There are many times in my life…. more like many times in any given week when I experience an astonishing affinity for this or that person I find myself in proximity to. Perhaps you have have experienced this on many occasions in your daily life as well and this is what prompts me to type these few words. This experience is especially acute when you can see in another’s eyes the same familiar quality of light. This is the kind of reaction I can only ascribe to God and His never ending gaze upon us. A gaze which only we break by turning our eyes away to perishable things.
Where is the balance? I can tell you that few people know the true overflow of affection I have for them. I feel as though I can not reveal this and it is for good reason. There is a process that must be completed because we are all partakers of the forbidden fruit.
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
(Gen 3:7-11)
We come into this world with few inhibitions about loving lavishly and learn quickly as we grow from the innocence of our childhood the sting of rejection, jealousy, and selfish desire both given and received.
Jesus is the balance. His life is the model and His love for His disciples who are the church is the example. The process is not complicated only challenging.
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(2Pe 1:2-8)
This process builds upon itself and cannot be accomplished out of order. I have become more and more determined not to hide myself but to exhibit the true overflow of love for others in the light of who Christ is and what He continues to do in my life.
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
(1Jn 3:18-24)
It is my Confidence in God my Father that gives me courage to be bold in my affection and I praise Him for this. A gift that is given freely to one who is entirely unworthy of the receiving is to that one a most precious gift.
"It is by loving, and not by being loved, that one can come nearest the soul of another; yea, that, where two love, it is the loving of each other, that originates and perfects and assures their blessedness. I knew that love gives to him that loveth, power over any soul be loved, even if that soul know him not, bringing him inwardly close to that spirit; a power that cannot be but for good; for in proportion as selfishness intrudes, the love ceases, and the power which springs therefrom dies. Yet all love will, one day, meet with its return. "
— George MacDonald
This week I am reminded of this fact by seeing a light in the eyes of a child who having only been in my presence for no more, than hour and not all at once mind you, believed me to be of great value and affection.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
(1Jn 4:10-12)There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.
(1Jn 4:18-19)
Thank you God you are love!
