The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. Isaiah 35:1-2
While Satan may be considered the most unlikely to show love, Jesus was, perhaps the most unnoticed, therefore unlikely, to be Love.
Imagine, the God of the universe arriving on the scene as Son of Man. This is perhaps the most unexpected, undeniable and unnoticed expression of love ever known. The God, who was, and is, and is to come came as all of us come to this world — through birth. Thankfully, we don’t remember much of this experience personally, but as adults we become increasingly more aware of what it entails. While it brings joyfulness, it involves much pain and discomfort. Wouldn’t it had been easier if God had come as a man? Stepping from among the forest in the heat of the midday sun to feed the hungry and quench the thirst of the parched? Where’s the love in that?
Instead, Christ came as a baby in the most lowly of places — a manger. Here’s God, the Son of God becoming the Son of Man. Here’s God, the Creator of all things — sun, moon and stars in part — confined to the needs of a baby, in all humanity.
Christ the Son needed God the Father, and through His bones, through His emotions, through His feelings, through His hunger and thirst, through His grieving, through His sadness, through His sorrow, through His joy, all the glory and love of God lived.
Then, in the biggest exchange of life of all time, as though His birth and life were not enough, His love is demonstrated in His death and resurrection. A true moment of selflessness and compassion for all mankind, so all could have fellowship with Him and be with Him in paradise.
Heaven on earth, a rather unlikely place to find it. But Christ by way of His birth, His life, His death and resurrection allows me to live heaven on earth. Not because of anything I have done, but rather because of everything He has done. In me IS Christ and through Him I live so that His glory can be.
Unnoticed, unexpected . . . very unlikely, pure LOVE!
Thank you Lord Jesus for making it possible to abide in you all day and every day of my life. I’m sad to think of how much I have placed you in a box and on a shelf in my life, may it no longer be. Regardless of the pains in life I experience of which you are all too familiar, may I always know and believe that in your abiding love there is joy unspeakable and full glory!
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. I John 4:7-10