"God's love offends us because the greatest object of God's love is God, not us."
The Church and the Surprising Offense of God's Love by Jonathan Leeman
Romans 11:36 "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.
The statement above by Leeman surprised me in two ways. First, offended by God's love? Who would be offended by God's love? Second, God loves Himself supremely!
Let's talk about the second first...God's love for God. When God looks at the world He sees His beautiful creation and He calls it good. When He looks at us He sees those He has redeemed and He calls us children - John 1:12. But when He looks within the Godhead, God the Father, and God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit see within their gaze the most, glorious, holy, pure, majestic, powerful being that has no beginning and no ending. There is no one greater to love than God. God would commit idolatry if He loved anything more than or as much as Himself.
The Father declares, "This is My Son, whom I love.." Matthew 17:5. Jesus says before He dies "the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me." John 14:31
Everything is for God, about God, because of God. It's not about me.
When we read that, does a little voice say..."Hey, wait a minute. I'm important, too." Here is where the first surprise came in. I realized that I was jealous that God loved someone else more than me. I was offended that the world did not, after all, evolve around me.
And yet, this is a great comfort to me.
He doesn't need my love to be contented, because He is totally complete in the joyous, rich love in Himself. God is fulfilled by God. I do not have to worry about disappointing God. He is not up in heaven wringing His hands over what I am about to do. I don't have to fear failure. His happiness is not disturbed by it.
Most certainly you and I experience God's love! But it streams first out of His love displayed in the Trinity. "Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:39 The love of Christ for us is wider, longer, higher, and deeper than we comprehend. (Ephesians 3:19)
Years ago, after a busy day with people, my seven year old daughter came to me and said, "Do you have enough love left for me, Mommy?" I could grow weary, I could fail to love. But God can never run out of love for you because His love is so satisfied and complete within the Trinity. He will for eternity have enough love left for you.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Devotional Snapshot 82 - Trouble
"There are always some who are going through sharp trial, and who will fail unless they remember whom they are following - not a Christ at ease, but the Christ who was crucified." Thou Givest...They Gather by Amy Carmichael
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...Consider Him who endured...My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son." Hebrews 12: 2,3,5,6
Would it be accurate to say that all of my troubles are because of sin --either someone else's or my own? Even if my trouble is illness it, too, dates back to sin-- the day the Lord told Adam that if you eat of this tree you shall surely die...Genesis 2:17. Would it be accurate to say that all of my trouble is also from a loving God--either for discipline or testing?
So as my 'fav' author, Amy, would say we must, at times like these, remember our Christ crucified, not our Christ at ease. We must fix our eyes on Jesus who has begun our faith and just as He promised He will complete and perfect our faith. He, blessed Savior, knows how to bring me safely to Heaven, not without divinely planned bumps and bruises.
This life is temporary. It's not our real home. It is preparation. Move on! Go on! Endure! Repent of today's sins and get up! Look up and fix your eyes on Him who died for you today. And don't be surprised by the means He uses to get your attention. There are times His love is punishing according to scripture, but you are His! Always and forever, His.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...Consider Him who endured...My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son." Hebrews 12: 2,3,5,6
Would it be accurate to say that all of my troubles are because of sin --either someone else's or my own? Even if my trouble is illness it, too, dates back to sin-- the day the Lord told Adam that if you eat of this tree you shall surely die...Genesis 2:17. Would it be accurate to say that all of my trouble is also from a loving God--either for discipline or testing?
So as my 'fav' author, Amy, would say we must, at times like these, remember our Christ crucified, not our Christ at ease. We must fix our eyes on Jesus who has begun our faith and just as He promised He will complete and perfect our faith. He, blessed Savior, knows how to bring me safely to Heaven, not without divinely planned bumps and bruises.
This life is temporary. It's not our real home. It is preparation. Move on! Go on! Endure! Repent of today's sins and get up! Look up and fix your eyes on Him who died for you today. And don't be surprised by the means He uses to get your attention. There are times His love is punishing according to scripture, but you are His! Always and forever, His.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Devotional Snapshot 81 - 33 miners
"I was with God, and I was with the devil. They fought, and God won"....Mario Sepulveda, a miner in Copiapo, Chili ... October 13, 2010
"Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving might of His right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright."
Psalm 20:6-8
What a drama! For months it was presented before the watching world. Thirty-three miners in a life and death struggle, caught in the dark bowels of a Chilean mine. They were alive, but they had to remain sane. They were alive, but for how long? Each man had to face the possibility of his own death.
For seventeen long days in the dark they could not know they would ever be found. Small amounts of liquid and only teaspoons of food were doled out each day. They knew the small amount of nourishment would not last long.
With the first realization that they were alive, the battle begins. Far more important than food and water was the inner struggle to trust, to believe that there is a God who cares, who hears, who is all powerful. A God who can. A God who is able. A God who gives purpose and life. They could choose to give in to despair...Satan's way, or to hope...God's way.
Mario sensed the battle raging within. His heart saw the devil and God. He saw good and evil. God's hand stretched toward Mario and (praise God!) Mario grabbed it and never doubted from that point that he would be rescued.
God is the Great Victor. He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world...1John 4:4. He saves with His mighty right hand. He answers those who cry out to Him.
You also have the same God in your dark moment. Never doubt that He is for you, that He can lift you up from any fear, any trouble, any discouragement. He is greater than what enslaves you. He greater than your darkness. God will always win.
That is good news worth singing about.
"Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving might of His right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright."
Psalm 20:6-8
What a drama! For months it was presented before the watching world. Thirty-three miners in a life and death struggle, caught in the dark bowels of a Chilean mine. They were alive, but they had to remain sane. They were alive, but for how long? Each man had to face the possibility of his own death.
For seventeen long days in the dark they could not know they would ever be found. Small amounts of liquid and only teaspoons of food were doled out each day. They knew the small amount of nourishment would not last long.
With the first realization that they were alive, the battle begins. Far more important than food and water was the inner struggle to trust, to believe that there is a God who cares, who hears, who is all powerful. A God who can. A God who is able. A God who gives purpose and life. They could choose to give in to despair...Satan's way, or to hope...God's way.
Mario sensed the battle raging within. His heart saw the devil and God. He saw good and evil. God's hand stretched toward Mario and (praise God!) Mario grabbed it and never doubted from that point that he would be rescued.
God is the Great Victor. He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world...1John 4:4. He saves with His mighty right hand. He answers those who cry out to Him.
You also have the same God in your dark moment. Never doubt that He is for you, that He can lift you up from any fear, any trouble, any discouragement. He is greater than what enslaves you. He greater than your darkness. God will always win.
That is good news worth singing about.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Devotional Snapshot 80 - Separation
"No aspect of the created order, nor any event or being within it, can end our enjoyment of the active love of God to us in Christ." Commentary on Romans 8:38, 39
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height not depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38, 39
I found about 15 pink balloons tied with red, white, and green ribbon in the trees across from my house. They had all popped and were hanging limply in the branches. I wondered if there would be a message on them and there was. I brought them home and tried to carefully pull the melded balloons apart so I could read all the writings. Only one clearly stuck out. I give it to you now.
"My fairytale prince and I are still doing amazing.
I love him so so so much! I am going to marry him.
I wish you could be there and be in the wedding.
We will dance for you!"
Whether these came from across town or across the United States, the message was meant for someone else. Someone no longer here. Someone dear to the writer. An event was about to happen of great importance to the sender of the balloons and a loved one would be missing. Was it a father? Was it a mother? Or a best friend who died too soon?
We do not know. But someone was missing. Someone was gone.
Our scripture in Romans reminds us once again that though we lose a loved one and can be separated by death from friends and family, we can never, never, never be separated from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. This scripture also reminds me that what I worry about is not of greater importance than the sure and constant love that I have in Christ. I am never alone, never abandoned. This scripture reminds me that even my sin can not separate me from the love of God because I believe and accept that Christ paid for all of yesterday's, today's, and tomorrow's failings.
And this love has a greater ability to bring us peace and joy than any human love on earth! Let us thank Him right now for this inseparable love.
Deuteronomy 31:8 "And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed."
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height not depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38, 39
I found about 15 pink balloons tied with red, white, and green ribbon in the trees across from my house. They had all popped and were hanging limply in the branches. I wondered if there would be a message on them and there was. I brought them home and tried to carefully pull the melded balloons apart so I could read all the writings. Only one clearly stuck out. I give it to you now.
"My fairytale prince and I are still doing amazing.
I love him so so so much! I am going to marry him.
I wish you could be there and be in the wedding.
We will dance for you!"
Whether these came from across town or across the United States, the message was meant for someone else. Someone no longer here. Someone dear to the writer. An event was about to happen of great importance to the sender of the balloons and a loved one would be missing. Was it a father? Was it a mother? Or a best friend who died too soon?
We do not know. But someone was missing. Someone was gone.
Our scripture in Romans reminds us once again that though we lose a loved one and can be separated by death from friends and family, we can never, never, never be separated from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. This scripture also reminds me that what I worry about is not of greater importance than the sure and constant love that I have in Christ. I am never alone, never abandoned. This scripture reminds me that even my sin can not separate me from the love of God because I believe and accept that Christ paid for all of yesterday's, today's, and tomorrow's failings.
And this love has a greater ability to bring us peace and joy than any human love on earth! Let us thank Him right now for this inseparable love.
Deuteronomy 31:8 "And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed."
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Devotional Snapshot 79 - Women Helpers
"We can do without anything while we have God." Lilias Trotter 1853-1928 missionary to North Africa
"After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means." Luke 8:1-3 New International Version
"...and many others (women) who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and His disciples." Luke 8:3 The Message
The women. They were there.They loved Him, served Him, followed Him, gave of their provision.
Jesus could have lived everyday by the miracle of the loaves and fishes. He could have pulled money from the Sea of Galilee out of the mouth of a fish whenever He wanted. But He did the ordinary thing of letting the women He saved cook for Him, go to market, bake the bread, use their own savings to provide for Him and His beloved disciples.
They stood ready to serve. They heard and believed the lessons taught on the mountainside and in the temple. They watched Jesus die and wept for their loss. "Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed Him and cared for His needs. Many other women who had come up with Him to Jerusalem were also there." Mark 15:40,41
These women felt like Lilias Trotter who could serve on a dusty road, go without the finery, and be misunderstood by their society because after all: "We can do without anything while we have God."
I want to be like those women who gave up to go. Most important to them was to be close to Jesus. He had set them free. Their freedom led them to serve.
How beautiful of our LORD to include us in His world wide plans for ministry. And it may only be by fixing a meal. But that was important enough that it is included in the Bible. God's word deemed it inspired.
Thank You, Father, that You placed women in the scriptures to show us how we, too, may serve You. But also, it makes us feel so loved to see how You ordained works for us to do before the beginning of the world and included us as an important part of Your ministry. Help us to love You so much that we can say "I can do without anything because I have You. In Jesus name, Amen.
"After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means." Luke 8:1-3 New International Version
"...and many others (women) who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and His disciples." Luke 8:3 The Message
The women. They were there.They loved Him, served Him, followed Him, gave of their provision.
Jesus could have lived everyday by the miracle of the loaves and fishes. He could have pulled money from the Sea of Galilee out of the mouth of a fish whenever He wanted. But He did the ordinary thing of letting the women He saved cook for Him, go to market, bake the bread, use their own savings to provide for Him and His beloved disciples.
They stood ready to serve. They heard and believed the lessons taught on the mountainside and in the temple. They watched Jesus die and wept for their loss. "Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed Him and cared for His needs. Many other women who had come up with Him to Jerusalem were also there." Mark 15:40,41
These women felt like Lilias Trotter who could serve on a dusty road, go without the finery, and be misunderstood by their society because after all: "We can do without anything while we have God."
I want to be like those women who gave up to go. Most important to them was to be close to Jesus. He had set them free. Their freedom led them to serve.
How beautiful of our LORD to include us in His world wide plans for ministry. And it may only be by fixing a meal. But that was important enough that it is included in the Bible. God's word deemed it inspired.
Thank You, Father, that You placed women in the scriptures to show us how we, too, may serve You. But also, it makes us feel so loved to see how You ordained works for us to do before the beginning of the world and included us as an important part of Your ministry. Help us to love You so much that we can say "I can do without anything because I have You. In Jesus name, Amen.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Devotional Snapshot 78- Focus
"Never has it been so easy to live in half a dozen good harmless worlds at once ---art, music, social science, games, motoring, the following of some profession, and so on. And between them we run the risk of drifting about, the "good" hiding the "best" even more effectually than it could be hidden by downright frivolity with its smothered heart-ache at its own emptiness." Lilias Trotter - missionary to Muslims in North Africa 1853-1928
"...but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead." Philippians 3:13
Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "one thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." Mark 10:21
Jesus said to him, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment." Matthew 22:37, 38
I went to a one day art class. They were teaching us to work with pastels. We were all given the same photo to work on of a black cat, all hunched up and ready to jump. I thought, "This is impossible. I can't draw this. I can't even see the shoulder or the paw. It just looks like one big ball of black."
"Focus." the teacher said. "Look at the outline. See how big the head is in comparison to the rest of the body. Look how his shoulder rises up here. See the paw tucked under his body. This light area indicates an ear."
The more I gave my attention to the photo, the more it became clearer. An outline emerged. An eye popped out. "Oh now I see the ears!"
I focused, and what was going on around me faded into the background and all I could see was the cat.
Indeed this is what Jesus would have us do ...to figure out the one thing. This is what Paul spoke of and lived out. This is what Mary did in Luke 10 when Jesus pointed her out to Martha saying "...one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen what is better..."
One definition of focus is the center of activity, attraction, or attention. This seems to be what we need to be doing with our lives...focusing on Christ, loving Christ, laying every other love for money, or popularity, or beauty, or family beneath the love of Christ. I am not saying we should not love our families, or enjoy the fruit of our labor, or exercise and dress in a pretty fashion. But these loves are always submitted to our great Savior. These other loves can not be the source of our joy. These other loves pale in significance to the beautiful, wondrous love of the LORD.
The more I focus on Christ, the more attractive He becomes, the more attention I give to Him, the more my activities line up with His will.
As Lilias Trotter said in the quote above, there are many good things I can do everyday that take me away from God's best. Let us be women who make decisions based on God. Choose what is better. Center your life on Christ. Pray that He becomes your greatest attraction. Turn your eyes upon Jesus and things on earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
So look at your schedule. Have you prayed about it? Are there things you are doing that are keeping you from Jesus? Ask for His help to change. You know we might both find that the more we look to Jesus the less hectic our schedule.
"...but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead." Philippians 3:13
Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "one thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." Mark 10:21
Jesus said to him, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment." Matthew 22:37, 38
I went to a one day art class. They were teaching us to work with pastels. We were all given the same photo to work on of a black cat, all hunched up and ready to jump. I thought, "This is impossible. I can't draw this. I can't even see the shoulder or the paw. It just looks like one big ball of black."
"Focus." the teacher said. "Look at the outline. See how big the head is in comparison to the rest of the body. Look how his shoulder rises up here. See the paw tucked under his body. This light area indicates an ear."
The more I gave my attention to the photo, the more it became clearer. An outline emerged. An eye popped out. "Oh now I see the ears!"
I focused, and what was going on around me faded into the background and all I could see was the cat.
Indeed this is what Jesus would have us do ...to figure out the one thing. This is what Paul spoke of and lived out. This is what Mary did in Luke 10 when Jesus pointed her out to Martha saying "...one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen what is better..."
One definition of focus is the center of activity, attraction, or attention. This seems to be what we need to be doing with our lives...focusing on Christ, loving Christ, laying every other love for money, or popularity, or beauty, or family beneath the love of Christ. I am not saying we should not love our families, or enjoy the fruit of our labor, or exercise and dress in a pretty fashion. But these loves are always submitted to our great Savior. These other loves can not be the source of our joy. These other loves pale in significance to the beautiful, wondrous love of the LORD.
The more I focus on Christ, the more attractive He becomes, the more attention I give to Him, the more my activities line up with His will.
As Lilias Trotter said in the quote above, there are many good things I can do everyday that take me away from God's best. Let us be women who make decisions based on God. Choose what is better. Center your life on Christ. Pray that He becomes your greatest attraction. Turn your eyes upon Jesus and things on earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
So look at your schedule. Have you prayed about it? Are there things you are doing that are keeping you from Jesus? Ask for His help to change. You know we might both find that the more we look to Jesus the less hectic our schedule.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Devotional Snapshot 77 - Failure
"Not even Samson's failures could prevent the accomplishment of God's great purposes."
Parenting Is Your Highest Calling and 8 Other Myths ....Leslie Leyland Fields
Then Samson called to the Lord, saying, "O LORD God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!" And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left. Then Samson said, "let me die with the Philistines!"
And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life. Judges 16: 28-30
So Samson, a baby of promise to a barren couple, grows up to disappoint his parents and disobey his God. As I read Judges 14, 15, and 16 Samson reads like a failure. He breaks God's law by marrying a foreign woman, touching a dead carcass, committing adultery.
In the midst of his free-spirited rebellion against God, he was at the same time being used to bring havoc against the enemies of the Israelites. Our gracious God punished the wicked Philistines using the rebel Samson.
Samson's behavior did not go unpunished. The LORD departed from him. (Judges 16: 20) No longer the Spirit empowered strong guy. With his eyes put out, bound in bronze fetters, he was placed in prison as a blind grinder.
And yet, God's great purposes are still accomplished. Samson at the end of his life lifts his heart back up to God and God graciously answers his last prayer and gives him supernatural strength one more time. Ultimately God's perfect will is done for the Israelites and for the Philistines.
So today I was reading about the unselfish church of China, while feeling very selfish. I have work to do on my day off. Our fun day will be cut short because of it....and inwardly (alright, I whined out loud to my husband) I whined.
Here I am wanting to be like the Chinese Christians and when I have opportunity to love others better than myself I hesitate - I complain.
I love myself way better than I love others. And an even bigger failure is that I do not love God with all my heart. These are daily failures.
I take heart in the quote above. Nothing prevents the accomplishment of God's purposes, not even my sin.
And I take heart in God's daily dose of forgiveness. And I take heart in this: Mark 10:27 "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."
Thank God for having a plan for you that can use the good, bad, and ugly. Trust Him. It's going to be okay. Your failure is not final.
Parenting Is Your Highest Calling and 8 Other Myths ....Leslie Leyland Fields
Then Samson called to the Lord, saying, "O LORD God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!" And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left. Then Samson said, "let me die with the Philistines!"
And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life. Judges 16: 28-30
So Samson, a baby of promise to a barren couple, grows up to disappoint his parents and disobey his God. As I read Judges 14, 15, and 16 Samson reads like a failure. He breaks God's law by marrying a foreign woman, touching a dead carcass, committing adultery.
In the midst of his free-spirited rebellion against God, he was at the same time being used to bring havoc against the enemies of the Israelites. Our gracious God punished the wicked Philistines using the rebel Samson.
Samson's behavior did not go unpunished. The LORD departed from him. (Judges 16: 20) No longer the Spirit empowered strong guy. With his eyes put out, bound in bronze fetters, he was placed in prison as a blind grinder.
And yet, God's great purposes are still accomplished. Samson at the end of his life lifts his heart back up to God and God graciously answers his last prayer and gives him supernatural strength one more time. Ultimately God's perfect will is done for the Israelites and for the Philistines.
So today I was reading about the unselfish church of China, while feeling very selfish. I have work to do on my day off. Our fun day will be cut short because of it....and inwardly (alright, I whined out loud to my husband) I whined.
Here I am wanting to be like the Chinese Christians and when I have opportunity to love others better than myself I hesitate - I complain.
I love myself way better than I love others. And an even bigger failure is that I do not love God with all my heart. These are daily failures.
I take heart in the quote above. Nothing prevents the accomplishment of God's purposes, not even my sin.
And I take heart in God's daily dose of forgiveness. And I take heart in this: Mark 10:27 "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."
Thank God for having a plan for you that can use the good, bad, and ugly. Trust Him. It's going to be okay. Your failure is not final.
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