Regardless of what you may think about his writings, or the ministry he has done; the reality of Brennan Manning's experiences in his own life left him with this one powerful understanding. He feels the love of God deeply. He expresses the love of God extravagantly. And if there is one thing that I have taken away from his life it's that there is a reality of the love of God that we should all seek to encounter.
I want to say out of the gate that you cannot define the love of God by your experience. His love for us is always defined through the Cross of Christ. Romans 5:8 tell us that "...God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." This need to be the focal point of your life as it relates to the love of God. To quote Henry Blackaby, it is the backdrop that we place all situations or circumstances against. If we allow our emotions to rule our thinking then we will never fully walk in the love of God. If we all the problems that come up in life to the be litmus test of God's love then it will be hard to encounter His love in reality. When God's demonstration of love is solidified in our hearts, it doesn't matter what the world throws in our direction. We will know that we are loved.
Since today is Valentines Day I thought it would be a good day to settle this matter our hearts. Once it is settled then we can move forward into the encounters of His love. We will be able to discover His love through friends and family. We will be able to hear His love being poured out in the Scriptures. We will be able to express His love freely to others. I desperately want people to understand the unconditional, unqualified, and no-strings-attached love of God. However, I also want you to experience it for yourself.
This type of thinking isn't just wishful thinking. I'm not trying to lure you into something that cannot be experienced. This is a reality that can and should be a part of our lives. If there is one thing that I have discovered in the Christian life it's this: I can tell you about something - model it for you - and it may touch your life. But when you encounter it for yourself it will change your life. When you hear the Lord speak His love over you, you will be changed. When you feel the love of God poured over you, you will be changed. When you see the love of God manifested through an act of kindness, a display of honor, or through the embrace of another, you will be changed. All it requires is that we have settled in our hearts once-and-for-all the love of God and that we are open to experiencing it in our daily lives.
Find a quiet place where you can get alone with the Lord. Put on some worship music that is soft and intimate. Get into your best receiving posture. Then tell the Lord that you are there simply to encounter His love. This may mean getting in your favorite chair, closing your eyes, and simply allowing the Lord to sweep you away in His love. It may mean lying on the floor or your bed, and the Lord begins to show you things that continually speak love into your life. It's in those moments that we cannot take anything for granted. The Lord may show you images of your family, your spouse, your child, or take you to a memory. Regardless of what it looks like - you have to allow the Lord to speak to you through those moments. In the end, I believe you will be in awe of the love of God for you.
This encounter may mean simply reading through the Bible. Picking out particular verses to meditate on. Asking the Lord to give you specific Scripture that you could own for yourself. It may mean praying with the intent on listening. Or it may mean serving someone else. It's not my intent to provide for you a fail-safe listing of what works as much as I want to stir your thinking. You know better than I do about how the Lord speaks to you. These are just things that have worked in my life.
This past weekend during worship with the PBC Family, I was so aware of the majesty of God that I could do nothing but cry. I was in awe of His presence, His goodness, His unconditional love, and His greatness to me. It was personal. It was vivid. It was real. Those are the experiences of His love that will take us further than just a mere head knowledge. There may be times where I would question His love and I'm able to capture those thoughts and say "I remember when...."
Go ahead and celebrate the loves of your life today. Buy flowers, give presents, share cards. Do whatever it is you do to enjoy Valentines Day. But...please...take some time to think about the love that God has for you. Allow your identity to be consumed with the fact that you "are deeply loved by Jesus Christ" and you "have done nothing to earn it or deserve it." Enjoy the LOVE!!!
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