Pastor’s Corner: “Perspectives from Heaven”
Rest in God’s Love – “As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Remain in My love.” John 15:9 (HCSB)
“REMAIN” can also be translated dwell, abide, stay, rest or make your home in. We want to move on, but Jesus invites us to move in. We don’t have to produce or create forward movement to earn God’s love. Instead, He asks us to move into … to settle … to be still in His love. This idea changes everything. As a wise friend once told me, “You don’t work for God’s love. You rest in His love.” God doesn’t measure our worth by our works. He establishes our worth by His love (revealed on the Cross). Although we tend to calculate value by external things, God gauges value by internal things, and love is an internal work. 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV) – The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
If I am not careful or paying attention, I can fall back into old habits and ways of thinking that are not covered in “His Love”. I start listening to other voices rather than “His still small voice.” I am reminded of past failures, disappointments, fears, hurts and words that I am not good enough or worthy. I trade my home of comfort, rest and peace for a run-down leaking shack with no foundation. I ask myself “how did I get here?” By believing my worth and value is connected to what I do, what I can accomplish and what others think of me rather than what has already been accomplished on the cross for me. I forget how powerful and necessary His love is for me. Romans 8:38-39 (NLT) – 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Remain in His Love.
IN THE SECRET PLACE – He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1 NKJV). Making our Home and remaining in His love is our rest and shelter.When you were a kid, did you ever have a hiding place? A place you would run to when you were afraid or wanted to be alone? God wants to be your hiding place. The good news is that you can retreat to this hiding place wherever you are. We have a relationship with God because we have put our faith in Jesus Christ and have turned from our sin. But are we living in constant contact and fellowship with God? That is so important. Many people are not. They are not dwelling consistently with God. But the Lord wants you to dwell in the secret place of the Most High. He wants you to be like Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet when He came to visit her home in Bethany. There is a time for busyness. There is a time for work. And there is also a time to worship. Unfortunately, we sometimes substitute perspiration for inspiration and work for worship. If you do that, it only will be a matter of time until you spiritually burn out. You can’t give out more than you take in. You need to live in communion with Him. You need to dwell in the secret place of the Most High.
I invite you with the same invitation God extends to each of us: Remain in God’s love.
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton & Family