I had an amazing conversation with our Care Ministries Pastor Mark recently about what it looks like to use the unique gifts and passions that God has knit into our core to make our world a better place. Each one of us is unique and that means that there are things that Mark can bring to the table that I can’t.
In that spirit, I asked Mark to write a guest post for me so I could share with you his unique perspective on God’s amazing love. Here is that post.
“I’m going to be honest with you. It’s taken a long time for me to really understand the love that God, my Father, has for me. Since 1963, I have been listening to people tell me just how much the Father loves me. You would think I would have fully comprehended that by now. However, I find that time after time, the source of my problems and difficulties comes from a very imperfect understanding of that love. Here’s my analogy. Living the Christian life is more or less like drinking a cup of coffee, black. I have nothing against black coffee and occasionally I will drink a cup of black coffee BUT ONLY if there is no cream. I liken the Father’s love to adding cream and sugar to black coffee. That basic cup of coffee has all the ingredients in it to help me start my day. However adding that cream and sugar makes it that much better! You see, my love need is so great, that only God can meet that need. The more I can understand that love, the better able I am to meet the daily challenges that come my way. Ephesians 3:17-19 says this: “…. and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” Isn’t it interesting to see in these verses, that when we are grounded in the love, we will understand the love which surpasses our ability to understand! How’s that for a twist? Add to that the promise that we get to be “filled up to all the fullness of God” (cream and sugar for my black coffee!) and that sounds like a great deal to me. What do you think your life looks like when it is completely filled with the fullness of God? How about a lot better than it is now? Most of you know that my job at Redwood is talking to a lot of you about what life is throwing at you. One of the things that continually comes up is our misconceptions and misunderstandings about God’s love. Experiencing life believing that God is always angry perhaps just like your earthly father was, isn’t helping your belief system about who God really is. God IS a Father who is generous in his acceptance and love. He has vision and purpose and hope to give to you. As you and I submit to receive His love, we will be able with faith, to call forth God’s power in all the other relationships we have. This is His promise to us as he states in the verse just prior to the one I’ve referenced. Ephesians 3:16 says: “He will grant you according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His spirit in the inner man.” Aren’t you glad he fulfills all His promises? Understanding the Father’s Love a bit better sure has made a difference. Next time you’re drinking a coffee, I hope it’s a double double.
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