Tag Archives: God’s good plan

Lavished love!

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Everyone I know loves to lavishly love their children and grandchildren. It’s evident when I talk with the hospital staff about their families; their eyes beam. It’s true with the closest of friends too. Marcia and I have been best friends since I was a teenager. A former colleague of mine often commented how my eyes always light up when I refer to her. Of course, it’s by design. We were created to love by the author of love himself, the one who lavishes his children with love.

 

Do you feel lavishly loved as a child of God? That is what we are! Just as we have hopes and good plans for our own children, God has good plans for us. Just as we love our children unconditionally, God lavishes us with his patient love. He continually draws us closer to him so we can be all that we are meant to be. He allows us to freely make poor choices that steal our best joy but he wants so very much more for us, just as you want so very much goodness for your own children. He speaks value and worth and hope into our lives. Oh that we would listen and lavishly love each other in the same way.

 

Part of the love we lavish on our children includes protecting them and nurturing them, helping them to remain pure in a corrupted world. It’s no coincidence that’s God’s good plan for his children too. One of the great tests of love is that we honor each other even when we disagree, even when we’re hurt. If we have neglectful or harmful habits, we stop them, not letting our own rights impede the love we so long to lavish on others; not letting negative emotions trick us into forgetting God’s promises. We search for ways of building each other up instead of tearing each other down. We commit to a lavish love that pays attention, listens, encourages, and honors. Not surprisingly, that’s God’s model for lavishly loving us.

 

Just as we work to protect our children from harm and watch that they don’t go astray, so it is with our heavenly Father’s concern for us. You’d give your life for your child. God did exactly that by giving us his Son Jesus. He doesn’t just love with words but actions and truth, giving us an example to follow.

 

As I think about my own children, I realize that lavish love believes. It believes in potential and it keeps on believing.

 

Love each other with lavish love.
Let God’s spirit of peace remain in you.
Protect it at all costs.
Keep believing.

 

(Reflections on 1 John 3)

Preparing the way

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“Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” Luke 3:4

 

When you read the passage in Luke 3, it’s tempting to think it’s all about John “The Baptist.” Indeed, the quote from Isaiah 40:3-5 is a prophesy about John’s ministry.

 

When the Word of God came to John he chose to obey God and dedicated his life to preparing the way for Jesus, even unto his death. But the message is for you and me too. When the Word of God comes to us, we have to choose to either accept it or reject it. Any “middle ground” is the same as rejecting it and will face an unquenchable destroying fire. Accepting God’s Word demands a response and daily submission to the Holy Spirit who brings us through a refining fire (Malachi 3:3) that purifies us and prepares the way to produce “good fruit.”

 

We spend much of our life preparing for careers, house purchases, vacations, and more. But our real call is to prepare the way for Jesus to have his way in our life and to prepare a path for others to meet him.

 

Some think that you confess your sins, repent, ask Jesus to save you and all is good; “been there, did that.” But the gospel speaks of genuine repentance as an ever renewing process that brings peace, understanding, and power for victorious and purposeful living. Repentance is our daily path toward preparing a place for Jesus to govern our lives. It humbles our heart and prepares a path for him to make his home in us. We are quick to pray for healing, but James says, first repent of your sin. It is a pure and clean heart that prepares the way for the Lord’s power in our lives.

 

Luke uses the illustration of two trees, one that flourishes and produces good fruit “in keeping with repentance.” The other that either produces bad fruit or no fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. That’s what happens to all the “fruit” of our self efforts, committed without the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

In the midst of everything that you are preparing for, wouldn’t it be a good idea to take time right now to quiet your heart? Prepare the way for Jesus to strengthen you and guide you according to his good plan for your life.

 

The Death of a Vision

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There comes a dark time in most of our lives when hope dies.

 

Or so it seems.

 

Perhaps you’ve been there when the lights went out and darkness suddenly swept in, ushered by a minimum of spoken words:

“You – have – cancer.”

“You’re – fired.”

“I – want – a – divorce.”

 

In the blink of an eye, all that was good has suddenly turned to bad. It’s a dark moment when your vision dies. If it weren’t for the deep pain, you’d have thought you died too. Indeed a part of you did.

 

Abraham was there. God had promised him not only an heir but descendants as numerous as the sand. But in his old age, his wife was still barren. It seemed his vision had died. But then God intervened and the promise was fulfilled, the vision reborn.

 

Joseph was there. God revealed to him in a dream that he would be a great ruler of the people. Then left for dead in a pit, falsely accused and forgotten in prison, it seemed his vision had died. But the God intervened and the promise was fulfilled, the vision reborn.

 

David was there. God promised he would be king of Israel. But after being anointed, the present King Saul continued to persecute and tried to kill him. Taking refuge in the cave of Adullam, it must have seemed David’s vision had died. But God intervened and the promise was fulfilled, the vision reborn.

 

The disciples were there. They had devoted their lives to following their Lord, Jesus. But in a horrific turn of events, their master was tortured and crucified and they were in fear for their own lives. In those dark hours it must have seemed that their vision had died. But God intervened and Jesus rose victorious from the grave. The vision was reborn!

 

There are times in our own lives when the apparent death of a vision overcomes us with despair and grief. Despite the best efforts and all our plans, things don’t work out as we plan. And it seems as though the entire earth has swallowed us whole. And sometimes the vision we have does perish. But it is never the end of hope.

 

The smallest flicker of faith dispels the darkness that surrounds us. That small flame seems to grow as we feed it with increasing trust. It illuminates and reveals what we thought had been lost. God still has a good plan for your life. You were made for a specific purpose. You are not alone. His vision has not perished and neither have you. Hope remains. Hope always remains.

 

If it seems your vision has perished, don’t give up. Never give up. Turn to God and ask for His vision. Reach out to a friend. Write us at Go Light Our World. Don’t stay in the darkness. Keep your light of faith shining.