I still remember hearing my son-in-law say to a long-time friend and fellow combat controller, “He did it, Mark, because He loves you.” That was years ago when his friend had just seen “The Passion” and was sharing his doubt and confusion about why anyone would die that way. We’re talking big-tough,-stronger-mentally-and-physically-than-the-normal-guy type men talking to each other. They weren’t talking about jumping out of airplanes, or the latest PT workout they had; they were talking about the Amazing Love of the Maker of the Universe. My son’s faith is rock solid and he needed to share it with one of his best friends and comrade in arms. That’s what the MESSAGE can do.
What is the Message?
God loves you.
He will do anything He can to get you to believe that.
Anything, including dying and then showing the world that He won.
He beat out the enemy of your soul. He destroyed the one who wants to destroy you.
He longs to reveal to You why He made you.
That’s the message.
I really struggled with something I saw posted on Facebook this weekend. People who think it’s funny to make fun of God and what He has done. “Making fun of all religion is fair game! It’s all primitive thinking, based on fear, guilt, and superstition…it’s all a crock.” My struggle wasn’t because I had doubts (I’ve already been there); but it was the frustrating sadness I felt for people who aren’t getting the Message. See, you can hear it and avoid it, laugh at it and deny it, but true change, and blessings, and a new sense of victory and freedom don’t come until you experience the Aha! when Christ moves in.
So I decided to turn my frustration around and proclaim the amazing-ness of getting it. What can the Message DO for one who chooses it?
* That acceptance brings so much!
* Incredible peace.
* Pure, unadulterated joy–even when you are in pain, or struggling, or not sure of the future.
* A hunger to know the person of God.
* A desire to read His Word more, talk to Him more, seek what He seeks more.
* Complete reversal of how you respond to others.
* A longing to serve.
* Feeling forgiven. Guilt has a whole new meaning – it’s not confused, angry, misguided, misdirected. It’s gone as soon as you ask.
* An awareness of new power and confidence.
* Assurance.
*An sense of victory!
* Daily hope!
* A lot of smiling and laughing.
* Being spiritually hugged.
So…for all of you who are wonderfully assured of the Message, I would ask that you share these fringe benefits with someone who doubts or is searching. Share what you have experienced and why you will never give Him up. Let’s work at being the light, the beacon, the example.
And not a stumbling block…
When our walk with God gets muddied by politics and the things that divide us, when the world sees those who say they believe but their life is a lie, when we forget the blessings and just argue the details
We stop being light. We stop revealing God’s heart.
Frances Chan says it so well. Crazy Love.
This weekend I was led to some amazing images of words that describe being loved by God. They will help you identify with this love, or perhaps want to seek it. (art from Holley Gerth)
In God’s Heart (a Facebook slideshow)In God’s Heart
Share what the Message has done for you. Here.
With someone you care about.