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THE FACES OF LOVE
Kris Vallotton
November 20, 2015
I love Paul’s revelation of the love of God in Ephesians. He wrote, “…being rooted and grounded in love, (that you) may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge…” (Ephesians 3:17-19). The love of Jesus is multidimensional; it has breath, it is an extensive, all encompassing ocean of adoration that surrounds you with compassion and woos you with admiration. It covers you in dark seasons and protects you through the night. It greets you in the morning, smiles on you through the day. It is captured at dusk and expressed at dawn; it is hope to the discouraged, and peace to the lost.
The love of Jesus has length; it goes the distance. You can’t fall so far that it can’t catch you, run so fast that it can’t get you, or hide so well that it can’t find you. His love is better than your worst day, stronger than the most defiant will, and more forgiving then your cruelest sin. When you give up, love goes on, and when you fall down, it picks you up. Love is courage to the fearful, hope to the helpless, strength to the weary, and wealth to the impoverished. Love goes the distance!
The Agape love of Christ has height; it exceeds all your expectations. Paul is so emphatic about this dimension of the love of God that he emphasizes it in the next verse when he wrote, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…” (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV) If you asked for it, love has more, and if you thought it, love takes it higher. If you dream big, love dreams bigger, and if you aim high, love aims higher. You dream of a family, love dreams of a legacy, you ask for a job, love finds you a destiny. You hope for peace, love longs for a ministry; you pray for heaven, love gives you His city. Go ahead, think really BIG…oh you are thinking too small, for love has already thought biggggggger than you!
God’s love has depth; it is intense, complex, profound, and able to penetrate your soul. Love’s revelation perpetually unfolds, as you peer into its substance, and experience it’s splendor. Love is like poetry that awakens the mind, to colors so vivid and beauty divine. Like an ocean so deep or a universe so vast, it beckons to be discovered and longs to be grasped. Mysteries and wonders unfold at your feet, as you walk with His love, your fears He defeats. Deeper and deeper you tumble in God, enriched by His goodness and changed by His love. The depth of this mystery is hard to explain, for the ocean that is around you, is in you, just the same.
Have you ever found yourself in the midst of life's chaos, desperately needing a break, clarity, and a spiritual reset? Picture it like halftime – that pivotal moment when the coach steps in, recalibrates the team, and sparks a turnaround. The game isn't over; this is a chance to come back stronger and claim victory! In recent weeks, a resounding message has been echoing in my heart and mind: January is the Church's halftime! Our divine Coach is calling us to the huddle, to draw close, and let Him fine-tune our game plan – our values, thoughts, and behaviors. Amid the noise, He's inviting us to step away, knowing that leaning into these divine moments will catapult us into the second half, ready for victory. And in this game, we already know the final score – He wins!
Gen Z, labeled as the seemingly lost generation to Christianity, and Gen Alpha, the digital natives immersed in screens, stand at the crossroads of an era defined by the rapid evolution of technology. As they navigate the evolving landscape of identity, both personal and global, a crucial question reverberates: "Has the Church lost this next generation?"
Have you ever grappled with the intersection of an unwavering belief in a supernatural God who releases healing from heaven and the pragmatic world of science and medicine? Perhaps you've found yourself standing at the crossroads, fervently praying for a miracle yet receiving healing through the hands of a compassionate doctor. It's a tension many face—the delicate dance of faith in God's miraculous power juxtaposed with the gift of modern medicine. What if there is no tension at all and there is actually a beautiful integration of faith and science?
