Open and Honest part 5
If we're being honest, we all just want to be loved. But if we're being honest, we really don't think we deserve love. Especially in the church world where we still seem to refer to ourselves as "sinners saved by grace." Where we still can't get past (or OVER) this sin consciousness. We don't seem to understand Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." And this is the part that I've really never understood: If we're saved by grace then we AREN'T sinners anymore! "Whoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" (1 John 3:9). So this idea that we're just lowly sinners but someday, maybe, if we try hard enough we'll be worthy of God's love is absolutely unbiblical. It's absolutely insane. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. That's what trying to follow the Law of Moses is: Insane. It can't get you where you want to go--especially when you realize and understand that you're already there. The thing about being open and honest is being open TO the honesty that is the Lord Jesus Christ. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). Jesus is the truth. The truth about the Father, and the truth about the Son. The truth about God (who is love) and the truth about you (His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased). Notice that He said no man comes to the FATHER but by Him. He wasn't speaking about "heaven and hell" as we traditionally understand it. He was speaking about relationship. He was speaking about the love that comes down unconditionally from Father to Son. And He was including us in that love. Including us in that relationship as we totally and completely identify ourselves with, and in, and as Him. When Jesus was lifted up from the earth He drew us into Himself. And He planted Himself in us. Then the corn of wheat died so that it could bring forth a great harvest. That's us. Him IN us. Us IN Him. Christ in you the hope of glory. You in Christ no longer a sinner, but a saint. Filled with the Holy Spirit--the love receptor, the Spirit of truth--so that we might know and believe the truth. The truth that the Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into His hands. The truth that Daddy loves you. Not because of what you do or don't do. But because of who HE is, and because of who YOU are. That's how we live openly and honestly. Not by believing the lie that the world screams at us at the top of it's lungs. You know the lie: You have to do in order to be. You have to perform in order to earn. Do good and you'll be rewarded. Do evil and you'll be punished. It's easy to hear and believe that lie because that lie makes perfect sense to the unregenerated, carnal mind. But there's a more excellent way. And His name is Jesus. His name is love. Unconditional love that fills you to overflowing and flows out of your innermost being to get on everybody else that you come into contact with. Not trying to get anything, but knowing that you have something and sharing what you've got. Being open to God's love and then loving others with that same love. We want to be loved. And believe it or not we ARE loved. Which means we HAVE love. Which means we CAN love. That's the truth. And that's how we live Jesus' abundant, everlasting, eternal, Resurrection Life... by letting HIM live it in us, and through us, and as us!