Jesus is the extravagant love of God. His birth was humble, yet this infant King came with a holy and grace-filled directive. His assignment was to bring salvation to God’s people and to reveal God to the nations.
I am astounded by Jesus, the lavisher of love, because who does that kind of thing? Everything about his assignment was planned and calculated from the very beginning. When God created humanity, he knew we would need help finding our way back. The brokenness of sin made a wild mess but knew exactly how He was going to deal with that. He created us in His image, set eternity on our hearts, and then made finding Him as easy as He possibly could.
Have you wondered why He didn’t just scrap the whole thing and start over? Yeah, that thought has crossed my mind a time or two as well, but the reality is, starting fresh wouldn’t change a thing. God created us to live in communion with him, but that intimacy was always designed to be our choice.
Jesus, the embodiment of light and love, came to deliver the justice of God. He came to make things right according to God’s holy standard. Emmanuel, God with us, came to lovingly restore humanity and establish shalom.
The justice of God isn’t about retribution, it’s about righteousness. It’s about bringing His creation back into perfect alignment. So, at the risk of perhaps over-simplifying it, righteousness is less about behavior and more about the position of the heart. A yielded heart lives from the place of intimacy, which then produces the fruit or right-ness. We were created for intimacy and everything about this lavish love invokes a response.
Leading the way to the heart of God
I love reading the Old Testament because it’s God’s story, but it makes so much more sense when read through the lens of Jesus. I grew up going to church, but I did not appreciate the fact that Jesus wasn’t God’s back up plan until I was much older. I just figured, God created the earth, humanity messed up, so God sent Jesus to fix the mess. I mean, it’s an easy conclusion to draw, right?
Here’s the thing, God is perfect and He doesn’t make mistakes. When He created the earth, Jesus was present and part of the plan. God didn’t need to create anything or anyone, He just did. Even more incredible, is that He knew how it would be and He did it anyway.
It wrecks me when I think about the heart of God; that He would create me knowing that He’d have to fight for my affection for my whole life. It’s not that I don’t want Him, it’s that surrendering pride is hard work. Putting God first is much easier than keeping Him first.
I am undone by the lengths He goes to make it as easy as possible for you and me to receive His extravagant love. He doesn’t pull back because of our brokenness, He pursues us because of it. Who does that?
God does. From the beginning of creation, He has revealed himself, inviting His creation into a relationship of wholeness. His special covenant with Israel established a foundation for revelation. The Prophets declared God’s word, telling Israel that Jesus would come and bring salvation to all people. And if that’s not enough, when the time came for Jesus to arrive the Lord sent a messenger to prepare the way (John 1:6-8).
God’s extravagant love brings salvation
The extravagant love of God established a straight path right from the get-go. Jesus wasn’t just Plan B, he was the Plan. He was there with God in the beginning, his purpose to bring light and life. Shalom comes through intimacy with God, that’s his promise, and his love is endlessly faithful to all generations.
I remember my first year of Bible College, working my way through all the reading required for Old Testament Survey. My general opinion at the time was that Israel was a hot mess. They were stubborn (God’s word not mine) often missing the fullness of God’s good because of their faithlessness. Let me just say, it’s easy to judge when you have access to the New Testament, but I’ve learned in my own process pursuing the heart of God, that I too am a hot mess. I can be stubborn, missing His grace because I’m too busy building an altar on pride.
The story of Israel is our story too. We, the children of God, walk the same road of restoration and reconciliation. The bottom line is that we all need a savior.
“In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.” Isaiah 11:10
The extravagant love of God entered the world in humility. Fully God, yet fully man, He was physically present to help us see God. Jesus came to save us from our stubborn faithlessness, lighting the way into communion and intimacy with God.
Do you see it? Can you see past all the noise and clutter to the embrace of God?
The extravagant love of God is relentlessly good even when things feel ridiculously bad.
Revelation to the nations
“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people.” Luke 2:29-32
I love this verse! I’ve probably read it hundreds of times, but for whatever reason, right now, I can’t get it out of my mind. According to the law, Mary and Joseph were required to dedicate Jesus to the LORD, and while they were at the temple they met Simeon. This righteous and devout man of God had spent his life watching and waiting for the Messiah. A heart rooted in the promises of God enabled him to recognize the face of God.
Wow! The rest of the religious leaders were looking for a King to come with military might to save them from the political powers of the land, yet Simeon saw salvation in the face of an infant. He could see the extravagant love of God prepared for all people.
Jesus came to bring salvation, but He also came to reveal God to all the nations. God doesn’t withhold anything; His desire is for all of creation.
God’s extravagant love demands a response
Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” Jeremiah 31:3
The extravagant love of God invites us to come into his presence, and salvation makes it possible. There is nothing you and I can do to make ourselves right before God. The way in always begins with surrender and obedience (which is the heart of repentance). This love of God is unlike anything we could ever hope to imagine, let alone understand.
“…at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11
Jesus is the extravagant love of God and this incarnate love demands a response. He alone is worthy of praise and the shalom we long for, can only be found in absolute surrender.
What does it look like at this moment, right here and now, to exalt Jesus? When life stuff is heavy and hard, threatening to overwhelm, where do you see him? How do you access his love when your heart is broken all over the place?
Wholeness begins as we choose to trust and believe that God will continue to be who He says He is. Every problem, challenge, and disappointment is subject to Jesus.
Adoration of King
O Holy Night
O holy night the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night O holy night
O night divine
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle, we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here came the wise men from Orient land
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our Friend
He knows our need
To our weakness is no stranger
Behold your King
Before Him lowly bend
Behold your King
Before Him lowly bend
Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name, all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name
Christ is the Lord
O praise His name forever
His power and glory
Evermore proclaim
His power and glory
Evermore proclaim
Adolphe Charles Adam | John Sullivan Dwight | Placide Cappeau
© Words: Public Domain | Music: Public Domain
There is nothing more beautiful than surrender; the sacrifice of exalting the Lord above it all.
How will you bring adoration to the King during this third week of Advent?
Wow I love how you write! This is absolutely beautiful. God is SO good to us … ❤
Aw, thanks Donna. I agree, God IS unbelievable good. His love wrecks me every.single.time…????