God is amazing, and holy, and just, and pure, and LOVE. L.O.V.E. As I am sitting here attempting to do other things, the desire to pour out my heart overpowered me and I know that I do not have a choice but to write (as the ant crawls out of my keyboard and across my screen J).
We are brothers and sisters in Christ. How many times have you heard that expression used in the states? How often do we understand it? How often do we mean it?
There is only one God the Alpha and Omega. Just one. In the greatest mystery ever, the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are one being. We worship Him because He loved us first and seeks us out and desires nothing more than a relationship with us. So much that God sent His one and only Son, Jesus, being God himself, to die on a cross for us. For God to place that kind of death on His Son and the Son being God to accept that kind of death it is so obvious that God loves us so very much.
So God loves His children. Yes that is right, children. How often does it say in the Bible that we are children of God? It also says that we are sons and daughters of God. As a child of God, adopted and purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross, we have inherited the kingdom of God. It is our right by blood. No one can take that away all we must do is believe that Jesus is God, died and rose again for us for our sins. As a son of the Father of heaven there is a responsibility. As a son I know things and am responsible for things. As a son I desire to be matured in my faith and stop drinking milk but eat solid food. God desires nothing but a relationship with us. A personal relationship (relationship meaning a two way conversation, communication, love, and a marriage). He seeks us out and desires that above all else. Christ died for us making us white as snow, there is no guilt or shame when we step before the Father. The Father sees his little child come to His throne. The Father sees his son, whom He is proud of, walk to the throne and He embraces us one hundred percent absolute whole hearted pull you into a death grip hug almost crack your ribs, because He wants nothing more than to have a real relationship with you and me.
On the race, I’ve had to process these truths as we are 57 people from all over the United States and Canada from different backgrounds and experiences. We are ages 21-35. We are from all churches yet one church. We are taught to love one another, big shocker there, but seriously to love one another before ourselves. We are taught that as God loves us we should love one another. We need to put on the eye glasses of love and see each other how God sees us. How does God see you? We acknowledge our differences of Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Episcopalian, etc. and we are asked what does our heavenly Father see? He sees His children, His sons and daughters who have been made white as snow and are pure and perfect. We are taught, and I know now, that there is something far bigger than our differences of doctrine. There is something that matters so much more than if we worship with raised hands, clapping hands, stomping our feet, or sitting in silence. Everyone is at a different place with God, whether you hate Him, don’t believe He exists, love Him, believe that speaking in tongues and prophecy and healing are for today, or if you think that God doesn’t heal like that anymore. We are humans. Which means that God loves us ferociously; we are His children. Not just a couple people, not just Americans, but each and every one of us are going to live eternally and God desires a relationship with all of us. I have learned that apologizing does not necessarily mean that I am wrong and you are right; it means that I value our relationship more than what our differences are. I have learned that God values the other person just as much as you. You are in process, so am I, and I will appreciate that process that you are in. You have a relationship with God and that is what matters!
That is the only key to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Seeking the kingdom is all that matters. All the small arguments and differences are thrown out the window. Why? Because you are a son of God and so am I. I value you above our differences and I will love you above our differences.
Therefore, since God values YOU above your sin, above your differences, above all else, then by God, I will do so also. I have learned what it means to be a brother in Christ. I have learned that just ignoring what each other do is not okay and that God intends so much more for us. I can accept the differences of where you are in your walk and all I need to do is encourage your walk and love you and not stifle it.
Matthew 22:36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Love All Worship One
