Cultivating Intimacy With Christ - "Does God Really Love Me?"

"Faith hangs on to Christ in the dark, it holds to a silent Christ, it holds to a refusing Christ, it holds to a rebuking Christ, and it will not let him go. Faith is the great holdfast that hooks a soul on to the Saviour.

Faith is thus powerful because of its effects. Faith enlightens, enlivens and strengthens. It is written of some of old that "They looked unto him, and were lightened." Faith shed a light upon many things, and lets us see that even if Christ has a frown on his face, he has love in his heart. Faith looks right into the heart of Christ, and helps us to perceive that he cannot mean anything but mercy to a seeking soul."
-- Charles Spurgeon

Have you ever asked God if He really loves you, or pleaded with Him for His affection? The following is an open letter to those of you who doubt, amended from a personal note I just sent to someone who is struggling:

"Dear Fellow Sojourner,

Believe it or not, I do understand what you mean and the doubts you are having about God's dealings with you and questioning whether He really cares or even if He loves you. Although I have not personally experienced what you are, I DO know the feelings and am all too familiar with the doubts. I want to be careful here not to sound like “Job’s friends” – although honestly, your situation reminds me of Job! – because that does no one any good.

I deliberately will not quote you the verses or pull out catch-all platitudes about Christ dying for the world (and of course I do NOT mean to diminish the Atonement one bit; but that is what people generally remind you of when you doubt God’s love.) I know EXACTLY what you mean when you write about knowing Christ loves the world; but what about you personally? One verse I would point out to you, however, is Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me," (emphasis mine), wherein Paul was making the point He loved [Paul] and gave Himself up for [Paul]. Who, of course, was a murduring Pharisee and all that; but you get the idea.

And of course, there ARE Scriptural statements to the effect that God’s love is infinite, faithful and PERSONAL to the believer (you) – Matt. 10:31; Luke 12:7; Hebrews 13:5 (the “you” is singular in the original), as well as the Psalms, which cover every range of human emotion. However, you are obviously intelligent and don’t need the references or a Bible lesson. Just thought I’d remind you anyway, though, because His Word IS Truth.

Regarding God’s nature, I know you wonder if He really cares because of all the pain and suffering you see all around you. I need not “defend” Him or say He always keeps His promises (in the way we expect, at least – I admit I also struggle with the exact meaning of Matthew 6, especially vs. 31-32: "So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.") My guess is that is something like a Proverb – to be understood as a general rule, but NOT a guaranteed absolute. (I.E. “train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” – it’s a general principle; not a guarantee. IF you do this – you may expect THAT.)

This promise doesn’t change the fact that there are millions of suffering, starving Christians whose daily bread is NOT provided….as a result of man’s sin. God knows/sees it; He COULD prevent it, but He does not. That’s where we get into the issue of His sovereignty, and we have to admit that we just don’t know. We DO know, if we believe the Scripture to be infallible, that A) He is good; and B)ultimately justice will be served and all wrongs will be righted. Beyond that, we can only speculate (and often that gets us in trouble when we do.) But we know that He is good, and does NOT enjoy torturing His slaves…even though it may feel that way sometimes. I’ve often wondered, for example, how miscarriages and stillbirth fits into His sovereign plan. Again, not that I’ve experienced that personally, but I’ve known many women who have and as a mom, I can only imagine the agony and grief.

What I keep coming back to as I turn this around in my mind (extreme suffering and God’s goodness)is this: we can’t say Jesus didn’t warn us. Count the cost; some of us will be persecuted; put to death. He offered NO promises about our comfort or emotional needs; He only said “in this life you will have many troubles; take heart; I have overcome the world.” We need to live with an eternal perspective, as hard as that can be sometimes. Jesus knew so well what it is to be rejected and despised (and still does…everything from people taking His Name in vain to Monty Python movies mocking Him, and worse). When you love someone, you make yourself vulnerable to them, and that is what God has done with us. We grieve Him when we are faithless - blowing off prayer time with Him; gossiping about one another; fighting with our spouses. Yet HE remains faithful.

This is what it means that He was “touched with our infirmaties” and “sympathetic to our weaknesses”. They’re not just words; He really understands (and cares.) Look at Paul (and the Apostles – close, intimate friends of Jesus during His earthy ministry). Paul got the stuffings beaten out of him on a regular basis; got run out of town more than once; was slandered and maligned (even by other “Christians”); was abandoned by friends; and was finally executed on trumped-up charges. He sure wasn’t getting his “emotional needs met” or his “love cup” filled! Jesus Himself was verbally tormented throughout most of His ministry, but He rested in the love of the Father (as did Paul).

Not preaching you a sermon, but just putting some thoughts out there. I’ve often thought of those first century Christians, and what a raw deal some of them got…like Perpetua, and the other martyrs under Nero and Dormitius (the ones who never actually had the pleasure of meeting and fellowshiping with Christ, yet they were still called to suffer and die for him.) Some of them lost everything – like Perpetua’s nursing infant; her marriage; her home and possessions. Even in recent history though, I think in some ways folks who’ve been called as martyrs or have been imprisoned in some ways find it easier to stand strong than some (like yourself, and many others who are just worn down by the day-to-day torment and disillusionment.)

I read Richard Wurmbrand’s “Tortured for Christ” a few years ago (founder of Voice of the Martyrs – he was in a Romanian prison for years) and I was gob-smacked. Honestly, I wouldn’t last 5 minutes in a Communist prison! But in his story and so many others like his, it’s just so “clear” to the ones suffering for their faith what they’re doing and why they’re there suffering (for Christ’s glory). Obviously, that has to be our goal and over-arching purpose, too, but it’s harder to “see” the purpose in what seems like needless, pointless suffering. And THAT is why it can become so much harder to believe that God really loves you personally. If you were in a Communist prison being beaten and starved because you were a Christian, you would no doubt have faith in His love (although technically your circumstances would be worse). That is why it is so important (even now) to continue to walk by faith and not sight, and to continue to put faith in what (intellectually) you know is true.

I truly believe that convincing people God doesn’t love them personally (or at least getting them to doubt it) is one of Satan’s biggest strategic weapons. How I wish sometimes that I could just see Jesus; have an audience with Him – even Skype Him – and all my doubts would be forever erased. But you know what He said to Thomas about those who have not seen being blessed…yet we have believed. Don’t stop seeking Him in the Scriptures, because God WILL use that to encourage you personally (often when you least expect it.) Have you ever been reading the Word, and something seems to “leap off the page”, and straight into your heart? His Spirit illuminates truth when and as we need it…personally.

The historical reality of the Cross should never leave us cold, but sometimes it does (if we are truthful). This is the dynamic of sin-stained human emotions. God gave them to us for a reason, and He designed us to feel deeply, yearn for Him, and want to be loved. He gave us that need to come to Him with that longing – even (and especially) when we don’t “feel” anything.

Be encouraged - He is still that friend who "sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). Don’t give up, please – and don’t abandon the Church, either. It’s especially important to be in fellowship and support during these “desert” times – a lone sheep, as you know, is more vulnerable prey.

In Him,

Marie

Peace with God and the Peace of Christ

As we anticipate Christmas and are drawn again to ponder the Babe in the manger, I find nothing restores joy to my soul more than reflecting on the real gift of God that night over 2,000 years ago - as relayed by the angels in Luke 2:14.

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

God extended to mankind the gift of true peace - peace with Him. For the first time in the course of human history, He initiated a permanent relationship with mankind who was at enmity with Him and rejected true holiness.

How could one find "favor" with God? Haven't we all gone astray; each one to his own way (Isaiah 53:6)? How, then, could He be pleased to dwell with us? The answer, of course, lies in the same verse from Isaiah: "the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." There was only one way to please God then as now: by faith. Mary "found favor with God" (Luke 1:30) because she humbly trusted and had faith in His will. Abraham and the patriarchs likewise pleased Him with their faith, demonstrated by doing whatever God required of them. The only way to please God is by "believing on Jesus Christ, Whom He has sent" (John 6:29).

Because of our faith in Christ, we have a permanent place in God's family. We are eternally forgiven and adopted as dearly beloved children (Eph. 1:5; 5:1). This is what it means to be at peace with God. Fellowship is promised to those "on whom His favor rests." The Father's favor rests on you if you are united with His Son, and it is an irrevocable, constant favor - you have received the peace of being forgiven; the peace that comes from knowing the Holy Judge is also now your Loving Father. You cannot lose this peace - it is initiated and maintained eternally by God Himself.

There is another type of peace which the Lord also grants us, but it is the type we are prone to "lose" at times during our Christian walk.

In John 14:27, just before dying a horrible death, the Lord Jesus says something intriguing to His disciples: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." Jesus, during His earthly life and ministry, was always at perfect peace. He did not need the Father to extend the same offer of peace that sinners so desperately need; He, of course, was sinless and as God Incarnate always in perfect fellowship with the Father. Yet what He displayed and offered to His followers (and by extension, us) was a peace that can transcend the worst trial, fiercest storm, and keep our hearts stayed on the Savior's perfect love and care of us.

In Matthew 14, we witness Jesus during what had to be the second most stressful day of His life. First thing in the morning, He hears about the death of His cousin, John the Baptist. On the heels of this bombshell, the emissaries of the news warn Him that Herod is interested in murdering Christ, as well. Choosing to withdraw (no doubt for prayer, as was His custom), the disciples return exuberant from an evangelistic outreach. The crowds followed Him. When Jesus landed, Matthew says He "had compassion on them and healed their sick."

Can you imagine this from a human perspective? The ministry of Christ was marked by interruption, constant and immediate demands from (often ungrateful) people, threats, uncertainty, persecution and hardship (they regularly hiked over 20 miles a day over rocky terrain. No thanks.) Think on this the next time you are tempted to think Jesus doesn't understand stress or pressure. Continually, we see that while Jesus' emotions may have varied, His demeanor didn't. In fact, Hebrews 13:8 reminds us we can count on Jesus' consistency at all times: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

How we react in a given situation reveals what is in our hearts. When Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you", He almost certainly was referring to the peace with God that the disciples (and all believers) had been granted. When He continued, "My peace I give to you", He was almost certainly referring to the supernatural peace of the Holy Spirit that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

For you Greek-geeks, in all of these verses the word for "peace" is εἰρήνη (eirēnē). It denotes a cessation of conflict; a quietness of spirit and an absence of hostility or disharmony. Qualitatively, the "peace" spoken of in Scripture is the same thing - but there are different ways in which the believer can experience peace. It is entirely possible to lack the peace of Christ, even while positionally being at peace with God (because of the Cross). If we truly have the peace that comes from yielding our lives to Christ, it will show up in the way we respond to trial.

We do not have to beg God to give us this quality of deep harmony and grace to deal with unexpected demands; it is a fruit of the Spirit. It is a by-product of simply surrendering our will, minds and desires to Him and learning to rest in His love. When we feel that we've "lost" that peace - anxiety, worry, depression or spiritual apathy has set in - it is usually a result of moving away from the quiet, intimate presence of the prayer closet. If we "take back" areas of our life and place too much importance on an area that is not GOD's first priority, we feel that loss of peace as stress or disharmony. We feel distant from God.

One thing I have learned through study and counseling women is that depression and anxiety are actually a refusal to bend the knee to Christ. Rather than simply accepting that God is in sovereign control of our lives and has our best interest at heart, (even when our "best" is not enjoyable), the depressed individual chooses to believe lies of Satan. She essentially becomes her own god, dwelling on the "vain imaginings" of her self-absorbed heart rather than the revealed truth of God's Word. Self-absorption, lack of peace over feeling slighted, unforgiveness and attention-vying tactics are all manifestations of pride (Stuart Scott has an excellent booklet on this subject, available from Focus Publishing).

What is honestly amazing (and convicts, inspires and encourages me) is that the Christians I know who have suffered true adversity and tragedy are, incredibly, the ones who experience the deepest, purest peace of Christ in their lives. I do NOT say that they are always happy-clappy folks who never shed a tear; not do they hide their emotions and refuse prayer and tangible support from other believers (that would also be prideful). However, the witness they have displayed by their steadfast, unwavering faith in God's goodness is staggering. I know one woman (a Christian blogger) whose husband was imprisoned for several years, while she raised their son in the love of the Lord. Her life has been quite difficult, especially around the holidays when many of us take our families and provision for granted. She grew ever closer to the God Who always provided; always comforted (although not always immediately). A woman in my church (a fellow Bible study leader) lost her 18-year-old son to brain cancer last February. I cannot imagine what she is growing through this month, but she is always sharing the love of God - inside church and out. Her e-mails of God's sustaining faithfulness convict me - how often have I doubted Him, or taken Him for granted?

Neither of these women have slid into despair or depression. Neither have grown cold spiritually, sought attention, or slid into the deadly trap of self-pity. Often, the most depressed, melodramatic believers with the weakest faith are those with the least to be morose about. They have, in many cases, recreated a "jesus" in their own image - and their faith is built on the sand of emotionalism. Morbid introspection replaces fixing one's eyes on Christ, "the author and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). This type of faith will never result in the peace of Christ; it will always be fluid and dependent on one's fickle feelings because it puts one's self at the center. This is why reading and studying the Bible is so important to one's spiritual growth.

This Christmas season, no matter where you are in your faith or how long God's favor has rested on you, I pray that you will know the peace Christ offers you in Him. Sit at His feet and learn from Him, for He is gentle and humble in heart (Matthew 11:29). Find that rest for your soul, and once refreshed you will be a more productive servant for His glory. Keeping your eyes fixed on Him and abiding in His steadfast love will produce a beautiful, glowing light in your heart much brighter than the lights of a Christmas tree.

The peace of Luke 2:14 is yours forever if you belong to Christ. Whether you posses the peace of Christ He offers in John 14:27b is up to you.