Redeeming the Love

Breaking beyond the barriers of today's man, piercing through their rugged disposition, their solid steel, tougher than nails composure, you may see the child, the un-nurtured soul, who for years has been tragically deprived of much needed care, of encouragement, of self-enrichment, of compliments, and above all, the lack of love. Far too often, many presumed Christians sit back in their little comfort zone, judging others by mere appearance, frowning viciously upon rebellion, despising those still caught in the snare of Satan, many mock other religions, why do we seem to lavish a pick-the-world-apart-state-of-mind? After all, are we not aware that this attitude is far from the mind of Christ/ which we are supposed to be partakers of. Christ said in Matthew 9:12-13, "...They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." He came to grant life to those which embraced death, He came to break through their shells of sin to purge the evil within, and reinstitute the light of fellowship with the Father, which was originally intended. Yet once we are converted, turn from the intended love which should be bursting from our every pore with sincerity and compassion for ALL who are lost. Upon our neglect of duty, we dare to wonder why the majority of this world is so wicked, I tell you reader, it is because of rebuff, our repulsed attitudes towards the unbelievers, our gossip and whisperings, disregarding our expected duty to be saints, men and women of integrity, involved in the vital task of a passion to witness the love of our risen Savior. Don't you remember when? When we ourselves were yet lost, our minds floating in a pool of sinful confusion, not knowing what to grasp, what to believe, neither what to live for? Yet many of us forget, that beyond the apparent foulness of many men and women, there is a deep void, a churning hunger for love and to express love. Be of a gentle spirit and mind, don It sit back and ponder the outer person, don't think in your mind, "He or she is no good, their a bunch of hideous fools, their so sick, there's no hope for them because their far gone, just look at what they are wearing, look he acts like a she, oh I've heard about them, their the scum of the earth, their lower than the worms." Do not misunderstand my point concerning this exhortation, I am in no support of any sin or wickedness whatsoever, I hate sin, as it is my duty to 1 and this is the whole point, we as true believers must hate the sin, NOT THE SINNER!! I refuse to be of ill mind, I refuse to be one who tears down without many attempts first to restore, I will defy the powers of darkness which seek to only destroy, I will not be a partaker of demonic tactics, which are only in pursuit of devouring life from those who could quite possibly receive the gift of faith in Christ Jesus. Do you think that you alone are worthy of God's grace and mercy? If so you are dead wrong, no one deserves God's grace and mercy, yet because of His unconditional love for the just and the unjust, it is granted because and only because God loves all and in Him is NO respect of persons (Romans 2:11, I John 4:16). Being one who has "no respect of persons", also means being one who is no disrespector of persons. It breaks my heart when I hear and see the damage many "Christians" cause, as they partake of destruction and not re-construction. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus commands us as true believers and followers to carry out the Great Commission, to reach out to the lost, to teach them of Him, to baptize them, and ultimately to proclaim the gospel. This is a command given by the eternal Son Himself, and with this command He made a promise, He said, "and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Hence we should be concerned that if we do not obey His commands, is He even with us as we suppose? I firmly believe if one does not carry out the will of the Father in devout acts of obedience, then consequently, their salvation is in vain. How can we suppose Christ is with us if His attributes don't proceed from us? My fellow brethren, let us begin to learn to love others as Christ loves us, in purity undefiled by respect or preference. I know sometimes it is not easy to love sinners, but we must not adapt to this diseased state-of-mind, for we too, once lived in sin, we too, are still sinners, sin is sin. Jesus said to the crowd of people who were about to stone the harlot, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her"(John 8:7). You see/ none of them could declare themselves sinless, as they left her, one by one departing under their own conviction. By the grace of God, I see things in a whole new light today, and that light is Jesus, which in whom is no darkness whatsoever, and this should be the very goal of our hearts. So next time you proceed with your journey in this world, look upon others with compassion, with gentleness, with the great understanding that they are just another soul, a human being, one who is loved by God just as you are, the only difference between them and you is there light has gone dim, they are still lost, confused, twisted in the knot of sin and evil, of which they need to be redeemed from, they need love, genuine care, which may only ever be noticed in their lifetime through you! We may be the only gospel they ever "hear" with their eyes. Jesus said, "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his saviour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:13-16). Notice, He said ye are the salt of the earth, ye are the light just the same. Jesus ordained us a royal priesthood, a peculiar people, a chosen generation, let us reach out with the love of Christ to those who are in dire need of His love. Recalling the childlike hymn, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine", is so simple, yet very profound. If we don't shine the light of Christ Jesus through our thoughts, words/ and deeds, than my fellow brethren, we are just as carnal as the next sinner, "faith if it has not works is dead" (James 2:17). You see our good works show the evidence of Christ living in us, no works, no Christ, we would therefore be living a total, outright lie. So people of the most high God, love those who are hard to love, love those who hate you, love those who seem not even to know what love is, for they are just precious lost sheep who need the great Shepherd.

( I I I . )

But if we continue to be wolves devouring the lost sheep with ridicule, with condemnation, with futile words and gestures, lacking the love, lacking the compassion, then we are consequently lost also, and more than likely know not love ourselves. This hurts me, yet it encourages me to even shine my light brighter, to reach the very shadows usually untouched, beyond reach, and especially those hollow eyes hurting for the light I possess in Christ Jesus. It is high time for redemption, it is time to redeem the love, too often and too many of us hide. Release the hope, refresh the parched souls who thirst for love. Jude 21-23 says, "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference, and others save with fear (godly fear) pulling them out of the fire." 0 child of God, destroy your judgmental ways, your filthy gossip, your means of destruction by looking down upon others, come back to the horizon, let the love of Christ shine through you on their level, let it shine like the brightest beacon, let it pierce their hardened hearts, reach out to them, give them your good measure, never fail to touch others with this love, this love you've been blessed with. The love of Christ Jesus which has redeemed you from where they used to be, where you once were/ think it, talk it, shout it, walk it, you are light, the light of the world, shine it bright, let it embrace each and every soul you encounter, it is time my fellow brethren, to proclaim the love of Jesus Christ, it is time to REDEEM THE LOVE!!! "But whoso keepeth his word (Jesus' word), in him is the love of God perfected; hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" (I John 2:5 & 6).

May you all dwell richly in our Lord Jesus Christ, and give Him all the glory and praise he Deserves, for He has done marvelous things and continues to do so. I would like to pray a simple prayer with you before you forget what you have just read:

Precious heavenly Father,

I pray to you with all sincerity, that this exhortation will be forever retained in the mind of this reader. That they will walk in the light which you have always intended for them to shine unto the world, that they may experience You as they never have before. Lord, please touch their hearts with Your infallible Word spoken in this message. I pray that they will embrace Your love for them and as well, give it away. I thank you Lord for being such an awesome God, One who truly does offer liberty to those captive, freedom to those bound by chains of sin, glory to You, our God! Be with this brother or sister, illuminate their mind with Your perfect will and ever bless them with Your blessed peace and love. In the wonderful, holy name of Jesus Christ I humbly pray, Amen.

To the glory of God, and to the praise of His name,
Jeffrey Brackett Quante IV; August 7, 2000