Passion with Commitment (To be a Hearer and Doer of the Word)

I have a burning desire within to grab the heel of the woman God has destined for me to be. But to have such passion without commitment is futile. There is a grueling battle between the flesh and the spirit that takes place everyday. He who endures receives the privilege of laying hold of the man/woman imbued with the fragrance of Christ, mirroring His image and walking in His likeness. But to endure takes commitment and one can't have passion (for anything or anyone) without it. These are words I read recently when scrolling through my Facebook's newsfeed and since then they have stuck like peanut butter to the roof of my mouth. Now, if I could just wash it down with a tall glass of milk! For these words to have any effect, they mustn't be retained in the mind, but digested in the heart. This is where our thoughts shape our behavior. As it states in scripture, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45) and so do our actions. They reflect the whispers echoed within the four walls of our home where Christ resides (in the heart). We can think of our actions like children. When sent out into the world, they will portray in public that which they observe in private. We are as children in God's eyes and in the privacy of our home (the heart) God speaks and teaches us in a still, small voice that can only be heard when we are still and small before Him. Committing to a lifestyle of prayer and study of the bible, "closet time" with Christ, is indicative of our passion for Him and vital to our walk.

Today, as I write from my heart, you are getting a glimpse of what's stirring inside the walls of my home. There is a restlessness that I believe is orchestrated by the hand of my Father. He who knows me best knows what's best for me and in truth the complacency I've fallen subject to recently is far from the abundant life Jesus Christ calls us to. The Spirit is groaning within as I repeatedly fall short of mastering the same life lessons I have come up against throughout my adult years. It is the issues that the enemy has dug roots so deep into the hardened soil of the heart that manifest often and in the most peculiar ways.

The dirt of my past I've swept and kept under stones decorating the landscape of my heart has begun to pollute the soil. When we endure with Christ, however, we find that He leaves no stone left unturned. Before Christ, I developed a calloused heart, self-imposed as a means of protection of myself against the world, a guarding of my heart from feeling too hard, loving too hard, a fool proof avoidance strategy of being hurt too hard. But, I've learned it is God who guards our hearts. Any attempts to do this in our own strength results in a makeshift cast iron replica of a heart that goes through the motions of life without experiencing its purposeful design--to pump the oxygen-enriched blood of the Lamb through these spiritual veins, to beat at a tempo that God orchestrates in perfect time, to live out the beautiful melody that harmoniously intertwines with His.

If we have any shot of living out this abundant life that is promised to us in Christ, we must allow Him to soften the soil to get to the roots that the enemy has buried deep within. This is not a quick and painless process, however, when it's on territory that the enemy has maintained dominion over for a long time. For he is not relinquishing this territory without a fight. But my passion for Christ and determination to lay hold of the sanctified woman Christ sees in me is beckoning me to commit and allow Him to work out that which He is working in me. We can either bow down to the enemy in complacency or make a choice to hold tight to the promise of a future life that does not give way easily to sin. We may suffer for a moment but "he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God" (1 Peter 4:1-2). I look forward to the end result that after "[I] have suffered a while, [Christ Jesus will] perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle [me]" (1 Peter 5:10) like the dust that settles after a storm. We may be stirred up, but in Christ we are never displaced. We can always return to home base, square up with God, and discover the purpose behind the pain--whatever He is trying to uproot from our hearts.

I am beginning to understand that the pollution in the soil of my heart underlying the surface level manifestation of anxiety is letting go and that includes control over my life as well as anything or anyone I have looked to to define it. "One must lose his life for Christ's sake in order to find it". These are words paraphrased from Christ's lips spoken several times throughout the scriptures. Here we see a list of different ways God states this vital point:

Matthew 10:39 – Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 16:24-26 - Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
Mark 8:35 – For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.
Luke 9:24 – For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.
Luke 17:33 – Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.
John 12:25 – The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

This is undoubtedly an important lesson as it is reinforced so many times by Jesus Christ Himself in the four gospels. You might think that this lesson would stick like post-it notes on the bare walls of this wicked heart as many times as I've read it, heard it, and reminded myself of it. Yet, I still struggle with it. And I have found that just as Jesus Christ was so gracious to reiterate such an important point in scripture as many times as He did, He is also gracious to allow me to go through life's experiences--various scenarios that differ in nature but point me to the same lesson: "Let go"!

As a result of not doing so, I presently find myself enduring a spiritual stomachache. The first signs and/or symptoms are queasiness and restlessness of spirit as the body attempts to reject the foreign ingredient that is making it sick. The physical manifestations of spiritual unrest could be anger, frustration, depression, anxiety, etc. The culprit of all this is the Spirit's alert of a foreigner (the enemy) inhabiting Christ's territory--our heart. However, the good Lord who has started a good work in us is faithful to complete it (ref Philippians 1:6), meaning He will not leave us in our present state. The spiritual unrest we face could be a result of the war going on inside as Christ fights to regain all of the territory of our hearts, not just what we are willing to give Him. Whatever does not coexist harmoniously with His kingdom within must be rejected and cast out. And the process is often a painful one. Think of a war between two nations over territory they both desire. There is a fight to the death. It is bloody and vile. And so it is within. The Spirit groans to be made whole and fully restored back to its rightful owner. But the means by which this occurs involves a tearing away of the flesh, death to self. He who is committed and endures, exercising one of the fruits of the Spirit, "longsuffering", will vomit up and out of his life all that has made him sick. Think of that instant relief you get once the foreign substance is out of your system.

Commitment sees us beyond temporary relief, however. It drives us to the door of deliverance. He who is committed is "he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does" (James 1:25). This man measures himself up against the holy standard of the word and ponders his spiritual state as well as the path of his feet. Thereafter, he commits a firm grip of his hand to the plow for what he has heard becomes his life's work. He who is passionate about his Maker is eagerly committed to the work therein for he has made up his mind to follow Christ, a deliberate decision made after counting the cost.

But, he who is foolish will hear the word, be convicted of it, and may also even repent, but at some point along the journey, lose focus, stray from the path of righteousness, and return to his own vomit. Proverbs 26:11 states, "As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly". This man may have found the road too narrow or the cost too high to follow Christ. He is the man who "observing his natural face in a mirror, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was" (James 1:23-24). This is the man who has seen the face of Christ when looking into the scriptures but doesn't realize the potential God sees in him. He therefore closes the book and walks away unchanged. That relief or sense of peace we receive when looking into the perfect law of liberty is just temporary in this instance. We are prone to stray even returning to our own vomit if we do not "look into the perfect law of liberty" (searching for spiritual application) and "continue in it" (committing to live out that which we have heard). Passion with commitment endures, no matter the grief or cost involved, and sees us to full deliverance.

I am counted as the foolish man every time I repeat my folly. And this is not coming from a place of condemnation but conviction. There is a difference. Understanding where I fall short should drive me to my knees for repentance and thereafter fuel a closer walk with my Creator. Condemnation, on the other hand, causes me to run and hide, distancing myself from Him. Understanding that God is a loving Father, who sits by us when we are ill and sees to it that we are made well, helps us to endure. Christ is the perfect example of passion with commitment. He never forsakes us. He loves us beyond our failures. And He is committed to completing the good work He has begun in us. Now may we, if found in spiritual unrest, bring it before the Lord and ask for strength to endure the battle between the spirit and flesh. Trust that for the rest of our lives on this side of eternity, God is working to uproot the enemy from His territory--our hearts. We must work alongside of Him in this process, however. Fighting against Him by holding on tight to this life only causes further contention within. We are on the winning team. Let us allow Christ to lead us to victory and lay hold of the person He has intended for us to be.

Faith

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). What drives a person to his knees at the throne of grace is faith. There is evidence of a relationship with our Father by the way a believer clings to the hope that his prayers are heard and answered in such a consecrated place. Faith is a gift and when received, its “substance” manifests by belief. One does not come to God unless he believes that He is living and rewards him who seeks (reference Hebrews 11:6). When faith is received, spiritually exercised by drawing nigh unto the King, and practically applied in one’s life, then faith is given breathing room to thrive. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26). These are the fingerprints of faith alive in a believer’s life (summarized per Hebrews 11):

By faith we understand that our reality is framed by the word of God.
By faith we are a living sacrifice pleasing unto God.
By faith we are deemed righteous.
By faith we cross over death into eternal life.
By faith we believe God is.
By faith we move with godly fear to trust and obey.
By faith we go where God points.
By faith we dwell and wait patiently in a foreign land.
By faith we receive strength.
By faith we conceive God’s purpose.
By faith we judge God faithful.
By faith we are assured of, embrace, and confess the promises of God.
By faith God is not ashamed to be called our God.
By faith we withhold nothing from God.
By faith we receive prophetic utterance.
By faith we bless others.
By faith we worship.
By faith we receive counsel and instruct others in godly wisdom.
By faith we are delivered.
By faith we call ourselves sons and daughters of the living God.
By faith we suffer and endure affliction.
By faith we turn from the pleasures of sin.
By faith our treasure is in heaven.
By faith we fear God, not man.
By faith we honor the sanctity of life.
By faith we are saved.
By faith we escape the threats of the enemy.
By faith obstacles fall.
By faith we are preserved and protected.
By faith the dead are raised to life.
Through faith we obtain a good testimony.

By faith we see the invisible God.

“Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6).

Bee Still

Winter has finally melted into spring and with that comes an awakening. The cherry blossoms unfold into a beautiful array of pale pink petals seemingly painted upon the brown, barren trees. The street where my house sits no longer hibernates in silence; it is now enlivened by the echo of giggles from the neighborhood children playing basketball and hopscotch on their driveways. The birds bellow from their bellies a song pure and delicate while beneath their nests buzz busy bees back in honey-making business. I sat on my country-style porch to take it all in. I wanted to be romanced by the sights and sounds of God's handiwork on display so I made a point to carve out time in my day to just be still. I closed my eyes to heighten the efficiency of my other senses. It wasn't long until I detected the droning sound from a bee drawing near. It grew louder as it drew closer. Soon fear rose up from within and clenched my heart. All I could think to do at that moment was jump up from my chair and run through my spring-wreath adorned front door. So, I did and as I did, I wondered how foolish I must have looked to the neighbors toiling in their garden across the street. I made this huge commotion (arms flailing and all) over a little bee! As my adrenaline and heart rate decreased, I heard a still, small voice gently say, "Be still". I peered out the window to make sure the coast was clear before I journeyed back outside. I inched my way back to the distressed white wicker chair where I was seated. To my dismay, however, as soon as I returned, so did the bee. This time though I planned to do as I was directed: "Be still". I unclenched my fists, drew in a deep breath, and flopped down into the chair like an open bag of potatoes. I let all of the fears, threats, and insecurities roll out from within me until I was empty and could feel my heart rate now rest in peace. Though my circumstances didn't change, I did. I made a choice that day that I would not allow my emotions to rule over me, to cripple me. I would not bow down to fear.

Our emotions have a natural tendency to run amuck when faced with adversity. What categorizes "adversity" depends on the person and his/her perceptions of self in relation to an ever-changing world. Oftentimes, the way we handle conflict (anything that resists our current state of being, thinking, or feeling) depends on our flexibility to change. The body naturally responds to conflict in one of two ways: fight or flight. We were designed that way for survival. However, in this day and age, because we are oversaturated with news that threatens our security and bombarded by an overwhelming amount of options, it is no wonder that we are in a constant state of panic. We shrink at all of the potential each day brings to render us vulnerable as we strive to protect (or neglect) our marriages, our children, our job security, etc. There is no better time than now to cling to the only thing constant in an ever-changing world--Jesus Christ!

Psalm 46:10 tells us, "Be still, and know that I am God". When I meditate on this verse, I think of God inviting me in for a cup of coffee so that I might know Him more intimately. This verse is strategically sandwiched in between a juxtaposition of God's attributes. Verses 8-9 of this passage direct us to "behold the works of the Lord", He who "makes wars cease to the end of the earth. He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two". In other words, He is our Great Defender. Following the verse that commands us to "be still and know" is another characteristic of God that we will explore more in-depth: He is our ever-present Protector. Verse 11 states, "The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge". Psalm 46 also begins with the same declaration validating God as our protector and "refuge" as it states, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble". What a thought! He is very present meaning He has always been, is, and forever will be with us. Because He is omnipresent, we have a refuge readily available to us, everywhere and anywhere we go. Psalm 32:7 states [referring to the Lord], "You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance". Joshua 1:9 states, "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go". The Holy Spirit, like an eagle, hovers over us wherever we go and offers us a safe haven where we can hide. "Under His wings [we] shall take refuge" (Psalm 91:4b).

We must chew on verses such as these to savor the flavor of Christ's character. He is not some ethereal, lofty being who sits in the clouds and observes us under a magnifying glass. He is present and personal in each of our lives. He sent His Spirit to be our helper, companion, and guide. We realize this as we dig deep into His word and learn that from Genesis to Revelation echoes a common theme--God's love for and desire to be in relationship with His people. As we seek God and draw near to Him through communicating in prayer and study of His word, scripture says He will draw near to us and we will find Him (Reference Jeremiah 29:13, James 4:8). But, if His presence never lifts from us, how is it then that we should find Him? If scripture tells us that God is always near even when we don’t feel it to be true, then the problem must be with our perception. Think of yourself as looking through a microscope lens. It may be blurry at first glance but the more time you spend with the Lord focusing in by growing in the knowledge of Him, the more His image becomes clear. God appears to have drawn near when in truth He was there all along. The more time we invest in the study of His word, the more we recognize His presence among us.

A very present God gives us surety that there is nothing to fear. The only fear that we are to bow down to is a healthy fear of the Lord. “In the fear of the Lord there is a strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge” (Proverbs 14:26). This morsel of truth is especially valuable to a person who has unfortunately learned through life's experiences that the people closest to him/her can't be trusted, making his/her world a very uncertain place. However, when we let down our guard to let God in, we realize through time that He is trustworthy. Life therefore becomes less threatening. The God of Jacob as mentioned in the final verse in Psalm 46 is the same God whose Spirit hovers over us today. He offered Jacob refuge and He offers us the same. Let us discover this truth for ourselves and wash our minds in it daily so that we will meet life’s uncertainties with the same poise and posture of humility as when we are resting at His feet.

I love the account in Genesis detailing the night that Jacob wrestled with God. It provides us with some understanding as to why the God of Jacob is also a God of refuge. Prior to Jacob's encounter with the Lord, he was consumed with fear at the thought of meeting with his estranged brother, Esau, who twenty years prior sought to kill him. Receiving word that his brother was en route accompanied by 400 men, Jacob believed that Esau had intentions to seek revenge against him and his entire family. So, Jacob devised a plan to appease his brother by sending his family members and servants before him with gifts. The very night that he sent his plan forth, Jacob was left alone with nothing but his thoughts. He was crippled with fear. But, God intervened and revealed himself in the form of Man. Instead of speaking with Jacob, scripture tells us that God wrestled with him until daybreak (Genesis 33:24). God intended to revive the will to fight that waned within him. All of his life up until this point, Jacob was driven and did not back down when met with challenges. Even as an infant, Jacob, desiring the firstborn’s birthright, clung to his brother’s heel before exiting the womb. Esau was born first but Jacob successfully crafted a plan to con his father, Isaac, into blessing him over his brother. When it was time to marry, Jacob pursued the beautiful Rachel and worked fourteen years to receive her hand in marriage. In all of these examples, it is evident that Jacob's eyes were on the blessing rather than the God who provides them. Jacob learned how to trust in his own way and persevere in his own strength, but God was going to teach him how to persevere in faith. His persistence might be admirable before men, but it was displeasing to God for Jacob never sought God first. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us that we must not lean on our own understanding but rather acknowledge the Lord in all our ways and He shall direct our paths.

God was going to teach Jacob to let go of his former ways and cling to Him from that point forward. Just like a boxer clings to his opponent when he is weary from exhaustion but refusing to give up the fight, God caused Jacob to cling to Him after disjointing his hip. He, like a good father playfully tussling with his son, roused Jacob from a defeated countenance so he might see for himself the type of man God empowered him to be in comparison to the type of man he had become on his own, cowardly lingering behind as he allowed his wives, children, and servants to go before him to confront the situation causing him anguish. All of his anxious suffering may have been avoided if he sought God first to go before him. Nonetheless, this strenuous fight did revive Jacob's spirit and caused him to hold tight to his Opponent. Jacob cried out, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!" (Genesis 32:26). This is the response God desired from Jacob all along and He desires the same from us. The wrestling match with God taught Jacob to persevere in faith rather than rest in his own strength. Scripture tells us that we are to “glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4). This struggle with God developed a perseverance in Jacob to let go of his own way and cling to God's plan. As the story goes, Jacob prevailed and his hope was fulfilled as God blessed him and changed his name to Israel (Genesis 32:29). In addition to this, Jacob would soon discover that God had another blessing awaiting him on the other side of daybreak.

As soon as morning pierced through the night, Jacob lifted his eyes and saw Esau and his entourage of 400 men in the distance. However, unbeknownst to Jacob, God had already gone before him. He was at work in Esau's heart prior to their meeting. As a result, we witness a hallmark moment as Esau, the very man Jacob feared, runs toward him, embraces him, and they weep (Genesis 33:4). Jacob agonized over the "what ifs" but God had them covered. Psalm 27:3 states, “Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear”. We can speak this scripture with confidence when we know that the God of Jacob is also our God. He goes before us to meet our battles looming in the distance. What if Jacob didn’t cling to God the night before? Perhaps he would have run away tormented by fear, missing out on a beautiful reunion and opportunity for reconciliation with his brother. Throwing in the towel prematurely isn't a question when our hands are fully gripping God’s promises. Scripture states, "I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame! I will run the course of Your commandments for You shall enlarge my heart" (Psalm 119:32). May we cling to God’s word confidently as He enlarges our hearts with love that casts out all fear. Just as he did with Jacob, God will wrestle us out of the imprisonment of our minds all through the night if he has to in order for us to run the course of His commandments into the blessing awaiting us on the other side of daybreak.

The pesky bee I described earlier is like the enemy who attempts to confine us by crippling us with fear. He watches us carefully and learns how to distract us with temptations and empty threats. He desires that we engage in battle with him unprotected. But God intervenes, just as He did with Jacob, to wrestle us out of the enemy's grip by bringing to our remembrance the truth of His word and empowering us to cling to promises such as this: "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). Scripture tells us that "the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). We feed on the fruit of the lies he dangles before us like bait when we, just as Jacob did, trust in our own way (reference Hosea 10:13b). Operating in the flesh, we will do one of two things, fight back or flee, because our flesh is weak. And this response is what attracts a lion to his prey for he smells the scent of fear rather than the fragrance of Christ’s strength. James 4:7 describes what we must do in a situation such as this, "Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you". Submission to God requires death to our flesh. Remember God doesn't compete with our striving. But when we die to self, rest washes over us. It changes our demeanor and countenance. It reveals to the enemy as well as to the world that we are immovable for we are clinging like Jacob to the Rock and the Anchor of our souls. A person at rest doesn't flail his arms about in a state of panic as I did when I encountered the bee. Such a response alerts the enemy of a crack in our frame where he might gain a foothold.

I remember learning as a child that the way to avoid a bee sting is to remain still. Soon the bee will flee. That practical advice can be applied spiritually. Be still and know that God is who He says He is. This is how we resist the devil. Persevering faith trusts that our souls are well even in the midst of a tempestuous storm or standing in the line of fire for we know that God preserves our souls. Psalm 121:7 states, "The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul". He is our "refuge" and “very present help in trouble”. We have an opportunity to suppress the rising flesh by resting in the refuge He provides. We mustn’t run in fear or fight against temptation in our own strength for in both these instances we are striving in the flesh. Instead, God wants us to rest and abide in Him. God’s abiding love is beautifully articulated in John 15:5 which states, "I am the vine, you are the branches". For us to live in sync with this design, we must cling to Him as He clings to us. He has a grip over our lives that nothing can sever but our fingers have the tendency to slip far too easily. We must hold tight to His promises and stand against any lie that opposes them to live in victory.

The enemy who lurks about in search of prey is looking for the branch hanging by a thread from the vine, the person who wavers in his faith. Such a person is double-minded, not fully convinced of God's sufficient grace and fails to conceive the extent of its protective covering. As it states, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). We can boast in our weaknesses and even celebrate them for Christ’s strength is magnified in our shortcomings. The accuser of the brethren will remind us of them time and time but his words hold no weight when we rest in Christ’s grace. He ransomed us from the power of the grave (reference Hosea 13:14). Scripture tells us that "the sting of death is sin" (1 Corinthians 15:56) but Christ removed that sting and swallowed up death victoriously (paraphrased 1 Corinthians 15:54b-55). Referring back to the bee analogy, Christ removed the stinger from the enemy who now only buzzes threats and lies to terrorize and terrify an ear that is listening. But the person who realizes that victory is ours through Christ (reference 1 Corinthians 15:57) will overcome his schemes. As I heard a preacher once say, "we fight from victory not for it". No matter how loud the buzzing sound is that tempts us to fret, we must remember that the enemy cannot deliver on any threat. The common factor of every fear is death. With that removed, fear has no leg to stand on. In the same manner, the serpent who tempted Adam and Eve was cursed and casted to the ground without physical legs to stand on as God declared, "on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life" (Genesis 3:14). This example proves that even as far back as the beginning of time, the enemy was powerless, unable to stand up against God or the authority that rests on His children. He is not only under the heel of Christ who bruised his head but under the heel of all God’s creation who walk in Christ’s victory. He is under our feet. He has lost his sting.

It is liberating to know that we no longer live under the heavy hand of death. In victory it was conquered as Christ's arms stretched across the crossbeam and bridged the gap over death to eternal life. On the same token, the sting of death was ripped from the enemy's grip rendering him powerless. Whenever we are tempted to fight his schemes in the flesh, remember "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). In our flesh, we are powerless to fight a spiritual battle. But draped in the armor of Christ, we are victorious for the outcome is already decided. Therefore, keep your hand to the plow without looking back, fighting back, or running in fear even when the bee incessantly buzzes in your ear. Remember that the bee has lost its sting and cannot deliver on any threat, lie, or temptation. "Be still and know" that the God who created you created you to fit perfectly into the palm of His hand. He is our present help and readily available for us to call on and to cling to. Hide the word of God inside your heart and when the flesh rises, the Holy Spirit will suppress it by bringing to remembrance God’s truth. Rest in scripture such as John 16:33 which reminds us to "be of good cheer [be encouraged and have courage], [for] I [Jesus] have overcome the world". Because Jesus Christ overcame the grave, we who are covered by grace have the authority to do the same. Death has lost its sting. Let us walk in that victory.

"Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:28-31).

Do You Now Believe?

A few years ago, I caved under the heavy weight of depression. It began subtly as do all of the enemy's schemes and before long I found myself buried under a pile of bricks. It started out as an irrational thought that I flirted with on occasion. I would then entertain it for extended periods of time. Before I was aware of what was going on, this thought unpacked all of its belongings and decided to take up residency in my mind. This induced anxiety. Fear led to doubt and doubt led to a great divide between the Lover of my soul and I. It began as a trickle of compromise until the pressure built up and broke the dam preserving my sanity. In flooded a procession of irrational thoughts and out flowed peace of mind. Unable to stand under the weight of it all, I fell fast and hard into a tar pit. I liken depression to a tar pit because the characteristics of the two are eerily similar. Any living creature that regrettably stumbles into its snare has little to no chance of escape. The tar thickens around the living being making it nearly impossible for them to pull themselves out. As a result of exhaustion, they often submit to their defeat and perish.

Such is the case for people who spend most of their lives striving to free themselves out from under the weight of tribulation, whether it be depression, a physical incapacitation, or the pressure of their life's circumstances. The enemy and our self-will teaches the soul to strive until the tar thickens around us. Then it becomes evident that there is no means for escape. Thereafter, discouragement sets in as the soul realizes in a tragic panic that he is not in control of his fate. Sometimes God allows us to get to this place for in it we discover this truth: He alone saves. His arm is long enough to reach the very depths of the pit. He is strong enough to tighten our hand within His grip and pull us up until we rise above the thick, black residue representing our past. "Behold, the Lord God shall come with a strong hand...He will gather the lambs with His arm" (Isaiah 40:10-11). And as a result, "they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:31). This is a hope and a promise to those who believe.

I place emphasis on the word "believe" because there comes a point in every pilgrim's pilgrimage where he revisits a foundational statement of faith, a yes or no response to the question that catalyzed his life's work: "Do you believe?". I've heard highly respected pastors say that they too have circled this question even after several years of walking with the Lord and serving in ministry. It's not a matter of questioning the reality of Jesus Christ as it is an honest examination of whether or not one has accepted the totality of Christ into his life. This question compels a person to evaluate if he believes that Jesus Christ is who He says He is and will do what He has promised. The disciples who witnessed firsthand God's miraculous healing work in their lives as well as in the lives of others are met with this question by the Lord Himself. He first explains to them a foundational truth, "I [Jesus] came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father" (John 16:28). After the disciples heard and admit that they understood, Jesus Christ follows up with a foundational question: "Do you now believe?" (John 16:31). Isaiah 61 explains the earthly ministry Jesus Christ fulfilled when He departed from the Father. This work continues on in the lives of those who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. If we believe Jesus Christ came forth from the Father, then we believe He came to "to preach good tidings to the poor;...to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound" (Isaiah 61:1). What does this mean for the believer? When one has professed Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior, He is handed everything mentioned in the aforementioned scripture, gift-wrapped in what we know as salvation. This gift offers us freedom from the tar pit and healing from the exhaustion of striving to make it out on our own. But, the gift must be received before the believer can experience the abundant life God has promised through it.

In two accounts of God's miraculous healings, we see the immediate transaction of healing that takes place at the onset of belief. Two strangers meet at a crossroads where Jesus stands having only one noticeable commonality--a desperate need for Him. The woman with the issue of blood and Jairus, the father of a 12 year-old girl on her death bed, both come to the very place where they believe they will receive the remedy to their malady. The woman with the issue of blood touches the hem of Jesus' garment and is instantly healed. Jesus says to her, "your faith has made you well" (Luke 8:48). Jairus, on the other hand, fearful after just receiving news that his daughter has died is told to "believe" before he and Jesus travel to his home. He says to Jairus, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well" (Luke 8:50). Before moving forward in our journey toward healing, we must identify with our foundational belief as did Jairus. What do you know to be true about Jesus? Do you believe He is who He says He is and will do what He has promised?

The fact that the woman with the issue of blood immediately receives healing leads me to believe that she had already developed a faith in Christ before their encounter. She must have heard of who Christ is and made a choice to place her faith in her only hope. For she, like those who strive while stuck in a tar pit, spent "all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any" (Luke 8:43). Here we see that she believed that Jesus alone would heal her. Jesus meets us in our desperation where there is nothing or no one we can depend on to pacify our pain. He only establishes authority over that which we give Him access to and He doesn't compete with our striving. When we are willing to rest in His strength and in His ability, He will proceed to heal our hearts completely and unravel the bondage in our lives. We must remember this, at the conception of our faith, when we have made a choice to receive Jesus into our hearts, the work is already done. We, however, need to learn this truth and accept it as reality. This is the work that God is doing in the interim. Jesus states, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32). Here Jesus explains that it takes an active faith that clings to the word of God and receives instruction by it. As we know and grow in the truth, the truth in turn shall set us free. Our hearts will experience the healing that has already taken place and our minds will be liberated of faulty thought patterns when we grasp the truth by force. At this point, nothing or no one can take it from us.

After the woman with the issue of blood is healed, Jesus tells her to "be of good cheer" and "go in peace" (Luke 8:48). And He commands us to do the same. In Luke 16:33, after Jesus questioned the disciples' belief, He goes on to say, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world". Jesus Christ wouldn't command us to do something He hasn't already equipped us to do. Therefore, if He tells us to "be of good cheer" and maintain peace, I trust it is possible so long as we are found in Him, "abiding in His word" as mentioned in John 8:31. He doesn't say that we will be free from tribulation but He does promise freedom from our striving beneath it. Believers and non-believers are subject to storms just the same, but the difference is this--the believer is offered a priceless gift of peace in the midst of the storm.

The Greek translation for "tribulation" is "thilipsis" which literally means "putting a lot of pressure on that which is free and unfettered". This is the perfect description of what it looks like when a believer is buried under the weight of a trial. He is in fact free though he may not see it that way. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 states, "We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body". According to scripture, though we are "hard-pressed on every side" we are not crippled. We are promised abundant life in Jesus Christ who rose from the dead and "overcame the world". When we tuck ourselves into the fold of His wing, "united together in the likeness of His death" as well as "in the likeness of His resurrection" (Romans 6:5), we die to the former man and live with Him unto eternal life. As Christ rises from the ashes with Healing in His wings (Malachi 4:2), we rise with Him, healed of heartache and free from a mentality of defeat.

But it all begins with a choice. We can choose to live in Him, taking Him at His word moment by moment, or we can live under the weight of tribulation which presses down and squeezes out the sweet nectar of the fruits of the Spirit operating in our lives. There is in fact alot to be cheerful about when we believe that Jesus Christ is who He says He is. If we are waiting for Him to demonstrate this truth, we could be hindering spiritual breakthrough. We must first believe the Word and when we do, we invite freedom, peace, and healing into our hearts. We can allow our tribulation to cripple us or we can rise above it as Jesus did when He overcame the world. We can choose to stand in God's camp or on the outskirts. This is a choice one must make daily. God may choose not to heal you completely from a debilitating disease but in truth your soul is free as is your heart and your mind. The enemy would have us to look at our physical, mental, or emotional incapacitations, but Christ calls us look at our freedom in Him--freedom to love and receive love, to maintain a cheerful disposition despite how our body or our hearts ache, and to be still in His peace knowing who God is and what He has done for us.

Our soul is not yet separate from our body, therefore we can't physically see such liberation. But, we can apply this truth to every tribulation we face and in turn experience freedom as we walk in it. With that said, I encourage you to ponder upon these two questions. What if you were to live like somebody left the gate open? Instead of standing behind it, crippled by fear, will you dare to run through it like nothing is stopping you? Just as a runner jolts forward at a shot made by the starting gun, we must move with the same boldness when we respond affirmatively to the question we all face at the starting line: "Do you now believe"? Let us not return to where we started because we have not fully grasped the depths of what this suggests. Let us grip the reality of who Christ is in our lives as if no one can take it from us. If you find yourself stuck in a tar pit, remember there is freedom awaiting those who believe that they have already been set free.

The Authority that Comes with Suffering: "Not My Will, But Yours, Lord"

Some months ago, a few character deficiencies bubbled up to the surface of my heart, stemming from the source of sin lurking deep within. I was forced to stand before the towering image of an inflated self that fed on affirmations and was motivated by the opinion and approval of fellow man. This exaggerated sense of self was busting at the seams with pride although I may have failed to diagnose it as such because it was masked securely by false humility. Contrary to what I believed, self-depracation is not humility. As often as I refused to receive any complimentary utterance flowing forth from the lips of my peers, I also secretly relied on them to feed my self-esteem. And this played a huge role in my ministry. I would suppress the flame inside in order to secure people's opinion of me because I would rather be portrayed as humble than standing in the way of Christ's glory. Pride as described in these two polar ends of the spectrum have nothing to do with Christ and everything to do with self and other's assessment of self. But, soon I would find that the more I fix my eyes on Christ, everything and everyone that once served to validate me would lose its sting. When we are approved by the King, we are impacted very little by our surroundings and are therefore impactful in our ministry. May everything external to the soul and spirit fade away so that Christ may dwell richly in us, not having to contend with our fleshly disposition.

If we have entertained pride, we have inevitably invited in his companion known as "rights". In a nation such as this where rights stimulate debate and inflame people to stand up for a laundry list of injustices by enlisting their support for various causes, we are enmeshed with the message that one must strive to preserve and protect his reputation and every "God-given right". I am not at all discounting the great work and advancements made by leaders who left an imprint in our history textbooks as they stood upon the principles of scripture to peacefully combat oppressive issues, such as racial segregation. I am targeting, however, a generation who has tipped the scale, turning a biblical standard of equality into a pattern of self-entitlement. As a result of this, society by and large has adopted the notion that the world is his debtor. With that said, let's look at a secular definition for the word "rights": "that which is due anyone by just claim". We need to evaluate if we, as God's children, define and strive to uphold our rights by the world's standards or by the standards set forth in scripture. For anyone striving in truth, let God be your defense. Psalm 9:4 states, "For You [God] have maintained my right and my cause; You sat on the throne judging in righteousness". It is true that every person on this earth indeed has a right and that is to live a life apart from God where he will in turn suffer his fate in eternal damnation. Everything else is given to him by the grace of God [paraphrased from my bible study lecture]. Our "just claim", as the definition states, is to spend eternity apart from God for "our righteousness is as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6) next to Him who is pure and holy. When we understand full-heartedly the weight of our sin that Jesus Christ bore on the cross, sentiments of self-entitlement will diminish. Freedom from the guilt, control, and penalty of sin was a gift to us, undeserved by us. We dare not claim it a right if we deeply contemplate our former state.

In our day and age the definition of rights has expanded to include an obligatory claim to a comfortable life with all of its luxuries and amenities at our disposal. For those of us who have fallen into this entrapment, we have placed our hope in a perishable crown, joining the rest of the world in what's coined as the "rat race". But, the analogy I prefer is portrayed as a hamster on his exercise wheel. He runs aimlessly without an achievable end. However, for those of us who have placed our hope in Jesus Christ, Paul tells us to run not with this uncertainty (ref 1 Corinthians 9:26) but temperate, assured of what is awaiting us on the other side of the finish line, our imperishable crown.

Running temperate sometimes means we will fall behind the world's standards of success which might include job promotions, houses, cars, marriage, children, etc. Although these earthly rewards sometimes do come to some very faithful believers (as well as some not so faithful), they are by no means correlated with a man's worth nor are they credited to him for his good deeds. Job who knew no lack until everything was ripped from his fingertips had the proper perspective on claiming rights to his possessions, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away" (Job 1:21). In other words, everything we have is provided by God's gracious hand and therefore not ours to claim. God addresses the Israelites in like manner, silencing prideful hearts that trusted in their own power and might to acquire wealth for themselves. In response to this God says, "remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth..." (ref Deuteronomy 8:17-18). In addition to this, no one is comparatively more worthy to receive God's gifts for up against His spotless standard, every one falls short (ref Romans 3:23). James 1:17 states, "Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning". Our society would have us believe that if man is generally good then he is deserving of good things. But, God says, we are "by nature children of wrath" (Ephesians 2:3). What a relief to know that we aren't rewarded by our character or by merit. For even the greatest treasure known to man, salvation, "is a gift from God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8c-9).

Pride and fixation with our rights cripples a believer from walking in submission to God. If we keep the twin sins around long enough, we will acquire the same salty taste as the rest of the world when we are forced to form our lips around the word, "submit". Submission by God's design is intended to be purposeful and harmonious. We see the blueprint of God's order in the very beginning of creation as God gives Adam dominion over the animals and then provides him a help-mate, known as Eve. Preoccupation with rights was not a thought in their minds until sin was introduced into the picture. The enemy carefully crafted a subtle question to appeal to man's pride. Suddenly he was aware of "rights" which inevitably led to his demise. But, there is hope and the entire bible points to Him as the Savior who would redeem us of such sin, restoring order for all those who look to Him as an example. Philippians 2:5-11 states, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in the appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father".

When Jesus Christ relinquished His rights inorder to live in complete submission to the Father, He did not lose any authority destined to Him. He who possessed all power and dominion retained it even when He stepped down as a bondservant before rising again as the King. He did not attempt to preserve His reputation when mocked and beaten while dragging His cross to the mount of Calvary. He wasn't compelled to explain Himself when He was wrongfully accused. Unaffected by pride and bearing no consideration of rights, He secured His obedience to the Father's will, even unto death. He was unscathed by the torment He faced because He was affirmed by God and fully aware of who and whose He is as well as where He was going.

Jesus Christ epitomized and exemplified what we as Christians are challenged with everyday--"dying to self". For Him, death was physical but necessary to prove that one must die in order to live. "Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God" (1 Peter 4:1-2). One lives a futile life when He strives to maintain his rights, but gains everything when he leaves them behind. This is a contradiction to the natural man, but freedom to ears who will hear. Jesus says, "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it" (Mark 8:35). With that said, what specifically must die in your life so that you can live in the abundance and authority already vested to you in Christ?

Insomuch as humility was a vital component of salvation so was exaltation so that man would know Jesus Christ as Lord. Scripture states, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up" (James 4:10). We may not be exalted in this lifetime by status or recognition, but our spirits will be lifted to behold the face of God, empowered by the truth implanted in our hearts that we are "co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory" (Romans 8:17). There is retribution for the person who is loosely attached to his life, including everything that has served to validate him--his family, his career, etc. When we are willing to suffer the loss of all things such as our reputations or our rights, then we are able to identify with Christ through His suffering. And as 2 Timothy 2:12 states, "if we endure, we will also reign with Him".

The apostle Paul is a prominent example of self-denial. Taking into account his extensive background, Paul states, "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:7-8). Paul made a radical renunciation of his rights in exchange for radical fellowship with Christ, longing to know not only the power of His resurrection, but also "the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death" (Philippians 3:10). A daily denial of self is the way in which Paul "fellowshipped" with Christ's sufferings and undoubtedly he is now sharing in Christ's glory. We see the evidence of this in his ministry as he was largely responsible for the establishment of the early church. We too will break bread with suffering if we long to live in complete submission to Christ. This may result in the loss of our reputations, our friends/families, our careers, dreams, aspirations, etc. But, if Christ had to learn obedience through suffering, then suffering unto obedience it shall be (ref Hebrews 5:8).

Luke 6:40 drives this point home as it states, "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher". As I mentioned before, Christ Himself learned obedience through suffering. Paul followed His lead and so must we. Laying down our pride and rights brings us one step closer to being "perfectly trained" in obedience as Christ was. In this submission, we do not fear losing anything for under Christ's protective covering, gently tucked in the fold of His wing, we find we have everything. Closely submitted to Him, we will operate in His authority and therefore have all authority in the gospel we practice and preach.

In the daily denial of self, may we remember the heart that was ripped apart to get us to this place and rejoice in what lies ahead. As Psalm 51:17 states, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart...". We can experience the strife and tension that results from kicking against God's will or we can sweetly surrender our broken hearts unto Him. This is a sacrifice pleasing to Him for in our brokenness, we are of use to Him. A heart that has been purged of his rights has no might left in him to fight but let go of his life and watch God make something out of the fragmented pieces. And when we have learned to submit in our desperate dependence upon Him, may "not my will, but Yours, Lord" be the anthem upon our lips. As we sing, may power and authority ring true in our ministry, in our hearts, and in the home.

I don't believe I am alone in my dealings with pride and rights. I know the many reasons why we as Christians haven't fully stood in our authority in the light of Christ's glory is because we avoid sharing in His sufferings. May you and I be drawn into such deep communion with our Savior that our hearts are wrenched from our chests as was His when we plead as He did, "not my will, but Yours, be done". For this life is not our own and may we dare not claim it to be so. Let us humble ourselves into submission, being conformed to his death so that everything we've made of this life will be buried behind us. And may we look on to what awaits us just beyond the finish line, a seat in the heavenly place as co-heirs with Christ, sharing in His glory. May pride not block our view as we press forward to what lies ahead and may rights no longer hold us back, in want of what has been laid to rest. Moving forward, may we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, sharing in His sufferings, for this is a sacrifice He will not despise (ref Psalm 51:17). Then "May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you" (1 Peter 5:10). Amen!

Love is Among Us

If you could touch love, would it be like resting your head on a feather down pillow? If you could taste it, would it melt on your tongue like cotton candy? If you could smell it, would it be reminiscent of a lover's scent, hidden in the crease where the neck and shoulder meet? Can you define love? Or would it just be?

I filter through my sentiments when I absorb the black ink from the pages inscribed in the Book of Life and believe that this love it speaks of can only be described and personified in the deity of Jesus Christ. All throughout the scriptures He whispers love into ears that are willing to hear and eyes that desire to see. But do our hearts echo understanding? How do we, like Peter, respond to this simple question Jesus Christ is asking, "Do you love Me?" I stand corrected if I ever think I fully understand what this love means apart from a God who loves ceaselessly. I've experienced romance, motherly adoration, but what kind of love is this that gives of Himself to all of creation unsparingly? What kind of love is this that crushes His only Son so humanity could see that love conquers all things?

It's this kind of love that carries me when I'm tear-stained and torn up inside and defeatedly watch life pass me by as the battle of the mind is a far cry from peace. It's this kind of love that can empathize when my spirit is willing but my flesh is weak. It's this kind of love that stretches wide its wings, and bids me into its shadow to dwell in its safety. But as gentle as love may be, it is also ferociously jealous like a lion protecting his pride. Every fear we face is subject to its authority when Love once and for all triumphantly carried it and nailed it to the cross to die. In the light of this love, fear is a lie.

But fear and all of its defenseless friends gain power to torment he who does not know his territory, rooted and grounded in love that is perfect. Christ's love is the land that I speak of and it's immeasurable length, depth, height, and width is ours to receive if we like Joshua believe what God said in Joshua 1:3, "upon the land your feet will tread, I have given you". Like the Levites, instead of an earthy inheritance, our portion is Him. But one must survey the land before he understands how grand his portion is. He must walk the parameters of his estate. He must bury his hands into the earth to know its worth.

But in our human frailty we can't fully conceptualize what that means until we step out of the confines of time and into eternity for then we might be able to perceive the length of Christ's love. I love you more than the sky ends my mother used to say as she kissed my forehead before bed, my eyes gazed across the night sky and I wondered just how long before that love would end. But this love knows no end. It's I'll-stitch-you-in with-my-needle-and-thread kind of love. I am yours and you are Mine; your pulse now pumps blood from My bloodline; You-and-I-are-interwoven-so-tight kind of love. And when we meet, I'll unravel the patchwork with no beginning and end so you can see where I stitched you in--long before you were a thought in your mother's mind, before the beginning of time, and into the endless abyss of bliss. That's how long I love you.

But before you decide just how wide this love is, have you sailed the vast ocean tide? Have you rocked asleep upon the calming peace of the sea's lullaby? And from this cradle looked up to behold the expanse of the sky, observing that it's My arms that hold it all together with enough room to wrap them around the whole human race just to sweep you up in my embrace. That's how wide I love you.

And before you consider just how deep this love can reach, picture My eye peering down into the heart of every man, looking past his deeds, and cherishing his beauty as he was made in the likeness of the Trinity. Despite your inclination to wander away from the burning flame and into the darkness, yes even down into the grave, I in my all-consuming wrath and jealousy will pull you up from the snare of harlotry. And remind you just how much My heart grieves when you are far from Me. This can only be explained by love so deep.

But what about the height of My love? Your praise like incense travels up to the heavens and enthrones Me. As you reverence and adore, I swell up with joy and shower down blessings so you remember that I love you more. I'll walk the ends of the earth for you. Go down into the pit for you. Hold you in the darkest hour.

And as you experience more of My love, you will not cower but have power to hold a torch as you round the corners of dark alleys and into the valleys of life. As I told Joshua, "do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9b). To experience my love, to hear My voice, to grow in the knowledge of Me enlarges your territory both in the physical realm and in the heart where you are no longer afflicted or restricted by fear but free to go where I might send and the more you see and hear, the more your heart will expand wider, longer, higher, and deeper so you might have room enough to receive all of Me.

Peter could not possibly respond affirmatively to the limitless love Jesus Christ speaks of and neither can we until we receive this gift in all of its entirety. Consider your anxieties for this might help you to better understand whether you are on or off the land. The answer is clear when the consummation of His perfect love casts out all fear (Ref 1 John 4:18). So that wherever our feet shall tread, wherever we lay our heads, our hearts are quieted within us for we have seen, touched, tasted, and felt love so great. We have walked it's width, depth, height, and length and as a result are filled with all of the fullness of God. For this is where Christ dwells through faith. And as we remain steadfast, He will provide us the resources we need to expand our house upon the land where He will dwell among us richly. One that will withstand the winds, storms, and tests of life until faith becomes sight, hope will be realized, and knowledge transcends into infinite wisdom. And at this point, we will find that it is only love that remains and rests beneath our feet, bridging the gap from this present life into eternity where we will fall humbly at the throne of our King overwhelmed to be in the presence of the very definition of love. I implore you to explore the portion of your lot for surely you will find that the boundary lines have fallen for you in pleasant places. Love is among us. He is our beautiful inheritance.