The Great Call
Part One
“As the Father hath loved me,
so have I loved you…”
John 15:9
This partial scripture is staggering. The incomprehensible Love of the Son for us is of the same magnitude that the Father has for His own Son! Selah. May the Spirit of God cause us to pause here and let the immensity of this word pierce our hearts. Let it drive out thoughts of our inadequacy, meanness, and self-loathing.
“As the Father hath loved me,
so have I loved you…”
John 15:9
If we can read these words without being overwhelmed, we need to spend more time in His Presence. Let these words impact how we see ourselves and more importantly how we are to see others. It is one of those scriptures that will take us eternity to grasp the significance of its message. Only by His Holy Spirit can we be transformed by its singular vein of thought. Let it break any vestige of pride and arrogancy within and free us from seeking to validate ourselves before men and before God.
Love is the heart and soul of every disciple. The Love which bound the heart of the Son to the pure will of God will also bind those who know its grasp upon their hearts. The love which bound the Son to the Cross will bind us to the Will of the Father unto the same obedience. Without love, there can be no true discipleship.
Until His Love has ravished our hearts, stolen our hearts away from the love of this world, we know little of our salvation. Where the love of God is resident, it will be accompanied by the Fire of God for love is the fire burning within.
“Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.”
Song of songs 8:7
Throughout the ages, there have always been those whom the Love of God has sealed unto Himself. There has always been a remnant whose lives were His to do with as He willed. He that spared not His Only Begotten Son did not spare them. Whatever they lost here was compensated in the resurrection.
“…who through faith overcame kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the mouths of the sword, acquired power from weakness, became strong in war; made armies of foreigners to yield. Women received their dead by resurrection; but others were beaten to death, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection”
Hebrews 11:33-35
(The Greek Word for better means stronger, greater in power)
The secret of the life of a disciple is the love of God, burning, purifying, and bringing His own to the path of obedience. Love produces greater sacrifice, greater offerings, and purer motives. Love is the great gift of Himself to us.
“Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling…”
1 Timothy 1:5-6
See: The Nature of Love
See: The Great Call – Part Two
See: The Great Call – Part Three
(to be continued)
Brian Troxel
It is staggering Brian. The side effects from drinking often from that fount should make those around us stagger as well from experiencing the overflow of His presence in us. I fall so short, yet know about spending time in his presence. Some day my faith will hopefully grow to the immense size of a mustard seed and my love for others discernable in the bottom of a cup (enough of a swig to make one stagger).
A faith that cries out for more… is a faith that is alive and pleasing to Him.
“Blessed are they who hunger and thirst…”
I am always encouraged by you.
Blessings to you and your family.
BT
I shared this one too!
Thank you!
Blessings.
BT