Great Love

"He should be the center."

SALVATION SHOULD NOT be a threat. Jesus should not be threat. His return, a threat. We preach “turn or burn”. He preached peace. He reached out to heal, sometimes healing entire multitudes. We’re looking for “signs and wonders”. He’s looking for willing hearts.

He should be the center, His ways, the center. He showed love, great love. We frighten people with our theology. Nothing in God’s Word, which is Jesus, should be fearful. Nothing. He is not the spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). When He spoke Truth, it was to make men think. Of His parables, I’ve heard it said, those listening would hear them and ponder them and later, see Truth. The Pharisee Nicodemus came to Jesus not knowing how to be born again, or even that it was something to consider. Then we see Him at Jesus’ burial, placing spices on Him (John 19:39). Truth grew.

We see the disciple (learner) Peter walking on water one day and denying him the next. We see Jesus in the garden praying for him, urging him to pray over himself, and also Jesus pleading for Judas (Matthew 26:42). We’ve dismissed Judas. And Muslims. And Hindus. And many other non-Christian faiths.

I make this next statement to cause you to think. I will not dwell here, but hell is God’s. That changes what we’ve mentally crafted. It does not change God. He is peace. He is the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3). He is eternal Life. We are rescued from darkness and sin by His great Love. And Love should be our heart. It must fuel our every action and be what protects people and what CANCELS entire sermons. Some things do not need to be said. The apostle Paul said this of criticizing the way people eat and even the days they worship (Romans 14). We must extend it to any topic that (a) brings fear and (b) causes lust. We cannot use our “modern times” as an excuse. Nor education.

Jesus is coming soon. And He’s coming for a glorious church (Ephesians 5:27). He is not coming to leave people behind. To rescue these in the face of those. To prove He is King. He proved this when innumerable people were yet to be born. And He relied on a handful of Jewish followers to tell the world. He’s returning to bring peace. Not tribulation.

Our teaching is wrong. One moment in His Presence … surrendered … and you will know that.

“That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:27)

Illustration by Deep on Unsplash


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