Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Furious Love

Hey Friend,

Though I was not blessed with a good singing voice, I still love to sing (much to the chagrin of those around me when I do so).  I was singing a worship song in church and the lyrics of the song talked about the "furious love" of God.

At first this seemed like an oxymoron to me - how could God's love be furious? I was used to references to God's "loving kindness".

But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness.  (Psalm 86:15)

To me, furious meant angry, wrathful, vengeful.  But, furious, I come to find has other definitions such as:  on the offensive, very energetic, intense, very great.

God's (Christ's) love on the offensive...hmmm...

"For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost."  (Luke 19:10)

God and His Son Jesus pursue me; pursue you, persistently, powerfully and passionately.

They will overturn every rock to find you, save you and embrace you with their furious love.  Why?  because you belong to God and He cannot bear to be apart from His child.

One need only to look at the parables in the Bible that speak to someone seeking something with great energy and intensity until it is found.

In the parable of "the lost sheep" (Luke 15:1-7), the shepherd is not content with the 99 sheep of his that he has found.  No, with great and furious love, he searches for the one lost sheep until it is found and lovingly carries it back to the flock.

Much in the same way the owner of a precious lost coin searches tirelessly for that solitary coin.  And, when it is found:

"Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin..."  (Luke 15:9-10)

Translate "the coin" to "one sinner" and you get:

"In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."  (Luke 15:9-10)

God has a furious love for you.  Yes, YOU!  We pass over John 3:16, but read it again slowly and insert your name.

For God so loved (Your Name), that he gave his one and only Son, that if (Your Name) believes in Him he/she shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Wow!  That is the definition of furious love.  Christ died for us while we were still ugly sinners!

The Bible is chock-full of such references of God's great love for you.  In the last book of the Bible, Revelation 3:20, Christ says,

"Hear I am! (note the exclamation point).  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."  (Revelation 3:20)

Christ's final plea.  Christ's furious love that says I will seek you till I find you.  I will search tirelessly for you until you are back in my arms.  I will knock on the door of your heart until you let me in.

That's how much I love you!

God's furious love for you...You are of great worth.  Praying you will swing wide open the door to His great love for you!

Love,

Bev