Love Thursday

In joyful participation with AMOF's regular feature, "Love Thursday," I submit the following photographs.

Conforming to the Character of Christ

I promised some inspired writing following my experience at Na. Here's my first attempt.

God created you in part to become like Christ, growing in true discipleship through truth, trouble, temptation, and time. As Rick Warren put it, "God's ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. He wants you to grow up spiritually and become like Christ. Becoming like Christ does not mean losing your personality or becoming a mindless clone. God created your uniqueness, so he certainly doesn't want to destroy it. Christ-likeness is all about transforming your character, not your personality."

I believe this falls in line with Romans 8:28-30:

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

So what is this "good" that you are working for in the lives of those who love You? Is it favor in Your eyes? Is it favor in the world? Will you take me gloriously through battle, a fearsome and well-loved warrior who wields a flaming sword of godly glory?

"The good I desire is part of my faithfulness. I desire you to have a closer, more intimate relationship with Jesus. When you take My Word out of context and suit it to your own personal desires, I do not appear faithful. If you are to understand that I work all things together for good, you must be willing to accept that 'good' does not refer to a human perspective; rather, it is a holy one."

This is good... Through Your perspective, I can see how You have been doing "good" in my life. Inasmuch as I have allowed, You have been faithful to build me up into Christ, and to draw me nearer. You have used everything possible (and impossible) to make me aware of Your love for me and Your grace over me. It is I who have been unfaithful; it is I who have not been working things together for true "good." Which brings me to my next question: why bother making me, the worst of all sinners, more like Christ? Why elect me?

"Because I love My Son and I love you, too. Because love isn't a limited commodity. Because you are human, created, but you are loveably made in My image."

Ohhhhhhhhhhh... And this is why You saved me? This is why Your Son paid the ultimate price, for the glory of the Godhead? For the subsequent multiplication of love? For the activity of love in relationship with many persons?

"The only way to truly love you best was to give myself to you, and in your sinful state, I had to die for those sins to be erased. So... you were given much grace. But please continue to walk in it, knowing that you are chosen, you are called to be one of My own daughters, very closely related to me. It is with this grace that you may walk daily, and let My light shine before all men."

Thank you, Father. Forgive me, but how can I possibly let Your light shine before men when I have already sinned and fallen short of Your standards for glory? I very much want to know what I have to do to overcome this, but I don't know where to start.

"Oh Child, don't start doing anything - it would be an offense to My Son. He already did it: He condescended to live in human form, and submitted humbly even to death. His perfect sacrifice has paid for you, it has justified you. It has wiped the slate clean for you, as you call upon the name of Jesus in repentance. Don't ever go back to the old ways, but likewise do not try to live with the law, for the law was simply an indication of death. Jesus is the Life you must live in, the only One who can lead you to abundance and love. Living in relationship with and in imitation of Jesus will mimic the law, for my Son is a servant king. Rest in the peace and comfort that your debt has been paid, and you need only ask for more grace from Jesus, which you will faithfully receive."

This grace is truly amazing. If it is true - and by your Word and Spirit, I know it is - then I am the recipient of a holy gift. I suppose this is how I am to understand that Your glory can live in me, that I may glorify You in every breath. It is the glory of God to give a holy gift, and He is glorified in its acceptance.
Father, I pray You will be glorified by this humble, inadequate, and grateful acceptance of Your grace and salvation. Holy Spirit, please help me to bear Your justification in mind as I live each day more and more submitted and in love with my God. Jesus, thank you for becoming the Way, and for coming after me.

Oh the Places You'll Go

The red states are states I've been and at least touched the ground.



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