NEWS The Beauty of Seeing Love
Here's a meditation on love for you today inspired by T. Austin-Sparks. May it be light to you. Sparks says:
"Paul had not decided to come into Christianity, to turn from one religion to another. Paul had not decided to accept certain teaching about Jesus Christ. It was not because some people had persuaded him to become a Christian. It was none of those things. And it was none of the many other things that call some people to become Christians. Paul saw Jesus Christ. For him the beginning was not a religion or a teaching, it was a Person. Later on, he put it in this way. "It pleased God to reveal His Son in me" (Gal. 1:15,16). He had a very personal encounter with Jesus Christ; it was very personal."
From the beginning, it was not a religion or a teaching - it was a Person. And who is that Person? It is Love - the most powerful Being in the universe, a Being that knows no death, no darkness and no destruction. Sin, beloved, is not wrong doing, as many think. It is rather wrong being. It is possessing the wrong heart - a heart that has not love. The heart is the totality of what we are. Religious hearts are sinful hearts. Jesus railed against such hearts. I encourage you to meditate deeply on Matthew 23.
When we first enter the world, we are naturally not equipped with hearts capable of walking in love. They must be transformed through the Cross. The Cross is Love's will, as distinct from our wills. Adam and many that followed in his footsteps couldn't walk in love. That's THE major problem for the Lord. He desires for all of us to walk in love (Ephesians 5:1-2). The inability or lack of desire of many people to walk in love explains why we have seen so much death, darkness and destruction in the world. Put simply, Adam had the wrong heart. Walking in love - in the Light, as it were - requires a special heart. It requires a heart of Christ. Adam is sin. Christ is love. Adam is darkness, Christ is light. Adam is death. Christ is life.The difference between Adam and Christ is night and day.
It is wonderful to read Paul's letters and see what an incredible job Love did transforming his heart. Every single letter Paul wrote radiated love. Saul of Tarsus was a devout religious man, but he had not love. Saul, as a Pharisee, could have never written those letters of love. It took Aother Heart to do that task - the heart of the Holy Spirit. When the eyes of our heart are opened, we see love and our hearts radiate love. Love becomes preeminent in our lives and the Spirit guides our hearts. Paul's life is proof of this truth. Saul's heart was filled with darkness and hatred. Paul's heart was filled with light and love. Repentance means a change of heart - one from darkness to light, from death to life, from hatred to love. Revelation - seeing Love - is the gateway to repentance. Oh, the mighty power associated with revelation!
Note what Sparks says about Paul. He didn't make a decision to become a Christian, or to turn to another religion called "Christianity." He had not decided to accept "correct teaching" about Christ. There weren't a group of Christians that persuaded Paul to stop being a religious Pharisee. No. Paul saw Christ. God chose to reveal Himself to Paul. The revelation he had set him free to walk in love. And that's precisely what he did for the rest of his life.
When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, the Spirit said much through his heart. But when it was time to get down to the foundation of Christ, the Spirit through Paul said:
"And now let me show you the most excellent way."
What followed was what we know today as 1 Corinthians 13, the most beautiful description of love ever recorded on the planet. Love is, indeed, the most excellent way. It is the greatest (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Oh, the mighty power of revelation to change a heart filled with darkness to one that radiates brilliant light that is Love.
Love, Light and Life are what God desires for our hearts.
May you know the most excellent way.
Agape,
Steve
Listen to love
http://www.sweetbirdmusic.com/
"Paul had not decided to come into Christianity, to turn from one religion to another. Paul had not decided to accept certain teaching about Jesus Christ. It was not because some people had persuaded him to become a Christian. It was none of those things. And it was none of the many other things that call some people to become Christians. Paul saw Jesus Christ. For him the beginning was not a religion or a teaching, it was a Person. Later on, he put it in this way. "It pleased God to reveal His Son in me" (Gal. 1:15,16). He had a very personal encounter with Jesus Christ; it was very personal."
From the beginning, it was not a religion or a teaching - it was a Person. And who is that Person? It is Love - the most powerful Being in the universe, a Being that knows no death, no darkness and no destruction. Sin, beloved, is not wrong doing, as many think. It is rather wrong being. It is possessing the wrong heart - a heart that has not love. The heart is the totality of what we are. Religious hearts are sinful hearts. Jesus railed against such hearts. I encourage you to meditate deeply on Matthew 23.
When we first enter the world, we are naturally not equipped with hearts capable of walking in love. They must be transformed through the Cross. The Cross is Love's will, as distinct from our wills. Adam and many that followed in his footsteps couldn't walk in love. That's THE major problem for the Lord. He desires for all of us to walk in love (Ephesians 5:1-2). The inability or lack of desire of many people to walk in love explains why we have seen so much death, darkness and destruction in the world. Put simply, Adam had the wrong heart. Walking in love - in the Light, as it were - requires a special heart. It requires a heart of Christ. Adam is sin. Christ is love. Adam is darkness, Christ is light. Adam is death. Christ is life.The difference between Adam and Christ is night and day.
It is wonderful to read Paul's letters and see what an incredible job Love did transforming his heart. Every single letter Paul wrote radiated love. Saul of Tarsus was a devout religious man, but he had not love. Saul, as a Pharisee, could have never written those letters of love. It took Aother Heart to do that task - the heart of the Holy Spirit. When the eyes of our heart are opened, we see love and our hearts radiate love. Love becomes preeminent in our lives and the Spirit guides our hearts. Paul's life is proof of this truth. Saul's heart was filled with darkness and hatred. Paul's heart was filled with light and love. Repentance means a change of heart - one from darkness to light, from death to life, from hatred to love. Revelation - seeing Love - is the gateway to repentance. Oh, the mighty power associated with revelation!
Note what Sparks says about Paul. He didn't make a decision to become a Christian, or to turn to another religion called "Christianity." He had not decided to accept "correct teaching" about Christ. There weren't a group of Christians that persuaded Paul to stop being a religious Pharisee. No. Paul saw Christ. God chose to reveal Himself to Paul. The revelation he had set him free to walk in love. And that's precisely what he did for the rest of his life.
When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, the Spirit said much through his heart. But when it was time to get down to the foundation of Christ, the Spirit through Paul said:
"And now let me show you the most excellent way."
What followed was what we know today as 1 Corinthians 13, the most beautiful description of love ever recorded on the planet. Love is, indeed, the most excellent way. It is the greatest (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Oh, the mighty power of revelation to change a heart filled with darkness to one that radiates brilliant light that is Love.
Love, Light and Life are what God desires for our hearts.
May you know the most excellent way.
Agape,
Steve
Listen to love
http://www.sweetbirdmusic.com/
posted by Steve at
9:35 AM
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