Obedience is lifeless with out love.
I continue to fall flat on my face before the Lord. It’s as if I am shakily rising to my feet, when the rug gets swept out from under me once again.
The more we love Jesus, the more eager we are to obey Him. In that obedience comes a willingness to become truly foolish and undignified before the King. For so long I have teetered back and forth between true commitment to Christ, and fearing man more than God. In one breath I would valiantly promise to never say no to Him, and in the next I would blatantly refuse His nudges to pray for someone or speak out His word.
We serve a God who continually changes hearts and in LOVE draws us closer to Him. As I look back over sacrifices made to follow Him, the willingness to obey did not come because of a sudden change of heart, it came from a supernatural increase in love for Christ. The decision to leave friends, family, and what was comfortable was not made out of a decrease in desire for those things, it was made out of a greater hunger to know who our God is.
The more madly you fall in love with Jesus, the harder it is to say no to Him.
He desires your heart. When all else fails, nothing will remain faithful and true except for the love of the Father who knows you and created you. His love always protects, always hopes, and always perseveres.
I tried to take things back into my own hands. I tried to figure out the best solution for MY team and MY ministry and MY relationships. I turned it into a stressful cycle that was all about me when the fact is this is the LORD’s team, the LORD’s ministry and the LORD’s relationships. I sought after the gifts of the Spirit more than the love of the Father. It’s not about me. My job is to love. My mission is to be so compelled by love for the Father, that I lose myself in His goodness and faithfulness.
-Heidi Baker, Compelled by Love
I am learning that on my own, I am not patient, or kind. I envy easily and boast in myself. I am proud and rude, self-seeking and easily angered (1 Corinthians 13). It is only when I rely on the Lord’s strength that I am at peace. That I truly see His sufficient grace and His power made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12). I do not have to fear because perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). I was not given the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7).
When all else fades away, when we are left with nothing except love for our Father, we will realize that we had all we need all along.
We went bungee jumping on our last off day (in Nepal, no big deal). The most terrifying moment is seconds before you take the leap. Your feet are dangling half way on the platform and halfway in space. The chord is tugging you downward off the edge and your arms are stretched out. You know that there is no going back. You either jump, or the kind Nepali behind you will give you a gentle push that sends you off into the abyss.
Will you jump in to the love of the Father? Yes, it is terrifying, but the moment you choose to leap you will never be the same again.
