God's Extravagant, Outrageous Love for Us

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This afternoon, I visited a well-attended gathering of men at "Kanaan", also the home of of the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary (Evangelische Marienschwestern).  At the chapel I picked up a tiny flyer stating that God always acts out of love, even if we might not understand Him. This is what I truly believe. As well as I believe that God deals with my life motivated by divine love and that His love draws me closer to Him. Through Jesus Christ I literally escaped the wrath of God once and forever and I absolutely know that I have a caring Father in Heaven.

So, I was inspired to think back to the video clip of a prophetic word given by Graham Cooke about the unconditional love of God and to share some thoughts  about this topic.

The message is called The Inheritance. During the first minute as well as at the end there is just some singing that one maybe want to skip. The statement is radical. It doesn't easily fit into our theological concept and we can't sometimes stand the idea that there is a God loving us that much!

But in summer of 2009, on two different days, absolutely out of the blue I experienced how God loves people. He granted me a short glance into His heart. He longs for each and everyone. For the followers and for those who do not know Him or even willingly reject Him. This experience was so strong, I couldn't speak and tears ran downs my cheeks. I tell you it was breathtaking.

Lots of us hesitate to accept this unconditional love. But the Son of God became man out of divine love for mankind and then suffered and died for us because of this amazing love. He overcame death so that we might have life in abundance. What greater love can one have towards another that he lays down his life for him? Do we believe the Father gave His Son and then stopped right there half way? No, He did not! Why? First of all, if we think about it, it wouldn't make ANY sense. Secondly, it's God's nature to love, His very essence. The Bible tells us in1Jn 4 that „God IS love“. He wants to fellowship with us and wants to be loved back. This is in a way comparable to the relationship between earthly parents and their children. It follows the same pattern (who do you think, „introduced“ this pattern?).

And yes, a loving relationship goes very well along with the greatest possible reverence towards our creator, sustainer and redeemer. It goes along with His holiness and His demand for us to grow in holiness. And it also doesn't contradict the fact that there should sprout up fruits.

God is grieving over our sins, iniquities and transgressions and He genuinely hates them. So we have to take this issue serious. But nevertheless He loves us. Even if people reject Jesus – He loves them unconditionally. It's men's decision to not accept this kind of relationship and God respects this decision and the eternal significance of it.

If we believe the enemy who is telling us, that we are useless, weak, simply a failure and God is angry with us all the time, we miss the whole point. We are not in the truth and we are not set free yet. Only if we accept the truth and let it sink into our heart, we will be able to overcome fear (such as fear of men!) and to show love towards God and fellow humans.

What, if I went to the fish market to buy a fish as a whole without fish-bones. It would't work of course. If I can't stand them, then there is no way for me to have a proper fish. They are „built in“. The very same applies to us humans. Jesus bought us including the "fish-bones" of our weaknesses. He knew about them. If we have a look at the great women and men of faith. There was simply no perfect one. Not even close to perfection. They all fell short! Again, I'm not at all promoting to take sin lightly. But He knew already before he laid the foundation of the earth for whom He died. He knew and still knows, that we will stumble and fall. That we are imperfect outside of Him. But we are accepted and unconditionally loved. It does not depend on our perfect performance as His followers.
 
So I do agree with the message in the video although I have to acknowledge that also for me it is not easy to fully grasp and get it. 

I personally found it very helpful to read i.e. Ephesians 1 – 3 and Romans 8 thoroughly to discover who we are in Christ Jesus.

I don't want to believe the lies.


Since I first saw Rembrandt's famous painting „The Prodigal Son“, it amazed me.
The returning son (kneeling and filthy) allows his father to unconditionally love him. The father doesn't hesitate to get close to him and embrace him.
The older son instead (standing at the right-hand side) rejects this love and closeness throughout the story, although the father invites him again and again (Luke 15). He is also son, also heir, but he behaves distant and hard-hearted in words and deeds. He is actually spoiling the relationship, offered by his father. (Nevertheless there is hope for the older son. The parable has an open end!).

However, as for me, I rather want to accept the Father's love right away.