If you have not heard John Mark McMillan's "How He Loves," go listen to it now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0luHiWwi08
I have to write about this song. I have experienced it in worship services 3 times now (and listened to it a hundred more), and every time I hear it, it transports me to another place (figuratively speaking). It touches me, or the Lord touches me through it, in a very deep place where the scars of my life have only regenerated in the strength, hope and love of Jesus Christ. If you know this song, then you have probably heard the story behind it, which may or may not make it more real for you. I have not heard the story, and wanted to write my thoughts about it before I do.
The first time I really encountered this song was listening to John Mark McMillan's (from here on, JMM) original studio recording (referenced above). It floored me, and has continued to draw me as close to Jesus as I've ever been. I could get lost in this song for easily twice or three times its length.
There is obviously a very raw emotional place from which this song originated. You only need to hear JMM sing it once to know that. The metaphoric language that JMM uses to describe God's love is absolutely "over-the-top" and absolutely "spot-on." This song is about letting in this radical reality of God's love for us.
Verse 1
"He is jealous for me."
So simple, but a departure from the more often heard negative connotation of God's jealousy wherein He is jealous because you are bad. No, He is jealous because He wants you back.
"Loves like a hurricane,"
What?! This line has to make you do a double take. Really, John? You think God's love for us is violent and messy, destructive even?... Yes, I think that's what he means. God's love is powerful beyond your ability to comprehend it, and no, you can't handle it. Can a tree handle a hurricane? Does this statement take God out of your "box?" It should. It obliterates my box.
"I am a tree bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy."
So, this violent love of God is heavy and forceful? I thought I was supposed to feel happy, light and cheery. I thought God's love was nice. Oh, that's right John, thanks for reminding me: I am utterly helpless without His mercy, aren't I? His love is wrecking me, and I can't bear the weight of it.
"When all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory."
This line speaks about the reality of God's presence. Jesus is not just an idea. He is a person. His tangible presence (through the Holy Spirit) will change the way you perceive everything. If you have ever experienced His presence, then you know exactly what this line is talking about. This moment of "eclipse" that JMM references is one of the reasons I love worship. It's where I know everything is going to be okay.
"And I realize just how beautiful you are and how great your affections are for me."
I realize. Reality becomes clear. And here's a place where I don't mind the use of the word "beautiful," as overused as it is these days. I don't mind because JMM is saying that the presence of this God whose love is so violent toward us is really the ultimate place of peace and safety. And I love (excuse the overused term), love the word "affection." Do you view God, the supreme creator of the universe, to be affectionate toward you? Now we're talking about getting into your "personal space." Are you comfortable letting God there? Many of us have been hurt such that we've closed ourselves off to allowing other people to be affectionate with us. I think in some ways we are losing the normalcy of affection toward each other in our culture. But when God removes fear and replaces it with His love, affection is only natural.
Well, I've written this much while taking a break or two to sob over it. Hopefully, I can finish writing about the rest soon.
To be continued...
Friday, April 15, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Hard Truth
Okay, I've been putting this one off. Truth is, it's one of the hardest.
Did you know that God requires us forgive others? Yes, requires. The return on our forgiveness of others is His forgiveness of us. I didn't make that up. It's in Matthew 6:15, which says "but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." What does that mean? Well, I'm still working on it, but my current understanding is that it means God will not allow you to be ruled by bitterness and by Jesus (forgiveness) at the same time. You must choose which kingdom you want to establish. Before I explain more, let me take a couple of steps back.
Last time, I wrote about anger. I've been angry at my dad for many reasons. And angry at a lot of other things as well. While I've been angry, the Holy Spirit has continued to remind me that it is imperative that I forgive. Of course, I keep asking "why?" (sigh) I realize entire volumes have been written on the subject of forgiveness, but I just want to share a little bit about what God is trying to teach me right now (again!).
Anger is generally not content to stay anger. Hatred and violence come right along side it and look for ways to be expressed. Yelling, cursing, saying slanderous things, gossip, being short tempered: those can all be ways that violence will manifest with anger behind it. (Violence doesn't have to just be physical.) James tells us that "the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:20)." What grabbed me about that scripture was the indication that anger wants to produce something. It wants to "take somebody out." And whatever method we allow it, it will take.
On the flip-side, God wants to produce something through forgiveness, His kingdom. John 3:17 says "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." Jesus showed us the heart of the Father through forgiveness. The ultimate expression of that forgiveness is in Luke 23:34 when Jesus, on the cross, says "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." Has it ever occurred to you that those who have hurt you didn't know what they were doing? I know how hard that is to swallow, and I'm not sure I understand it completely myself, but I think it's something we ought to consider in dealing with the need to forgive.
Hebrews 12:15 says "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled." I want to zero in on the word "defiled." Have you ever been the brunt of someone's anger? Have you experienced an unclean feeling that comes when someone is violent toward you? That's defilement. Bitterness is defiling. It robs everyone around it of the cleanliness of God's righteousness. Also note the word "root." Bitterness can begin as simple unforgiveness, but when you pile on hurt and anger, hatred, violence, and resentment, you can end up with a deeply embedded root of bitterness under all of it. And it takes a good bit of work to dig up that root. That's why it's so important for us to forgive, as Jesus said, 70x7 (Matthew 18:22). In other words, without limit. Because forgiveness is what the Father has done for us through Jesus Christ and it is foundational to His kingdom. So guess who's kingdom we're establishing in our bitterness and unforgiveness?
I know it's not easy, and God knows it's not easy. You think Jesus had an easy time forgiving all the rejection of the church leaders in his day and the abandonment of his own followers at the cross? There is power in what the world views as weakness. Let's challenge ourselves to grab hold of that power through our obedience to His heart, because He loves us, oh, how He loves us.
Till next time,
Jeremy
Did you know that God requires us forgive others? Yes, requires. The return on our forgiveness of others is His forgiveness of us. I didn't make that up. It's in Matthew 6:15, which says "but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." What does that mean? Well, I'm still working on it, but my current understanding is that it means God will not allow you to be ruled by bitterness and by Jesus (forgiveness) at the same time. You must choose which kingdom you want to establish. Before I explain more, let me take a couple of steps back.
Last time, I wrote about anger. I've been angry at my dad for many reasons. And angry at a lot of other things as well. While I've been angry, the Holy Spirit has continued to remind me that it is imperative that I forgive. Of course, I keep asking "why?" (sigh) I realize entire volumes have been written on the subject of forgiveness, but I just want to share a little bit about what God is trying to teach me right now (again!).
Anger is generally not content to stay anger. Hatred and violence come right along side it and look for ways to be expressed. Yelling, cursing, saying slanderous things, gossip, being short tempered: those can all be ways that violence will manifest with anger behind it. (Violence doesn't have to just be physical.) James tells us that "the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:20)." What grabbed me about that scripture was the indication that anger wants to produce something. It wants to "take somebody out." And whatever method we allow it, it will take.
On the flip-side, God wants to produce something through forgiveness, His kingdom. John 3:17 says "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." Jesus showed us the heart of the Father through forgiveness. The ultimate expression of that forgiveness is in Luke 23:34 when Jesus, on the cross, says "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." Has it ever occurred to you that those who have hurt you didn't know what they were doing? I know how hard that is to swallow, and I'm not sure I understand it completely myself, but I think it's something we ought to consider in dealing with the need to forgive.
Hebrews 12:15 says "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled." I want to zero in on the word "defiled." Have you ever been the brunt of someone's anger? Have you experienced an unclean feeling that comes when someone is violent toward you? That's defilement. Bitterness is defiling. It robs everyone around it of the cleanliness of God's righteousness. Also note the word "root." Bitterness can begin as simple unforgiveness, but when you pile on hurt and anger, hatred, violence, and resentment, you can end up with a deeply embedded root of bitterness under all of it. And it takes a good bit of work to dig up that root. That's why it's so important for us to forgive, as Jesus said, 70x7 (Matthew 18:22). In other words, without limit. Because forgiveness is what the Father has done for us through Jesus Christ and it is foundational to His kingdom. So guess who's kingdom we're establishing in our bitterness and unforgiveness?
I know it's not easy, and God knows it's not easy. You think Jesus had an easy time forgiving all the rejection of the church leaders in his day and the abandonment of his own followers at the cross? There is power in what the world views as weakness. Let's challenge ourselves to grab hold of that power through our obedience to His heart, because He loves us, oh, how He loves us.
Till next time,
Jeremy
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