All For Love's Sake
Choosing to
go down
rather than
up
not
attempting to grasp
what is
rightfully our own,
not clasping
on to
but gladly
giving up
all
for love's
sake.
Putting self
aside
unconcerned
about our rights
thinking
about others
becoming
immersed in their lives
helping out,
giving, not
taking,
caring
as
deep-spirited friends
all
for love's
sake.
No pushing,
rushing
or
sweet-talking
no trying to
make a good impression
not
concerning self
with what
others think
no trying to
get to the top
but rather
willingly
receiving
whatever
comes from
the Master's hand
all
for love's
sake.
Selflessly,
with an open heart
going to the
end of the line
taking
ourselves
down to the
bottom, the back
saying
"no" to privileges,
the
advantages of caste and creed,
of rank and
colour,
of birth and
status
putting all
aside
to become low
and remaining
so...
all
for love's
sake.
Singly,
together
making
ourselves
nothings
working
together
with hearts,
hands, graciously extended
going down
deep,
deep, deep ,
down
compassion
reigning
as we work
together
united hearts
becoming one
all
for love's
sake.
Seeing,
recognizing
the beauty of
humility
as it reveals
itself
through a
life purpose
and we remain
at rest with each other
living
harmoniously together
becoming poor
all
for love's
sake.
The
persuasive incentive of love.
Up The Down Staircase -- MobaxWob
Up The Down Staircase -- MobaxWob
Heather comments: "How I love this teaching (thinking through Philippians 2) but oh how difficult I find parts of it. My nature, my practice at times is so very different. But this is my, our aim....to become like the one we desire to serve, to love, with our whole hearts."
ReplyDeletePaul to the Philippians 2 (New International Version): "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed — not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence — continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, "children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.: Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
Give All to Love
ReplyDeleteGive all to love;
Obey thy heart;
Friends, kindred, days,
Estate, good-fame,
Plans, credit and the Muse,—
Nothing refuse.
’T is a brave master;
Let it have scope:
Follow it utterly,
Hope beyond hope:
High and more high
It dives into noon,
With wing unspent,
Untold intent:
But it is a god,
Knows its own path
And the outlets of the sky.
It was never for the mean;
It requireth courage stout.
Souls above doubt,
Valor unbending,
It will reward,—
They shall return
More than they were,
And ever ascending.
Leave all for love;
Yet, hear me, yet,
One word more thy heart behoved,
One pulse more of firm endeavor,—
Keep thee to-day,
To-morrow, forever,
Free as an Arab
Of thy beloved.
Cling with life to the maid;
But when the surprise,
First vague shadow of surmise
Flits across her bosom young,
Of a joy apart from thee,
Free be she, fancy-free;
Nor thou detain her vesture’s hem,
Nor the palest rose she flung
From her summer diadem.
Though thou loved her as thyself,
As a self of purer clay,
Though her parting dims the day,
Stealing grace from all alive;
Heartily know,
When half-gods go,
The gods arrive.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson