LOVE DOES NOT FAIL

As this valentines closes I decided to repost John Lynch New Testament Gamble as one of my favorites.

the new testament gamble by john lynch

What if I tell them who they are?

What if I take away any element of fear, condemnation, judgment or rejection?

What if I tell them that I love them and I’ll always love them and I love them right now, no matter what they’ve done, as much as I love my only son?

What if I told them that there’s nothing they can do to make my love go away?

What if I told them that there are no lists?

What if I told them that they were righteous with my righteousness right now?

What if I told them they could stop being so formal and jumpy and stiff around me?

What if I told them that I was absolutely crazy about them?

What if I told them that even if they ran to the ends of the earth and did the most unthinkable horrible things, when they came back I’d receive them with tears and a party?

What if I told them that I don’t keep a log of past offenses, of how little they pray, how often they’ve let me down, or made promises they don’t keep?

What if I told them that they don’t have to be owned by men’s religions, traditions or additions?

What if I told them I’m their Savior, they’re going to heaven no matter what, it’s a done deal?

What if I told them that they had a new nature; that they were saints not just saved sinners who should now buck up and be better if your any kind of Christian after all He’s done for you?

What if I told them I actually live in them now; that I put my love and power and nature inside them at their disposal?

What if I told them that they didn’t have to put on a mask, that it was really OK to be exactly who they are at this moment with all their junk, and not have to pretend about how close we are, how much they pray or don’t, how much Bible they read or don’t?

What if they didn’t have to look over their shoulder for fear if things got too good the other shoe was going to drop?

What if they knew that I would never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, use the word punish in relation to them?

What if they knew when they mess up I never get back at them?

What if they were convinced the bad circumstances are not my way of evening the score for taking advantage of me?

What if they knew the basis of our friendship was not on how little they sin but on how much they let me love them?

What if they had permission to stop trying to impress me in any way?

What if told them that they could hurt my heart but I would never hurt theirs?

What if I told them that they could open their eyes when they pray and still they will go to heaven?

What if I told them there was no secret agenda, no trap door?

What if I told them it wasn’t about their self effort but allowing me to live my life through them?

What if they actually believed that??!!

That’s the New Testament gamble and it’s being lived out in you and me right now.

As I sit back and reflect the love of my husband and family over this lifetime...it is so vast what the Father has taught me about His love for me through Christ.

For so long I looked to my husband to meet my needs and to give me my worth and validate me.  I looked to Him to make me happy.  To say that I was right.  I looked to Him to make my world worth living when only Jesus could do that for me.  He is what filled the void in my heart.  My husband could not be my god.  He could not fill me and make me whole and heal my brokenness that we all have from a fallen world.

Now if something is wrong with my peace and joy I don't look to my husband to make me happy but look to Jesus and my relationship with Him.  Knowing He loves me just as I am.  That my loneliness is through His presence and acceptance and love that can never fade.  I look in and not out to a world to give me only what Christ can.  Himself.   The Love that will never leave me nor let me go even when I sleep or struggle or fail.  He meets me in my fears and unbeliefs.  He gives me my prayers even before they are on my lips.  He is...My first Love!

When my worship to God is my heart as first in my life, then my love will be overflowing to the world around me.  God is love, living in me.  He is the very Spirits gift that keeps giving.  Love that is never quenched.  He uncovers a love that keeps being poured out that is His love undone.  It is the love showered from the Trinity that keeps on and on and on.  It is Christ in me and His love that just can't be stopped.  It is the kiss from the Father to the Son in us.  It is the love that pours out of a repentant broken heart touched by God's Love that made it worth it all to Him.

That is the "Love" that never fails.  The love of Jesus poured out at the cross and then throughout eternity in such sincerity and humidity that cost Him it all.  Only then, by a broken heart surrendered to its Savior can it taste the honey that can free us and those we love.  It is the very heart of God.  It, He, never fails.