Faith of our fathers we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife
And preach Thee too as love knows how
By kindly words and virtuous life
Faith of Our Fathers 1849
By: Frederick William Faber (1814 – 1863)
Listen to this a cappella version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.
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Please enjoy this video and the transcript below.
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.
As we conclude our journey through this hymn ask yourself if you can make the commitment of the refrain. “Faith of our father, holy faith, we will be true to Thee ’til death.” That is quite a commitment! Let’s tune our hearts.
Love All
When we choose to love as a way of living we are making a choice that will require sacrifice and surrender. There are times that require us to stand firm, courageous and strong, but even these must be done in love. Loving takes a lot of different forms, many that may seem unimaginable.
Loving in the midst of brokenness. Loving when someone has been nothing but cruel. Loving when someone can not remember your name and has little if anything to offer you.
What about dying as an act of love? Maybe for someone that you love, right? What about for someone you are pretty positive does not love you?
Faith of our fathers we will love
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ESV
One of the best ways we can show that the faith of our fathers is real is to do all in love. To be able to stand firm, be strong and courageous, but repay evil with love is a true mark of faith. Is there a situation in your life right now where you can love like this? Ask God for help.
It is a statement that is simple to make, but difficult to live. “We will love.” Even still, Jesus’ teaching requires that we commit to loving, and the faith of those who have entrusted that teaching to us inspires us to do the same. Make that commitment to love like them today.
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about what it may cost you to love. Have you determined that whatever it requires you will love. Make this your simple prayer “Father, help me to love.”
Even Your Enemies
It is one thing to love those who love you, even though sometimes they make not act in loving ways. What about loving those who hate you? Those who curse you and abuse you. Your enemies.
That is an entirely different matter altogether.
We are not talking about someone who is just different than you. From a different place or a different culture. We are talking about people who know you and hate you, or simply hate you for what you believe.
Loving those people is not easy. But if we are going to follow the faith of our fathers. the faith Jesus entrusted to them, which they have imparted to us, we must. It is a non-negotiable.
Both friend and foe in all our strife
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” Luke 6:27-28 ESV
In these words Jesus is preparing His disciples, which includes us, for the times that taking a stand for our faith will bring ridicule, disdain, and even hatred. To love, do good, bless and pray for those who are creating our strife is no small task. Ask Jesus for help with this also.
What makes loving difficult is when people do not love us, or worse yet, hate us. When people create strife in your life, loving them becomes increasingly challenging. Is there anyone like that in your life right now? How will you love both friend and foe? Ask Jesus for His help.
RESONATE
Take a few moments and reflect on people who for you are difficult to love. Maybe they have done something to you, or profess something that is detestable to you. Can you still love them? Pray a simple prayer like this one, “Jesus, help me love friend and foe.”
God, thank You for reminding me that my life must be one filled with love. I can not love only those who love me, but those who do not. To love like this demonstrates the power of Your work in me, and the virility of the faith of our spiritual fathers. In Jesus’ name.
Loving Tuning!
Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence. We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.
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Video 36.4 Transcript
Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.
Faith of our fathers we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife
And preach Thee too as love knows how
By kindly words and virtuous life
It is a statement that is simple to make, but difficult to live. “We will love.” Even still, Jesus’ teaching requires that we commit to loving, and the faith of those who have entrusted that teaching to us inspires us to do the same. Make that commitment to love like them today.
Father, help me to love.
What makes loving difficult is when people do not love us, or worse yet, hate us. When people create strife in your life, loving them becomes increasingly challenging. Is there anyone like that in your life right now? How will you love both friend and foe? Ask Jesus for His help.
Jesus, help me love friend and foe.
Love changes the way we preach. When we love friend and foe alike, we are compelled to share our faith with them using our words. But when we truly love, it changes the words we use and the way we use them. It is not only what we say but how we say it. Spirit help me.
Spirit, help me to preach with love.
Words and life that match. One version said “saving words” which I like even better because few people are saved by unkind words. Saving words imply kindness and care, but our lives must reinforce what we say or our words will be meaningless at best, and harmful at worst.
Lord, make my lips and my life congruent.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.
Sing
Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, Be Resonant.
The post Loving, Even If It Kills Me appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attributions
Faith of our fathers we will love – https://pixabay.com/photos/hands-old-old-age-elderly-2906458/
Both friend and foe in all our strife – https://pixabay.com/photos/migration-integration-migrants-3129340/
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