Powerful Love
Psalm 117:2 For his unfailing love is powerful; the Lord's faithful love endures forever.
When I was a newlywed, and we began to give our own Christmas gifts to my family, I created a basket for my Granny. I filled it with kitchen things like a pretty dish towel, a soup mix in a jar, tea, etc. Some things were practical and some were just for fun, and the basket was one that could be used to serve bread, or to gift another person. We gave it to Granny as the family exchanged gifts, and she showed great appreciation. Later that evening, she put the basket down and proceeded to "weed out" the items she wanted to keep, left the others in the basket and handed it back to me and said, "here you can keep these things".
I assume that maybe she thought I could use them more than she could? Or she was just so practical that she didn't want to keep and ultimately waste the items she returned to me? I don't know. At the time, I couldn't understand why she would give part of the gift back, and it kind of hurt my feelings that she didn't think some of it was worth keeping!
We have a Heavenly Father who graciously and generously gives us more than we really understand. He knows needs of which we've yet to become aware. He prepares us for future trials through the lessons he teaches us, the experiences he allows us, the people he places in our lives. As I meditated on Psalm 117 & 118 recently, my mind kept going back to God's love being described as "powerful". In human terms, love can be powerful, and it can seem like it has power over us, but the power of this divine love is very different from our definition. It's a love that no human can offer. Divine love can fully satisfy without the existence of human love, but human love cannot fully satisfy without (or replace), divine love. Divine love enhances human love, because we take on qualities of a Diety who is love by definition, thus enabling us to love more perfectly.
But let's back up a little. When we speak of a powerful love in human terms, romantic love or the love for your family, or for your children, is probably the most powerful. When we receive this kind of love, we hear affectionate speech from our loved one, we feel their touch and see how they look at us. This causes an emotional and chemical response in us. When we reciprocate this love, it may motivate certain behaviors that we don't take on with most people. It may cause us to be more patient, or it may cause more extreme emotional responses, than with most people. This love definitely makes us more vulnerable, whether to euphoric happiness, or to devastating pain. There is risk involved, because it gives another flawed human the power to hurt us by breaking trust, by not loving us in return, or by not meeting our expectations in some way. When our loved one is sick, or hurt, we hurt as if it were our own body. When our loved one leaves or dies, their absence leaves a hole in our heart. Human love has a lot of power.
Divine, powerful love is different in its giving and in its receiving. There is no touch or look to experience from God himself (yet). We "hear" him by reading His Word; to experience a "hearing" in our soul requires focus, and quiet, for His is a still, small voice deep within. To hear him requires willingness, and seeking. Though God is always pursuing us, we may not always be aware, as we are when another person pursues us. The love God offers is complex, and far beyond human capacity. It never fails, it is always faithful, and it is forever. This love is beyond emotional love. Emotional love changes chemicals in your body, causing emotional and physical reactions. Divine love transforms a person - it literally changes the level of strength, wisdom, discipline of which we are capable. It empowers us. Divine love offers freedom from our human boundaries, a refuge in which to rest from the oppression of the world and of the body we live in. It rescues us from evil that is all around us. When we are dependent upon the profound strength and sovereignty of an already triumphant Diety, we can be fearless. His love gives us life...true life, not like the shadow of life that the world offers.
So many people, even Christians, settle for the morsels of life the world offers. When we don't tap into the power that is offered in God's love, we are taking the gifts He's given us, parsing out only a few superficial things, and giving back the rest, assuming they are of no use to us. We read His Word for information, but not for transformation. We say "God loves me," but what does that mean? How is it evident in your life? How does it change you more than human love changes you?
When you meditate on scripture, allow it to become part of you. Wait in expectation for God to speak to you as you mull over the words. Sometimes we aren't patient enough to wait for Him to speak. Do we assume He has nothing to say right now? I feel confident in suggesting, to never assume that. Maybe we need to look within to find out why we are not hearing Him. "When you seek me you will find me, when you seek me with all of your heart." Search your heart, and wait for Him. Receive the powerful, unfailing love He has to offer, and you will be transformed. That is truly a gift in a bottomless basket.
When I was a newlywed, and we began to give our own Christmas gifts to my family, I created a basket for my Granny. I filled it with kitchen things like a pretty dish towel, a soup mix in a jar, tea, etc. Some things were practical and some were just for fun, and the basket was one that could be used to serve bread, or to gift another person. We gave it to Granny as the family exchanged gifts, and she showed great appreciation. Later that evening, she put the basket down and proceeded to "weed out" the items she wanted to keep, left the others in the basket and handed it back to me and said, "here you can keep these things".
I assume that maybe she thought I could use them more than she could? Or she was just so practical that she didn't want to keep and ultimately waste the items she returned to me? I don't know. At the time, I couldn't understand why she would give part of the gift back, and it kind of hurt my feelings that she didn't think some of it was worth keeping!
We have a Heavenly Father who graciously and generously gives us more than we really understand. He knows needs of which we've yet to become aware. He prepares us for future trials through the lessons he teaches us, the experiences he allows us, the people he places in our lives. As I meditated on Psalm 117 & 118 recently, my mind kept going back to God's love being described as "powerful". In human terms, love can be powerful, and it can seem like it has power over us, but the power of this divine love is very different from our definition. It's a love that no human can offer. Divine love can fully satisfy without the existence of human love, but human love cannot fully satisfy without (or replace), divine love. Divine love enhances human love, because we take on qualities of a Diety who is love by definition, thus enabling us to love more perfectly.
But let's back up a little. When we speak of a powerful love in human terms, romantic love or the love for your family, or for your children, is probably the most powerful. When we receive this kind of love, we hear affectionate speech from our loved one, we feel their touch and see how they look at us. This causes an emotional and chemical response in us. When we reciprocate this love, it may motivate certain behaviors that we don't take on with most people. It may cause us to be more patient, or it may cause more extreme emotional responses, than with most people. This love definitely makes us more vulnerable, whether to euphoric happiness, or to devastating pain. There is risk involved, because it gives another flawed human the power to hurt us by breaking trust, by not loving us in return, or by not meeting our expectations in some way. When our loved one is sick, or hurt, we hurt as if it were our own body. When our loved one leaves or dies, their absence leaves a hole in our heart. Human love has a lot of power.
Divine, powerful love is different in its giving and in its receiving. There is no touch or look to experience from God himself (yet). We "hear" him by reading His Word; to experience a "hearing" in our soul requires focus, and quiet, for His is a still, small voice deep within. To hear him requires willingness, and seeking. Though God is always pursuing us, we may not always be aware, as we are when another person pursues us. The love God offers is complex, and far beyond human capacity. It never fails, it is always faithful, and it is forever. This love is beyond emotional love. Emotional love changes chemicals in your body, causing emotional and physical reactions. Divine love transforms a person - it literally changes the level of strength, wisdom, discipline of which we are capable. It empowers us. Divine love offers freedom from our human boundaries, a refuge in which to rest from the oppression of the world and of the body we live in. It rescues us from evil that is all around us. When we are dependent upon the profound strength and sovereignty of an already triumphant Diety, we can be fearless. His love gives us life...true life, not like the shadow of life that the world offers.
So many people, even Christians, settle for the morsels of life the world offers. When we don't tap into the power that is offered in God's love, we are taking the gifts He's given us, parsing out only a few superficial things, and giving back the rest, assuming they are of no use to us. We read His Word for information, but not for transformation. We say "God loves me," but what does that mean? How is it evident in your life? How does it change you more than human love changes you?
When you meditate on scripture, allow it to become part of you. Wait in expectation for God to speak to you as you mull over the words. Sometimes we aren't patient enough to wait for Him to speak. Do we assume He has nothing to say right now? I feel confident in suggesting, to never assume that. Maybe we need to look within to find out why we are not hearing Him. "When you seek me you will find me, when you seek me with all of your heart." Search your heart, and wait for Him. Receive the powerful, unfailing love He has to offer, and you will be transformed. That is truly a gift in a bottomless basket.
 |
| Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash |
Comments