A LOVE THAT REACHES
I was sitting in my beloved church at Christian Embassy International Church, that I affectionately call CEIC. During worship, I heard Morgan Lambert sing from her heart the words that inspired this article. “I am glad to know Your Love Reaches” she adoringly sang to the Lord. As she repeated these words, I felt inspired to share biblical truth about the love of Jesus. He is always reaching out to us to give us life in abundance. After years of His Death and Resurrection the Holy Spirit is a witness of how His Love still lives and reaches out granting an invitation to all people to simply…Come.
When we come to our Heavenly Father, He wants to speak to and guide us on a journey of restoration. In Psalm 46:1 (Amplified Version) states that God IS our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable], a very present and well-proved help in trouble. Looking at this scripture from verse 1 to 3 I see God as present, mighty, sovereign and a God of justice and truth. In a world that is constantly “changing” I am comforted by the fact that God’s Love is consistent and unchangeable. In turn, as believers do not have to be shaken by sudden changes in society, we can allow faith in God’s Presence build a foundation of peace, clarity, wisdom by being still and knowing He is Who He says He is and being confident in this truth.
LOVE BASED ON TRUTH
God, our Heavenly Father loved us enough to give us insight and to fill us with knowledge of His Will and His Purposes. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, we were on His Mind and Heart before the foundation of the world began. In Genesis 1:28(Amplified Version) God said: “ Let Us(Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our Image, according to Our Likeness(not physical but a spiritual personality and moral likeness). God’s idea for us, created men and women, was for us to have complete authority over the entire earth (Genesis 1:28 Amplified Version). In the Old Testament, God desired a relationship with His Beloved people, the Israelites, so intensely He removed them from captivity from the Egyptians. His exact words in the book of Exodus 7:5(Amplified Version)” The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My Hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them”. His words were backed up when He sent judgement upon the Egyptians when Pharoah refused to listen. All of what transpired in the book of Exodus was so that God could write His Words on the Israelites minds and hearts. Yet, God had to separate the Israelites first from all distractions so they could hear His Heart more clearly. The Israelites made mistakes, along the way, yet God’s love for them did not diminish. In fact, God’s miracle of parting the Red Sea was the miracle of His Love reaching to save the Israelites from the hands of the Egyptians.
LOVE THAT FIGHTS FOR US
In Exodus 14 (Amplified Version) God’s powerful protection of the Israelites moved me emotionally. I agree the miracle of God parting the Red Sea using Moses’ staff is nothing short of miraculous. The fascinating revelation, in the book of Exodus, for me was God’s consideration to provide a sense of security for Moses and the Israelites. His actions were a daily demonstration that He was with them. A cloud covered them during the day, and a fire followed them by night, God provided food and their clothes never became worn out. God never left the Israelites alone. Even in the complaints of Israelites in Exodus, God’s nature of love was always available, even amid the Israelites’ desire to return to Egypt.
God’s example of being “with them” was in Moses reassuring statement to the Israelites, “To take their stand [be firm and confident and undismayed] and see the salvation of the Lord “Exodus 14:13 (Amplified Version). The Lord fought for the Israelites, in the midst of, the Egyptians pursuit of them. Exodus 14:19(Amplified Version) The Angel of God and the cloud that led the Israelites in the front moved His position and moved behind them. The cloud came between the camp of the Israelites and the camp of the Egyptians. The cloud gave darkness to the Egyptians, yet gave light only to the Israelites, thus forcing a separation between them that lasted the entire night! God’s miraculous separation!
A LOVE THAT CALLS US TO LIVE IN THE LIGHT
I was in the middle of completing this article. My husband, Jason, came into our bedroom. He played YouTube videos of Peter Furler singing worship music. As the music played, I was reminded of God’s Love for all humanity and suddenly God’s Word came alive with each note that Furler sung. Every tongue, every tribe praising Jesus for His Sacrificial Love on the Cross. Why is Jesus’ sacrifice so important? Let’s explore this question, shall we?
The New Testament Jesus clearly stated that His purpose for coming to earth in John 10:11-16(Amplified Version): I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His[own] life for the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd, and I know [without any doubt those who are] My own and My own know Me. Even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father and I lay down My [very own] life [sacrificing it] for the benefit of the sheep. I have other sheep [beside these] that are not of this fold. I must bring those also, and they will listen to My voice and pay attention to My call and they will become ONE FLOCK WITH ONE SHEPHERD.
The message is unmistakably clear: Jesus sacrificed His life so that all people, through Him, could become “citizens” of God’s household. This household is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Himself as the chief Cornerstone. In Him, the whole structure is joined together and continues to grow (Ephesians 2:20–22, Amplified Version). Why does this household keep expanding? God continually transforms us. As our relationship with Jesus grows, believers gain a new heart and spirit through the power of His Holy Spirit within us!
God, our Heavenly Father, sent Jesus, the Perfect Adam, to free us from eternal separation from him due to our sins. Through the Cross, sin and death(the penalty of sin) was conquered in the form of One Perfect Person, Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Death, Burial and Resurrection, we as believers can remove obstacles in our own lives and live according to the Holy Spirit of God. God desired for humanity’s return to Him and turn away from living to gratify our flesh. His desire is not for only a select few. God saw our need created a plan to join our humanity with Jesus and have every requirement of the law fulfilled by Jesus living His Dynamic Power in our bodies! Therefore, we are free to live our lives, not according to fleshly desires, but by the impulses of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:1,5 The Passion Translation)
We live life when we surrender our mind-set to the Holy Spirit and gain life and peace. As sons and daughters of God, we are in pursuit of spiritual realities, simply because Jesus Christ lives and performs His Will through us! We are called to participate in the abundant life the Holy Spirit provides us due to actively living out by God’s Perfect Will in every detail of our lives. We can choose life based on the life of Jesus living and empowering us to perform His Will in the natural world. Like the Israelites in Exodus just mentioned, we gain full acceptance and life as God’s Children due to being breathed into by the Spirit of God. We are His True children, qualified, not condemned. For there is no condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus (Romans 8:1,5-6,10 The Passion Translation).
Here are a few verses that I chose that defines God’s desire to love us despite our weaknesses:
Ephesians 2:1-3 (The Passion Translation)-And His fullness fills you, even though you were once like corpses, dead in your sins and offenses. It wasn’t that long ago that you lived in the religion, customs and values of this world, obeying the dark ruler of the earthly realm who fills the atmosphere with his authority, and works diligently in the hearts of those who are disobedient to the truth of God. The corruption that was in us from birth was expressed through deeds and desires of our self-life. We lived by whatever natural cravings and thoughts our minds dictated, living as rebellious children subject to God’s wrath like everyone else.
Ephesians 2:7-9 (The Passion Translation)- Throughout the coming ages we will be the visible display of the infinite riches of His grace and kindness, which was showered upon us in Jesus Christ. For by grace, you have been saved by faith. Nothing you did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the love gift from God that brought us to Christ! So, no one will ever be able to boast, for salvation is never a reward for good works or human striving.
Isaiah 57:18-19 (Amplified Version) “I have seen his [willful] ways, but I WILL HEAL HIM; I WILL lead him[also] and will restore comfort to him and to those who mourn for him, as I WILL create the praise of his lips, peace, peace to him who is far away[both Jew and Gentiles] and to him who is near! “Says the Lord; “And I WILL HEAL HIM [making his lips blossom anew with thankful praise].
As, believers in Christ, God’s Plan was to make us HIS POETRY, His Recreated People (Ephesians 2:10 The Passion Translation). This is exciting news! God’s plan has never changed, through Jesus Christ and the Power of His Holy Spirit, we are made holy from the inside out. Living in holiness in mind, body and spirit is from the Influence of the Holy Spirit of God and not on own perceptions of outwardly human efforts to “appear righteous.” Through studying His Word we are created to be God’s Tabernacle because He will make everything new and fresh and gives us His Living Water continually (Revelation 21: 3, 5, 6 The Passion Translation).Thus, His Love reaches out to us, not to force us into behavior modification or trap us into religious obligation but to chose to live in His Light and step out of darkness. God’s Word and faith in His Son, Jesus frees us from the chains and brokenness of our temptation that kept us in bondage living according to the flesh. God’s love reaches for us daily to teach us a New Way to freely live as His New Creation!
A scripture to meditate on:
Jesus spoke to the people again. He said,” I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in darkness. They will have that light. They will have life.(John 8:12 NIRV)