"Let Me Love You Well"

"Let Me love you well."

Love endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13.4
Enduring it all, Jesus said yes with Love.

Jesus, what have you done? What have you done?
I think this question asks, "what were you thinking?" I don't believe that we think as human beings, we are worth this invaluable effort that Jesus made.

Luke 23.37, "If you are King of the Jews, save Yourself."
What have you done? Why are You on that cross?
Do we honestly think that at the end of it all, Jesus couldn't save himself to endure the cross? I will confess that I question why Jesus didn't save himself. I knew He could pull himself off the cross, call out to an angel to rescue him(Ps 91.11, Matt 4.6), even remove himself without them seeing.

Jesus, what have you done?
Jesus didn't need to be on that cross because He committed a sin. Oh no. He was on there for us. Exercising meekness, He took their beatings, mockery, slander, for He saw the bigger picture of eternity. "I don't need to come down and save myself. I am doing this for you."

As we are in class this week, we are studying the crucifixion, the heart of the cross,and the beauty of salvation. We talked about Mary, Lazarus' sister, the one whom poured her life's wages out on One man's body. ...in pouring this fragrant oil on my body, she did it for my burial." Matt 26.13
Can you imagine? It is said that she was one of the few that got (understood) what Jesus was saying when He talked about "not being with them in a little while". Mary understood that Jesus' time had come and did this act that is to be remembered forever(Matthew 26.13)!
What an extravagant gift! It wasn't about the value that mary gave, but about her understanding the love that Jesus was about to display.

Can you imagine... as he has been flogged He thinks, "love... Mary got it Father. Let them see Our love." A whip, "Love." plucking of the beard, "Love". needles embedded in His head, " Love... it doesn't matter! I love them! Father I will do anything to get them to be with me where I am! It doesn't matter. Let them see!"

"He showed the greatest amount of restraint and revealed His true colors. He loves at all times." As quoted by my professor, Allen Hood.

I could go on with this theme, but the is was a detour as well as a base for what is really on my heart. I think it is cool how we are, as a NT church, able to start at the end (the book of Revelation) and work our way backwards to the OT with Jesus as our tour guide.

Strengthened with Might

...That he would grant you,
according to the riches of His glory,
to be strengthen with might through
His Spirit in the inner man..."
Ephesians 3.16

This is a good scripture to pray. I prayed on the mic for the first time in the Justice Prayer Room in front of almost two hundred people. So weird. But it was good. I'm sure I messed up somewhere, but most likely that is the enemy keeping me down so I will lack confidence in myself, (Liar).

Some scripture to back it up. It's so good.
Psalms 27.1 The Lord is my light and my salvation, the Lord is the strength of my life..."
Because of Jesus and His victory over death, we have salvation, hope, and strength within us. Moses also refers that God, The Lord of Hosts, is his strength and salvation (exodus 15.2)

Psalm 46.1: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble."
"When trouble comes, Jesus, help us.Let us see within you the refuge that you offer and strength that you want us to walk in."

Isaiah 40.29: "... to those who have no might, He increases strength."

These are just references that crossed each other. That doesn't even go with the the book of Judges and how the Lord strengthened Gideon, the whole book of Exodus or even in the New Testament.

The Lord wants us to know we have access to this strength. He wants us to talk to him about it and he definitely wants to give it to us. I prayed for the young adults and those in the internships. That they would be equipped to face the circumstances that will they will be faced with when they leave IHOP. When they are in situations that provoke compromise of their salvation, Savior, and calling. We have the Creator of the Universe freely giving us strength to endure the trials that come at us.

Jesus even prayed for Peter as Satan had asked to sift him like wheat!

"Simon, Simon, listen! The Adversary demanded to have you for himself, to sift you like wheat! But I prayed for you, Simon, that your trust might not fail.
And you, once you have turned back in repentance, strengthen your brothers!"
Luke 22:31 -32(CJB)

Jesus was like, "Satan asked for you... and I said No, it's not going down like you think, buddy."
Strengthen your brothers. Jesus is giving Peter prophecy of what is to come. Jesus is also praying for us! How encouraging is that? He prays for us. I love it. That means He is real. That means He cares about us. That means He doesn't see us as small and insignificant or that we are a burden. He takes delight in us and is wanting us to succeed.

He is good. I am able to face every thing that comes to me, at me, for me, against me and now hold it up next to my zealous, tender Savior and ask him to help me and guide me. This is good news! so good. Give me a few days and we will see what trial I face next. I hope my first response is to look to the Lord as my source and reference point and to move from there.