Sunday, March 25, 2018

"A Reflection of Love"

Reflections4Life March 25, 2018
“A Reflection of Love”
“The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” John 12:12-13
Scripture Contemplation: Isaiah 53; Matthew 21; Mark 14:41; John 12; 2 Timothy 3…
©Ruthe McDonald.
Can you picture it today? Can you see it in your mind, your spirit, the triumphal entry of Jesus into Bethany? I can see it so clearly; His riding through as they yelled praises of adoration; throwing palms down, and singing, ‘Hosanna! Hosanna!’ The reflection of love on their faces, as the man, the Rabbi, the Prophet, the Healer, and miracle worker, rode through. Many of them healed and delivered by His touch or just one word from His mouth. Jesus, knowing each one by name, full of love and the knowledge of what was to come, still remained full of love, care, and concern. Two different perspectives; one would remain while the other quickly faltered in less than a week’s time. Which one are you? Are you like Christ, a reflection of love? His love? Or do you find yourself, like those people, only reflecting that love when there is something to gain?
I decree that this week’s Reflections is a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. When you say you love the Lord, do not let it be just words. Life will not always be easy, as many can attest. However, it is worth living, especially when you are in an intimate relationship with God, filled with His love, and can reflect that same love to those around, until your actions draw others to the love of God. Yield to God everything. Be sold out, and allow heavenly Father to fill you and teach you how to be a reflection of His love.
On The Surface
Mark 11:8-10 And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”
Jesus had done many miracles, had delivered many, and healed many others. Not too long before His triumphal entry, He had raised His friend, Lazarus from the grave in front of many witnesses.  The people were euphoric and praising His name, proclaiming Jesus as Master, the Son of God, and the greatest Rabbi. It was easy for them, having not sacrificed anything but receiving all that Jesus was giving, to appear to be the reflection of love. It was not the love of God in their heart reflected. Instead, it was gratitude for what He had done for them and the promises of what He would do. Though they did not understand the price that needed to be paid or how the promises of God would be fulfilled.
On the surface, many of us appear to love God. We are serving Him, praising His name, saying all the right words, and appear to be die-hard believers. We seem to be a reflection of love—God’s love. Yet, God is saying, it is only surface dedication, a fleeting form of adoration. The reflection that most are seeing is His grace and mercy shining on us, and not His love coming from within us.
When adversities, afflictions, and what appears as contradictions to our faith occur, we turn away from God. We stop worshipping, praying, and start accusing God instead of praising Him. We get angry with God and question where He is in our times of need; losing faith as quickly as a punctured balloon.
We have served God when it is easy. We have a surface relationship with no substance. We serve for what we can get and as long as everything is going well, we have no problem praising God and having a form of godliness, but our hearts are far from God, as we have not fully yielded or surrendered to Him and His ways. It is like a house made to look pretty for sale but when purchased, a deeper inspection uncovers wood rot and a weak foundation. One storm will take it out.
Are you reflecting the true, sincere, love of God from within? Or are you just conveniently mirroring His grace and mercy; serving Him with lip service until something goes wrong or does not go your way? Are your praise and worship sincere? When adversities come, where will you stand?

What Christ Knew
Matthew 26:24-26 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”
Luke 23:21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!”
Christ already knew why He came. He understood the price He was going to pay. He even knew that those same people, praising and singing Hosanna, would be the same people who less than a week later would yell, Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Yet, Jesus held none of this against them, just as He holds nothing against us but unconditional love.
However, the people did not truly reflect His love. What they held in their heart was not from a committed heart but only for what Jesus could do for them. It was a selfish relationship with no substance. Yet, Jesus was the reflection of love. He is love. God is love. Christ reflected the love of God for His creation, in that He did not open His mouth once against those who yelled to crucify Him. Though He could have called on a legion of angels, spoke one word, and things would have been different, He knew and understood why He came. He came for us. To save and deliver us. To be the final sacrifice. To shed His blood that through Him we might be saved.
What About You?
Beloved, where does your heart lie? Are you sincerely reflecting the love of God? Or, are you just projecting the love and mercy God is covering you with? Do you believe in your heart, that no matter comes your way—what trials and tests you face—you will still believe in God? That, your faith will still stand even if your prayers are not answered when you want them to be?
When people look at you, do they see the reflection of God’s love? Do they see love? Or do they see something totally different? I desire to be the reflection of love. A reflection of who my Father is. A person full of compassion, love, understanding, strength, and mercy. I desire for my life to be a walking Epistle of who God is to me. Whether things are going well or not. Whether I am praising God because things are well or praising Him in spite of the situation not being so great at the time. I want to be solid in my faith. For the reflection of love being seen to come from within, and not just a surface thing that I can turn on or off. I desire for others to see the love of God in me and desire to know how they, too, can have that same kind of love. I owe it to God, and so much more.
My Beloveds, May the spirit of peace and prosperity finds permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. Be a reflection of the love of God. Allow the love of God be ensconced in your heart so deep that is reflected in all that you do and say. Let it be a light that draws others to love and saving grace of God. Don’t just praise God in the good times or for what He can do for you. Praise Him always and in spite of what may come your way. God is greater than anything you may face today or tomorrow. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2018. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.