These past weeks, I have been constantly reminded of God’s love through conversations with friends, Bible/book studies, TV series and various encounters. Truly, He knows when we need His embrace the most and He sends people and orchestrates circumstances to fill our emotional tank. Isn’t He amazing?
In one of the ladies’ groups, we have been tackling Francis Chan’s book, “Crazy Love”. We recently discussed chapter 8, “Profile of the Obsessed”. The author highlights a life that is absolutely obsessed with loving, serving and constantly knowing Jesus. We watched together his 3-minute YouTube video clip (link provided at the bottom of this post) and we were so moved by how passionate he is in urging his listeners to be obsessed with the Lord. Obsession with the Lord means we live, we breathe, we do everything with Him in mind. Our minds are so centered to Him that He is our priority in all things.
Each of us in the group was transported back in our early days as Christians on how fired up we were in our devotion to Him. Our hunger in knowing Him seemed endless. We craved to know Him more through prayer, studying His Word and attending activities that will spur our spiritual growth. As time goes on, we experienced trials and challenges or pursued other priorities that have kept us off track. We start to drift away and that fire that once burned brightly in our hearts, has been reduced to a flicker. One likened it to a dating experience. When two people are in love and just started dating, they can’t seem to get enough of each other. Thoughts and actions on how to please that person we love, consume our minds. Time and effort are showered by both parties to one another to express their love. As time passes, familiarity creeps in and both boyfriend and girlfriend, may find things monotonous. What is awesome in our relationship with God is that He continues to pursue us. He is obsessed with us. When we stray, He will call our attention and provide avenues for us to have that flicker return to full blazing fire. Again, how amazing is that?
There is an online / TV series that I have been following called the “The Chosen” (app is free for download). Oh my, I get emotional in each episode. It gives life to the personal encounters of various Biblical characters with Jesus. Among those covered were Mary Magdalene, Peter, Matthew, Nicodemus, Samaritan woman, the disciples, and those that Jesus has healed. The message is mutual in all these encounters. Jesus did not care about their past. He cared about their present and the future. He did not care about labels – He interacted with people that were deemed “sinners” or “unclean” during His time. Above all, He cared about the heart more than good works ...more than following traditions or what is considered acceptable by society. All these encounters resulted in great transformations. They just can’t stop talking about Him and shared their experience to others with such joy and passion.
God is constantly in pursuit of us. That phone call from a loved one that brought encouragement to us is not by coincidence... That act of kindness and generosity from a friend is not by chance… That conversation with a colleague that brought inspiration to us is not by accident… Even challenges that come our way are meant to further strengthen our faith and allow us to fully surrender to Him. On the other hand, if we are prompted to reach out to someone, that is appointed too. May we respond right away and let that person feel God’s embrace in a tangible way.
God’s love is relentless, it will never let go. What an amazing truth!
Romans 8:31-39
31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Francis Chan's YouTube video, "The Obsession of the Devoted Worshipper":
Comments