Thank You For Loving
I just began grilling chicken for my family. My mom was joining us for dinner since Dad was out of town. The phone rang as I'm standing on the deck smelling the results that only charcoal grilling can produce. It was a call from one of the other pastors in our ministry saying I needed to go with him to pray for a man and his wife in a desperate situation at their house. I didn't have the super Christian mentality with special theme music played as my mindset, clothing, and purpose transformed for the sake of the call. No, my mind was on staying home for the night with my family and yes, chicken.
I headed out and once again the Holy Spirit began to open my heart, then my mind. He's very good at that, you know. I started thinking the number of times Jesus must have just settled down to rest his tired legs, anticipating refueling his body with a meal. Then, someone comes to Him requesting His presence at another location for another desperate need. Though tired, He looks up, displays a slight grin, motions a simple nod, then pushes up from the ground to head out. Hadn't He done enough for that day? He was working for the Kingdom from sunrise to sunset. Why would He go? The answer is the same for Why He came - LOVE.
We arrive at the house that has been plagued by drugs, addiction, pain, confusion, condemnation, and defeat. However, there was a sense of hope. The husband released his pride in making the call for us to come pray. His physical condition was in much need of relief, but his spirit was in need of deliverance. He has known the power of God in his life and was raised in a Christian home. The effects of his addiction has hurt the people he loves and that love him. This disappointment caused by his own hands has become unbearable. He continued to use the phrase to us, "I'm ashamed and embarrassed that you had to come out here to pray."
My heart broke. Not just for a family that's suffering from results of a world infested with sin, but for a man who exhausted all other options of people and help before reaching a point to call Christ-followers for prayer. The last resort for him was the Church. We counseled, prayed for them individually and together, then anointed the house with oil and words by the authority of Jesus. There was a powerful presence of the Holy Spirit that brought freedom. But, the most powerful infilling for this husband was that of love. He looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "I see Jesus in you. How could you love me enough to come here? How can I feel His love this strong?"
I was humbled and astonished. How could he ask such questions? Doesn't he know those answers? Shame then flooded me. The message of Christ has been distorted. People in desperate need expect to receive condemnation first, live long enough without sin, then receive acceptance of His grace which will result in feeling they can now be loved by Jesus. No! His grace covers us because He loves us. There are no stipulations. There are not enough works. All are loved. If people in need cannot see this message of love in us, we are failing. We represent the One who is Love.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. - John 13:35
This man finished his questions with a statement that I'll never forget. Though he was grateful for the visitation to his home and lifted by prayer, he finalized the moment by looking at me, Me! One who never gets this Christian walk right. One who constantly battles with the call to be an instrument for God because of all the mess-ups, hang-ups, and give-ups. Yet, it was me he addressed with, "Thank you for loving."
The message was alive in that declaration. It's alive because Jesus has and always will love. That is the reason all power belongs to Him. The power of His true love can never be tainted. I echo that statement to the one who is perfect love, "Jesus, thank you for loving."
I headed out and once again the Holy Spirit began to open my heart, then my mind. He's very good at that, you know. I started thinking the number of times Jesus must have just settled down to rest his tired legs, anticipating refueling his body with a meal. Then, someone comes to Him requesting His presence at another location for another desperate need. Though tired, He looks up, displays a slight grin, motions a simple nod, then pushes up from the ground to head out. Hadn't He done enough for that day? He was working for the Kingdom from sunrise to sunset. Why would He go? The answer is the same for Why He came - LOVE.
We arrive at the house that has been plagued by drugs, addiction, pain, confusion, condemnation, and defeat. However, there was a sense of hope. The husband released his pride in making the call for us to come pray. His physical condition was in much need of relief, but his spirit was in need of deliverance. He has known the power of God in his life and was raised in a Christian home. The effects of his addiction has hurt the people he loves and that love him. This disappointment caused by his own hands has become unbearable. He continued to use the phrase to us, "I'm ashamed and embarrassed that you had to come out here to pray."
My heart broke. Not just for a family that's suffering from results of a world infested with sin, but for a man who exhausted all other options of people and help before reaching a point to call Christ-followers for prayer. The last resort for him was the Church. We counseled, prayed for them individually and together, then anointed the house with oil and words by the authority of Jesus. There was a powerful presence of the Holy Spirit that brought freedom. But, the most powerful infilling for this husband was that of love. He looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "I see Jesus in you. How could you love me enough to come here? How can I feel His love this strong?"
I was humbled and astonished. How could he ask such questions? Doesn't he know those answers? Shame then flooded me. The message of Christ has been distorted. People in desperate need expect to receive condemnation first, live long enough without sin, then receive acceptance of His grace which will result in feeling they can now be loved by Jesus. No! His grace covers us because He loves us. There are no stipulations. There are not enough works. All are loved. If people in need cannot see this message of love in us, we are failing. We represent the One who is Love.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. - John 13:35
This man finished his questions with a statement that I'll never forget. Though he was grateful for the visitation to his home and lifted by prayer, he finalized the moment by looking at me, Me! One who never gets this Christian walk right. One who constantly battles with the call to be an instrument for God because of all the mess-ups, hang-ups, and give-ups. Yet, it was me he addressed with, "Thank you for loving."
The message was alive in that declaration. It's alive because Jesus has and always will love. That is the reason all power belongs to Him. The power of His true love can never be tainted. I echo that statement to the one who is perfect love, "Jesus, thank you for loving."
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Your & Janyses' Aunt Linda