Life Together According to Love

S - "From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in—we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we’re telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us. We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!" 1 John‬ ‭1:1-4‬ ‭MSG‬‬

O -  What makes a credible witness of God and his Kingdom is not one's theological prowess but one's relational experience with Jesus. Fellowship, life together, sons and daughters is not based upon a common creed or set of principles but on a shared friendship and ongoing experience of the person heaven sent to the world God loves (currently 7.4 billion). Jesus clarifies the person and purposes of God and his Kingdom. "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me." (John 12) Theological frameworks, religions and religious practices do not and cannot offer this. Only in Jesus is the entire world invited to experience God's love and adoption. 

A - As a child I was taught to sing "Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so."  The Scriptures do tell us this. However, this is NOT how we are to know that we are loved. As an example, I don't know my wife loves me because the wedding vows we took included such a statement.  I know it because I am experiencing her presence and love on a daily basis.  I don't know Jesus loves me just because the Scriptures say it.  I know it because I experience him and his love day by day. He says “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” Experiencing him and his love is the point. This is the joyous experience of communion with the Father and his Son referenced above.  I am very grateful to be experiencing him and his never ending love!  

P - Lord who loves us more than life,

Thank you for giving yourself to us day by day according to love.  I give myself back to you completely.  Though this exchange is drastically unequal it is the point of life forever with you in your Kingdom.

Love you back,

Steve