The Gift of Love

       

A lap full of love.

   

      I awoke at 3 A.M. with burning flesh, rose, and went to my place of comfort -- my recliner in the living room. I looked toward the picture window to find the star which always resides somewhere near the upper right corner during these hours. Sometimes it sparkles like a diamond when the sky is blackest; sometimes it's muted by a veil of fog; sometimes it's totally obscured by thick clouds. I thought, "How like God's presence, shining in my life in varying degrees, depending on how clear the atmosphere is!" And then I thought, "But I know He always loves me."  I know it with my head if I don't always feel it with my heart. But whose fault is that?

      And then my hand unconsciously reached for the soft creature beside me. Copper seems always to lean into my touch, as if reveling in it. Our previous dog, Poppy, was aloof as a cat can be. Bill and I both loved her dearly, and tried showing her by not only taking care of her needs, but with caresses and soft words, too. Her response, however, was usually to turn away or even growl, or worst, get up and walk away. As much as we loved that dog, we had no idea what we were missing until Copper came along and actually enjoyed our affection. This 70-pound "cream puff" as Bill has aptly dubbed him, thinks nothing of taking a running leap onto our laps to bestow kisses and nuzzles on the lucky recipient. He loves to be petted, cuddled, talked to as if he is understanding every gooey word, and he returns our acts of affection with moans, wallows of delight, and his own "goo-goo eyes"! 

      Then I began to think of people I love, and I realized something: there are people I truly have loved and admired, yet no matter how much I poured my love into them there's an invisible wall they've thrown up that won't let them RECEIVE the fulness of my feelings. I can do nothing to tear down this wall, and so they are perhaps missing the full blessing of being loved, as I am missing the blessing of having my love received. Notice I didn't say "returned." I'm not sure you could say Copper actually gives us love. His gift to us is receiving our love!

      I am beginning to realize that, conversely, there have been people in my life who tried to give me love, and I was the one building walls and refusing that love. I wonder what amazing relationships I may have missed out on by rejecting someone's love, freely given, nothing required in return? And did they miss my receiving of their gift? I wonder how God feels when so many of His children simply refuse the love He so freely offers, asking nothing in return? Think about it: how do you feel when you pour love into another and it doesn't seem even to be noticed, like the proverbial water off a duck's back?

      Oh my friend, consider this: God, Creator of the Universe, has absolutely everything He needs! The whole creation is His! He doesn't need us; He just loves us! He created us for fellowship, communion with Him-- that's all! I've always liked the Greek koinonia because it incorporates the broad scope of the concept of fellowship. According to biblestudytools.com,

"the nature of koinonia... depicts an interactive relationship between God and believers who are sharing new life through Christ. The Greek word captures the entirety of this relationship. It involves active participation in Christian community: sharing in spiritual blessings and giving material blessings." (emphasis mine)

      Saturday, March 27, 2021, is the beginning of Passover, the commemoration of the time the captive Jews were spared from slavery and death in Egypt by the blood of a lamb spread over their doorposts. The culmination of this week of fasting and feasting is Sunday, April 4, Easter Sunday, or more appropriately Resurrection Sunday, which marks the day the ultimate Passover Lamb conquered death for us all for all time by rising from His grave to take His rightful place at the right hand of God the Father. It was Our Father's ultimate gift of love. Will we delight Him by accepting it?

  "We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 

We write this to make our joy complete.

 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 

If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." (1 John 1:3-7 NIV)

"He must increase, but I must decrease"  (John 3:30) ♱ IMPORTANT: If you have never accepted the gift of God's love, don't wait another minute, because we aren't guaranteed the next breath. Pray this prayer: Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner, no matter how "good" I might appear. I could never be perfect enough to spend eternity in Your Holy Presence, no matter how hard I try. I know that the only way I will spend eternity with You is through the blood of Messiah Jesus, the only Perfect Lamb and Your only Son. I ask you now to forgive my every sin and help me turn away from all unrighteousness so that from this moment on I will live for You and by Your grace. Now by the presence of Your Holy Spirit in me, help me to live according to Your will, filled with Your light and love, growing closer to You every day by studying Your Word and fellowshipping with other believers.                                       In the name of Jesus my Savior,                                                         Amen If you just prayed this prayer in sincerity, there's a celebration happening in Heaven right now in your honor! Go and share the news with a pastor or friend, or message me, so others can share in the celebration and pray for you as you begin the most exciting adventure of your life!