"John Sets The Volleyball" [1st John series] (1st John 4:7-12)
To take a look at what folks say,
So glibly banter day by day,
John’s looked at first two claims to here,
And gave us tests to make each clear –Claim one? “ ‘I am enlightened’ – not
Like you with Christian tommyrot;
It’s me and God, for us two know
That faith-y stuff is smoke you blow”.Claim two? “ ‘I am begotten from
Our God Himself, the Holy One ’ –
Not like you blokes – just me and God
Which to plain ears, no doubt, seems odd”.Claim three? “Why, ‘God abides in us,
And we in God’ in spite of fuss
We live in now on planet earth;
We’re on the vine, our place is first.”John’s tests for first two of these claims?
Test one – our views (and fun and games)
Relating to “what’s righteousness?”
“What’s sin (rebellion) we confess?Test two – the way we show our love –
Is it like God, though up above
Came down to push us from our ditch;
Do we love too? Or “bait and switch”?Test three – do we respond or scoff
At God’s redeeming acts – for lots
Of life’s affected on this choice,
By way of thoughts, and deeds, and voice.The first two claims quite tidily
Are dealt with; but it seems to me,
That this is “layered” here much more,
So interweaves more than before.So here, Chap. four – from seven to twelve –
John sets the volleyball himself –
He speaks of love – in God; in all;
And how it’s central – since the fall –Mankind has wandered from that way;
Self-giving love oft fades away;
But John says, “No, it is of God –
It should reflect in lives of sod.”Like in a game of volleyball,
One sets things up for someone tall
To spike the ball across the net;
This paragraph, it’s love John sets –As central aspect – test of claims
That God’s in us, and here remains;
That we abide in God each day –
“Let’s see if love propels your way”.Thanks Lord for this.
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