Being the Beloved Overwhelmed by Love

As New Creations in Christ we are the Beloved, all of heaven is attentive to Christ in us.  God's endless affection towards us can only be received as we see ourselves the same we He sees us.  When we see ourselves after our sins, our failures, our inadequacies, and weakness then through this image of ourselves we have a very difficult time receiving love.  When we begin with how God sees us as His Beloved son or Beloved daughter than the reality of who God is as love begins to be revealed to us.  It is certainly easy to get overwhelmed by sin, fear, bitterness, lack, poverty, anger, and darkness but these all come from seeing ourselves after the old nature and not the new.  Scriptures is clear in Colossians 3:3-4 says, "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory."  These verses are not reserved for some future glory, the truth is you have died (old self united to sin) and now you are living from your new life (in Christ).  Every time we agree with the truth of who we are "in Christ" then Jesus is manifested through us, which means there is a dimension of glory released.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, constantly lived under an open heaven with the Father's affection and love flowing to Him without end.  We have been placed "in Christ" as sons and daughters of God with His life resident in us.  How can we live out the purposes of God if we are not empowered by the same love Jesus was?  I believe to live the life God intends for us "in Christ", we must be overwhelmed by the nature of God, God is love.  Love creates all kinds of possibilities and outcomes that are all filled with God or we are going to be given over to fear with all it's negative possibilities.

This is why I believe worship is so important, even though worship is focused on God He in His love catches us up in His affection, kindness, and goodness.  Worship positions us to be overwhelmed by God's infinite love, all the possibilities love creates, and resting in His goodness.  In this place all the negatives in life fade away, because the negatives all involve possibilities and viewpoints that are not filled with who He is.  Right now in the national dialogue of where our country is going, so many of these are filled with the negatives which are devoid of God.  The only way we as a people are redeemed is God intervention "in Christ" and the only way our nation will be saved is through God's intervention bringing His Kingdom.

Position your heart as the Beloved of God, not because of what you have done, will do, or will stop doing but because of who God is and what He has done "in Christ" to make the Beloved.  Enjoy being radically loved, overwhelmed by love, and undone by love.

Beloved of God,
Bret