Love, Life and Religion

Saturday December 6, 2014

In the book Bono : A Self-Potrait in Conversation, the legendary U2 vocalist shared these thoughts on God´s love with author Michka Assayas. "My understanding of the Scriptures," Bono says, "has been made simple by the person of Christ. Christ teaches that God is love. What does that mean?`What ie means for me : a study of the life of Christ. Love here describes itself as a child born in straw poverty, the most vulnerable situation of all, without honour. I don´t let me religious world get too complicated... God is love, and as much as I respond in allowing myself to be transformed by that love and acting in that love, that´s my religion."

The apostle Paul wrote often about God´s remarkable love, striving to capture its fullness as found in His Son (Ephesians 3:17). Though undeserved, God´s love is given to us freely through Jesus and - astonishingly - unlike any other love, it can´t be taken from us.

"I am convinced," wrote Paul, "that nothing can ever separate us from God´s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from God´s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below - indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

As we more fully understand "how wide, how long, how high and how deep his love is," Paul explains "then [we] will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God" (Ephesians 3:18-20).

It´s in the context of such love that we experience transformation that compels us to make our life and religion, as Bono says, one of love. - Roxanne Robbins

Read
Ephesians 3:14-21
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

1 John 3:16
This is how we know what love is : Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

Question to Ponder
How can you live so your reputation is one of faith in Jesus and love for Him and others? 
What has God´s love helped you learn about Him and about yourself?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Dec 2014 - Feb 2015 issue