“Jesus . .. never pushes the broken away, but instead pulls them in closer because they’re broken and ashamed, knowing that love is the only medicine that covers and heals the naked heart.”- Christa Black Gifford (emphasis author’s)
“We love because he first loved us.”- 1 John 4:19 (ESV)
In Chapter 7 (“The Naked Heart”) of Heart Made Whole, Christa Black Gifford observes that so many of us are petrified of being less than perfect. Because, experience teaches us that a conditional world rejects those who fail the spotless test. Fortunately, God never offers His love with an agenda attached.
Therefore, Ms. Gifford notes, “love loves for the sake of loving.” Yet, Christa states, she encounters many exhausted Christians who pour their lives into a distant God – a reduced deity. However, these Christians rarely stop to let God pour life into them. Also, they read their Bibles looking for ways to serve. Instead, such Christians need to read Scripture to experience all Jesus has done/is doing for them.
Thus, we need to have the intimate relation with God that He created us for. In order for this to happen, God entwines our spirits, souls, minds, and bodies with His indwelling presence. As a result, God doesn’t propose a distant relationship with Him involving weekly encounters in church service or Bible study.
In conclusion, Ms. Gifford explains:
“The trick isn’t learning to acquire or earn God’s love; the trick is learning how to tune in and experience what’s already there. The more I learned about the human heart and how it’s created to need love and affection, the more I began living to stay plugged into the continual source of love that already lives inside of me. . . . In fact, I stopped living to love and serve God and, instead, started living to be loved by Him.”
Today’s question: How has God’s love healed your naked heart? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The destructive fires of shame and fear”
