 Pe 1:5-8
3. Indeed, he is being “renewed...according to the image of Him who
created him” - cf. Co 3:9-11
D. PRAISING GOD AND GIVING THANKS...
1. The author of Hebrews describes such activities as a sort of “fruit” - He
13:15
2. Again, the Vine was known for such behavior - cf. Lk 10:21; Jn 11:41
3. Should His branches do any less?
[These are different kinds of “fruits” we can bear as “branches” of the
“Vine.” But how does bearing such fruit make for the “abundant life” which
Jesus promised? Consider...]
II. THE BENEFITS OF BEARING SUCH FRUIT
A. THERE IS GREAT “JOY” FOR THOSE WHO WIN SOULS...
1. John says that there is “no greater joy” - 3 Jn 3-4
2. Paul‟s converts at Thessalonica were his “pride and joy” - cf. 1 Th 2:19-
20
3. So those involved in the winning and confirming of souls for Christ find
great joy as they see the fruits of their labors
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B. THERE IS GREAT “HAPPINESS” FOR THOSE WHO SHARE
THEIR POSSESSIONS...
1. They learn by experience the truthfulness of Jesus‟ teachings...
2. Who said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” –
Ac 20:35
3. The word “blessed” can be translated “O how very happy”, so there is
greater happiness in giving than in receiving
C. THERE IS GREAT “ASSURANCE” FOR THOSE WHO
DEVELOP CHRIST-LIKE
CHARACTER...
1. Those in whom “the fruit of the Spirit” is produced are free from any
condemnation of law - cf. Ga 5:23b; Ro 8:1
2. Those who abound in the “knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (i.e.,
develop the graces described) have the assurance of an “abundant entrance”
into the everlasting kingdom of our
Lord - 2 Pe 1:8-11
3. For example, those who love in deed and truth have an assurance of their
salvation - 1 Jn 3:18-19
D. THERE IS GREAT “PEACE” FOR THOSE GIVEN TO
THANKSGIVING...
1. For those with the “attitude of gratitude”, there is the “peace of God” - cf.
Ph 4:6-7
2. A peace which...
a. “Surpasses all understanding”!
b. “Will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”!
CONCLUSION
1. A life filled with...
a. Joy
b. Happiness
c. Assurance
d. Peace
...surely that is the “abundant life”!
2. Thus “The Secret Of Living Is Bearing Fruit”, and this “abundant life”
is available to only those
who will “bear fruit” as “branches” of the “True Vine” (Jesus Christ)!
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3. But is there a secret to bearing fruit? Indeed there is, and our next lesson
will seek to discern from Jn 15 what that secret is
For the time being, if you have not yet become a “branch” of the “True
Vine”, have you given serious consideration to becoming one...?
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The Secret Of Bearing Fruit Is Abiding
INTRODUCTION
1. In our previous lesson we saw that “The Secret Of Living Is Bearing
Fruit”...
a. As disciples of Jesus, we are to Him as branches are to the vine
b. Bearing fruit is our primary responsibility as branches
c. In the very act of bearing fruit, we experience the “abundant life” that
Jesus offers:
1) Joy for those who win souls to Christ
2) Happiness for those who share with the less fortunate
3) Assurance for those developing Christ-like qualities
4) Peace for those offering the fruit of prayer and praise
2. In contrast, those “branches” that do not bear fruit are in danger of
becoming cut off from the vine...
a. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;” - Jn
15:2a
b. In other words, those disciples who do not bear fruit will be “cut off”
from Jesus by the Father! - Jn 15:1-2a
c. How then can we be sure to be fruitful as branches of the vine?
[We have seen that the secret to living is bearing fruit...what is the secret of
bearing fruit?]
I. DISCERNING THE SECRET OF BEARING FRUIT
A. NOTICE HOW OFTEN JESUS USES THE WORD “ABIDE”...
1. In ten verses, he uses the word ten times! - Jn 15:4 (3 times), 5, 6, 7 (2
times), 9, 10 (2 times)
2. Why is this word mentioned over and over again? Because...
B. THE SECRET OF BEARING FRUIT IS ABIDING...!
1. A branch does not bear fruit by struggling, but by abiding in the vine...
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a. When you walk through a vineyard, do you detect tension and struggle
among the
branches as they bear fruit?
b. No! Instead there is a calm & confident resting - an abiding - as branches
draw their
life from the vine in order to bear fruit
2. In the Christian life, we experience first a “union”, then a “communion”...
a. When we become Christians, there is first a “union” with Christ
1) Paul describes this union as taking place in baptism –
cf. Ga 3:27; Ro 6:3-5
2) Having “put on Christ” and being “united together” with Him, our union
with Him is like that of a branch to a vine –
Jn 15:5a
b. As we “abide” in this union, we have “communion” or fellowship with
Christ in a very close and personal way –
Jn 15:4a
3. This “communion” or mutual abiding with the vine (Christ) enables the
branches (disciples) to bear fruit!
a. The branch receives from the vine the strength necessary to bear fruit; so
the Christian receives from Christ strength to do what he could not do on his
own - Jn 15:4-5
b. Of the strength or power available to those in Christ, Paul often wrote...
1) In his own life, and in the lives of others - Ph 4:13,19;
Co 1:29
2) He wanted others to know of the great power available to them - Ep
1:18-20; 3:20
3) He often gave examples of how this power could transform people
a) E.g., the Corinthians - 1 Co 6:9-11
b) Even himself - 1 Ti 1:12-16; 1 Co 15:9-10
[So the secret of bearing fruit is abiding in Christ and He in us. Through
such communion and fellowship, we benefit from Christ‟s strength so that
we may be able to bear fruit and in turn experience the “abundant life.”
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Are we abiding in Christ, and He in us? We need not wonder, for there are
several things that will be manifest in our lives when we are abiding in
Christ...]
II. EVIDENCES OF ABIDING IN CHRIST
A. BEARING MUCH FRUIT... - Jn 15:5b
1. This is the most obvious sign
2. When one is consistently bearing the sort of fruit described in the
previous lesson, that is certainly good evidence of a close relationship with
Christ!
3. Whereas the lack of fruit can be an indication of one of three things...
a. Either there never was a “union” to begin with
b. Or there was a union, but “communion” is not taking place, leaving one
in jeopardy of being “cut off”
c. Or there was a union but the branch has already been cut off!
B. THE FATHER’S PRUNING... - Jn 15:2b
1. We should expect to see evidence of the Father‟s work in our lives, in
which...
a. Things that would hinder us are being “cut away”
b. We are ever being developed so as to be more “fruitful”
2. One way that the Father does this is through the Word...
a. Notice Jn 15:3 - “clean” (katharos) is closely related to “prune”
(kathairo)
b. The Word of God can be a very powerful instrument in the hands of the
Lord - cf. He 4:12-13; Ep 6:17
c. As we read or hear it, it can expose us for what we really are, and when
received properly, help us make great changes –
cf. Ja 1:22-25
3. So if we are not constantly growing through the influence of the Word of
God, clearly we are not abiding in Christ!
C. A GROWING SENSE OF DEPENDENCE... - Jn 15:5c
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1. We will come to realize that apart from Christ we can do nothing (of real,
lasting value)
2. But those who abide in Christ will become like Paul, who realized the
true source of his strength: his union with Christ! - cf. 2 Co 3:5; Ga 2:20;
Ph 4:15
D. OUR PRAYERS BEING ANSWERED... - Jn 15:7, 16
1. As we abide in Christ, we will find our prayers being answered
2. Of course, such answered prayers will depend upon several factors:
a. That we keep His commandments and do the things that please Him - 1
Jn 3:22
b. That our requests be according to God‟s will - 1 Jn 5:14
c. That our requests not be for selfish gain - Ja 4:3
3. But one who abides in Christ should be able to look back and see
evidence of answered
prayers (though not always answered in the way we expected)
E. LOVE FOR CHRIST AND HIS PEOPLE... - Jn 15:9,12
1. Since God is love (1 Jn 4:8) and Christ is God (Jn 1:1), those who abide
in Christ will abide in love - 1 Jn 4:7-8
2. Indeed, Christ commands us to love one another - Jn 15:17
3. And those who do not love the children of God , have not known God - 1
Jn 3:14; 4:8, 20-21
F. AN INNER JOY... - Jn 15:11
1. Not the absence of trial or trouble, but a joy borne of the assurance that
Christ has
overcome the world, and that we can also through Him –
Jn 16:33; cf. Ph 4:4
2. Indeed, one of the first visible signs of backsliding (of not abiding in
Christ) is the loss of joy,
especially about things spiritual! - cf. Ps 32:3; 51:12
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CONCLUSION
1. These, then, are just a few of the evidences that we are abiding in Christ...
a. Bearing much fruit
b. The Father‟s pruning
c. A growing sense of dependence
d. Our prayers being answered
e. Love for Christ and His people
f. An inner joy
2. To be sure, not every believer who abides in Christ will have all these
blessings in the same degree
at the same time...
a. But they will be present in some measure, and they will be strong enough
to be evident (to
ourselves at least, if not always to others)
b. And they should always be increasing! - Jn 15:2; cf. 2 Pe 1:8
3. It is good for us as branches to examine ourselves regularly to see if we
are truly abiding in Christ
- cf. 2 Co 13:5
a. For the secret of the abundant life is bearing fruit
b. And the secret of bearing fruit is abiding in Christ
c. And so if we are not abiding in Christ, we cannot enjoy the abundant life!
But what‟s the secret of abiding in Christ? Our next lesson will examine
that secret...
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The Secret Of Abiding Is Obeying
INTRODUCTION
1. In our examination of the “Secrets Of The Abundant Life,” we have
seen thus far...
a. The secret to living is bearing fruit, for in the very act of bearing fruit
we experience the joy, happiness, assurance and peace which constitutes the
“abundant life”
b. The secret to bearing fruit is abiding, for as we “abide in Christ” (Jn
15:5) He provides the strength which enables us to bear fruit - cf. Ph 4:13
2. But what is the secret to abiding in Christ? How can we be sure to have
access to the strength that Jesus provides?
[Again we turn to Jesus‟ discourse on the vine and the branches as recorded
in John 15...]
I. THE SECRET OF ABIDING
A. THE SECRET OF ABIDING IS OBEYING - OBEYING THE
COMMANDS OF JESUS...
1. As stated by Jesus...
a. By keeping His commands we abide in His love - Jn 15:10a
b. By keeping His commands we will be His friends - Jn 15:14
2. And restated by His beloved disciple, John - 1 Jn 3:24a
B. THE PRINCIPLE OF ABIDING THROUGH OBEYING...
1. Governed Jesus‟ relationship with His Father while on earth
a. He kept His Father‟s commandments, and so abided in His love - Jn
15:10b
b. Passages which illustrate Jesus‟ desire to keep His Father‟s Will - Jn
4:34; 5:30; 6:38
2. And should govern our conduct as Christians as well
a. We abide in Christ by keeping His commandments - 1 Jn 2:3-6
b. Otherwise we prove ourselves to be liars if we profess to know Him and
do not keep His word!
[And so “the secret to abiding is obeying.” This may surprise some, but
the importance of obedience is stressed throughout the Word of God...]
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II. THE IMPORTANCE OF OBEDIENCE
A. AS STRESSED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT...
1. With the nation of Israel
a. At their beginning as a nation - Deu 10:12,13
b. Later, as the prophets tried to turn them from their apostasy - Isa 1:18-20
2. With the example of King Saul - 1 Sam 15:22-23
3. As concluded by Solomon in his search for meaning - Ecc 12:13
B. AS STRESSED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT...
1. By Jesus, on several occasions
a. During the sermon on the mount - Mt 7:21-23, 24-27; Lk 6:46
b. In describing His true family - Mk 3:31-35
c. In giving the “Great Commission” - Mt 28:18-20
2. By the apostles in their preaching and teaching
a. E.g., the apostle Peter - Ac 10:34,35,48
b. E.g., the apostle Paul - Ac 17:30; Ro 6:17-18
CONCLUSION
1. One cannot read much of God‟s Word without realizing that
obedience to God‟s commands are essential if we are going to enjoy
God‟s blessings!
2. One verse that expresses this well is He 5:9, where speaking of Jesus it is
said...
“And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to
all who obey Him,”
3. Have you obeyed the commands of Christ and His apostles? Consider just
a few commands that you must obey if you are going to abide in Christ, and
He in you...
a. Believe on the name of Jesus Christ - 1 Jn 3:23
b. Repent of our sins - Ac 17:30
c. Be baptized - Mt 28:18-19
d. Grow in the knowledge of Christ - 2 Pe 3:18
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e. Do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together - He 10:24-25
f. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly - Co 3:16
g. Devote yourself to prayer - Co 4:2
4. To those who faithfully obey Jesus, to them are given the comforting
words of Re 22:14...
“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the
right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.”
The secret to living is bearing fruit;
The secret to bearing fruit is abiding;
The secret to abiding is obeying;
Have you obeyed Jesus?
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The Secret Of Obeying Is Loving
INTRODUCTION
1. In previous lessons I have endeavored to stress “Secrets Of The
Abundant Life” which Jesus offers to His disciples, based upon His
discourse in John 15 and related passages...
a. The secret of living is bearing fruit
b. The secret of bearing fruit is abiding
c. The secret of abiding is obeying
2. But what is the secret of obeying? The subtitle makes it clear: “The
Secret Of Obeying Is Loving”
[To appreciate this truth more fully, let‟s consider the different...]
I. LEVELS OF OBEDIENCE
A. THE LEVEL OF “FEAR”...
1. Where we obey because we know what will happen if we don‟t - cf. Ep
5:5-7
2. Now, there is certainly a place for a proper “fear of the Lord”
a. Which can motivate us to initially turn to God - cf. Ac 10:1-2, 34-35
b. Which can continue to motivate us in our service to the Lord - cf. Ph 2:12
c. And which should certainly motivate us to repent when we have
disobeyed God - cf.
He 10:26-31
3. But the Lord would have us progress beyond fear as the only motive for
obedience
a. Jesus indicated that He desires our relationship to be much closer and
loving - cf. Jn 15:15
1) A “slave-master” relationship is based upon fear
2) But a relationship based upon “friendship” is what Jesus wants.
b. Fear, while proper in its place, can rob us of the real joy that God wants
us to
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experience when as we obey Him
1) Motivation based solely on fear buildings walls instead of bridges
2) As John wrote: “he who fears has not been made perfect in love” - 1 Jn
4:18
B. THE LEVEL OF “SELFISHNESS”...
1. We obey because of what we know we will get in return
2. This attitude was manifested by Peter on one occasion - cf. Mt 19:27
3. The difference between the level of “fear” and the level of “selfishness”
can be easily demonstrated in our children...
a. Some children will obey parents to avoid discipline (the level of fear)
b. Other children will obey parents to incur favor (the level of selfishness)
4. The sad truth is that many Christians never rise above these two levels of
obedience
a. Some obey God only because they fear the Judgment
b. Others obey God only because of the promise of eternal reward
5. But there is yet a higher level of obedience...
C. THE LEVEL OF “LOVE”...
1. This is the highest level of obedience
2. This is where we obey God because we love Him, and will continue to
obey Him no matter what the circumstances or outcomes will be
3. This is the level of obedience upon which Jesus wants us to do His will...
a. “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” - Jn 14:15
b. “If anyone loves, Me, he will keep My word...” - Jn 14:23a
[Not only is “obeying out of love” the highest level of obedience, it is also
the secret to obeying...]
II. THE SECRET TO OBEYING IS LOVING
A. GOD HAS ALWAYS DESIRED THAT HIS PEOPLE OBEY HIM
OUT OF LOVE...
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1. So He wanted the nation of Israel to obey Him - Deu 6:4-5; 7:9; 10:12-
13; 11:1
2. And so Jesus wants His disciples to obey Him - Jn 14:15
B. THE VALUE OF OBEDIENCE OUT OF LOVE CAN BE EASILY
SEEN...
1. While we may initially obey out of fear, or out of selfishness...
2. The key to continued and successful obedience requires that it be done
out of love!
a. Suppose things are going so well for us that we are not mindful of God‟s
impending
judgment? - We are not likely to be motivated by “fear”
b. Suppose things are going so well for us that we do not sense any need for
things from
God? - We are not likely to be motivated by “selfishness”
3. Only when we are motivated by “love” will we be faithful in our
obedience in good times as
well as in bad!
CONCLUSION
1. If we desire to truly enjoy the “abundant life” that Jesus offers, then let us
learn to obey Jesus out of “love”...
a. For the more we love Him, the more we will obey Him
b. The more we obey Him, the more we will abide in Him
c. The more we abide in Him, the more we will bear fruit
d. And the more we bear fruit, the more we will truly experience the
abundant life!
2. Our next lesson, the final one in this series, will examine the secret to
loving
For the time being, though, can you say that you love Jesus enough to obey
Him...? - Jn 14:15
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The Secret Of Loving Is Knowing
INTRODUCTION
1. We come to the final lesson in this series concerning secrets of “the
abundant life” (cf. Jn 10:10) that Jesus offers
2. In previous lessons we have examined four of these “secrets”:
a. The secret of living is bearing fruit - Jn 15:8
b. The secret of bearing fruit is abiding - Jn 15:5
c. The secret of abiding is obeying - Jn 15:10
d. The secret of obeying is loving - Jn 14:15
3. Of course, that leads us to next question: “What is the secret of loving?”
[Stated simply...]
I. THE SECRET OF LOVING IS KNOWING
A. THIS TRUTH DEMONSTRATED IN HUMAN
RELATIONSHIPS...
1. True love between husband and wife is based upon knowledge and
understanding of one another
2. Strong friendships are also based upon knowing each other well
3. Brethren who love one another are those who have made the effort to
know each other
B. SO IT IS IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD...
1. The more we come to know God and Jesus, the more we will love them!
2. Especially when we grow in our understanding of their love for us - cf. Jn
3:16; 1 Jn 3:16
3. Only those who have come to know God have learned to love both man
and God - cf. 1 Jn 4:8
[Knowing God, then, is the first major step in the process of living “the
abundant life”:
By knowing God, we come to love Him
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By loving Him, we will obey Him
By obeying Him, we will abide in Him
By abiding in Him, we will bear fruit
By bearing fruit, we will experience the joys of abundant living
But before we conclude this series, one last question should be raised: “How
can we come to know God in such a way as to produce this „chain-
reaction‟ that leads to the abundant life?”
The answer is simple...]
II. THE KEY TO KNOWING GOD
A. WE COME TO KNOW GOD THROUGH COMMUNICATION...
1. Is this not true in our human relationships?
a. Where there is communication, knowledge of one another grows
b. Where there is little or none, relationships flounder
-- And so it is with our relationship with God!
2. Communication with God is a two-street...
a. He speaks to us through the Bible, written by men inspired by the Spirit
of God - cf. 2 Pe 1:21; Jn 16:12-13; 1 Co 14:37
b. And we speak to God through prayer - cf. Ph 4:6-7; 1 Th 5:17-18
3. As simple as it may sound, reading the Bible and praying to God can be
the catalysts
starting the “chain-reaction” that will lead one to experience “the abundant
life”
a. The value of God‟s Word in bearing fruit is described in Psa 1:1-3
b. The value of prayer to receiving blessings from God was taught by Jesus
in Mt 7:7-11
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B. WE ALSO COME TO KNOW GOD THROUGH EXPERIENCE...
1. Sharing experiences with friends and loved ones certainly helps us to
know them better
2. As we go through life, walking with God and Jesus, we will experience
such things as:
a. Their love for us
b. Their strength that is imparted to us
-- Both of which (love and strength), Paul prayed that the Ephesians would
experience
and comprehend - cf. Ep 3:14-21
3. Experiencing such blessings from God will not only help us to know God
better, but to love
Him more - e.g., Psa 116:1-2
CONCLUSION
1. What we find, then, is that “the abundant life” can become a self-
perpetuating cycle!
a. For if we are willing to “know God” (by giving Him our minds as read
His Word and pray)...
b. ...then we will “love God” (and give Him our hearts as we learn of His
love for us)
c. Loving God we will then “obey God” (and in so doing, give Him our
wills since we are
motivated by love)
d. Obeying God, we will “abide in Him” (and thus benefit from His
strength)
e. Abiding in Him and benefiting by His strength, we will “bear fruit” (and
thereby enjoy the blessings found in the very act of doing so)
42. 34 | L O V I N G G O D
-- And through the experience of bearing fruit and walking with God, our
knowledge of Him will increase, and the cycle starts all over again!
2. Why not expose yourself to “the abundant life” that Jesus offers?
a. Give yourself a chance to know God by reading His Word
b. Coming to know God is the most important thing you can do in life - cf.
Jer 9:23-24
1) For to know God is to love Him
2) To love God is to obey Him
3) To obey Him is to abide in Him
4) To abide in Him is to bear fruit for Him
5) To bear fruit is to experience the abundant life the Vine offers to His
branches
If you already know of His love for you, but have not yet obeyed His gospel
(cf. Mk 16:15-16; He 5:9), why not do so today?
43. 35 | L O V I N G G O D
3. MENJALANI HIDUP KUDUS
Hidup kudus adalah kehendak Allah.
1Ptr 1:15 tetapi hendaklah kamu menjadi kudus di dalam
seluruh hidupmu sama seperti Dia yang kudus, yang
telah memanggil kamu,
Menghindari/menjauhkan diri dari dosa.
Beberapa dosa yang disebutkan dalam Perjanjian Baru:
Markus 7:21-22 sebab dari dalam, dari hati orang, timbul segala pikiran
jahat, percabulan, pencurian, pembunuhan,
perzinahan, keserakahan, kejahatan, kelicikan, hawa nafsu, iri hati, hujat,
kesombongan, kebebalan.
Roma 1:29-31 penuh dengan rupa-rupa kelaliman, kejahatan,
keserakahan dan kebusukan, penuh dengan dengki, pembunuhan,
perselisihan, tipu muslihat dan kefasikan.
Mereka adalah pengumpat, pemfitnah, pembenci Allah, kurang ajar,
congkak, sombong, pandai dalam kejahatan, tidak taat kepada orang
tua,tidak berakal, tidak setia, tidak penyayang, tidak mengenal belas
kasihan.
1 Korintus 6:9-10 Atau tidak tahukah kamu, bahwa orang-orang yang tidak
adil tidak akan mendapat bagian dalam Kerajaan Allah?Janganlah sesat!
Orang cabul, penyembah berhala, orang berzinah, banci, orang pemburit,
pencuri, orang kikir, pemabuk, pemfitnah dan penipu tidak akan mendapat
bagian dalam Kerajaan Allah.
Efesus 5:3-5 Tetapi percabulan dan rupa-rupa kecemaran atau
keserakahan disebut saja pun jangan di antara kamu, sebagaimana
sepatutnya bagi orang-orang kudus.
Demikian juga perkataan yang kotor, yang kosong atau yang sembrono —
karena hal-hal ini tidak pantas — tetapi sebaliknya ucapkanlah syukur.
44. 36 | L O V I N G G O D
Karena ingatlah ini baik-baik: tidak ada orang sundal, orang cemar atau
orang serakah, artinya penyembah berhala, yang mendapat bagian di
dalam Kerajaan Kristus dan Allah.
Wahyu 21:8 Tetapi orang-orang penakut, orang-orang yang tidak percaya,
orang-orang keji, orang-orang pembunuh, orang-orang sundal, tukang-
tukang sihir, penyembah-penyembah berhala dan semua pendusta,
mereka akan mendapat bagian mereka di dalam lautan yang menyala-
nyala oleh api dan belerang; inilah kematian yang kedua."
10 HUKUM ALLAH (Keluaran 20:3-17)
1 Jangan ada padamu allah lain di hadapan-Ku.
2 Jangan membuat bagimu patung yang menyerupai apapun yang
ada di langit di atas, atau yang ada di bumi di bawah, atau yang
ada di dalam air di bawah bumi.
Jangan sujud menyembah kepadanya atau beribadah kepadanya,
sebab Aku, TUHAN, Allahmu, adalah Allah yang cemburu, yang
membalaskan kesalahan bapa kepada anak-anaknya, kepada
keturunan yang ketiga dan keempat dari orang-orang yang
membenci Aku,
tetapi Aku menunjukkan kasih setia kepada beribu-ribu orang, yaitu
mereka yang mengasihi Aku dan yang berpegang pada perintah-
perintah-Ku.
45. 37 | L O V I N G G O D
3 Jangan menyebut nama TUHAN, Allahmu, dengan sembarangan,
sebab TUHAN akan memandang bersalah orang yang menyebut
nama-Nya dengan sembarangan.
4 Ingatlah dan kuduskanlah hari Sabat:
enam hari lamanya engkau akan bekerja dan melakukan segala
pekerjaanmu,
tetapi hari ketujuh adalah hari Sabat TUHAN, Allahmu; maka jangan
melakukan sesuatu pekerjaan, engkau atau anakmu laki-laki, atau
anakmu perempuan, atau hambamu laki-laki, atau hambamu
perempuan, atau hewanmu atau orang asing yang di tempat
kediamanmu.
Sebab enam hari lamanya TUHAN menjadikan langit dan bumi, laut
dan segala isinya, dan Ia berhenti pada hari ketujuh; itulah
sebabnya TUHAN memberkati hari Sabat dan menguduskannya.
5 Hormatilah ayahmu dan ibumu, supaya lanjut umurmu di tanah
yang diberikan TUHAN, Allahmu, kepadamu.
6 Jangan membunuh.
7 Jangan berzinah.
8 Jangan mencuri.
46. 38 | L O V I N G G O D
9 Jangan mengucapkan saksi dusta tentang sesamamu.
10 Jangan mengingini rumah sesamamu; jangan mengingini isterinya,
atau hambanya laki-laki, atau hambanya perempuan, atau
lembunya atau keledainya, atau apapun yang dipunyai
sesamamu."
47. 39 | L O V I N G G O D
4. MENJADI MANUSIA ROHANI
1. Menjalin hubungan pribadi dengan Tuhan setiap hari.
Markus 1:35 Pagi-pagi benar, waktu hari masih gelap, Ia bangun dan pergi
ke luar. Ia pergi ke tempat yang sunyi dan berdoa di sana.
2. Mengambil keputusan dengan hikmat Tuhan.
Keluaran 18:20
Kemudian haruslah engkau mengajarkan kepada mereka ketetapan-
ketetapan dan keputusan-keputusan, dan memberitahukan kepada mereka
jalan yang harus dijalani, dan pekerjaan yang harus dilakukan.
3. Dituntun dan dikendalikan sepenuhnya oleh Roh Kudus
dlm bersikap berkata-kata bertingkah laku.
1 Korintus 2:13 Dan karena kami menafsirkan hal-hal rohani kepada
mereka yang mempunyai Roh, kami berkata-kata tentang karunia-karunia
Allah dengan perkataan yang bukan diajarkan kepada kami oleh hikmat
manusia, tetapi oleh Roh.
4. Memancarkan kasih Tuhan. Baik hati.
2 Korintus 6:6 dalam kemurnian hati, pengetahuan, kesabaran, dan
kemurahan hati; dalam Roh Kudus dan kasih yang tidak munafik;
5. Menjadi saluran berkat Tuhan: damai sejahtera, sukacita,
& kebenaran.
Roma 14:17 Sebab Kerajaan Allah bukanlah soal makanan dan minuman,
tetapi soal kebenaran, damai sejahtera dan sukacita oleh Roh Kudus.
6. Pola pikir rohani.
Filipi 2:5 Hendaklah kamu dalam hidupmu bersama, menaruh pikiran dan
perasaan yang terdapat juga dalam Kristus Yesus
7. Memiliki integritas iman.
Kejadian 39:12 Lalu perempuan itu memegang baju Yusuf sambil berkata:
48. 40 | L O V I N G G O D
"Marilah tidur dengan aku." Tetapi Yusuf meninggalkan bajunya di tangan
perempuan itu dan lari ke luar.
8. Disiplin dan hidup yg dapat diteladani. Memuliakan Tuhan.
1 Korintus 9:27 Tetapi aku melatih tubuhku dan menguasainya seluruhnya,
supaya sesudah memberitakan Injil kepada orang lain, jangan aku sendiri
ditolak.
Filipi 1:20-21 Sebab yang sangat kurindukan dan kuharapkan ialah bahwa
aku dalam segala hal tidak akan beroleh malu, melainkan seperti
sediakala, demikian pun sekarang, Kristus dengan nyata dimuliakan di
dalam tubuhku, baik oleh hidupku, maupun oleh matiku.
Karena bagiku hidup adalah Kristus dan mati adalah keuntungan.
9. Senantiasa mencari perkenan (menyucikan hati Tuhan)
dan kehendak Tuhan.
Roma 2:29
Tetapi orang Yahudi sejati ialah dia yang tidak nampak keyahudiannya dan
sunat ialah sunat di dalam hati, secara ROHANI, bukan secara hurufiah.
Maka pujian baginya datang bukan dari manusia, melainkan dari Allah.
10. Memahami supremasi Kristus dan arti penyembahan pd
Tuhan.
1 Korintus 8:6
namun bagi kita hanya ada satu Allah saja, yaitu Bapa, yang dari pada-Nya
berasal segala sesuatu dan yang untuk Dia kita hidup, dan satu Tuhan
saja, yaitu Yesus Kristus, yang oleh-Nya segala sesuatu telah dijadikan
dan yang karena Dia kita hidup.
11. Dewasa dalam Kristus.
Tdk suka bertengkar.
1 Korintus 3:1 Dan aku, saudara-saudara, pada waktu itu tidak dapat
berbicara dengan kamu seperti dengan manusia rohani, tetapi hanya
dengan manusia duniawi, yang belum dewasa dalam Kristus.
49. 41 | L O V I N G G O D
12. Kristus tinggal dlmku.
Roma 8:10 Tetapi jika Kristus ada di dalam kamu, maka tubuh memang
mati karena dosa, tetapi roh adalah kehidupan oleh karena kebenaran.
13. Hidup bagi Kristus.
Galatia 2:20 namun aku hidup, tetapi bukan lagi aku sendiri yang hidup,
melainkan Kristus yang hidup di dalam aku. Dan hidupku yang kuhidupi
sekarang di dalam daging, adalah hidup oleh iman dalam Anak Allah yang
telah mengasihi aku dan menyerahkan diri-Nya untuk aku.
14. Tdk sombong/angkuh.
1 Korintus 13:4 Kasih itu sabar; kasih itu murah hati; ia tidak cemburu. Ia
tidak memegahkan diri dan tidak sombong.
Matius 23:12 Dan barangsiapa meninggikan diri, ia akan direndahkan dan
barangsiapa merendahkan diri, ia akan ditinggikan.
Lukas 1:52 Ia menurunkan orang-orang yang berkuasa dari takhtanya dan
meninggikan orang-orang yang rendah;
Yakobus 4:10 Rendahkanlah dirimu di hadapan Tuhan, dan Ia akan
meninggikan kamu.
15. Mematikan dosa.
Roma 6:1-2 Jika demikian, apakah yang hendak kita katakan? Bolehkah
kita bertekun dalam dosa, supaya semakin bertambah kasih karunia itu?
Sekali-kali tidak! Bukankah kita telah mati bagi dosa, bagaimanakah kita
masih dapat hidup di dalamnya?
16. Percaya segenap hati. Berserah pd Tuhan. Mengandalkan
Tuhan dlm segala perkara.
Amsal 3:5 Percayalah kepada TUHAN dengan segenap hatimu, dan
janganlah bersandar kepada pengertianmu sendiri.
Amsal 16:3 Serahkanlah perbuatanmu kepada TUHAN, maka
terlaksanalah segala rencanamu.
Yeremia 17:7 Diberkatilah orang yang mengandalkan TUHAN, yang
menaruh harapannya pada TUHAN!
50. 42 | L O V I N G G O D
5. KERENDAHAN HATI
BELAJAR DARI TOKOH-TOKOH KATOLIK
Kerendahan hati adalah dasar Spiritualitas Kristiani
Kerendahan hati adalah salah satu dari nilai-nilai dasar Spiritualitas Kristiani. Santo
Agustinus mengatakan bahwa kerendahan hati adalah jalan yang pasti membawa
seseorang kepada Tuhan.[1]
Santo Agustinus bahkan mengatakan, pertama-tama, kerendahan hati, kemudian,
kerendahan hati, dan yang terakhir, kerendahan hati; untuk menekankan
pentingnya kerendahan hati untuk mencapai kesempurnaan rohani.[2]
Dalam spiritualitas, kesempurnaan berarti kekudusan, sehingga untuk menjadi
kudus, kita harus pertama-tama menjadi orang yang rendah hati. Kerendahan hati
adalah dasar dari semua kebajikan yang lain,[3] sebab tanpa kerendahan hati, kita
tidak dapat sungguh-sungguh memiliki kebajikan-kebajikan yang lain.
Kerendahan hati juga disebut sebagai 'ibu' dari semua kebajikan, sebab ia
melahirkan ketaatan, takut akan Tuhan, dan penghormatan kepada-Nya,
kesabaran, kesederhanaan, kelemah-lembutan dan damai. [4]
Kerendahan hati dan kekudusan adalah yang dikehendaki Allah bagi kita
Tuhan Yesus menghendaki agar kita belajar daripadaNya kelemahlembutan dan
kerendahan hati (Mat 11:29). Ia juga mengajarkan pada kita untuk mengejar
kesempurnaan, yaitu kekudusan (Im 19:2; Mat 5:48). Kekudusan dimaksudkan
untuk semua orang, tidak saja untuk para religius; dan untuk mencapai
kesempurnaannya, kita harus memulai dari langkah pertama, yaitu kerendahan
hati.
Kerendahan hati adalah lawan dari kesombongan yang menjadi dosa pertama dari
manusia pertama. Kesombongan adalah sikap 'menolak' karunia Allah, seperti kita
lihat pada kisah Adam dan Hawa (Kej 2:8-3:14), sedangkan kerendahan hati
adalah sikap yang diperlukan untuk menerima karunia Allah. Alkitab berkata,
"Allah menentang orang yang congkak, tetapi mengasihi orang yang rendah hati"
51. 43 | L O V I N G G O D
(1 Pet 5:5). Kerendahan hati ini begitu penting bagi Allah, sehingga menempati
urutan pertama dari Delapan Ucapan Bahagia: Berbahagialah orang-orang yang
miskin hatinya, karena merekalah yang memiliki Kerajaan Surga (Mat 5:3). Mereka
yang rendah hati, yang dimurnikan dan diterangi Roh Kudus, adalah orang-orang
yang siap untuk menerima karunia-karunia Roh Kudus untuk maksud perutusan.
Apa itu kerendahan hati?
Kerendahan hati atau 'humility' berasal dari kata 'humus' (Latin), artinya tanah/
bumi.[5] Jadi, kerendahan hati maksudnya adalah menempatkan diri 'membumi'
ke tanah. "Ingatlah bahwa kamu adalah debu, dan kamu akan kembali menjadi
debu" (Kej 3:19) Betapa dalamnya makna perkataan ini, dan jika kita renungkan,
kita akan semakin mengenal diri kita yang sesungguhnya.
1. Kerendahan hati= nilai yang diperoleh dari penghormatan kepada Tuhan
Dalam kehidupan rohani Kristiani, kerendahan hati diartikan sebagai 'nilai yang
diperoleh dari penghormatan yang dalam kepada Tuhan.' Hal ini melibatkan
pengenalan akan 'tempat' kita yang sebenarnya dalam hubungan dengan Allah
sebagai Pencipta dan dengan ciptaan-ciptaan Tuhan yang lain, [6] dan sikap ini
menentukan perbuatan kita.
Kerendahan hati juga mengantar kita untuk mengakui bahwa kita dan segala
ciptaan di dunia ini bukan apa-apa di hadapan Tuhan, dan kerendahan hati
mengarahkan kita untuk hidup sesuai dengan pemahaman ini.
Jadi, kerendahan hati membantu kita untuk melihat segalanya dengan kaca mata
Tuhan: kita melihat diri kita yang sesungguhnya, tidak melebih-lebihkan hal positif
yang ada pada kita, namun juga tidak mengingkari bahwa segalanya itu adalah
pemberian Tuhan. Dalam hal ini kerendahan hati berhubungan dengan kebenaran
dan keadilan,[7] yang membuat kita mengasihi kebenaran lebih daripada kita
mengasihi diri sendiri. Kebenaran ini memberikan kepada kita pengetahuan akan
diri sendiri, dengan kesadaran bahwa segala yang baik yang ada pada kita adalah
karunia Tuhan, dan sudah selayaknya sesuai dengan keadilan, kita
mempergunakan karunia itu untuk kemuliaan Tuhan (1Tim 1:17). Dengan
perkataan lain, kebenaran membuat kita mengenali karunia-karunia Tuhan, dan
keadilan mengarahkan kita untuk memuliakan Tuhan, Sang Pemberi.
52. 44 | L O V I N G G O D
2. Kerendahan hati= hasil dari pengenalan akan diri sendiri dan akan Tuhan.
Dasar dari kerendahan hati adalah pengenalan akan diri sendiri dan Tuhan. St.
Thomas Aquinas mengatakan, bahwa pengenalan akan diri sendiri bermula pada
kesadaran bahwa segala yang baik pada kita datang dari Allah dan milik Allah,
sedangkan segala yang jahat pada kita timbul dari kita sendiri.[8] Pengenalan yang
benar tentang Tuhan menghantar pada pengakuan bahwa Tuhan telah
menciptakan manusia menurut gambaran-Nya, dan bahwa manusia diciptakan
untuk mengasihi, sebab Allah yang menciptakannya adalah Kasih. Dalam kasih ini,
Allah menginginkan persatuan dengan setiap manusia, sehingga Ia mengirimkan
Putera-Nya yang Tunggal untuk menghapuskan penghalang persatuan ini, yaitu
dosa.
Kesadaran akan hal ini membawa kita pada kebenaran: yaitu bahwa kita ini bukan
apa-apa, dan Allah adalah segalanya. Di mata Tuhan kita ini pendosa, tetapi
sangat dikasihi oleh-Nya. Keseimbangan antara kesadaran akan dosa kita dan
kesadaran akan kasih Allah ini membawa kita pada pemahaman akan diri kita
yang sesungguhnya. Kesadaran ini menghasilkan kerendahan hati, yang menurut
St. Thomas adalah dasar dari bangunan spiritual[9] atau 'rumah rohani' kita.
3. Kerendahan hati= ketergantungan terhadap Tuhan.
Kerendahan hati membuat kita selalu menyadari kelemahan kita dan bergantung
kepada rahmat Tuhan. Hal ini juga dapat diterapkan dalam hal iman, sehingga
iman berarti kerendahan hati secara rohani yang melibatkan akal budi, sehingga
seseorang dapat menerima kesaksian Tuhan tentang Diri-Nya, tentang manusia,
dan semua realitas kehidupan, daripada memegang pendapat sendiri. Jadi,
kerendahan hati adalah sikap hati untuk tunduk kepada Tuhan. Selanjutnya,
menurut St. Agustinus kerendahan hati adalah penyerahan diri kepada Tuhan
sehingga kita berusaha untuk menyenangkan hati Tuhan (bukan diri kita sendiri)
di dalam segala perbuatan kita.[10]
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Tingkatan kerendahan hati
Ada bermacam tingkatan kerendahan hati, tetapi yang akan kita bahas di sini
adalah dua macam tingkatan yang dijabarkan oleh St. Benediktus dan St.
Ignatius.[11]
1. Menurut St. Benediktus (480-547)
Nilai-nilai yang termasuk kerendahan hati adalah ketaatan, kesabaran dan
kesederhanaan. Ketaatan dan kesabaran berkaitan dengan kerendahan hati yang
berhubungan dengan sikap hati, sedangkan kesederhanaan berhubungan dengan
sikap yang dapat terlihat dari luar. St. Benediktus membagi kerendahan hati
menjadi 12 hal: tujuh di antaranya berhubungan dengan sikap hati, dan lima di
antaranya berhubungan dengan sikap yang terlihat dari luar.
Ketujuh sikap hati yang berdasarkan atas ketaatan dan kesabaran tersebut adalah:
takut akan Tuhan, ketaatan kepada Tuhan, ketaatan kepada pembimbing spiritual,
sabar dalam menanggung keadaan yang sukar, mau mengakui kesalahan kita
(terutama kepada pembimbing spiritual), bersedia untuk menerima hal-hal yang
tidak nyaman, dan melihat diri sendiri sebagai yang tidak utama.
Sedangkan kelima sikap tubuh yang berhubungan dengan kesederhanaan adalah:
menghindari pemegahan diri sendiri, hening, tertawa tidak berlebihan, tidak
banyak bicara, dan kesederhanaan dalam bersikap. Meskipun pengajaran ini
pertama-tama ditujukan untuk para religius, namun toh dengan tingkatan yang
wajar dapat diterapkan kepada kita kaum awam. Apalagi jika kita mau bertumbuh
dalam hal rohani, kita-pun perlu mempunyai pembimbing rohani.
2. Menurut St. Ignatius (1491-1556).
Terdapat tiga tingkatan kerendahan hati,
(1) 'necessary humility': penyerahan diri kepada hukum Tuhan untuk menghindari
dosa berat,
54. 46 | L O V I N G G O D
(2) 'perfect humility': ketidak-terikatan pada kekayaan ataupun kemiskinan,
kesehatan ataupun sakit… yang terpenting adalah menghindari dosa dan
kecenderungan berbuat dosa
(3)'most perfect humility'': sikap meniru Kristus, termasuk menerima dengan rela
penderitaan (salib) dan penghinaan, dalam persatuan dengan Kristus, demi kasih
kita kepada-Nya.
Kerendahan hati berlawanan dengan kesombongan yang berhubungan dengan
kelimpahan materi, dan anggapan bahwa diri sendiri adalah yang paling
berkehendak baik, paling pandai, dan paling maju dalam hal spiritual ('spiritual
pride').[12] Kesombongan dalam hal materi berhubungan dengan hal yang
kelihatan seperti kecantikan, kekayaan, nama baik, pangkat dan kehormatan.
Kesombongan materi adalah jenis kesombongan yang paling rendah, dan paling
mudah diatasi untuk mencapai kerendahan hati.
Kesombongan dalam hal berkehendak baik adalah yang menyusul setelah ini,
yaitu seperti keinginan untuk tidak tunduk di bawah siapapun, memiliki kuasa
untuk memerintah, yang menghasilkan ambisi untuk menguasai, menolak untuk
melayani atau tunduk pada otoritas, bahkan menolak untuk tunduk kepada
Tuhan. Bersamaan dengan ini adalah kesombongan akan kepandaian, yang
berhubungan dengan kebiasaan untuk menghakimi segala sesuatu berdasarkan
pendapat sendiri, dan enggan untuk menerima pernyataan sederhana dari pihak
yang punya otoritas. Sedangkan orang yang rendah hati adalah dia yang sadar
akan dosa dan kelemahannya, yang tahu bahwa ia-pun dapat menjadi 'terhukum',
jika hanya keadilan Tuhan yang berlaku di dunia ini. Belas kasihan yang ia terima
dari Tuhan harus menjadikannya berbelas kasih pada orang lain.
Tingkatan kesombongan yang paling akhir adalah 'spiritual pride'. Karena
spiritualitas adalah karunia, maka kesombongan akan hal ini menjadi sangat
'berbahaya'. Karunia-karunia spiritual dapat menjadi ladang bagi kesombongan,
sebab jiwa yang sombong dapat menggunakan karunia-karunia tersebut untuk
meninggikan diri, menarik perhatian, mencari dominasi/ kekuasaan, atau untuk
memenangkan ide sendiri. Injil menampilkan jenis kesombongan ini dalam
perumpamaan orang Farisi dan pemungut cukai (Luk 18:9-14). Yesus menolak
kesombongan ini, sebab hal itu membuat orang hidup dalam 'kebohongan': dari
55. 47 | L O V I N G G O D
luar terlihat suci, tetapi sebenarnya jahat. Hal ini bertentangan dengan
kerendahan hati yang berlandaskan kebenaran.
Menurut St. Ignatius, mengikuti teladan Yesus dan cara hidupNya adalah bentuk
kerendahan hati yang paling sempurna; yaitu jika seseorang dengan kehendak
bebasnya memilih untuk hidup miskin seperti Kristus, menderita bersama-Nya
daripada menjadi kaya dan dihormati dan dianggap bijak oleh dunia.[13] Sikap ini
didasari oleh kesadaran bahwa Allah mengasihi kita lebih daripada kita mengasihi
diri sendiri, sehingga Ia telah menyerahkan DiriNya untuk membawa kita kepada
kebahagiaan sejati. Kebahagiaan sejati ini tidak dapat dibandingkan dengan segala
pemahaman kita akan kebahagiaan menurut ukuran dunia. Ketetapan hati
meninggalkan kebahagiaan duniawi untuk mendapatkan kebahagiaan surgawi
adalah sikap kerendahan hati yang paling sempurna.
Kerendahan hati menghantarkan kita kepada kesempurnaan kasih dan
kekudusan
Untuk mencapai kekudusan, atau 'kesempurnaan kasih', kita harus menggunakan
kemampuan kita sebagai karunia dari Kristus. Kita harus meniru teladan-Nya dan
mencari kehendak Tuhan dalam segala sesuatu.[14] Semua sikap ini adalah
bentuk kerendahan hati! Ingatlah bahwa St. Agustinus pernah mengatakan,
"Kamu tidak dapat mengasihi kecuali melalui kerendahan hati."[15] Sebab segala
pertentangan/ konflik antar manusia selalu melibatkan kesombongan di kedua
belah pihak.
Jadi agar dapat mengasihi, kita harus rendah hati di dalam pikiran, perkataan
maupun perbuatan. Berikut ini adalah pengajaran St. Ignatius yang merupakan
perjuangan bagi kita semua: Pertama, kerendahan hati di dalam pikiran adalah
kita tidak boleh cemburu atau iri, jika orang lain dipuji, kita harus melihat
kebaikan dalam diri orang lain, dan kita harus bergembira atas kebaikan dan
kesuksesan orang lain.[16] Kita harus ingat akan pengajaran Rasul Paulus,"…
dengan rendah hati, anggaplah orang lain lebih utama dari diri kita" (Fil 2:3). Kita
harus selalu menyadari bahwa kita hanya semata-mata alat di tangan Tuhan, dan
selayaknya segala pujian ditujukan kepada-Nya.
56. 48 | L O V I N G G O D
Kedua, kita tidak boleh bicara yang buruk tentang siapapun dan bicara yang baik-
baik tentang diri sendiri, atau lebih tepatnya, sebaiknya kita membatasi
pembicaraan tentang diri kita sendiri supaya kita tidak jatuh dalam perangkap
kesombongan. Jika ada orang berbuat salah, kita tidak boleh menghakimi, atau
memaki, tetapi lebih baik kita berdoa untuk pertobatannya. Ada baiknya kita
menyadari, jika kita berada persis di dalam situasi mereka, bisa jadi kita berbuat
lebih buruk daripada mereka. Kita harus berjuang supaya tidak marah pada
mereka yang menentang kita, tetapi menerima koreksi dengan lapang hati, demi
pertumbuhan rohani kita.
Ketiga, di dalam perbuatan kita harus mau mengambil tempat yang rendah/ tidak
utama, dan tidak menginginkan untuk diperlakukan istimewa. Dalam segala
sesuatu kita tidak mencari pujian, tetapi mencari bagaimana agar dapat
melakukan sesuatu yang berguna, untuk kebaikan.[17] Kita juga harus siap
meminta maaf, untuk segala kesalahan yang kita lakukan, baik terhadap Tuhan
dan orang lain, dan rajin untuk mengucap syukur untuk segala karunia yang Tuhan
berikan kepada kita. Sikap seperti ini adalah sikap seorang pelayan, oleh karena
itu, kerendahan hati menjadi dasar dari pelayanan Kristiani.[18]
Apa langkah awal kerendahan hati?
Menurut St. Franciskus de Sales, langkah pertama kerendahan hati adalah
pemeriksaan batin yang baik. Jika kita rajin melakukannya setiap hari, latihan ini
akan membimbing kita mencapai pengenalan diri sendiri, dan terutama,
mengenal kesombongan diri kita. Meditasi juga merupakan alat untuk mencapai
pengenalan diri sendiri. Dengan merenungkan kematian kita, penghakiman
terakhir, neraka, surga, dan kehidupan Yesus Penebus kita, kita akan sampai pada
kesadaran akan siapa diri kita di hadapan Allah.[19] Tips dari St. Franciskus:
"Renungkanlah betapa besar kasih yang Tuhan sudah berikan kepadamu, dan
berapa banyak dosa yang sudah engkau perbuat melawan Dia. Dan saat engkau
menghitung dosamu, hitunglah juga belas kasihan-Nya!"[20]
Melalui pertobatan yang terus menerus dan latihan-latihan rohani seperti ini, kita
mengembangkan di dalam hati kita rasa benci akan kesombongan kita.
57. 49 | L O V I N G G O D
Bersyukurlah, kita dapat selalu kembali kepada Tuhan melalui Sakramen
Pengakuan Dosa. Melalui bimbingan seorang pembimbing rohani[21] dan melalui
Pengakuan dosa secara umum dan menyeluruh, yang diikuti oleh Pengakuan dosa
yang teratur, meditasi yang diikuti oleh niat yang teguh untuk memperbaiki diri,
maka kita, dengan bantuan rahmat Tuhan, dapat mencabut akar kesombongan,
cinta diri, dosa-dosa kita dan kesenangan akan berbuat dosa. Tindakan
kerendahan hati ini dapat menjadi semacam kesaksian dari keinginan kita untuk
berbuat lebih baik.
Waspadalah terhadap kerendahan hati yang 'palsu' ('false humility')
Selanjutnya, St. Franciskus mengingatkan kita, agar jangan mempunyai sikap
kerendahan hati yang 'palsu'.[22] Misalnya, dengan mengatakan bahwa kita
lemah dan tidak bisa apa-apa, tetapi begitu orang lain memperlakukan kita sesuai
dengan apa yang kita katakan itu, lalu kita menjadi kecewa. Atau, kita merendah
supaya kemudian dipuji orang. Ini adalah kerendahan hati yang palsu. Kerendahan
hati yang sesungguhnya tidak mengatakan tentang diri sendiri bahwa 'saya ini
rendah hati' (yang berhak mengatakan demikian hanya Tuhan). Kerendahan hati
yang sesungguhnya berkaitan dengan menyembunyikan diri dalam artian tidak
menonjolkan diri untuk dipuji, dan menyatakan kebajikan hanya untuk maksud
mengasihi.
St. Franciskus juga mengingatkan agar kita tidak menggunakan alasan 'tidak layak'
atau 'aku masih berdosa', sehingga kita tidak mau berdoa, atau tidak mau
membagikan talenta untuk melayani Gereja, atau tidak mau melayani sesama.
Menurutnya, ini tindakan tidak baik ('evil') karena menyembunyikan cinta diri di
balik kedok kerendahan hati.
Yesus teladan kerendahan hati yang sempurna
Tuhan telah memberikan pada kita contoh yang sempurna dalam hal kerendahan
hati, yaitu Yesus Kristus, PuteraNya. Kerendahan hatiNya tercermin dalam dua hal
utama: Pertama, untuk menyelamatkan kita, Yesus yang adalah Tuhan mau
menjelma menjadi manusia, tergantung sepenuhnya kepada Allah Bapa. Alkitab
mengatakan bahwa Yesus, "walaupun dalam rupa Allah, tidak menganggap
kesetaraan dengan Allah sebagai sesuatu yang harus dipertahankan, melainkan
58. 50 | L O V I N G G O D
telah mengosongkan diri-Nya sendiri dan mengambil rupa seorang hamba, dan
menjadi sama dengan manusia… Dan Ia merendahkan diriNya dan taat sampai
mati di kayu salib"(Fil 2:5-8).
Kedua, Yesus merendahkan diri dengan ketaatan-Nya untuk melaksanakan tugas
misi yang diterima-Nya dari Allah Bapa, yaitu untuk menyelamatkan kita, para
pendosa (Rom 5:8), termasuk dengan segala keadaan yang berkaitan dengan
tugas penyelamatan itu. Seluruh hidup-Nya adalah cerminan kerendahan hati
yang sempurna: lahir di kandang hewan, hidup miskin sepanjang hidupNya di
dunia (2 Kor 8:9), memar dipukuli, dihina, dilucuti pakaian-Nya, dan wafat di Salib.
Bagaimana caranya meniru kerendahan hati Kristus?
Meniru Kristus adalah jalan yang mengarahkan kita pada pertumbuhan rohani.
Untuk hal ini, kita perlu untuk sering merenungkan teladan kerendahan hati
Yesus: di dalam hidup-Nya yang tersembunyi, pelayanan-Nya, sengsara-Nya. [23]
Untuk memperoleh sifat kerendahan hati yang sungguh, kita perlu berdoa, sebab
kerendahan hati adalah suatu pemberian Tuhan dan bukan semata karena usaha
kita sendiri.[24] Semakin kita menyadari kesombongan kita, semakin kita perlu
berdoa dengan 'mengemis' (begging) agar Tuhan tidak membiarkan kita jatuh ke
dalam kesombongan. Kita juga perlu untuk selalu mengucap syukur dan
menerima segala hal dengan suka cita, termasuk penghinaan.
St. Theresia
Kanak- kanak Yesus menyatakan bahwa penghinaan adalah 'rahasia (untuk
mencapai) kekudusan'[25]. Maksudnya ialah, kesediaan untuk menerima
kesalahan adalah sangat penting. Untuk menghilangkan kesalahan, pertama-tama
kita harus mengetahui dan mengakuinya terlebih dahulu. Dan untuk mengetahui
kesalahan itu, kita perlu diberitahu, entah oleh Tuhan sendiri, atau melalui orang
lain. Hal ini dapat mempermalukan kita, tetapi, kita perlu menerimanya dengan
lapang. Sebab, jika proses ini kita terima dengan semangat Kristiani, kita dapat
dengan pasti menjadi rendah hati ('humiliation is the surest means of acquiring
and practicing humility').[26]
59. 51 | L O V I N G G O D
Dalam hal penghinaan (humiliation), contoh yang paling sempurna diberikan oleh
Yesus sendiri. Dia menghancurkan kesombongan (dosa pertama manusia) dengan
kerendahan hati, menjadi hamba, serupa dengan manusia, taat sampai mati di
Salib. Kerendahan hati-Nya menjadi obat kesombongan kita.[27] Ia yang adalah
Tuhan, Sang Sabda Kebenaran, dituduh mengajarkan sesuatu yang tidak benar. Ia
dituduh menghujat Allah. Yesus menerima semua ini dengan diam, karena
hatiNya dipenuhi kasih, dan kehendakNya teguh tertuju untuk menyelamatkan
kita. Suatu permenungan bagi kita: bagaimana sikap kita jika kita dihina, dan
dituduh melakukan sesuatu yang tidak kita lakukan…? Apakah kita bersikap
seperti Kristus?
Teladan Bunda Maria
Selain Kristus, Bunda Maria adalah contoh yang sempurna tentang kerendahan
hati dan kesempurnaan kasih. Kerendahan hati Maria-lah yang mendorong Allah
untuk memilihnya sebagai ibu Putera-Nya Yesus. Bunda Maria menyadari bahwa
ia dikaruniai oleh rahmat yang istimewa dengan menjadi Bunda Allah yang
MahaTinggi, namun ia tetap rendah hati, dengan menganggap dirinya sebagai
hamba di hadapan Allah.[28] Ia hanya mencari kehendak Tuhan, dengan berkata,
"Jadilah padaku menurut perkataanmu (Luk 1:38)." Melalui kidung Magnificat,
kita mengetahui bahwa Maria menganggap segala yang baik pada dirinya sebagai
karunia belas kasih Tuhan.[29] Dengan rahmat Tuhan, Bunda Maria hidup dengan
rendah hati, menyerahkan diri secara total kepada Tuhan dan sesama, dan
bekerja sama dengan misi Keselamatan Kristus.
Kesimpulan
Kerendahan hati begitu penting, sehingga sering dikatakan bahwa kerendahan
hati adalah segalanya, sebab seperti perkataan St. Agustinus, kerendahan hati
menarik perhatian Allah yang Maha Tinggi.[30] Kerendahan hati menjadi jalan
keselamatan bagi manusia yang berdosa.[31] Sebagai nilai kebajikan yang
pertama, dan dasar semua nilai kebajikan yang lain, menurut St. Thomas,
kerendahan hati menjadi sesuatu yang diperlukan untuk mencapai Kerajaan
Surga, sebab kerendahan hati menghapuskan semua penghalang untuk menerima
rahmat Tuhan.[32]
60. 52 | L O V I N G G O D
Namun demikian, kerendahan hati bukanlah segalanya, sebab kerendahan hati
bukan kebajikan yang terbesar. Tempatnya tidak setinggi kebajikan ilahi seperti,
iman, pengharapan dan kasih (KGK 1812-1829), kebajikan akal dan kebajikan
moral seperti kebijaksanaan, agama dan hukum keadilan.[33] Kerendahan hati
bukanlah akhir dari kesempurnaan kehidupan rohani, namun hanya merupakan
sarana untuk mencapai hal itu. Kerendahan hati adalah langkah pertama dan
langkah seterusnya untuk mencapai kesempurnaan kasih kepada Tuhan dan
sesama, yang menjadi tujuan akhir panggilan hidup kita. Saat kita berjuang untuk
menjadi semakin rendah hati setiap hari, marilah kita mempercayakan diri kita ke
dalam tangan Tuhan dan berdoa, "Yesus, yang lemah lembut dan rendah hati,
jadikanlah hati kami seperti hati-Mu."
»̶·̵̭̌·̵̭̌✽̤̈ KATA-KATA BIJAK RENDAH HATI✽̤̈·̵̭̌·̵̭̌«̶⌣
Kadang sepatah kata yang Ketus
membuat kita Sakit Hati sampai bertahun-tahun.
Sikap Ceria dan Kegembiraan selama ini
tersapu habis oleh sepatah kata.
Kalau orang bertanya mengapa ?
Anda akan menjawab :
“Kata-kata itu sungguh amat menyakitkan..”
Benarkah kata-kata itu yang begitu menyakitkan ?
Ataukah Anda yang terlalu Lemah ?
Bukan...
Anda tidak Lemah,
dan kata kata Ketus itu pun tidak ada apa-apanya.
Permasalahannya adalah :
Hati Anda yang terlalu Tinggi.
61. 53 | L O V I N G G O D
TINGGI HATI
membuat Harga diri, Gengsi, Keinginan dihormati,
semua ikut menjadi Tinggi.
TINGGI HATI
membuat Anda merasa diri Terhormat, Mulia dan Sempurna.
Sikap inilah yang membuat Anda
gampang Tersinggung, mudah Sakit Hati dan berprasangka buruk.
TINGGI HATI
membuat Anda Rapuh dan Jiwa Anda Lemah.
Jika Anda mau jadi KUAT,
Belajarlah Rendah Hati setiap saat,
maka kata-kata Ketus di atas tidak akan berarti apa pun bagi Anda.
KERENDAHAN HATI
membuat Anda Tenang, Hening
namun Tegar bagai Samudera yang mengambil tempat paling rendah.
RENDAH HATI membuat Anda Bebas Leluasa.
RENDAH HATI adalah sumber Kekuatan dan Sukacita.
»̶·̵̭̌·̵̭̌✽̤̈ RENDAH HATI.. ✽̤̈·̵̭̌·̵̭̌«̶⌣
These are the few ways we can practice humility:
To speak as little as possible of one's self.
To mind one's own business.
Not to want to manage other people's affairs.
To avoid curiosity.
62. 54 | L O V I N G G O D
To accept contradictions and correction cheerfully.
To pass over the mistakes of others.
To accept insults and injuries.
To accept being slighted, forgotten and disliked.
To be kind and gentle even under provocation.
Never to stand on one's dignity.
To choose always the hardest.
Mother Teresa, The Joy in Loving: A Guide to Daily Living
Cara-cara praktis untuk melatih kerendahan hati:
1. Berbicaralah sesedikit mungkin tentang diri sendiri
2. Uruslah sendiri persoalan pribadi Anda
3. Hindari rasa ingin tahu masalah orang lain
4. Janganlah mencampuri urusan orang lain
5. Terimalah pertentangan dengan kegembiraan
6. Janganlah memusatkan perhatian pada kesalahan orang lain
7. Terimalah hinaan dan caci maki
8. Terimalah perasaan tak diperhatikan, diperlakukan dan dipandang rendah
9. Mengalah terhadap kehendak orang lain
10. Terimalah celaan, walaupun Anda tidak layak menerimanya
11. Bersikap sopan dan peka sekalipun seseorang memancing amarah Anda
12. Janganlah mencoba agar dikagumi dan dicintai
13. Bersikaplah mengalah dalam perbedaan pendapat, walau pendapat Anda yang
benar
63. 55 | L O V I N G G O D
14. Pilihlah selalu yang tersulit.
One cannot be humble and aware of oneself at the same time.
Madeleine L'Engle, A Circle of Quiet
If you plan to build a tall house of virtues, you must first lay deep foundations of
humlilty. Augustine
Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the
clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.
Augustine
Belajar dari Kerendahan hati seorang Mother Teresa
Apabila engkau berbuat baik, orang lain mungkin akan berprasangka bahwa ada
maksud tersembunyi di balik perbuatan baik yang engkau lakukan itu. Tetapi
tetaplah berbuat baik.
Apabila engkau sukses, engkau mungkin akan mempunyai musuh dan teman-
temanmu iri hati atau cemburu. Tetapi teruskanlah kesuksesanmu itu.
Apabila engkau jujur dan terbuka, orang lain mungkin akan menipumu. Tetapi
tetaplah bersikap jujur dan terbuka setiap saat.
Apa yang engkau bangun selama bertahun-tahun dapat dihancurkan oleh orang
lain dalam satu malam saja. Tetapi janganlah berhenti dan tetaplah membangun.
Apabila engkau menemukan kedamaian dan kebahagiaan di dalam hati, orang lain
mungkin akan iri hati kepadamu. Tetapi tetaplah berbahagia. Kebaikan yang kau
lakukan hari ini, mungkin besok dilupakan orang. Tetapi teruslah berbuat baik.
(Mother Teresa)
------
Orang sering keterlaluan, tidak logis,
dan hanya mementingkan diri;
64. 56 | L O V I N G G O D
bagaimanapun, maafkanlan mereka.
Bila engkau sukses, engkau akan mendapat beberapa teman palsu,
dan beberapa sahabat sejati;
bagaimanapun, jadilah sukses.
Bila engkau jujur dan terbuka,
mungkin saja orang lain akan menipumu;
bagaimanapun jujur dan terbukalah.
Apa yang engkau bangun selama bertahun-tahun
mungkin saja dihancurkan orang lain hanya dalam semalam;
bagaimanapun bangunlah.
Kebaikan yang engkau lakukan hari ini
Mungkin saja besok sudah dilupakan orang;
Bagaimanapun, berbuat baiklah.
Bagaimanapun, berikan yang terbaik dari dirimu.
Engkau lihat, akhirnya ini adalah urusan antara engkau dan Tuhanmu;
Bagaimanapun ini bukan urusan antara engkau dan mereka.
(Bunda Teresa)
Berikan yang terbaik dari apa yang engkau miliki dan itu mungkin tidak akan
pernah cukup. Tetapi tetaplah berikan yang terbaik. Jangan pedulikan apa yang
orang lain pikirkan atas perbuatan baik yang engkau lakukan. Percayalah bahwa
mata TUHAN tertuju pada orang-orang yang jujur dan DIA melihat ketulusan
hatimu (Mother Teresa)
65. 57 | L O V I N G G O D
Satu hal yang saya minta dari Anda: jangan pernah takut untuk memberi, tetapi
jangan memberi dari kelebihan Anda. Berikan dimana hal itu sukar bagi Anda
(Mother Teresa)
"Dalam kehidupan ini kita tidak dapat selalu melakukan hal yang besar.....Tetapi
kita dapat melakukan banyak hal kecil dengan cinta yang besar " (Mother Teresa)
Sejak semula tidak pernah sekali pun saya meminta imbalan. Saya rindu melayani
kaum miskin hanya dengan kasih kepada Allah. Saya ingin kaum miskin menerima
dengan cuma-cuma apa yang kaum berpunya dapat dengan uang mereka
(Mother Teresa)
Kasih yang tulus tidak pernah menilai hasilnya, melainkan hanya memberi
(Mother Teresa)
Kita mengabarkan kepada orang-orang tentang betapa baiknya, betapa maha
pengampun, betapa penuh pengertiannya Allah, tetapi apakah kita sudah menjadi
bukti yang nyata?
Dapatkah mereka sungguh-sungguh melihat kebaikan, pengampunan, pengertian
tersebut ada dalam hidup/diri kita?
(Mother Teresa)
Mereka yang tidak diinginkan dan tidak dicintai ...mereka yang berjalan di dalam
dunia tanpa ada satu pun yang memperhatikan.
Pernahkah kita pergi untuk menemui mereka? Pernahkah kita mengenal mereka?
Pernahkah kita mencoba untuk menemukan mereka? (Mother Teresa)
Mengasihi harus menjadi perbuatan yang sedemikian biasa bagi kita sebagaimana
hidup dan bernafas, hari demi hari sampai ajal menjelang (Mother Teresa)
Berdoalah dengan keindahan doa anak kecil, dengan hasrat yang paling dalam
untuk mengasihi dengan sungguh-sungguh dan untuk menyatakan kasih kepada
orang yang tidak dikasih (Mother Teresa)
Kita tidak dapat menempatkan diri kita langsung di hadirat Allah tanpa membuat
jiwa dan raga kita sepenuhnya berdiam diri
(Mother Teresa)
66. 58 | L O V I N G G O D
KERENDAHAN HATI DALAM ALKITAB
------DALAM PERJANJIAN LAMA-----
Mazmur 22
22:27 Orang yang rendah hati akan makan dan kenyang, orang yang mencari
TUHAN akan memuji-muji Dia; biarlah hatimu hidup untuk selamanya!
Mazmur 25
25:9 Ia membimbing orang-orang yang rendah hati menurut hukum, dan Ia
mengajarkan jalan-Nya kepada orang-orang yang rendah hati.
Mazmur 34
34:3 Karena TUHAN jiwaku bermegah; biarlah orang-orang yang rendah hati
mendengarnya dan bersukacita.
Mazmur 37:11 Tetapi orang-orang yang rendah hati akan mewarisi negeri dan
bergembira karena kesejahteraan yang berlimpah-limpah.
Mazmur 69:33 Lihatlah, hai orang-orang yang rendah hati, dan
bersukacitalah; kamu yang mencari Allah, biarlah hatimu hidup kembali!
Mazmur 149:4 Sebab TUHAN berkenan kepada umat-Nya, Ia memahkotai
orang-orang yang rendah hati dengan keselamatan.
67. 59 | L O V I N G G O D
Amsal 3:34 Apabila Ia menghadapi pencemooh, maka Ia pun mencemooh,
tetapi orang yang rendah hati dikasihani-Nya.
Amsal 11:2 Jikalau keangkuhan tiba, tiba juga cemooh, tetapi hikmat ada pada
orang yang rendah hati.
Amsal 16:19 Lebih baik merendahkan diri dengan orang yang rendah hati
dari pada membagi rampasan dengan orang congkak.
Amsal 29:23 Keangkuhan merendahkan orang, tetapi orang yang rendah hati,
menerima pujian.
Yesaya 57:15 Sebab beginilah firman Yang Mahatinggi dan Yang Mahamulia,
yang bersemayam untuk selamanya dan Yang Mahakudus nama-Nya: "Aku
bersemayam di tempat tinggi dan di tempat kudus tetapi juga bersama-sama
orang yang remuk dan rendah hati, untuk menghidupkan semangat orang-
orang yang rendah hati dan untuk menghidupkan hati orang-orang yang
remuk.
Mikha 6:8 "Hai manusia, telah diberitahukan kepadamu apa yang baik. Dan
apakah yang dituntut TUHAN dari padamu: selain berlaku adil, mencintai
kesetiaan, dan hidup dengan rendah hati di hadapan Allahmu?"
Zefanya 2:3 Carilah TUHAN, hai semua orang yang rendah hati di negeri,
yang melakukan hukum-Nya; carilah keadilan, carilah kerendahan hati;
mungkin kamu akan terlindung pada hari kemurkaan TUHAN.
Zefanya 3:12 Di antaramu akan Kubiarkan hidup suatu umat yang rendah hati
dan lemah, dan mereka akan mencari perlindungan pada nama TUHAN,
------------- Dalam Perjanjian Baru -----------
Matius 11:29 Pikullah kuk yang Kupasang dan belajarlah pada-Ku, karena
Aku lemah lembut dan rendah hati dan jiwamu akan mendapat ketenangan.
Kisah Para Rasul 20:19 dengan segala rendah hati aku melayani Tuhan.
Dalam pelayanan itu aku banyak mencucurkan air mata dan banyak mengalami
pencobaan dari pihak orang Yahudi yang mau membunuh aku.
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II Korintus 7:6 Tetapi Allah, yang menghiburkan orang yang rendah hati,
telah menghiburkan kami dengan kedatangan Titus.
Efesus 4:2 Hendaklah kamu selalu rendah hati, lemah lembut, dan sabar.
Tunjukkanlah kasihmu dalam hal saling membantu.
Filipi 2:3 dengan tidak mencari kepentingan sendiri atau puji-pujian yang sia-
sia. Sebaliknya hendaklah dengan rendah hati yang seorang menganggap yang
lain lebih utama dari pada dirinya sendiri;
Yakobus 4:6 Tetapi kasih karunia, yang dianugerahkan-Nya kepada kita, lebih
besar dari pada itu. Karena itu Ia katakan: "Allah menentang orang yang
congkak, tetapi mengasihani orang yang rendah hati."
I Petrus 3:8 Dan akhirnya, hendaklah kamu semua seia sekata, seperasaan,
mengasihi saudara-saudara, penyayang dan rendah hati
I Petrus 5:5 Demikian jugalah kamu, hai orang-orang muda, tunduklah kepada
orang-orang yang tua. Dan kamu semua, rendahkanlah dirimu seorang terhadap
yang lain, sebab: "Allah menentang orang yang congkak, tetapi mengasihani
orang yang rendah hati."
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6. UMAT YANG LAYAK BAGI TUHAN
Lukas 1:
13 Tetapi malaikat itu berkata kepadanya: "Jangan takut, hai Zakharia,
sebab doamu telah dikabulkan dan Elisabet, isterimu, akan
melahirkan seorang anak laki-laki bagimu dan haruslah engkau
menamai dia Yohanes.
14 Engkau akan bersukacita dan bergembira, bahkan banyak orang
akan bersukacita atas kelahirannya itu.
15 Sebab ia akan besar di hadapan Tuhan dan ia tidak akan minum
anggur atau minuman keras dan ia akan penuh dengan Roh
Kudus mulai dari rahim ibunya;
16 ia akan membuat banyak orang Israel berbalik kepada Tuhan,
Allah mereka,
17 dan ia akan berjalan mendahului Tuhan dalam roh dan kuasa Elia
untuk membuat hati bapa-bapa berbalik kepada anak-anaknya
dan hati orang-orang durhaka kepada pikiran orang-orang benar
dan dengan demikian menyiapkan bagi Tuhan suatu umat yang
layak bagi-Nya."