Zealous Love

At the Crossroads Partnership Dinner on Sunday, Pastor Per Nilsen brought a word from the Lord about what I'm calling "Zealous Love."  He used a verse from Galatians as the basis of his message: "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." (Galatians 2:20)

In his ministry on earth, Jesus demonstrated all-in "zealous" love.  To be "zealous" mean to be on fire, to be passionate, to be fully committed and in energetic pursuit of a goal.  The goal is that all of the people of the earth would be fully wrapped in the Love of God, and that that love would be reflected in the three key relationships of our lives--our relationship with God, our relationship with one another in the real connections we have in the "body of Christ," and in our passionate love for those who have not yet experienced a personal relationship with God.  Pastor Per used shorthand for these three relationships "Up," "In," and "Out."

We are made for passionate, close, committed relationships in all three of these areas.  And it all begins with the Father's Love for us, a love demonstrated and made secure in what Jesus our Lord has done for all the people of the world, so that their relationships may be restored.

I'm sure some of this will come up in the message for this coming Sunday, as we conclude our series on the difference between religion and discipleship, the difference between being dedicated to the "forms" and "outward appearances" of religion and the zealous love of "Christians," the common name for those of us who are sold out all-in disciples of Jesus Christ.

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