Pieces, Part 2

One of my favorite aspects of celebrating Christmas and the new year is the chance to pause and think. The end of December brings the final snapshot of a year soon past that is ripe for reflection – especially on God’s work in our lives over the year ending, and to anticipate what He has for us in the upcoming year.

One area I’ve been mulling is seeing God answer requests this year about goals that I started giving Him a few years ago. I was not really sure how or when He would accomplish them, but I understood that He was capable of doing so and, if He willed, would show me another way. As I made the requests known to Him, I also started working on aspects of those goals as I had the opportunity. Piece by piece, God multiplied those efforts – even in ways that I didn’t completely notice at first. Now, as God has shown me the full picture, I am so amazed at His power – and how He’s grown me spiritually in the process.

Seeing God work so directly in my life, this year in particular, reminds me that His goal – even in responding to our requests – is to make us more like Him, not just meet a need. So often when we ask God for things we’re focused only on Him taking care of that physical aspect. But He’s interested in using even our requests as a process for cultivating our character, developing those traits of spiritual “fruit” that make us more like Him: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self control.

For example, when we asked God for that car, we probably had no idea that He would teach us patience in the process. When we requested He help us overcome sorrow over the death of someone close to us, we didn’t know He would use it to give us a better understanding of what it means to be joyful. When we asked Him to provide us a new job, we never thought He would teach us kindness and faith along the way. That’s our God!

Understanding God’s heart in responding to our requests should not only make us more likely to accept His answer even when it may not be what we expect, but also to give Him our petitions without design or reservation. I John 5:14-15 says:

14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

We have a God who listens to us – and loves to bless His children. Yet we define blessing very physically; He defines it in much greater terms. We see only a snapshot – a piece – of any situation; He knows all. When we learn to seek His will in giving Him our requests, we gain so much more than we ever could ask or imagine.

As we celebrate The Ultimate Gift this week, and experience the start of a new year the following one–I am thankful for how God uses our time with Him to cultivate in us more of His character and His ways. And heralding in another year is a wonderful reminder that He’s not done with us yet.

GROWTH AND GRACE

This Sunday we had the last message of our “Love Revolution” Series. The final aspect of Love from I Corinthians 13 that we addressed is “Love never fails” (v. 8). We highlighted the fact that, although true, agape love itself never ends, as fallen beings we fail in our ability to show it. It is only when we enter eternity with God that we will have a complete picture of perfection that will allow us to express love fully. Yet this should not mean we stop striving to love better daily. Our calling as Christians to show agape love even on earth was described as requiring both growth and grace. The message was a great reminder of what it means to live love.

Growth

We discussed the tendency we may have to “give up” on trying to love others better because of our less-than-perfect efforts. For example, a husband goes to great lengths to surprise his wife with a romantic evening, thinking he’s scored, but then annoys her by forgetting to complete the important errand she asked him to do. Despite the fact that our expression of love is not perfect, this should not discourage us from doing better next time. Philippians 1:9-10 reminds us why increasing in love is part of our calling:

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ." (NASB)

As we commit to growth, He increases our ability to grow in love - and wisdom!

Grace

Just as we are to give ourselves room to continuously cultivate love despite our limitations, we also must allow people to make mistakes while trying to love, like we do. Sometimes we have expectations of others that cannot be met, as “none of us is working with perfection.” Even the people we love – and love us— fail us at times. Through the message we were reminded to show others grace as an expression of love, just as God has given us grace – and immeasurably.

CONCLUSION

“Growth and Grace” summarizes how we can join the Love Revolution. As I pondered the message, I could not help but think of Paul’s instructions to the church of Colosse in Chapter 3 of his letter:

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3: 12-14)

As I shared during the “Song of Songs” series several months ago, love really is something we must practice – a 24-hour job (we should do it even in our sleep, lol!). But Scripture is clear there is no greater calling – in this life, and the life to come.

Love is a verb, so let’s live it, in revolution – with growth and grace.

Here’s the final “Love Revolution” Message…