Would you dare
characterize your relationship with Jesus as scandalous? Wait a minute before
you reject this seeming crazy notion. We live in a culture that
continually tries to pull us down to its level of immaturity. Everyday, world
media outlets report on the latest scandalous acts of politicians,
entertainers, etc. And yet, Jesus still calls and 'woos' our hearts to an
abandoned, seeming 'scandalous' love affair. It would be helpful to define what
is meant by scandalous?
Scandalous: improper
display of affection or behavior in public...
Who gets to establish
the 'norm' that defines improper? To
be sure, the 'accuser' of the brethren (Satan) and his
most devilish minions (religious spirits) will gladly continue to put
forth their dark and debilitating definition. Their only agenda is to suppress your
affection for Jesus!
Their strategy is to 'steal',
'kill' and 'destroy' the incredible potential of our love affair with Jesus.
Robbing you and me of ever grasping the width, length, height and depth of the
love of Jesus is their intended target. Satan is the 'father of lies' and his
biggest lie is to convince you and me that it is somehow 'improper' to
enter the Eternal domain of the passion of Jesus.
"My response is
to get down on my knees before the (true and only) Father,
this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven
and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit--not a
brute strength but a glorious inner strength--that Christ will live
in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both
feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all Christians the
extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth!
Test its lengths! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full
in the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:14-19 (Message)
The essence of His
'scandalous' love is about to play out for His disciples in the moments before
His ultimate Passion on Calvary! His example becomes the model for all time.
Servitude, sacrifice, and abandoned trust to His Father become the
standard for all who will follow Him.
It
was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him
to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were
in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. (John 13:1)
Do
we dare explore the full extent of His love? Open your heart and
'take in with all Christians of all time the extravagant dimensions of Christ's
love'!!! "Reach out and experience the breadth! Tests its lengths! Plumb
the depths! Rise to the heights!"
To be in love with Jesus is to join Him
on the Divine journey to the loving heart of Father. It is to be in
love with love...He is love--His very essence is love. It is His
'scandalous' extravagant love that will take all of Eternity to fathom! Be enraptured
by His love as you listen to "I'm in Love with You by Kari Jobe...
In the grip of 'scandalous' passion from Jesus! Ron Ross
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