Surely by now everyone knows that God loves them, right? Apparently not. Last night I was listening to a podcast by Larry Randolph. He was talking about the cripple at the Gate Beautiful. The cripple who Peter & John met as they were going up to the temple to pray. This man had been at the temple every day since he was a child. He was taken there to beg for bread. He had been there when Jesus was brought to the temple and Anna and Simeon had prayed over the infant Jesus. The cripple had been there when Jesus taught in the temple court. Larry Randolph put this in a way that cut through my callousness. He said this cripple had experienced all that the church had to offer. This cripple had heard the Levites chanting the word of God. Despite all he had heard and seen he had not had an encounter with God.
I think that this is indicative of the society we live in. We live in an age when there is more unchurched than ever before. However, how many people have been innoculated against the gospel, the very thing that can change their lives. They have experienced all kinds of Christians. They've seen the televangelists on the tv. But they have NEVER experienced God's love. How can this be? How can I call myself a Christian and be more concerned with the World Series or the Olympics than showing the love of God to another? How could I be so selfish?
I believe there are two reasons and neither of them are good ones. First of all, to do something, to interact with people costs me something. Yes, it will cost me everything. They may reject me. Better that they reject me than God rejects me. I call myself a child of God, but I have largely been uncaring towards humanity. I have been uncaring toward God's creation.
The other reason is because I have not allowed God to fully heal me. I am allowing and praying for that now. If we have hidden hurts, hidden wounds, our love arteries are stopped up so to speak. I believe that if the church will allow God to put His finger on our hurt and let Him heal those wounds, that it will change everything. We will be able to receive God's love, and be able to show the love of God.
This will change the atmosphere, the world, and everything. God gives us His love so we can spill over on other people.
One other thing I want to say. I want to recommend those who need healing to watch this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoC1ec-lYps It is Jesus Culture -- How He Loves Us. You may want to watch it over and over. Yes, it's that good.
