It's Love My mom used to say, “Love is blind, but the neighbors aren’t.” She intended this to refer to public displays of affection, but there is also a truth to love’s perception that disallows what is obvious to everyone else. There is another phrase, “I just don’t see what he/she sees in them.”, that acknowledges a love perspective that is set apart from the mere observer. While there may be an acting job going on before the ring goes on the finger, it is also possible that many of the things that may be objectionable after marriage were really there all along, just overlooked by a love-blindness. There is undoubtedly a love effect upon seeing that decides actions toward the one in question. While love is definitely necessary in a human relationship for any deficiencies to not be deal-breakers, this love perspective is actually a very powerful part of the heart of God. For the God of incredible holiness and perfection to be accessible at all requires a look of love that somehow disallows any of our deal-breaker imperfections. Amazingly, He completely disallows our transgression and, through the gift of Jesus, empowers us to effectively get close to Him and abide there in His presence. Because of God’s love, Jesus took all our imperfections on Him so that no longer does He see us through the natural eye. We’re instead looked upon through faith, that the redemption of the cross has set us free from any transgression. Notes Love is faith’s empowerment Galatians 5:6 6 When you’re placed into the Anointed One and joined to him, circumcision and religious obligations can benefit you nothing. All that matters now is living in the faith that is activated and brought to perfection by love. Love is – the Heart of God – 1 Corinthians 13 The greatest things are worthless without it Never fails Only sees and magnifies the best Activates God’s heart in all things Our pleasing of the Father requires faith Hebrews 11:6 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. What is faith? God – Creative speaking Romans 4:17 17 That’s what the Scripture means when it says: “I have made you the father of many nations.” He is our example and father, for in God’s presence he believed that God can raise the dead and call into being things that don’t even exist yet. Present perception of the unseen Hebrews 11:1 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Process – Heart and mouth Romans 10:10 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Love’s faith-activating vision Ephesians 1:4-6 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. Colossians 2:9-10 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. Titus 3:4-7 4 When the extraordinary compassion of God our Savior and his overpowering love suddenly appeared in person, as the brightness of a dawning day, 5 he came to save us. Not because of any virtuous deed that we have done but only because of his extravagant mercy. 6 He saved us, resurrecting us through the washing of rebirth. We are made completely new by the Holy Spirit, whom he splashed over us richly by Jesus, the Messiah, our Life Giver. 7 So as a gift of his love, and since we are faultless—innocent before his face—we can now become heirs of all things, all because of an overflowing hope of eternal life. It’s Love This love that I received Beyond what eyes can see Enables me to please The Great Almighty With power that knows no bounds It speaks unto the mount Commands things to come out All things are possible It’s love That is the Father’s heart It’s love That all things He would impart And the Faith That makes all this possible Begins to do it work Where love’s abiding Abide in me Abide in me Love that removes all impossibilities Come stay, remain Abide in me This is the powerful enablement of Love - sees the possibility over the failure, the enablement over the disablement, the fulfillment over giving up.