It’s important to see this truth. God loves his enemies, and those who are imperfect. He will refine them and will not abandon them until they enjoy his life and love. If we do not understand the value of those who are now difficult and hurtful, we cannot be Jesus to them. We need the Spirt’s fire to see the incredible value of all humanity.
That fire never stopped being love. It only looks like destruction from where we're standing, still burning off what isn't us yet.
I've come to see God as perpetual movement of Love. Always existing, always being, always moving in Love, through Love, with Love, as Love.
God in His omniscience knew the cost of making us in His image. Knew that to bring us into the relationship and communion the Trinity already shares, there would be failure, there would be distance, and that He would heal this through incarnation. He knew the pain and suffering it will result in; He sees the end from the beginning, and what He sees at the end is perfect communion. Relationship restored. Knowing restored. Everything as it was intended because God happened to it.
I believe He has been sacrificing since the beginning. Enduring for the joy set before Him, a telos that isn't return but increase. Not the garden again but something further out than the garden ever was.
God's love transforms and restores us to a capacity we haven't touched yet.
The furnace was never the opposite of the love. It was the shape love takes when what it's burning through is us.
Brad, this is fantastically helpful for a 'chapter' in a 21-year project. It will take a photo to explain, which can't be uploaded on Substack comments. I'll send you a message via fb with the pic.
Excellent! Michael Rudzena (Good Shepherd New York) made the connection to Daniel and the fiery furnace with Matthew 13 this week in his sermon too.
Perfect timing. Just heard a homily that did not address the fire of divine love as you have. Thank you.
It’s important to see this truth. God loves his enemies, and those who are imperfect. He will refine them and will not abandon them until they enjoy his life and love. If we do not understand the value of those who are now difficult and hurtful, we cannot be Jesus to them. We need the Spirt’s fire to see the incredible value of all humanity.
May the Divine Fire rest upon us all…again. Amen!
That fire never stopped being love. It only looks like destruction from where we're standing, still burning off what isn't us yet.
I've come to see God as perpetual movement of Love. Always existing, always being, always moving in Love, through Love, with Love, as Love.
God in His omniscience knew the cost of making us in His image. Knew that to bring us into the relationship and communion the Trinity already shares, there would be failure, there would be distance, and that He would heal this through incarnation. He knew the pain and suffering it will result in; He sees the end from the beginning, and what He sees at the end is perfect communion. Relationship restored. Knowing restored. Everything as it was intended because God happened to it.
I believe He has been sacrificing since the beginning. Enduring for the joy set before Him, a telos that isn't return but increase. Not the garden again but something further out than the garden ever was.
God's love transforms and restores us to a capacity we haven't touched yet.
The furnace was never the opposite of the love. It was the shape love takes when what it's burning through is us.
Beautiful words! Thank you for expressing this words with us.
Brad, this is fantastically helpful for a 'chapter' in a 21-year project. It will take a photo to explain, which can't be uploaded on Substack comments. I'll send you a message via fb with the pic.
Thank you!