"So open your hearts to one another.." Romans 15:5-6 {Phillips}

We hang on to Jesus because He has promised to hang on to us, even though we fail Him miserably at times, He remains faithful to us not because of our ability to obey, but because of His love for us.  It is for that reason Christianity has endured for centuries, the Father reaches out to us and inspires us to continue reaching back because He cares deeply for us.

“Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.” 

1 Peter 5:7 (TPT)

That is the wonder of being in a relationship with the Lord, we can lay all our burdens down at His feet, and He receives our burdens with no question asked. Jesus comes to us and tells us that He has paid our price so that we now have free access to the Father’s love permanently; we have been washed clean by His blood that was shed on the cross for us. 

None of the goals presented to Christians seem so daunting as unity among God’s sons and daughters.  The reality is all humans are God’s sons and daughters, no matter what their beliefs, creed, or predisposition, it doesn’t matter; God still loves everyone the same. Still, many choose to ignore or deny God’s love as being too abstract or not a ‘real’ thing in their daily lives.

God presents Himself as a good Father who cares for His children, even though he rarely makes a physical appearance.  He reaches out to touch His children in ways that are just as effective as an appearance, speaking through the written word and speaking to the heart and mind.

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never die, and no one can steal them out of my hand. My Father gave my sheep to me. He is greater than all, and no person can steal my sheep out of my Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” 

John 10:27-30 (NCV)

Paul says in this verse that Christ has opened His heart to you. He did this by revealing the redemption plan and the purpose He came to earth, which was to restore humankind to their place before God. 

To do that Jesus first had to remove the curse which was hindering every man from coming to God, which was done by way of the power and authority which was hidden in the text of the Old Testament, only to be revealed by the Holy Spirit and revealed it to us now in these final days. 

The purpose of Jesus is simple, it is to demonstrate the love of the Father to every human on the planet, and this is now continually done through the lives of believers who willingly give their own lives by sharing the good news of Christ.

 

Our Lord, I will sing of your love forever.  Everyone yet to be born will hear me praise your faithfulness.  I will tell them, “God’s love can always be trusted, and his faithfulness lasts as long as the heavens.” 

Psalm 89:1-18 (CEV)

Together will all of the saints we will sing in unison the praises of our Father in heaven, who sent His Son for us and sacrificed Himself for us for the joy that would come when we are all united together as one family of God on the earth to rule with Him. 

We are of all people who have the greatest potential for reaching others, namely because we are prepared for heaven as we speak of what we know when it comes to the love of the Father.  

There are so many lost people without hope, especially now that this virus is affecting everything we do socially, economically, and spiritually.  The Coronavirus has put a considerable strain upon everyday life, and many are affected in very negative ways, all the more for us to be the light of Christ to those who need hope the most.

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” 

Matthew 5:15-16 (MSG)

It turns out that the whole purpose for our lives is to glorify our Father in heaven and shine so others can see that He lives within us and that they too can receive the Father’s love, which is open to all.

Be Blessed;

Stephen Barnett