Love Lifted Me

              

“Now if you will continually listen to me and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession out of all the peoples, although the whole earth is mine, and you will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation. These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.” Exodus 19:5-6

God’s plan all along was Redemption.

Someone on the app I join every morning started writing the lyrics to the song, “Love Lifted Me.” An old hymn that began to spark memories of my grandparents. Some of the lyrics are, “Love lifted me when nothing else could help love lifted me. I was sinking deep in sin. Very deeply stained within. But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry from the waters lifted me now safe am I.” My grandparents are in Heaven with Jesus but the memory of them lives on. Their lives were lifted out of despair, addictions and emptiness only because of Jesus. The Love of the Father that carries on through generations because of the lives they lived. Nothing they could deliver themselves from but only by the Power of the Living God. They lived their lives in obedience to God and because of that I was changed. And my dad was changed, and his siblings were changed and the grandchildren. Jesus gave them a new heart and new spirit to live in a way that changed generations after them. Their legacy carries on.

He was their Prosperity. That word often brings to mind wealth and financial stability. That I know of they didn’t have that they had something much greater. They thrived and were successful because they chose to live for Jesus. I hear their life before Christ was one full of pleasures that didn’t satisfy and if it had continued on that way things could have turned out much different. I am sure the enemy would have loved that. Yet, God kept showing up IN the heartbreak like He did with the Israelites. He kept showing up in their lives and I would love to hear that story of redemption one day when I see them again. 

The choice was there for them just like it is for us. Choosing a relationship with Jesus to rule and reign our hearts or choosing to keep following our own desires. Thank you, Jesus, they chose you.

“WHO you worship determines HOW you act. And HOW you act reveals WHO you worship.” (Kyle Ranson)

As I read this following statement this morning it immediately stood out. Maybe those words in bold began to speak to my heart but it was especially that word reveal. The Lord reveals so much in and through His word alongside others that He places in our lives. And in the middle of my grandparents struggles I know that God was continuing to reveal His heart and their need for a personal Savior. I don’t remember a whole lot about my grandparents, but I do remember their love for Jesus. I knew they lived for Jesus. Now they live WITH him. 

Father,

You are full of compassion and unfailing love. Worship is one of those words that is starting to bring to mind a heart posture. Our lives were made to worship you alone. We are you Treasured Possessions living here in this world sent to teach others how to worship you Jesus. Just as the Israelites we are putting things before you every day. Remove those things. We are living for you King Jesus. Lead us Holy Spirit in all we say and do. Let our actions flow from hearts that are completely devoted to you alone.

Amen