[serialposts]Read 1 John 4:7-21 (ESV, NIV, The Message).

Some things I believe. . .

Counterfeit Love

I believe that love in its purest and unadulterated form cannot be given or shown without the power of God.

Maybe that’s what points to the many one night stands and high statistics of divorce and love gone wrong. Humans have a story of looking for love, it’s good and it’s like water to our souls but there are so many wells offering the promise of love . Some have drank and are still drinking it cause it tastes like love, it looks like love, and all things point to the fact that it’s love. But please if you are at any of these wells, you are drinking or you want to start, pause a minute and look at the source of the spring you are about to drink from, if its source isn’t God, you would leave more dry, thirsty and haggard. Cause in the first place it wasn’t love, it was only a promise of love.

Romantic Love

I believe even in love’s earth best model i.e. a marriage; the partners must rely on God’s source to give the real thing to each other.

Any good marriage which is getting on well would testify that it isn’t built on the fancy shininess of the Hollywood reality shows that we see on T.V but is built on principles of loving even when the other partner doesn’t deserve love, being patient and waiting for love’s growth even in the storm, choosing to close the door and throw away the keys in the house of love no matter what may come. It’s a love that isn’t based on what can be seen. It is love by faith.  It is love by seeing with the eyes which is inward. (See 1 Corinthians 13)

Tough Love

I believe God is a father that loves recklessly no matter what life storms and situations tell us. A picture of a father leaving his huge business in metropolitan America in search of his lost son whom he has just being informed was spotted in the African Sahara comes to mind. It’s hot, dusty and gutsy, yet he leaves it all; his comfort and riches to rescue his wayward son. It’s not just true for Moses, Abraham, John, Paul and the other seemingly strong people of faith you have heard about in the bible and across history, it is true about you. And you know what this same God is still madly in love with you and taking risks for you. (See Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:23-25 you really need to check up the later in The Message, it’s awesomely revealed!)

I would love to round off with a thought a writer I really love shared on Psalm 23. He talked about how the Israel shepherds where known to break the ankle bones of their sheep that were used to wandering off so they wouldn’t wander off into the mouths of the lions. Do you feel the same way at this point in your life? You know broken and stuck?  Are your body bones intact but you are really limping in the places eyes can’t see, crying out ‘can’t you all see I’m in pain?’. Remember you have a shepherd.

I believe God loves you not because you love Him but because that is his nature, his obligation, his obsession – to be crazy about you and search for the every part of you till he brings you safely home.

Rest, breathe, hope, love, have faith and see the father working behind the scenes.

Because I believe God is love.