Tuesday, October 6, 2015

The Place God Pours Out His Love

God cares about people. He cares very much.

In a way it is almost a secret because the world we live in has both extremes of caring. Many people care and many people don't seem to care... or care in a very focused exclusive way. Caring when you are not cared for is hard for us to do in our own power. When people feel alone they can rationalize many things. If they have been used carelessly then they try to adapt.

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world." - 1 Peter 5:6-9 ESV

God wants a spiritually minded person to adapt by casting their cares upon Him. It takes a faith decision to do this. Naturally we can't. We must believe to do this and to keep doing it.

"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." - Hebrews 11:6 ESV

People look at a world that will not love them and they are like embers left alone in the windy cold. Their hot initial flame flickers and is overwhelmed by the elements.

"Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." - Romans 5:2-5 ESV

We stand in grace and rejoice in hope and God pours love into our hearts. The Greek word used for pour (or 'shed abroad') is ekcheo (Strong's G1632) and it means to spill out in a messy way. Like milk poured on a counter that finds multiple places to drip and make a mess. It is a spill that is not easily contained. The love is unfocused and overflowing.

It is great to watch a person who has been hurt many times and is now humble finally with someone who loves them with God's love. Love begins to be 'shed abroad' in their hearts. The transformation can be shocking.

Yes. God cares. When we stand in grace and rejoice in hope because Christ has been revealed to us that love becomes visible through us and in us.

Then as living stones placed together that heat and light can be felt even at a distance.

Listen.

God has not forgotten about you. The circumstances are what they are and you did what you did one way or the other. God isn't like us. He isn't saying, 'See you got what you deserve.' He cares and wants to use those circumstances in our life to give us what we don't deserve. Our grip on things must be loosened first sometimes for that to happen.

If we make decisions to hear and learn about grace and draw close to where the glory of God is manifested then so much can happen. That is the place where love is being shed abroad in imperfect people. That becomes an oasis and a place of healing.

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" - Romans 8:31-32 ESV

When our hearts begins to cool we look here. The cross is where we find the flame again. The cross is the place of grace and glory. The cross renews our hope. No matter what things look like that cross is a lighthouse that will always guide us safely home.

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