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The Greatest Love Story
Author : Rhonda Webb
The greatest love story ever told has not graced the movie theater screen with critical acclaim and been met with rave reviews. Nor will you find it in generous distribution on video rental shelves. Instead where you will find it is within the pages of the Word of God - the Bible. Here you will come heart to heart with the God who fashioned you and desires to draw you near. His gentle nudge can almost go undetected as He begins to weave the events of your life into a beautiful tapestry.
Early one morning I awakened from a restful sleep and knew in my heart that I was being beckoned to go to a particular place. As I arose and began to prepare for the occasion I deliberately chose a very conservative suit to wear; one neutral in color. Somehow I felt my selection of color and style would minimize the discomfort I imagined I would experience coming into the presence of someone I had not encountered for some time. As I applied my makeup I put aside the vibrant colors I normally wore and settled for muted colors applied with a very light stroke. My hair, though fashionable, was styled in a simple yet stylish manner. I just wasn’t sure how I’d be accepted If I looked my usual way so I deliberately kept my clothes, hair and makeup very much subdued.
I arrived at my destination and to my surprise I was warmly greeted by men and women. And to my surprise the women looked like the woman I had left on my dresser and hanging in my closet at home. They were beautifully dressed in vibrant colors, wearing very fashionable makeup and nicely styled hair. It was at that moment that I realized I would have been readily accepted by just being me.
I sat and listened intently as the speaker spoke directly to me while in the midst of hundreds of others who were also present. I was amazed at his accuracy and selection of words; speaking as if he knew I’d be there. By his words I found encouragement and direction for a unique situation I was presently facing. And as I sat in that church sanctuary I knew I had been summoned by God Himself, and He was using His Word - the Bible, to minister to me. A sense of peace came over me and I knew for the first time that God knew me intimately and loved me.
He wooed me by His Love.
That scenario occurred many years ago and was a turning point in my life because I discovered that in spite of my faults God loved and accepted me. There were rifts that I created between myself and God. I often felt that He would reject me because I stayed away for so long and was far from perfect. During this time of separation from God I often encountered well meaning believers who loved Him but tended to keep that love from overflowing upon the lives of people such as myself who were steeped in sin and had no power to save ourselves.
Ultimately, I was drawn to God by his abundant love, a love I could not resist. God didn’t look at me and say ‘Get yourself together and get back with Me.’ On the surface I looked like many others, happy and successful, neat and tidy. But God knew my inner condition, the void that could onlybe satisfied by none other than God Himself.
The love of God is irresistible.
His love can sometimes appear to be cloaked over because He has entrusted the frailties of mankind with the assignment of expressing his divine love. Imagine the responsibility, as a believer I am to be an expression of God and the Bible says that God is love. As a Christian I am lovingly obligated to display the nature of God so that men, women, and children may come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Our proper role as Christians is to act as a reservoir - a place where the love of God is stored up and available to be released upon the parched places in the hearts of hurting people.
God draws us by His love.
Progressively, God begins to deal with our hearts. He initiates a journey that begins with the display of His love and through the process of time we are matured through His Word. This journey begins with intimacy. The relationship that Jesus Christ has to the body of Christ can be likened to that of a husband to his wife. Jesus is married to us. There is a natural intimacy between a husband and wife and likewise there is a spiritual intimacy shared between Jesus Christ and those who love Him. This intimacy is nurtured through prayer and meditating the scriptures. This journey of intimacy leads to greater sensitivity to the Spirit of God and a heightened awareness of His presence. God desires to fellowship with believers on a regular basis in the same manner as one would desire the company of a cherished friend.
Intimate moments with God are precious. This intimacy begins with Him as He draws the sinner to Himself. We then chose to love Him in return and the process of spiritual refining and maturation begins in our lives. First His love, next His sanctification - a place where He sets us apart for His purpose to be developed in us.
‘I have loved thee with an everlasting love;
therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
Jeremiah 31:3
Daily God draws men, women and children by His love. Respond to His love today and begin a journey of intimacy with Jesus Christ.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10:13
God is awaiting that call so He can share with you the greatest love story ever!
Author's Resource Box
Rhonda Aleixia Webb is the founder of Cross the Street, an organization formed to create and strengthen relationships between neighbors. She is an ordained minister at Faith Harvest Church in Saginaw, Michigan where Ronald E. Chipp is the Senior Pastor.
Take the ' Got Kom* mu-ni-ti? ' Pop Quiz at www.crossthestreet.org
rhonda@crossthestreet.org
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