As I walk this earth...I like to call it a journey...I am pointed more and more often to all God offers us. It isn’t the stuff of the world. It actually has nothing to do with us at all. Our God is calling us to fellowship with Himself. He wants our hearts - not just a piece of it but ALL of it. He wants our trust - not only when we think it might all work out, but He wants us to trust Him completely. He wants us to want Him above all else - not only after we receive the worldly things we think define us - but He wants us to know that only He defines us - all the worldly “stuff” only makes the fellowship with Him more difficult.
As God continues to pull me closer to Him, I am in awe of His power and love. The faith that grows in our hearts is His gift to us. It’s in that place that God truly reaches down and teaches us what is most important. There is only one important thing....LOVE.
Love is hard! Taking God’s love is easy....right? I mean think of how others treat us...think of all we’ve done for others, right? (Insert sarcasm)!! NO, love is hard because we think of ourselves first. Love is hard because we want life to be easy and we let our selfishness rule our hearts. Sadly, I know this is true for me. Often, (more often than not), I want more and more of God on my terms. I don’t want to love someone who is hard to love. I’d rather justify why I’m better than that person so my feelings are justified. I want to grow closer to God by serving others in His Name, but once again, I will pick and choose who I will love. Oh Lord, forgive my stubborn and arrogant heart.
As I read God’s Word to me, He is teaching me that when I grasp onto His gift of love ...a love that He freely gives to me - that is when I can “see!” He gives me insight, through His Word, that real peace is given when I stop looking at me, and love from a heart that is overwhelmed by His love for me. His love is so great and His care for us is so incredible that it truly is difficult to contain. Wanting to share His love with all who will listen is what makes a heart at peace. Jesus came for all. Jesus loves all. Jesus died for all. Not just those I think deserve that love. Do I deserve that kind of love? Do any of us?
When I think of His great love, my heart turns to Jesus on the cross. Think of how He suffered. God’s Word tells us in Luke 23 and John 19 that Jesus was beaten beyond recognition, they hurled insults at Him; He wore a crown of thorns rammed into His head and all this was done to this “Man” who did nothing wrong. The part that really gets me everytime is right before Jesus dies on the cross He says, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing. (Luke 23:24). That statement
TRULY overwhelms my heart. How could a love like that be possible? When I stop and really think on this type of love for me and for you, it overwhelms my heart BEYOND anything I could ever explain. It puts my life and this journey He has me on in perspective. He simply asks me to love others. He doesn’t say love those who deserve it. He doesn’t say love those you choose to love but to love others the way I have been loved. On my own this is absolutely not possible. Sadly, I will admit, I don’t like lots of people. But with God and His power and strength, He gives me the “want to!” He gives me a heart that wants to treat others the way I want to be treated. He helps me see beyond my “self” and my selfish ambitions and helps me grasp how “high and wide” His love is. Even grasping a hold of the little bit my mind can comprehend, it goes beyond any sort of love I could give. Only God can change a heart.
As my heart grows more and more overwhelmed by God each and every day, it literally overflows
with thanks. As my eyes grow dimmer and dimmer to the “stuff” of this world and He opens them to
the true beauty of the “stuff” He wants me to see, I can only offer up my thanks. I long to love as my Savior loves. Freely! Lord, help me to take the love in my heart for you, and freely give that love to all..in the Name of Jesus. Amen
