Pampering or Perfecting Love

"Parade your power, O God."
Psalm 68:28

January 16

A winter storm and frigid temperatures whipped up a week ago and had us huddled down at Shiloh for two days. God was parading his power and there was nothing to stop what God was sending.  Plans had to change.  Sunday, we did venture out to church.  It might not have been the wisest idea, as the streets were terrible, but I told our pastor his sermon was worth sliding into a ditch for.  It was an interesting look at the story of Lazarus and the difference between pampering love and purifying/perfecting love.

He stated, "Whatever God permits into our lives, He has a purpose for it."

Points were made from these key passages:

"Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus."  John 11:5

"Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will exalted in the earth!"

  Psalm 46:10

Pampering love is like grandparent love!
Pastor Stan said, "Purifying/perfecting love's purpose is for us to become like Christ."
In the story of Lazarus in the tomb, had Jesus rushed right to the seen and answered Martha and Mary's request, he would have exhibited a pampering love.  Because He loved them so much he had greater purpose.  Making them wait, built up their faith and also that of those surrounding them.  It left an awesome story for generations to come too!

Often we worry and grow weary in a wait. Sometimes we think God must not love us to make us wait, but we must remember, He is always up to good.

"The Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him."  Isaiah 30:18

"The  point of this story was for God to be glorified and their faith to be strengthened." Stan Parris

That's where our problem comes in.  We think the point of our lives is to be happy, healthy and have a blast here on earth.  Those goals can bring disappointment.  When our focus is on a much longer range goal...like eternity, then the point of our lives is being more closely connected to Christ and desiring to live a life like his with the purpose of bringing glory to God and others to a realization of what He is up to... loving us in an amazing fashion!

May we see his purposes play out in our lives in this week ahead!  To God be the Glory!