Barbaric Love
After reading a book called ” The Barbarian Way” by Erwin Raphael McManus, I was reminded that we as Christians, are not called to conformity, or the life of comfort. We are called to live outside of our imaginary world of self-reliance. No where in the bible does it say that Christ has called us to an easy road; Christ followed a road less traveled. He marched to the beat of a different drum. He marched to the heartbeat of our Father. He walked a life of love. Barbarian love is a love that is a living sacrafice. Coming to realize that our life does not belong to ourselves, but to God and his plans. Every day we have a choice; to ask the Lord what his plans our for us or to follow our own desires. Jesus’ disciples never traveled the easy path. They continued and pressed on toward the prize which God was calling them to; they fixed thier hearts on heaven.
You can tell the heart of a church if they are tryin to recruit volunteers, or if they are trying to pull out God given potential in each individual for Kingdom purposes. Are we trying to build on a church, or on the Kingdom of Heaven? That is the problem with most American churches today. We choose religion over following Jesus. Barbarians are a rare find…they are eager to hear the voice of God and hungry for his presence. Their heartbeat is beating for bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to Earth. So who is ready? To take a stand and follow Jesus instead of rules, to be the Love of God where there is desparation, to be the answer when the world has problems. We are the answer. To be the sacrifice. To be the change. It is only your choice…
There is so much poverty in Africa…illness, hunger, orphans, the widows…God loves them all. We are called to be the answer…
What can you do?
Whose life could you change?
What are you so afriad of?
“I will tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.”-John 14:12-13
When we are living in the love of Christ..
.that love will drive out all fear.
“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”- 1 John 16-18
We are not to live in punishment, but to embrace the freedom we have through Christ.
Upon coming here to Africa, God has been tearing apart and revealing to me all of the fear that was inside of me…and I was reminded that perfect love casts out fear. Family, and friends were so concerned of safety and had spoken fear over me at times. The answer is being secure in God’s love and the hope of an eternal security and worth. Our bodies are wasting away each day, and each day we draw a step closer heavenward. When I face the Father, I want to know that I listened to his voice…that I went where he went…Where He goes, I will follow. I want to feel his presence and be in the center of his will. I could have stayed at home, where I’d have a secure life: a job, a place to stay, a dresser full of clothes, home cooked American meals…instead I chose the Barbarian way, and the Crazy Love {Francis Chan book(great book by the way) persuit of the love of Christ.
While I am in Africa, I know that God has already started a work within me, because his love has not been made perfect inside of me yet. There is some healing he has for me. My heart is yearning for the perfect love of our Savior. A love which surpasses all understanding…a love that doesn’t boast. A love that counts everything else as lost. A love that fights for Christ, even until death.
Lord…have your way.
” We fight violence with peace, hatred with love, and oppression with servanthood. While never violating our uniqueness, we move together, united in heart and soul. Our greatness in unleashed in the context of community. When we move together, God is most perfectly revealed in us.”- The Barbarian way; Erwin Raphael McManus
