Would you dare characterize your relationship with Jesus as scandalous? Wait a minute before you reject this seeming crazy notion. We live in a culture that continually tries to pull us down to its level of immaturity. Every day, world media outlets report on the latest scandalous acts of politicians, entertainers, etc. And yet, Jesus still calls and 'woos' our hearts to an abandoned, seeming 'scandalous' love affair. It would be helpful to define what is meant by scandalous?
Scandalous: improper display of affection or behavior in public... Who gets to establish the 'norm' that defines improper? Jesus defined the love of God and the God of love for all time on the Cross and the Empty Grave! And what a scandalous definition it is!
To be sure, the 'accuser' of the brethren (Satan) and his most devilish minions (religious spirits) will gladly continue to put forth their dark and debilitating definition. There only goal is to suppress your affection for Jesus! Their strategy is to 'steal', 'kill' and 'destroy' the incredible potential of our love affair with Jesus. Robbing you and me of ever grasping the width, length, height and depth of the love of Jesus is their intended target. Satan is the 'father of lies' and his biggest lie is to convince you and me that it is somehow 'improper' to enter the Eternal domain of the passion of Jesus.
"My response is to get down on my knees before the (true and only) Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit--not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength--that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its lengths! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:14-19 (Message)
The essence of His 'scandalous' love is about to play out for His disciples in the moments before His Ultimate Passion on Calvary! His example becomes the model for all time. Servitude, sacrifice, and abandoned trust to His Father becomes the standard for all who will follow Him.
John 13:1
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search= john13:1&version=NIV, 1984 version
Do we dare explore the full extent of His love? Open your heart and 'take in with all Christians of all time the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love'!!! "Reach out and experience the breadth! Tests its lengths! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights!"
To be in love with Jesus is to join Him on the Divine journey to the loving heart of Father...to be in love with love...He is love--His very essence is love. And it is His 'scandalous' extravagant love that will take all of Eternity to begin to fathom! Be enraptured by His love as you listen to "I'm in Love with You”.
Kari Jobe - I'm in love with You
www.youtube.com
In the grip of 'scandalous' passion from Jesus! Ron Ross
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