Love is here, love is now.
5/25/2012 1:05:08 AM
May 24, 2012~John #25 in series


 

Love is here, love is now.  John 5.24

Their faces were radiant and expectant yesterday as the four of us sat atop stools at Velvet Yogurt.  Three beautiful high school seniors, athletes heading to three different areas of our country to play their sports at the college level: Franki to Rhode Island to play volleyball, Janae to Texas A & M for soccer, and Dani to Santa Clara, also soccer.  (yep—athletically gifted and smart!)  But yesterday, we were not talking about sports.  We were talking about the Lord, and all four of us were filled with anticipation.

Syncing our schedules had been tough, but so important, as there was heavenly business to be conducted!  We finally managed a 4:30 get-together at the girls’ favorite place . . . where else?  A frozen yogurt establishment.  I had gotten to know all three of them at Sunday Night Live*, as I had watched their interest in Jesus Christ grow each week.  Then I answered the question about ‘how they could know for sure they were Christians’ …

“Becoming a Christian is a prayer away—the acknowledgment of who Jesus is and what he has done for us,” I told them.  “Don’t ever confuse being a Christian with being religious; religion is man-made, but knowing Jesus is all about relationship.  And here’s the thing,” I smiled into their eyes, “Once you come to know Jesus, you are never alone again.”

“So how do we do it?” Janae asked.  Inside, I was like a greyhound, wanting to charge the question, but on the outside I calmly said, “Oh, it is just a prayer, but understand that it is a decision … a commitment … to follow Jesus - to choose his way over your way.  Sometimes, it might even cost you something.”  All three of them looked at me, wide-eyed, as if to say, ‘wait—no one ever told me this part!’  “Sometimes it is lonely, because you might be the only one of your friends who is truly following Jesus, even though others call themselves Christians—‘you know what I mean?  But when you follow Jesus, you are free to be you!”  I looked from face to face and then I was quiet for a bit.

The girls knew the Gospel message, and now they knew what was involved in making a decision.  Then Franki said, “I have been saying I have been a Christian for a while now, even though I wasn’t.  I didn’t even know how to be one!  My parents did not take me to church, so I have just been learning all about Jesus on Sunday nights.  I told other people I was a Christian because – what else would I be?  I wasn’t Muslim, I wasn’t any other religion, so I must be a Christian, right?  Even though I knew I wasn’t.”

“I am not here to talk you into anything—‘you understand that, right?”  I looked long into each of their eyes.  “On the other hand, if you want to ask Jesus to lead your life, then let’s do it… let’s pray!”  And so we did.  Right then.  Right there.  In the big picture window of Velvet Yogurt on El Camino Real in San Clemente, California.  And then there were hugs all around, and we made plans for our next time to get together.

John records the words of Jesus, which we know flow from the heart of God … “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” John 5.24

Love is here.

Love is now.

Love is pouring from His hands, from His brows.

Love is near, it satisfies.

Streams of mercy flowing from His side.

Cuz love is here.  From 10th Avenue North’s song by the same name.

Love was there. Yesterday.  At Velvet Yogurt.  Reminds me of another song.   And old hymn – “Amazing love … how can it be?  That thou my God shouldst die for me!”

Love is here ... do you feel it?  Do you feel him?  

Christine

 

*the weekly group I lead for students from my local public high school