"We must embrace painand burn it as fuel for our journey."
~ Kenji Miyazawa
That Day
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
~ 2 Timothy 4:8 (NKJV)
And walk in love ... an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
~ Ephesians 5:2 (NKJV)
An oft expressed desire of Christians is the day we will stand before our Maker and see His smile, hear His voice, feel His touch. I daresay some are impatient for That Day.
But longing for That Day cannot be at the expense of today. We have on Earth something we shall not have in Heaven.
Here, we can give God expensive love.
I think that in Heaven love will no longer carry a cost. Here, to love the Lord is to ache with longing, to endure the pain of separation, to suffer graciously because Jesus did and asks it of us who love Him.
We can choose to love less and not experience the agony of love. Or we can love our God passionately, and offer to Him now that which we can no long offer on That Day.
My Lord, You know our impatience. You know the kind of love we wish to have for You, and yet fall short of in our selfishness. Please enable us to pursue that love and accept the pain to experience the passion You've created our souls to know.
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
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I want to forever pursue His love.
ReplyDelete“...nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing.” 2 Sam 24:24.
ReplyDelete"But longing for That Day cannot be at the expense of today. We have on Earth something we shall not have in Heaven.
Here, we can give God expensive love." THAT is some good stuff Anne. Thanks.
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ReplyDeleteLet us all not be too heavenly minded that we are not of earthly use! We work from victory and not towards victory! Praise God!
ReplyDeleteDenise, I there's a day we capture and need no longer pursue. ; )
ReplyDeleteDoug, I'll take the costly over the cheap any day. Feel free to remind me of that if I whine.
Bible Lover, I LOVE THAT! "We work from victory and not towards victory." I praise God right along with you.
Violeta, I welcome relevant comments.