Words of Light: Grace & Truth for Your Journey Home
What if
things are not loved because they are beautiful,
but
are beautiful because they are loved?
What if
the apostle John refers to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved,”
not because John had a closer friendship with Jesus than the other disciples,
but because
John knew clearly that this reality,
“I am loved by Jesus,”
was the most important truth about himself?
What if John chooses to identify himself in this way,
because he knew
“Loved” was the most true name he could be called by?
What if I,
if you,
could accept and embrace this incredible love?
The story of Jesus goes something like this:
A woman named Mary who loved God enough
to be embarrassed, misunderstood, and physically uncomfortable
bore Him and raised Him.
A man named Joseph loved and honoured God and Mary enough
to walk beside her and share her social sanction and discomfort.
Then, there’s the part
where God so loved the low-class shepherds
that he sent his most elite servants–the sinless angels–
to call them to worship and wonder.
And don’t forget the love that beamed from a star
in another nation
shining for months as the wisemen followed that light
to the Source of all light,
a child toddling on dimpled feet.
All was not calm and bright as selfish Herod slew the sons of Israel.
But in foreign Egypt, God prepared a room for His Son
He prepared a place in Nazareth
and later
on the roads of Galilee, Samaria and Jerusalem
finally on a Roman cross,
in a Jewish ruler’s tomb
in a place beyond this world that is not heaven.
Then, oh, glorious day!
God defied nature
Conquered death
Parted atoms, so Jesus could walk out of the tomb
Into the garden,
Into an upper room,
Onto a road to Emmaus
Above the clouds.
God so loved the world–
What a beautiful world,
Full of souls
And each one, He calls,
“Beloved.”
What if I,
if you,
could accept and embrace this incredible love and
allow it to fill us,
like water in parched earth soaks in–
the earth swells,
the seeds burst,
and life comes forth blooming and alive?
Wouldn’t that be beautiful?
Lovely Yolanda. Expressed very well… Just what we all need to feel better & loved.
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What a beautiful reminder of our truest identity – God’s beloved!
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Oh, wouldn’t it?! 😭❤️
What matchless love to every human of all time. I appreciate the challenge to see His Beloved in every one I meet, flowing out of the knowledge that I am His as well.
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I like that about seeing others as His Beloved as well.
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