Maybe you have a film that is dear to your heart, and every time you watch it or think of a certain scene your heart becomes so full that the only suitable expression is to cry. Or maybe every time a lyric to a song comes into your mind, it triggers something in the deepest part of your soul.
As of late, this has been happening to me. It happens most when I am alone. Sometimes it happens in the midst of people, but usually it comes when I am sitting alone with Jesus pondering the endless depths of the Gospel.
The Gospel speaks to the very core of who I am, and the revelation of Jesus melts my heart.
I love to read. There are certain authors that have been gifted to so beautifully explain and describe the love of Jesus that I melt every time I read them. Two of which are Brennan Manning and Timothy Keller. You should check them out if you have never encountered their writing.
But lets get back to the Gospel. The life of Jesus is extremely astonishing to me. And the fact that we have been predestined to be conformed to His image, is even more astonishing. IT IS POSSIBLE.
Jesus Christ, the love of the Father, manifested in human form. A man who was rejected by those He came to save.
A thief and murderer named Barabbas was chosen to be released over Jesus! Judah Smith's amazing teaching on this tells us that the people didn't choose Barabbas, it was the love of the Father that set him free.
Scholars say that his full name was "Jesus Barabbas". Barabbas (bar abba) means "son of the father". Jesus takes the place of the least likely, that we may be brought back into our original design as a "son of the Father" once again.
This is Outstanding.
Judah goes on to say that, "God had to treat Jesus like Barabbas, so that He could treat Barabbas like Jesus." How great is this love of the Father?!
But the point I want to get across is this, Jesus maintained his inner life with God in the midst of so much rejection! When we get rejected or hurt by someone, it can sometimes take weeks, months or even years to get over! But Jesus was never moved to bitterness, or carried offense, by the actions of others towards Him. He laid down His life for those who rejected Him, and hanging on the cross he utters these words, "Father forgive them, they know not what they do.".
WOW!
He was so certain of His identity and of the Father's love for Him, that nothing could shake Him!
His love for us is not based on our response. And in turn, our love for others should be the same! I have been listening to a lot of teaching by a man named, Dan Mohler. His teaching and revelation of the life and love of Jesus is rather amazing. One of things the Lord has been speaking to me through his teaching, is how to truly become love.
When we are able to live free from needing the approval or recognition of others, that is when we can freely love those around us (I am preaching to myself). If our day can be ruined by the lack of affirmation or acknowledgment from those around us, we need a fresh understanding of the love of Jesus.
Tim Keller states it this way, "If we look to our spouses to fill up our tanks in a way that only God can do, we are demanding an impossibility." He wrote that in the context of marriage, but I believe the same is true in our day to day relationships with anyone.
Being confident in His love for us, frees us from needing the approval of others. From that place, we will truly be able to become love.
Love that is without condition.
Love that doesn't waver in the midst of rejection.
Love that refuses to give up on people.
Love that stands strong when our emotions are worn out.
Love that lays down its life for those around us.
Love that doesn't shrink back when we are treated wrong.
Living a true life of love will manifest the fragrance of Christ to those around us.
It is the only response to the love we have received from the Father.
Don't stop loving.
WE WERE MADE FOR LOVE.
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