02/14/2012
What better day to discuss being bold in our love for Jesus than on Valentine’s Day, and what more appropriate way to begin but with a poem...
Love
By Rich Forbes
Hope gives birth to courage,
Courage allows us to be bold,
Bold is the heart that loves;
Jesus is the hope of the world.
So, are we bold in the way we reveal our love for God, Jesus, and for one another, or are we timid, and let an earthborn fear throw a bushel over our love, and how we show it?
“Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,”
2 Corinthians 3:12 ESV
Paul tells the Corinthians that Moses had to cover his face because of the radiant glory that came from letters on stone, but that the glory of Christ in us far exceeds what Moses displayed.
“For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.”
2 Corinthians 3:9-10 ESV
He also tells them that Moses hid the glory that was on him, but that the glory we have received should be boldly shown, and that our glory is so brilliant that is keeps one from seeing the old glory that once seemed so bright. This is true of glory, but it is even more so of love. The love that God demonstrated for us by sending His Son Jesus to redeem us far eclipses what once seemed so obvious in the law.
“Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end.”
2 Corinthians 3:12-13 ESV
Paul witnessed firsthand the light of God as it shown about him and those who were with him...
“At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me.”
Acts 26:13 ESV
In this scripture he is telling the king that the love of God shown brighter than the sun as Jesus Christ spoke to him, and now, with Jesus abiding in God, and God in him, and He in us, and we in Him, we too shine in this way... “as he is so are we!” But do we let our light shine?
“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.”
1 John 4:16-17 ESV
So, with this perfect love within us, and the glory that it brings forth, beaming brighter than the sun for all to see, are we filled with hope, courage, and the boldness our hope has given birth to? Are we letting all the world see it? Do we let it shine into the most remote recessed of the world as we love our spouses, families, friends, enemies, and neighbors? Do we let it shine into heaven, and onto the heavenly host as they worship and sing praises to the Lord? Do we let it rejoin the light of God’s own love to reveal the fullness of His glory?
““You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16 ESV
So today is Valentine’s Day, and we are encouraged, and even encouraged, and emboldened to show our love for those around us by giving them cards, gifts, and maybe even writing them a poem, but it should be far more than this as we recognize the true nature of God’s love within us... we should be throwing off the bushel and let God’s brilliant light shine forth from atop the hill on which we live, for all to see, and for the glory of God.
Are we filled with hope today? Are we courageous and bold? Do we love perfectly?
Prayer:
Father, we thank you for loving us so perfectly that you sent your Son to live, suffer, die, and be resurrected for us. We thank you for His love for us that poured forth from atop Calvary as he asked that we be forgiven... even as He bore our sins; the sins of the world. Today we celebrate St. Valentine’s Fay, and man’s love for one another, but help us Holy Spirit to remove the larger bushel from the love within us, and let the brilliant light of God’s perfect love shine forth for all of heaven and earth to see. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who has brought your love to abide in us, and to shine forth from within us as a beacon for all who would long to know you to follow. Praised be your name Lord as you love us so completely that you have come to abide in us who were once made vessels of sin in Eden. You are merciful Father, and your grace, like your love, and goodness, is perfect towards us. We worship you in spirit and truth Father, and nothing demonstrates this more perfectly than by the love we have for you... a love that shines brighter than the sun, and eclipses every other light. Hear our prayers Holy Father, and find us worthy through Jesus on that faithful day of judgement. Hear His voice from Calvary as he pleads for our forgiveness, and see His image in our faces. Welcome us to your table Lord, and call us your children as we love you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength... joining you, out Father, in Eternity.
Rich Forbes