Just an observation from my study: it was not the world that hated Jesus; it was the religious people that schemed, plotted against Him and eventually manipulated to see Him crucified. It's of no consequence, though. He died for them too.
It's strange to me to hear of Christians who want to send me back to Africa, or put Islamic folk in concentration camps, are abusive to the LGBT community, and want to enact laws that force everyone to follow their rules. I'm just making an observation, but that sounds a lot like the Islamic extremists that Christians stand against.
Jesus didn't force me to love Him. He drew me out to the desert place and spoke to me tenderly (Hosea). He didn't expose me, He picked me up and told me to go and sin no more (the woman caught in adultery). He gave me a drink of His living water, and made me an evangelist (the woman at the well). He let me worship him by allowing me to wash His feet with my tears and anoint Him with the best of what I had to offer. He knew that he who had been forgiven much loves much (Mary Magdeline). He knew that I would get so caught up in my foolishness that I didn't know how to get out on my own so He took my sin as His own and He died for me, so that I would always know the way home (Calvary). The foundation of His ministry was love.
Religion always wants to control, always needs to dominate, always accuses and shames. Religion enslaves and isolates, legislates, and overtakes. It quantifies, categorizes, and it qualifies. It demands that the surface always be perfect, even if the vessel is rotting from the inside out. If this is who I must be, then I don't think I want to be a Christian anymore.
It will suffice to be a follower of Christ. I want the foundation of my ministry to be love.
Love takes a lot longer, and it's a lot scarier. It means that I must deal with my shortcomings first before I set to work on others. But it enboldens me to climb down out of my ivory tower. Love is intentional and is insistent that i make relationships, and cover the mistakes of others just as Jesus covered mine. It brings me out of hiding, it lifts me out of lying, and gently reminds me that I was once lost too. Love tells the truth, but doesn't force its hand. It's power under control.
It urges me show patience and to give grace, and strengthens me to do battle where it really counts and where it's only effective: in my prayer closet. That's where darkness is unveiled and the schemes of the enemy are thwarted. That's where I become bold and protective of the lost; I take captivity captive. In the secret place I make a show of the enemy and expose his lies. My fingers battle and my hands make war. I trouble the principalities and rulers of darkness and I strip them of their power. There I stand between the living and the dead, and I decree their ressurrected, abundant life. I worship the one whose crest I wear enblazened on the flag of my heart, and I am restored.
When I emerge from that secret place, I am victorious, and alight with glory and prepared to go out into this dark world again; to love.
#followerofchrist #sippingteawithjesus #john316
