NEWS Love Untamed
Here is a follow up blog to the one I posted earlier (see: "A Lovely Mosaic") on Erwin McManus' book "The Barbarian Way." It is a terrific read. I highly recommend picking up a copy.
Toward the end of the book Erwin says something that resonates strongly with my heart. He states (note: bold added for emphasis):
"Barbarians are entrusted with the gospel - not a message of judgment and condemnation, but good news from God to humanity. Yet the opposition and persecution came with a force that could not be expected or even imagined. Ironically Jesus was crucified not in spirit of His love, but because of it. Somehow love incited both love and hate with equal force. The mission of Christ would be so easy to embrace and carry out if love always resulted in love, but it does not. It seems the world insists that love be proved. So then those who claim love are required to endure hate's most brutal tests. Wherever the love of Christ would be spread by His disciples, they encountered rejection, persecution, suffering, and even death.
Anyone who chooses the barbarian way will learn quickly that love and sacrifice cannot be separated. This is perhaps why so many of us who know love fear love. We know that love is not the absence of pain. If anything, love is the promise of pain. No one has loved more deeply than God. Has anyone ever been more betrayed? God would not know suffering if He did not know love. But because He is Love, He chose to suffer on our behalf. Without love there is no glory in suffering.
The suffering of Christ glorifies God because it elevates love. Compelled by love, God would go where He knew suffering was certain. Love always moves to sacrifice, which is exactly where He calls us to go. If we are to be like Him, we must always risk for love. The call of God is more than a leap of faith; it is a life of faith. Even when it seems beyond our abilities, we should not be surprised when God tells us to jump."
There is much light here. I would urge you to meditate on these passages.
May your heart be filled with the love of Christ.
Agape,
Steve
Toward the end of the book Erwin says something that resonates strongly with my heart. He states (note: bold added for emphasis):
"Barbarians are entrusted with the gospel - not a message of judgment and condemnation, but good news from God to humanity. Yet the opposition and persecution came with a force that could not be expected or even imagined. Ironically Jesus was crucified not in spirit of His love, but because of it. Somehow love incited both love and hate with equal force. The mission of Christ would be so easy to embrace and carry out if love always resulted in love, but it does not. It seems the world insists that love be proved. So then those who claim love are required to endure hate's most brutal tests. Wherever the love of Christ would be spread by His disciples, they encountered rejection, persecution, suffering, and even death.
Anyone who chooses the barbarian way will learn quickly that love and sacrifice cannot be separated. This is perhaps why so many of us who know love fear love. We know that love is not the absence of pain. If anything, love is the promise of pain. No one has loved more deeply than God. Has anyone ever been more betrayed? God would not know suffering if He did not know love. But because He is Love, He chose to suffer on our behalf. Without love there is no glory in suffering.
The suffering of Christ glorifies God because it elevates love. Compelled by love, God would go where He knew suffering was certain. Love always moves to sacrifice, which is exactly where He calls us to go. If we are to be like Him, we must always risk for love. The call of God is more than a leap of faith; it is a life of faith. Even when it seems beyond our abilities, we should not be surprised when God tells us to jump."
There is much light here. I would urge you to meditate on these passages.
May your heart be filled with the love of Christ.
Agape,
Steve
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