“Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” (I John 4:15-17)
I sat praying over my breakfast this morning, giving thanks for the food before me, when suddenly an outpouring of emotions flooded my thoughts, heart and words. I wept as I found myself thanking my Lord, my God, for changing me from a person who once didn’t know how to love, into a person who can do nothing but love. He took this once walled up, scared girl, and transformed her into a woman incapable of loving people with anything less than how He loves me. I sat in complete astonishment for all He has done in, and through, me.
I give HIM all the glory…
Realizing what provoked this made my heart sad yet optimistic: Sad because I see it so often. Optimistic because I know if He could love me into this person, God can and will do such for another. He is no respecter of persons, he’ll do for one what he’ll do for another. In the case for love, that is an amazing thought to ponder.
I’m close to a person whom has been struggling to accept God’s love. Struggling greatly. Something this person sent me this morning, brought on the emotion I sat in at the breakfast table:
“…Your leaning always toward forgiveness and love, instead of regret and condemnation…you really do have the Love of our Lord within you, and it sets such a beautiful tone for our relationship. I have never been received and loved in the way that you do; how it mirrors the Agape that you always tell me about. It gives me not just hope, but real understanding and appreciation for you, and our Father above…”
There was much more stated by this person and it was the words beyond what is quoted that gripped my heart so. You see, I know the whole story about this person; I’m privy to the root of their issue. It is knowing not only this person’s story, but those of many others – including my own – who struggle so greatly to feel worthy of love. They simply cannot fathom that God would bless them this way…
Sensing the lack of God’s love and mercy when I look around me, is what makes me truly hate this world at times. I have had this perception for more years than I can recall. It is what prevented me from wanting to have children for most of my adult life. Why would I want to bring an innocent child into such a ruthless world. This was my train of thought prior to life in Christ. However, it doesn’t make me see the world through rosier glasses, no, merely a more truthful, well-focused lens.
I have joked that my mission from God is to love people to death, then love them back to life. I absolutely could not live this out without knowing Him. Without Jesus. There is no way. People are simply too ugly sometimes; too locked up; too stubborn to accept it…but all things are possible through Christ. ALL THINGS, as long as it’s about Him first and feeding people his brand of love. For God’s AGAPE love is crazy and relentless.
amazing 🙂