True North

Scripture Reading: ​1 Corinthians 13:2-13 NASB95
If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. [3] And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. [4] Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, [5] does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, [6] does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; [7] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. [8] Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. [9] For we know in part and we prophesy in part; [10] but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. [11] When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. [12] For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. [13] But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

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​Commentary: Do you live by a code, or are you just kind of making life up as you go?  I’m not talking about a life without goals and plans, I’m talking about the means by which you achieve.  Are you a person who believes that the end justifies the means; or do you stick by a fixed set of standards without worrying about the outcome?  What is your “True North?”  (The concept of True North is that most people have or need to have a fixed point in a spinning world.  A point of orientation that helps keep a person on track.  True North is an internal compass composed of your deepest held beliefs, moral values, and the principles by which you live)
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      I have a True North.  If I could take you back in time to when I was a young teenager, you might be surprised to know that I had little or no real interest in church life or pursuing spirituality.  I informed my parents that when I became and adult that I probably would not choose to attend church; that I found church meetings to be exceedingly boring.  So, what changed?  After-all, I did become a pastor of all things.  The answer: “I found my True North.”  It all started with a study of the Gospel of John, and in John’s narrative, I discovered Jesus.  Not the Jesus coming through the religious screen of the church; I was connecting to the actual life and teachings of the Christ.  In a short time, Jesus became my True North.
      So, what does that even look like…you know, having Jesus as your True North?  It means that I live life trying not to worry or calculate about what the outcome of my actions might be.  I will make compromises and be compromised if I worry about the outcome; instead, I try to live by an ancient code.  Love God—love your neighbors—love yourself—love your family—love your friends—and even love your enemies.  In this age of political turmoil, misinformation, disinformation, vitriol and confusion; I have refused to enter the fray with carnal weapons.  (Fighting fire with fire) Though tempted, I refuse to turn away from my True North.  If I have not been called to fight against flesh and blood, but against powers of darkness; then I will strive to walk in love when it comes to my fellow humans.  Make no mistake about it—I speak the truth, but not unless I can speak it in love.
      The Apostle Paul would never have mentioned the idea of speaking the truth in love if it was not possible to speak the truth without love.  Without love, even the truth can begin to sound like a loud clashing cymbal—just so much noise.  In my mind love, specifically, the love of God should be the True North of the church.  Love is a powerful spiritual weapon.  Love allows the truth to be heard.  Love opens closed doors.  The love of God brings light into the darkness, and salvation to the lost.  What is your “True North?”

Questions to Consider:

1. So, let's start with the most obvious question, do you have a "True North" in your life?  (What is your "True North?"
2. Are there any values that Jesus taught that you are resistant to live out?
   
3. ​How can I live for Christ without "losing" myself?  (Or is losing myself the point?)