Sunday, February 15, 2015

Don't Shrink Back

A conversation with God:

"I am not going to change My nature to fit your insecurities.  I am kind to the unthankful and to the wicked (Luke 6:35).  I can't make people love me.  But I'm not going to let people override who I AM, because they choose not to love me.  I AM LOVE.  I'm not going to let people change ME because of their own insecurities.  It's the ultimate defiance."

God is defiant.  But He doesn't flip us the bird in His defiance; He offers us His relentlessly warm embrace instead.  He calls us to do the same ~ to our enemies, to the unthankful, to the wicked, and to those we love.

Maybe you've been walking on eggshells lately, afraid the people in your life will misread your kindness or project their own insecurities onto you.  I have been lately.  It's an oppressive and fearful way to live.  Let's scrap that mentality.  Who cares?  Don't let your life be defined by what others might think of you.  Don't let fear of what others may think stop you from walking in Love.

The truth is: real Love is threatening.  It scares people.  Real love without strings attached is dangerous.  It can't be earned.  It can't be taken away.  Real love is up in your grill.  Real love defies the norm.  Real love can't be manipulated.  Real love doesn't react.  Real love just is and real love doesn't change.

God is Love.  God is a madman, who breaks societal norms.  He indulges in doing more for us than we could ever deserve or repay.  And the crazy part is He's never going to call in our tab.  He freely gives us all things.  Think about it.  Don't hate Him for it.  Don't try to repay Him: you can't.  Love Him.  Thank God for this unspeakable gift!

God is not like us.  God doesn't give us stuff just to get something back from us.  He gives, freely, because that's Who He is.  

He who spared not His own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall He not with him also freely give us all things? ~ Romans 8:32.

If we think it's all about us, then we've missed the character of God.  (See the Story of Hosea.)  God is never changing, He is endlessly good, and relentlessly faithful.  Period.  Even when we are flippant, evil, unfaithful, when we spit in His face and downright despise Him.  God's good, infallible character has nothing to do with us.  It's just Who He is.  

So let's let God be God today and just thank Him for it.  I pray we can be more like Him.  I pray we can be scary, reckless, and abandoned in our love toward Him, our enemies, and others.  After all, Love might turn the world on its head.  Love might upset the enemy's camp.  Love might start to turn miracles loose before our eyes, and we might see years-long answers to prayer fulfilled.  Love is at least worth the shot.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us.…~ 1 John 4:18-19.

Lord, I pray we hold nothing back.  Amen.