LOVE

Love in a risky way.
Its amazing to ponder that and realize so quickly how in many spheres of life the influence of how you choose to love- has a dynamic effect.

Love in romantic relationships.
Love in corporate relationships.
Love in public relationships.
Love in personal relationships.
Love in family relationships.

Love is a movement. Its a ripple effect.

And so. How do we love better? More efficiently, more effectively. Its a question the church has been trying to answer since the 12 disciples walked next to Jesus.
We're all disciples these days- and the question is the same: How do we do this?

2 Corinthians 3:18 is my immediate thought:
"And we, who with unveiled faces, all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord- who is the Spirit."

The Weymouth New Testament puts it this way:
"And all of us, with unveiled faces, reflecting like bright mirrors the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same likeness, from one degree of radiant holiness to another, even as derived from the Lord the Spirit."

What a radical idea God had there- in giving us his Spirit, we cannot help but be conformed to his image as we seek to know him more. From one degree of radiant holiness to another- our faces begin to look like Christ's. Our lives begin to look like Christ's. And it is a ripple effect. The love of Christ- the person of Jesus Christ is infectious, but for some reason today, it is the best kept secret. I'd love to dissect that further- but that is for another post.

Switchfoot says it like this:

"Millions of faces looking for a movement
Cause everything's stuck and everything's frozen
And everyone's broken and nobody moves
And everyone's scared that the motion will never come.

Love is a movement; Love is a revolution
This is redemption; We don't have to slow back down

The stars are alive: they dance to the music of the deepest emotion.
And all of the world is singing in time as the heavens are caving in
Mysterious ways- why God gave His life to put motion inside my soul.

It's bigger than cold religion
It's bigger than life
We don't have to slow back down"

Its true, you know- what they say: My God is alive and on the move. He does not stay still, he does not keep silent.

John 17:22 says, "The glory which You have given Me, I have given them, that they may be one, just as We are one."
^I don't even know what to make of that. I'm entirely overwhelmed and covered by it- in the most beautiful, most comforting of ways.

As many problems this world and this nation has- we do know this: He provides a way out for us to stand up under every temptation. (1 Cor. 10:13) God is faithful. He cannot deny his own character- in everything, He is the hope.

He is the Hope.