The world was formless and empty; he hovered over the earth, and then he spoke. He filled the emptiness--God has always desired to fill the emptiness with life.
Over and over, God is moved by us!
God heard the cry of his people in Egypt and he came, he rescued them with many signs and wonders. (Exodus 3:7-8).
He led his people with a cloud by day, and a fire by night. He sprinkled the ground with food from heaven. He met them with lightning and thunder.
After the Law was given, and Israel had already begun to rebel against the Lord, Moses interceded on behalf of the people. In a moment of boldness, Moses asked, "LORD, SHOW ME YOUR GLORY." After all the laws, all the rebellion, all the frustration, God instantly relented and was moved by Moses's desire. So the Lord encountered Moses with his glory. (Exodus 33:12).
Time and time again, the Lord led his people. He led through the judges, through the kings. In 2 Samuel 22, David talks about how God reached down from heaven and took hold of him. How the Lord rode on the clouds and scattered David's enemies. David shares the the Lord prepares him for battle, and trains his hands to bend a bow of bronze.
In Jeremiah 2, God asks, “What fault did your ancestors find in me,
that they strayed so far from me?
They followed worthless idols
and became worthless themselves.
6 They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord,
who brought us up out of Egypt
and led us through the barren wilderness,
through a land of deserts and ravines,
a land of drought and utter darkness,
a land where no one travels and no one lives?’
7 I brought you into a fertile land
to eat its fruit and rich produce.
But you came and defiled my land
and made my inheritance detestable."
And yet time and time again, God is moved with love and compassion toward his people. He continues to fight on their behalf and rescue them.
Even in the midst of exile, when Jerusalem is in ruins and there seems to be no hope, God promises his people a hope and a future. He works through foreign kings like Cyrus (Isaiah 45), he walks with his people even in their utter brokenness and shame, and he is quick to forgive (Isaiah 43).
When the people don't listen to God himself, he sends prophets.
The people continually reject the Lord.
Then, this God, this God of passion and action, performs the ultimate act.
Jesus came.
In Isaiah 61 we find that he came to proclaim freedom and favor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to preach good news, to release prisoners from darkness, to pour out the oil of joy, to comfort, and to bestow blessing.
Isaiah 53 says that he was rejected, despised, crushed, beaten, and bruised.
While Jesus was on earth, he taught, spoke, held the children, fed the multitudes, shared life with his disciples, told stories, healed the sick, cured diseases, opened eyes, cast out demons, cleansed lepers, encountered sinners, ate with tax collectors, healed the lame, was moved with compassion,
In Matthew 23:37 Jesus is found weeping over Jerusalem and saying, "Oh how I have longed to take you up in my arms!"
He raised the dead, redeemed, delivered, saved, transformed, prayed, wept, was arrested, beaten, mocked, tortured....he died...and HE ROSE AGAIN.
(Philippians 2:6-11)
It doesn't end there! Jesus also sent the Holy Spirit. (John 14:16).
The Spirit comforts, counsels, helps, intercedes on our behalf (See Romans 8), gives us words, gives gifts and wisdom, brings peace and life, speaks truth, and along with the Church he beckons Christ to come again.
1 John 4:19 says that we love because Christ first loved us. Like in Romans 5:8, when we were still in rebellion, Christ died for us.
So you see, from Genesis to the end of Revelation, God is acting on our behalf. And he will continue to do so.
Everything we do must be out of response to that love. We aren't just serving this God out of obligation, but rather out of overflow of all he has done throughout history in order to encounter us, right here, right now, in this moment.
Our God is not passive. We weren't made to be passive either.
Pursue relentless love.
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