Our Lovers are the Problem, not God’s Love
Like the fairy godmother’s gold dust sprinkled on #Cinderella to make her invisible to her wicked stepmother and stepsisters at the ball, there’s been some bewitchment about God’s love and walking in it (See Galatians 5:7).
Believers in Jesus Christ emphasize loving others above all. I do it too. There are plenty of entries on this site and verses in scripture to support our godly #transformation in and through God’s love, and it’s ability to impact others (See Romans 5:5). We refer passionately to Romans 8:37-39, and brag on God’s extravagant love for us and how no thing can keep us from it —
- neither death nor life
- angels nor principalities
- things present nor things to come
- powers
- height nor depth
- any other created thing
In essence, God’s love remains through all battles, natural and spiritual. God’s love runs through all the resistance we face. It is constant for us and can be trusted by us. God’s love is real and always now.
What God’s love is NOT — an exemption from facing the battle or standing up to resistance. His love grips us beyond the fall out of life’s trials.
So, what bewitchment?
Well, the aforementioned usually comes from believers, not disciples. Disciples work out their love walk continually instead of building platforms about what we all should do. While believers talk, disciples do and model. Disciples know love is not our problem in this Christian faith community. Problems arise when we yield to options for intimacy and weaken our commitment because the truth of God’s love does not satisfy and keep us loyal to Him (when it should).
Who or What, then, are the (our) Lovers?
For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot. Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD. ~ Jeremiah 2:20-22 KJV (emphasis added)
(v. 20) God showed us that no thing kept His love from us. He saved us, liberated us, delivered us. And we promised not to go back, to commit fully to Him. Yet we kept our relationship with every high hill. We did not cast it down.
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; ~ 2 Corinthians 10:5
We took refuge in the shade of every green tree, instead of the shadow of the almighty (See Psalm 91:1). We laid down like prostitutes, and opened up to the seduction of what looked like peace and relief. It was really false fellowship.
We were bewitched…all in the name of God’s love.
(v. 21) God still preferred us, chose us, set us apart as His best. He planted us in fruitfulness and #faithfulness — in, not for, because He wanted relationship over works.
Consider this verse in other versions and see that we turned ourselves into offshoots of a foreign vine. Something alien, and not in Him. Something degenerate — fake, not good, dishonest.
(v. 22) We wash and lather up, but the stain of iniquity remains. We attend more “church” than ever yet retain more blemishes. We #celebrate in filth and remain unaware or unmoved by our dirty lives…all in the presence of nearness to God’s love. In the southern United States we have a phrase, “your slip is hanging.” It is true with our Christian community. The hidden stains are seeping from our lives because we think ourselves clean.
We point to our new birth and say, “He loves us. We are clean.” Truthfully, He made us clean and our YES was the participation for His work. When we fell only for His love without the transformation it makes in and through us, we came under a spell — a charm, a false doctrine.
We opened our treasure (hearts, intimate places) to every green tree — every fruitful looking idea, person and/or organization that appeared to prosper. On “every high hill” we laid down like harlots for another impartation. We felt connection and #partnership, but we altered ourselves for it. And that makes us bewitched. Now, many of us are clawing for our lives in systems that we feel draining our lives. Intercessors are praying. #Prophets are speaking again, but we fear the way of God after being deceived so long about God’s love.
We were made complete, righteous and fruitful in Christ. But we made ourselves lower and base. We received impure and evil deposits in the name of God’s love.
How do we break the spell?
WE RETURN TO GOD. We come back to Him for a real cleansing. No speeches. No litanies. No practiced prayers. No scripts. Just come through the door that is Christ and reunite with the finished work that removes every stain. Hallelujah!
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. ~ Isaiah 1:18
Father, in the name of Jesus, and in agreement with your will for us all, I command all spells weakened then broken by the Spirit of Truth today. I call the bewitched to inherited strength in Christ. I call them to conquer, to cast down and to come to themselves. I turn the lights on in their lives and command sight — perfect, clear, unhindered vision. When they see Lord, I release courage for the next steps on release. Buffer their hearts and feelings so they can make the necessary moves. Give them what they need to endure the censure and ridicule. Endow them with joy unspeakable and a fresh release of pure #glory through their lives and ministry service, so they know you are with them to establish them again. May the evil contracts be severed; they meet the blood of the Lord now. May curses dissolve. May the bewitched be truly free. Amen.
Blogs I Follow
The Bereans' Commentary with Shaunta D. Scroggins, Ed.D. 