Keep Yourselves In The Love Of God

How often do we meditate on the love of God? Will we ever know the depth of His love?

I mean Valentine's Day is coming up. It is the season of love right. I was sharing about the love of God with a co-worker a while back, and started by talking about the holiness of God. God is Holy…

But just how Holy is God?

The Bible gives us many accounts that when the Holiness of God shows up, men fall down onto their faces as dead. The Holiness of God is a consuming fire, and we read in Revelation that Jesus, the King of Kings and LORD of Lords will have eyes of fire, but my favorite story about Gods’ Holiness lies with Moses.

You see, Moses first saw “fire.” Amazed by the brightness of a bush on fire, yet not consumed, Moses started a long hike to the mountain top, and there met God. (Exodus 3) This meeting with God starts a life changing experience for Moses and in the many chapters that follow, most start with, “And the Lord said unto Moses...” Just a thought here, which person of the Trinity is most referred to as Lord?

By Exodus chapter 33:11-23, the Bible tells us that Moses talked with God face to face as a friend with a friend, yet also says that if we were to look upon the face of God we would cease to exist as consumed by fire...God’s Holiness. So this “face to face” meant that the conversation got very intimate, so intimate that Moses asked to see God’s Glory.

Now let's not let this go over our heads!

God so loves us that He wants to show us His Glory, His Holiness. My favorite verse is II Chronicles 16:9 which says, “The eyes of the Lord (fire) run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong (Glory) in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him...” And don’t miss this, in Exodus 33:19 God says, “I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee;...” Wow! This is Jesus, in whom God is well pleased. Then God continues with, “I will hide you in this crack in the rock, and when I walk by it, I will cover you with my hand and then let go and let you see my ‘back parts’, but not my face.” (Jon Prox paraphrase)

Folks, I guess what I’m trying to say is that the Love of God, the Holiness of God, the Glory of God, is Jesus of Nazareth.

“For God so loved the world," that he gave us Jesus. He wants to show you His Glory. Again, Revelation describes Jesus as one with hair as wool and white as snow, in white robes, shining as the sun. The love of God is also His mercy, in that  Jesus laid down his life and rose again to offer us victory over death and hell.

Do you know Him? Are you keeping yourselves in the love of God?

This phrase comes from Jude, which is a warning to the church, a great little book relative to our times. Read it. Wolves have come in, dressed in sheep’s clothing to steal and destroy. We know the world now calls what is good - evil, and what is evil - good, but has “the church” become dull to the Holiness of God? Do we compromise and love the things of this world? Are we slipping away while God is calling us to be holy? I hope not. But in these days, I encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ to contend for the faith, fight the fight and run the race set before us. Run it, so as to win the prize. In the midst of this battle Jude gives us our first and most important step, “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” (vs.21)  Warning... holiness will offend others, but be not discouraged and do not compromise and think on these things.

He is Worthy!