The Law of Love

1 John 4:7-16 (The Message) God Is Love

 ^7-10My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn't know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can't know him if you don't love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God. ^11-12My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!
 ^13-16This is how we know we're living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He's given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we've seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God's Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we've embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God.

       The word of God is very clear about love. Love isn't a feeling that we humans have created. It is the very essence of a God who created us to dwell in relationship with Him! We cannot know love and live in love when we are separated from God. And the opposite is also true...when we live in accordance to His will and purposes, and we strive to see His Kingdom reign upon this earth, we will live in love. In God is all that is right. And to love is right!


     Lately, I have been very disturbed by the media coverage that some "Christians" have been receiving. I understand that as I follow Christ, I should be bothered, even at times outraged, at the way that our government has determined what is moral, ethical, or permissible.  God's truth is being overshadowed by man's own desires. However, the behavior that many self- labeled Christians are displaying brings out a righteous anger in me. Why would someone who claims to know Christ choose the path of hatred? According to the list in Galatians 5, those that live according to the Spirit will show the fruit of that relationship.


    ^22-23But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

     Those that are lost do not know the love of Christ. Those that are found in Christ should exemplify the act of love in every facet of our world. We have received love from the Father through Christ's sacrifice on the cross. We have been blessed to experience the limitless love through forgiveness and salvation. The Holy Father has lavished His love on us! So, why would we not in return hunger for those who do not know the love of the Father?  Why do we condemn and curse the ones who need to be loved the most?


   I am so very grateful for a God who destroyed the conditions of the old law that man had been living under by sending Jesus to become the new law. We no longer must live under a law that no one could possibly ever fulfill anyway. Jesus turned the world upside down. And He did it through love.

The War Inside

       I like to put my best face forward. Who doesn't want to appear strong, confident, and collected? So, I try to do my best. But really, truthfully, a war is raging inside that has lasted nearly as long as I can remember. I have fought God on this one. It is very hard for me to put my biggest struggle into words and send it out into the great beyond of cyber space...especially, since I do know some of you who are so kind as to read my posts. Yet, I can't go on pretending that I don't deal with this; the fight of my lifetime: the war of my self image vs. God's image of me.
   I know in my head a lot of truths about God. I know that I know, that I know, God is full of love for humanity. He loves us so much, it is hard to fathom the depths of His great love for mankind. I believe that He loves little old ladies, babies with chubby checks, and even the worst of all criminals. He sent His son to die for all. Still, deep down, way down inside my soul...I question, how could he really love me?
    I see all my faults. When I stare at my reflection in the mirror, I don't see how I was made in the image of Christ himself. I see the flaws that I wish would disappear. That somehow, if I just ate one less cookie, or would workout one more hour, then 30 pounds would vanish, as if by magic. I frustrate myself when I try on clothes in a dressing room. And I begin to wonder, really, how is it that I am "fearfully and wonderfully made"?
   I think sometimes that God might love me, but perhaps He is disappointed in how I have turned out. Maybe I have somehow made a mess of myself. Then in the next breath, I question..."Well, if this is how God made me, should I even try to change"? Maybe I should just stuck it up and be satisfied with what I see in my reflection.
   And so, the war continues. Sometimes, I feel like I win a battle with self. I feel ok with me. I even feel the profound and overwhelming weight of God's love for a time. But, freedom is short lived as I face a new moment when I must choose my mindset.
   I know I must continue to fight for freedom in this. I do not have lots of answers. But I do have the word of God, a double edge sword, which I know I must hold tightly onto.

Ephesians 4:20-24 (New International Version)

²⁰ That, however, is not the way of life you learned ²¹ when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. ²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

This fight is something that I'm sure I'll return to over and over. For tonight I lay it at the Lord's feet and ask Him to renew my mind once again. I need to feel His love and know that I am His.

Simple Pleasures

        It is so good to laugh. Sometimes I find myself taking life so seriously that I forget that God has given this life to me to enjoy. I am a deep, often brooding, thinker. I think about way too much sometimes, over analyzing my life, decisions, and circumstances. It gets a little ridiculous.  I allow an anxious spirit to take away my joy.
    
      But, today I am thankful for funny things that my kids say and do. I am really glad that God gave me a husband that has a fantastic sense of humor. God knew I would need him to make me laugh. I even am grateful for something silly to watch on t.v. tonight that gives me a chuckle. Realizing that even in difficulties, I've just got to take a mental break and enjoy being right here, right now...well, that's refreshing.

    There's a lot of things that I am asking God for in this season of my life. My family's physical needs depend entirely upon the graciousness of the Lord. I wish that life was easier and more exciting. Yet, right now I want to lay that aside and just remember the goodness of God. I want to dwell upon the joy that God wants me to find in the life that He has given me to live. "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalms 37:4)


     So, I rejoice in the beauty of fresh fallen snow. I listen to my kids playing together, giggling and squealing.  I pet the dog curled up at my feet. And I relax. I trust that for today, God just wants me to see Him even in the simple pleasures of this life. 
     

Brutal Honesty

   I've been hiding out in a way. I've been fearful to face this task of using words to describe the boiling caldron of emotions that have been brewing up within me. I really didn't think that I had the strength to look beyond my feelings and seek out the truth of what God wants me to see. For several days, I was pretending not to notice. But, God wants His truth to be revealed. And He won't leave me alone.
   I really wanted to just stay in my own clouded-over funk. I kind of felt like I had every right to be down and depressed. Things aren't quite going like I want and pouting like a kid is sometimes easier to do than facing the reality of life. The only problem with living out my bad attitude is that I get miserable, real fast. My body actually becomes weak. And I feel empty. The problem with it is that I try to take control and I don't leave my attitude, actions, and availability to Christ. And I know, I truly do know, in my heart, that I can't live without Him.
  I've been here before, emotionally and mentally, and when I am rationally thinking about those times, and I look back at how I felt and reacted, I know that I needed to stop trying to do life on my own accord. However, I am a very stubborn and proud person, who thinks, I can do this on my own...I just have to get it together. Except, I am way too weak to do it on my own. I cry. I struggle to do simple things. I crash and burn.
   The only way that I can get out of my own head and find freedom is when I finally surrender to God. I choose to stop listening to the lies, the words that play over and over in my head that ruin me. And I know where those are coming from. The words will only lead me to my death, whether it's spiritual or even physical. So, I choose the way of Life. 
   I have come to understand that we all sin in different ways, just some of us choose things that aren't always so obvious to others, at least not at first. But, really what my understanding of what sin is is simple. Anytime someone, anyone, tries to take God out of the equation and replace Him with someone else, or something, chooses to sin. Sometimes, we do it unconsciously, and the Holy Spirit will convict us of our wrongdoings. But, often we choose to take control and go to opposite direction, living out in rebellion. 
   I realized that, although I may not have committed a crime, or even a sin against another person, I was choosing the way of rebellion, because I refused to acknowledge my deep dependence on God. I had sinned in my heart against God. I needed to surrender control again and live like I say I believe.
   I found a Psalm I had highlighted in my bible almost two years ago to the day. I had written the date next to it in the column. I find it interesting that, like the Psalmist, David, I too have gone through so many ups and downs. Yet, God used him, showed favor upon him, and even placed him in the role of king. God showed His loving kindness upon David, which gives me hope and a greater understanding of God's love for even me. I sin. I fall short of the mark. Yet, His love for me goes on. So, I run straight back into His arms.

Psalm 32 (New Living Translation)

A psalm of David.

 ¹ Oh, what joy for those
      whose disobedience is forgiven,
      whose sin is put out of sight!
 ² Yes, what joy for those
      whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
      whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
 ³ When I refused to confess my sin,
      my body wasted away,
      and I groaned all day long.
 ⁴ Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
      My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.
                       
 ⁵ Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
      and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
   I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
      And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
                      
 ⁶ Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,
      that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
 ⁷ For you are my hiding place;
      you protect me from trouble.
      You surround me with songs of victory.
                       
 ⁸ The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
      I will advise you and watch over you.
 ⁹ Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
      that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”
 ¹⁰ Many sorrows come to the wicked,
      but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.
 ¹¹ So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
      Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!