I think I've learned this lesson of 'God loves me' more than once. But it's an ever-increasing revelation, you know? It is multi-faceted. It relates to everything in my life. My salvation, my marriage, my children, my home, my church, my dreams… It is weaved throughout the fabric of my existence. There's really no escaping it. It surrounds me. "The earth is filled with Your love, Lord" Psalm 119:64
I recently read an article written by Mike Bickle about loving God, receiving His love, and then being able to love ourselves and others out of the fullness of His love. One thing Bickle said was, "God's love cannot diminish or grow…because it's already perfect, full and constant. He is love." We must come to trust in the perfect, wholehearted love of God. He is faithful. He's not like the spouse that walked out on the marriage or the mother who walked away from her children for drugs. I've heard way too many of these stories. However, "the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." (Psalm 100:5) Our own personal experiences may make it hard to believe, and the worldly beliefs we encounter daily certainly tempt us to doubt, BUT... God is good and His love endures forever. We have to believe.
I heard a quote while at a retreat that said, "How glorious the splendor of a heart that trusts that it is loved." (Brennan Manning) There is beauty in that statement. It makes me think of my babies when they were tiny tots - so trusting of Mom and Dad. They had no fear of anything really because they trusted we'd take care of their needs. They had never experienced otherwise. They were adventurous and brave and fun! A heart that trusts it is loved can be free. Knowing you're loved allows for a sense of safety. To be yourself. My kids will dance like you wouldn't believe in front of me…perhaps not so much in front of strangers. (That goes for me too!) They feel free to be themselves with me. They feel safe. They trust my love. 1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love…"
Mike Bickle says that the same love each part of the Godhead has for the other parts is the same love He has for us. He loves His Son, and the Son loves the Spirit equally as much. The Father loves us as much as He loves the Son and Spirit. Wow! I mean, I know we hear about God's love for us all the time, but suddenly there is something new in it for me. There's some freshness to it that makes my heart sing. How much easier it is to love others when we are secure and rooted in His love. How much easier it is to love our brothers and sisters, our parents, our spouse, our friends - when we know that we know that we know we are LOVED. Fully. Wholeheartedly. It's freedom!
In Psalm 136, every verse ends with "His love endures forever". I mean - He's clearly trying to help us understand!! There's nothing we can do to make Him stop loving us. He's always with us, loving us. His love goes on forever. It's just Who He is. You can't separate love from God - He is love. You can't separate yourself from His love. It radiates from Him…everywhere, always, forever.
I recently read an article written by Mike Bickle about loving God, receiving His love, and then being able to love ourselves and others out of the fullness of His love. One thing Bickle said was, "God's love cannot diminish or grow…because it's already perfect, full and constant. He is love." We must come to trust in the perfect, wholehearted love of God. He is faithful. He's not like the spouse that walked out on the marriage or the mother who walked away from her children for drugs. I've heard way too many of these stories. However, "the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." (Psalm 100:5) Our own personal experiences may make it hard to believe, and the worldly beliefs we encounter daily certainly tempt us to doubt, BUT... God is good and His love endures forever. We have to believe.
I heard a quote while at a retreat that said, "How glorious the splendor of a heart that trusts that it is loved." (Brennan Manning) There is beauty in that statement. It makes me think of my babies when they were tiny tots - so trusting of Mom and Dad. They had no fear of anything really because they trusted we'd take care of their needs. They had never experienced otherwise. They were adventurous and brave and fun! A heart that trusts it is loved can be free. Knowing you're loved allows for a sense of safety. To be yourself. My kids will dance like you wouldn't believe in front of me…perhaps not so much in front of strangers. (That goes for me too!) They feel free to be themselves with me. They feel safe. They trust my love. 1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love…"
Mike Bickle says that the same love each part of the Godhead has for the other parts is the same love He has for us. He loves His Son, and the Son loves the Spirit equally as much. The Father loves us as much as He loves the Son and Spirit. Wow! I mean, I know we hear about God's love for us all the time, but suddenly there is something new in it for me. There's some freshness to it that makes my heart sing. How much easier it is to love others when we are secure and rooted in His love. How much easier it is to love our brothers and sisters, our parents, our spouse, our friends - when we know that we know that we know we are LOVED. Fully. Wholeheartedly. It's freedom!
In Psalm 136, every verse ends with "His love endures forever". I mean - He's clearly trying to help us understand!! There's nothing we can do to make Him stop loving us. He's always with us, loving us. His love goes on forever. It's just Who He is. You can't separate love from God - He is love. You can't separate yourself from His love. It radiates from Him…everywhere, always, forever.
1 John 4:17-21The Message (MSG)
To Love, to Be Loved
17-18 God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.
19 We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.
20-21 If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.
We know Father God loves His son Jesus. We know Jesus loves His Father. We know they both love the Holy Spirit. It's the 'fellowship of the burning heart', as Bickle describes it. A heart that beats passionately and loves WHOLEHEARTEDLY. The great Three in One loves us with that same love. There is no flaw in it. No deception. No disloyalty. No disregard. No forsaking. It's pure, faithful, consuming love. We will never be able to love ourselves or others well unless we know this burning love of God. It is the answer. It is what will heal our hearts and bring us into wholeness. It is what will empower us to love ourselves and others. It will empower us to live as children of light (Eph 5:8). Trusting in His love creates a safe environment for us to love Him lavishly and to love His people…those that He 'longs to gather, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings' (Luke 13:34). "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8)
20-21 If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.
We know Father God loves His son Jesus. We know Jesus loves His Father. We know they both love the Holy Spirit. It's the 'fellowship of the burning heart', as Bickle describes it. A heart that beats passionately and loves WHOLEHEARTEDLY. The great Three in One loves us with that same love. There is no flaw in it. No deception. No disloyalty. No disregard. No forsaking. It's pure, faithful, consuming love. We will never be able to love ourselves or others well unless we know this burning love of God. It is the answer. It is what will heal our hearts and bring us into wholeness. It is what will empower us to love ourselves and others. It will empower us to live as children of light (Eph 5:8). Trusting in His love creates a safe environment for us to love Him lavishly and to love His people…those that He 'longs to gather, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings' (Luke 13:34). "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8)
People are starving all over the world for this Love. People are hungry to know this Love. People are asking, 'why didn't anyone tell me?' and writhing in pain because they lack this sweet, nourishing, safe Love. Now more than ever, I hear Him beckoning us to share His love. Share His heart. I was once one of the lost ones. I was once starving for that kind of love. I once asked the question, "Why didn't anyone tell me?" I'm glad someone finally cared enough - loved enough - to tell me of His great love. How deeply grateful I am…how deeply I long to do the same for others now.
It's funny. Today the boys were watching the Falcons game on tv and their motto is "rise up". I am thinking that is what we should say to encourage one another in our faith…in our calling. Rise up! Rise up, Church! Rise up men, women and children! Rise up and sing of the goodness and love of the Lord! Rise up and fulfill His call to proclaim the Good News. Rise up and declare the goodness of God! Rise up and love your God with all your heart, soul and strength! Rise up and love your neighbor as yourself! Rise up! The earth groans as it waits for us to take our rightful place as sons and daughters, so rise…and shine! LOVE!
