As Much As

"When we say He delights in mercy, it's because it's all He wants to do ..."

WE ARE NOT here to make disciples. We are here to show the loving character of a generous God (Romans 2:4). We are not here to correct people through criticism and forced rule-keeping. We are to show them how easy it is to live because He is always for us, working with us, to show us what a good life this is meant to be. Our Father in heaven wants us to live well, to have a prosperous journey. Prosperity is of the soul (1 John 1:2). It is NOT being “rich”. Though God makes sure those who need much have much (large businesses require much capital), He wants us to have enough and to spare without arrogance.

“Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:” (Proverbs 30:8)

One man had more than enough yet thought to gather to himself even more, so he tore down his barns and build larger. That night, however, he died, and all he had on earth went to those left behind. This is a story of attitude, aka “what is ours?” Has the house and the car and the pocketbook become our goal, or would we sell all we own and give it to the poor? What is our cross, the love of God overwhelming us, or fear of the future? He holds our future in His life-giving cup (Psalm 16:5 VOICE). Jesus said the Father knows our needs, not to worry about them (Matthew 6:32). Since we do not have to worry about them, we should turn our attention to those who are.

Over and over again, Israel was admonished for their neglect of widows and orphans. From prophets, from their Messiah. What would He say now about the care of the churches? This is a loaded question with a wide and various answer, because no two churches are alike. But the love of God in us spills over from us into our care for people BECAUSE WE ALSO LOVE THEM AS MUCH AS GOD DOES. That’s the meaning of His love in us. It is not in us so we can struggle to find it, while wishing we could ignore that one, nor for some forced action which we label our effort at love. But the true love of God, having taken hold of you, cannot be shut off or controlled. If you love the way God loves, if you truly know the size of His love, you can’t hate people, you can’t be stingy.

When we say He delights in mercy, it’s because it’s all He wants to do, like all the time, every day, and in the greatest quantities ever. Here, of course, someone asks, “But what about …?” and they insert some loss of life or friendship or spouse or children. They point to the destruction all around us, as if God is absent. WHY DOESN’T GOD DO SOMETHING ABOUT ALL THIS? He did. He sent Jesus, and Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit, who raised His mutilated body from the dead.

Here is the mission of the church, to tell people, to encourage them that despite what is going on around us, it is possible to live long, healthy wonderful lives and go to heaven when our joy is full. Our mission is NOT to flip the devil the bird. The Word of God is VERY CLEAR—1 John 3:8, Jesus came to DESTROY (dissolve) the works of the devil. Hebrews 2:14, Jesus DESTROYED (rendered useless) the devil. If we live by these two Truths, then we will grow up. We are not fighting flesh and blood (people). We’re not fighting the devil either. We’re fighting our immaturity. We’re fighting wrong thought patterns, wrong feelings, bad habits, and the resulting behaviors. For now, death remains and with it all the effects of death, sickness, strife, etcetera. God has said He will remove it entirely (Revelation 21:4). Until then, He has done a complete work. Philippians 1:6. He is entirely reliable and completely faithful. All we will need to live well is found in Him. And maturity will seek Him for it.

Maturity will stop making soldiers of the church. It is our peace that people should see, that we are at rest, unphased by the swirl around us, and peaceful in spite of it. That a man died for us, of His own choice, and was peace-full. Nothing took His peace from Him, not malicious tongues, not physical pain, nor mental pressure. The love of God flowing in Him was too huge.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

“His intent was that now, through the church, God’s wisdom, methods, principles and character should be revealed to all intelligent beings throughout the entire universe as we experience God’s methods and character recreated within us,” (Ephesians 3:10, Remedy)


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com