The Son's Responsibility part 3
Here, in my opinion, is the ultimate truth of the universe: "The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands" (John 3:35, NLT). God is love and He loves you. And that, friends, is why I think the Son has a very important responsiblity. Let me say it another way, "My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him" (Matthew 11:27, NLT). The "everything" in question here, the "everything" that the Father has given us... is the ability to reveal the Father to people. To shine the light of the world so people can see clearly. To be a witness for our God. To shew forth His glory. As the preacher once said, "We are the spout where the glory comes out." That's our responsibility as a Son--to show people the Father. And that's why I focus on love so much; because by showing people love we ARE showing them the Father! When we understand that God is love, we can begin to witness and testify about Him without getting religious. I've said this many times: Some of the best conversations I've ever had about God have never even mentioned His name. Because we were talking about love. We were talking about life. About how living and loving aren't just connected, but are really the same thing! About how to live IS to love, and to love is to live. That's what this life--Jesus' abundant, everlasting, eternal, Resurrection Life of love--is all about. That's what this life is for. We have been equipped and empowered... to love. Filled to overflowing... with God's love. And because He has given us that love, it is our responsibility--as a Son who is all about the Father's business--to love Him back by loving the people we come into contact with. To let God love the hell out of us and then love Him back by loving the hell out of people! To receive and release His love. And in that way, experience His love. Love is giving, right? For God so loved the world He gave. Jesus said there is no greater love than to lay your life down for your friends. To GIVE your life to your friends. And to know that we only have friends... and people that don't know they are our friends yet. I believe it was Abraham Lincoln who said, "I destroy my enemies by making them my friends." That's the attitude we should all have. Not trying to hurt people, but trying to help people. Not heaping fiery coals on people's heads in order to burn them, but simply to melt their hearts. Kill 'em with kindness. That's the responsibility of the Son. And that's what we CAN do because of what GOD did. He loves us, we ought to love each other. To me, it's really that simple. Receive and release God's love. Breathe it in and breathe it out. Love one another with every breath you take and every move you make. Show people your heavenly Father by showing them love. That's what people need. They don't always need a sermon. Sometimes they need a meal. Or an ear to hear. Someone to lean on. Sometimes they need to know that they aren't alone. And, since we absolutely know that we aren't alone... we can show them that. We can see a need and meet it. We have what everybody needs--and we know that we have it. So, as my pastor says, "If you know it, throw it!" And like I always say, "If you don't know what to do, do what you know!" Let the love that is inside you come out by knowing and believing that it's in there. Fill yourself to overflowing with what you've been filled with. God and people. Love God and love people. Love God BY loving people. That's what God has entrusted us with, and that's what we have a responsibility to share with each other!