If I have not love...

I've been thinking a lot about love lately. The kind of love Jesus demonstrated by leaving His rightful and privileged place in heaven to make recompense for man's sin. Some times when we sing antiphonally, we ask, "What kind of love is this?"

Not was, but is. A continual, unconditional love. A love that qualifies us to walk in the domain of light!

Jesus prayed in John 17:26 "...so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." He's asking the Father to love us as He loves Jesus. How can we stand under such love? How can we not love others? I've spun my wheels trying to love the unlovely. I've had very limited success. But Jesus prays further to the Father and says, "I'll be in them."

It was this kind of news that rocked the world of the Jewish leaders. "What? God living inside of us? Impossible." Colossians 1:27 says it's the mystery of the ages, but here it is, "Christ in you, the hope of Glory."

So if Jesus lives in me, and the love of the Father is in me, then I should love others as the Father would love others. Hum... still working on it. But, it is my heart. Heidi Baker has practically taken over Mozambique for Jesus by loving. "Love the one in front of you," she says.

Then it hit me. If I don't have love, I'm nothing. I'm a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. In fact, I'm down right annoying. Ever heard a noisy gong or clanging cymbal? Shiver! So what if I write best selling novels, speak to thousands, earn millions if I don't have love. I am nothing! If I pray for the sick and see them recovered, but don't have love, it means nothing.

Do I stop writing, living life, pursuing the things of God? No. But it means I pursue love first. How different the world would really be if we pursued love, if we pursued Jesus with abandon.

You know, the disciples saw Jesus perform wonder after wonder, miracle after miracle. John the Beloved said the books of the world couldn't contain all He did. Jesus even told them to go out and do greater works that He! Remember that in John 14:12? If not, look it up. ;) Yet, the disciples didn't question Jesus about the miracles. They didn't question Him about how to perform wonders. They questioned Him about prayer.

"Lord, teach us to pray." They understood the power and importance of communion with the Father. They understood the profundity of Jesus came out of intimacy with the Father. Jesus even said, "I don't act on my own initiative, but I do what I see the Father doing."

And so should we. Loving others comes out of being confident in love ourselves. We must meet with the Father, cry out of the kisses of His Son's words on our hearts. Cry out to be changed, to love like He loves. Then, love the one in front of us. A neighbor, or friend. Perhaps a co-worker. There is no room for unforgiveness, bitterness and hate. No room.

I want to love like He loves. I'm tired of spending my prayers and energy on myself. I want to be like Jesus.

Prayer Retreat - We went on our annual prayer retreat with the teens. Four churches went up to Teen Missions in Merritt Island. It's a great place to go - lots of trees and paths to walk. God did some dynamic stuff with the teens on Friday and Saturday night. My intimate encounter came Saturday morning. I was sitting in the meeting room, worship was going on and Jesus called me to Him. I stood outside this cirlce, and His gaze caught mine.

"Come here," He said. I started to cry. In many areas of my life, I see myself just outside the circle. I"m good but not great. Playing the game, but second string. A wife, but not a mom. I won't bore you with the details, but this is a heart issue I need Him to change. Fearlessly, I stepped into the circle. We danced - Jesus and me. He can have all of me.

I am nothing without Love. Nothing.