Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Wednesday 10/22/08)

God Rules By Love, Not By Force, How Do You Rule? Part III

Psalm 52:7-8 (Amplified Bible)
7) See, this is the man who made not God his strength (his stronghold and high tower) but trusted in and confidently relied on the abundance of his riches, seeking refuge and security for himself through his wickedness.
8) But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in and confidently rely on the loving-kindness and the mercy of God forever and ever.

I remember an incident in my life that I have never shared with any one, that brought me to such a place of humiliation and shame that it was hard for me to see myself of any good use to any one for a long time. This incident made me wrestle with my identity not just as people see me but my identity in God. I had an occasion where I was told by someone I loved dearly that I owed them an apology. I was okay with that even though in my heart I knew I had not done what I was being accused of. But for peace sake I was willing to apologize and let God handle the rest. But I was then told if I did not apologize in front of two people that were very near and dear to me and cherished me, my apology would not be accepted. My heart was torn, I did not know whether this was still the right thing to do, but I opted to err on the side of caution and do what I viewed might have been the right and humble thing to do, and do it. I cried through it, but managed to get through it, only to be met on the other side of the apology with if you were going to cry through it then why do it? If I was struggling with it then why bother? I felt betrayed, berated, and I felt in that moment less than a person.

Why is it that God comes to us and He uses words like beseech, encourage, wish above all things. It is with a loving hand and a Father's heart that he guides us into all truth, yes He will discipline us but He always supplies a Balm to heal it. He encourages us through His love and sacrifice to do what is right He never makes us feel as if our gift of love, obedience and sacrifice is never enough. This is not to say that God does not challenge us, to come up higher or to do better, but He reminds us first that He loved us when we were in our sin, and He loved us in spite of our sin and He died for us while we were yet sinners. God does not take pride in humiliation or making a spectacle of us. In the book of Hosea, He wanted us to be able to relate to the love that He has for us, and how even though we prostitute our spirits, our emotions, and our lives to other things other than Him, He is always coming back in the picture showing us how much He loves us. God shows himself in this way because He is trying to get us to come full circle and see Him for who He is and realize that His love doesn't hurt, it does not bring disdain or dishonor, it covers, it heals, it restores, it encourages, and it sacrifices to ensure the very life of those He loves.

Think about how many times your love has been hurtful and demanding, misunderstanding and intolerant of another. How many times have we all looked to save our own necks and left those we say we love, in sinking ship or a failing state. What if God's love turned like ours? What if the very love we gave was what we received, how would we then feel? Would we at that point be able to stand under the pressure and the weight of our own actions? It is not hard to govern through the attributes of love it is all in the choosing. So what is it that you have chosen today for others, but ultimately for you as well?