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THE LIFE OF A CHAMPION

 IS CREATED WITH PURPOSE-INTENDED FOR GREATNESS AND CALLED TO
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"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit."

  -Albert Schweitzer

 

 
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Champions BYTES  

January 6, 2010 
What's Love Got To Do With It?  Part I
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"But God - so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (*delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation).  And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us *joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] IN CHRIST JESUS (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." - The Greatest Love Story Ever Told 

 
God's love is unfailing.
 

You can't make God love you any more than He loves you right now.

 

He doesn't love the Christian one ounce more than He loves the sinner. 

 
John 3:16 says, "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that HE [EVEN] GAVE UP His only begotten ([a]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.)" 
 

It doesn't say, "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized YOU only;" but He so greatly loved the world that He "GAVE UP" His Son. 

 

True, godly love is always willing to "give up" something, in order for someone else to live. 

 

"For God so loved the world, HE GAVE..."  In other words, like a groom gives a ring to a bride, God gave Christ to you, me and the entire human race (the world.) 

 

Yes, even that person that hates you; who wants you fired; who lied on, undervalued or slandered you; God loves them just as much as He does you. 

 

The Apostle Paul wrote that while we were ALL yet enemies, dead in sin, children of God's wrath, heirs of His indignation--sons of disobedience governed by our corrupt and sensual nature, God made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ.

 

So love has never been the issue. 

 

Singer Tina Turner achieved her first number one single in 1984 with the hit song, "What's Love Got To Do With it?"   At one point, she sang, "Who needs a heart, when a heart can be broken?"

 

But since the history of man, sin has broke the heart of God. 

 

So "LOVE" tore open the Heavens and put Him on the cross over 2000 years ago.  But He wanted more than just love or a casual CROSSing experience (evidenced by what happened after Calvary.)

 

After Jesus died on the cross, the curtain of the temple was split in two, symbolizing the removal of the barrier (sinful flesh) between God and humanity (Mk. 15:37.) God was preparing to put us on the road to "oneness" which was the result of His intense and wonderful love for us.

 

You see, you can love someone for years, yet still not achieve ONENESS with them.

 

But you say, "Ed, God's love is unconditional and limitless; the strongest drug, the darkest ally can't hide me from His Presence or make Him love me less."  

 

TRUE.  But it can affect our intimacy or "oneness" with Him.  History reminds us that God (like us) chooses to be "intimate" with some people more than others; OR He draws near to those that draw near to Him.

 

He walked with Enoch; He called Abraham His friend.  He spoke to Moses face-to-face; David was the apple of His eye--a man after His own heart.  Jesus had 12 disciples yet when Jarius' daughter died, He permitted no one to accompany Him except Peter and James and John.

 

God wanted more than just love; He wanted to be "ONE" with us. 

 

What separates us from being "one" with Him (and others?)

 

  1. Oneness is often threatened by our differences.
It's funny, God put man (from Mars) and women (from Venus) together and said: "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be united firmly (joined inseparably) to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh; So they are no longer two, but ONE..." (Matt. 19:4-5.)
 
God never wanted our differences to separate us; He intended for them to unite us and make our relationships and influence on earth and in the marketplace stronger.

 

You may have only ONE church, ONE marriage, ONE family, team, business or employer, but there are various gifts that comprise your union and you must appreciate them.

 

For example, in marriage, God gave women a gift to discern the true condition of relationships; that's why women often measure their success in life by the success of their relationships.

 

He did not make men the same way. 

 

Honestly, sometimes we are clueless of the true condition of our relationships.  But, the first thing God gave Adam in the garden was purpose and "work" (a job) to fulfill it on earth.  That's why, men often tie their self-worth into their work; they are by nature nurturers of the ground (territory) God created for them to tend.  

 

Someone once said, "Man's way of nurturing is providing."  Perhaps, but He never intended for our work to destroy "oneness" with Him, or those we lead. 

 

Your prized gift and calling recognized by the masses don't make your spouse or co-worker's gifts any less significant.

 

God favored us with different gifts to help us reach the world He made.  To tend the ground He gave us.  He determined the needs of humanity and gave us a Seed--Christ.  And Christ determined that the harvest (of His presence) might fill ALL things (the whole universe, from the lowest to the highest).

 

Are you in a disconnected and lifeless relationship?

 

You must plant a seed.  

 
In the book, "Every Man's Marriage," Arterburn & Stoeker illustrate a funny reenactment of how this whole guy-girl thing started:

 

"Adam was walking around the Garden of Eden one day, feeling very lonely.  The Lord took notice and felt sorry for Adam.  "Is there anything wrong with you?" God asked.  "Is there anything I can do for you?  "Well it would be nice to have someone to talk to," said Adam.  "You seem awfully busy these days."  "Okay, tell you what. I'll create a companion for you.  She'll be a woman.  She'll gather food for you, cook for you, and when you discover clothing, she'll wash it for you.  She'll agree with every decision you make.  She'll bear your children and never ask you to get up in the middle of the night to care for them.  She won't nag you, and she will always be the first to admit she was wrong when you've had a disagreement.  She'll give you love and passion anytime you want it, and she'll never go to bed with a headache."  "Wow, that sounds great!" said Adam, interest rising.  "What will a woman like this cost me?"  "An arm and a leg," said God.  This seemed like a lot to Adam.  Then he had a brainstorm.  "What can I get for a rib?" he asked.

 

The rest is history.

 

Today, the "oneness" you so desperately long and were created for is going to cost you something.

 

It will cost you sacrifice, time, commitment, humility, honor, integrity and faith that you are still worth it.

 

What are you willing to "give up" for it?

 

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Copyright 2009, Ed Norwood