Before leaving for the race, I was sure I knew the Father’s love completely, blatantly ignoring scripture like 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.”
Early on my route, my squad mentor said believing you “know” something, especially of the Lord, inherently limits the growth you could experience with Him. In other words, the Lord is much more vast than our minds could comprehend, we will never come to know or understand any aspect of Him fully. While this may seem disappointing, it’s much more freeing. If I could obtain a complete comprehension of the Lord with the limited life experience and brain capacity I have, then it’s safe to say I don’t serve a God much higher than humanity itself. Or, that the Creator is on par with His creation. Praise the Lord, this is all but the truth.
As the hymn reads, “How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure…”
Now, over halfway through this race, I am sure I do not know the Lord’s love, totally, of course. He has blessed me with the opportunity to personally encounter His loving hand, and my heart has grown its capacity to receive the abundance He has for me. Still, I am confident there is more. I rest assured He always has fresh wind to blow over us.
Circling back to this idea 1 John 4:18, one of my alumni SQL’s and friends on the race shared a prophetic word for me to study 1 John deeply. As my team left for the remote village of Nepal, I decided I would read a new translation every morning. In my stillness, He was revealing the projection of my fear of abandonment on Him. I figured if I presented myself exclusively full of joy and gratitude, He would be well-pleased and remain. Same to, if I fell “too in love” with Him, He would be overwhelmed and turn away. Unconsciously, I had drawn this fine line, a tightrope I expected myself to walk across in hopes of reaching the Lord’s love. Apart from the lack of grace and rigid perfectionism, the issue rested in the lie that the Lord’s love is earnable and conditional.
Of course, He has spoken truth in authentically approaching Him, and, His heart for mine. But He has also spoken that there is more, more love He has for all of His children, a love that is consuming and perfect by every means, unobtainable by a rubric but yet freely given, abundant and rich, personal and life-altering, and perhaps maybe most importantly that He Himself is love.
So, cheers to knowing we don’t know. Cheers to anticipating there is more. Praise to the Father who loves His children beyond all measure.
“I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” Ephesians 3:18-19.
Wow. I have read the Bible through many times. Each time learning something new each time. I also to look at Bible verses through other person eye. God has opened my up too many different ways. Love Dear Lord Jesus open my eyes and mind to your way of Love, so that I my other as you Love me. Help me to help others. God Bless