Why does Deeper Level Worship exist?

 

Christ minded people, or “Christians” as most of us call them, have a branding problem. It seems as though along the way we have forgotten how to truly love. We’ve become Pharisees and understand the law more than we do mercy and love. We have become like the world and have learned to love in a way I call “surface love,” or the kind of love we are used to seeing on the outside. This is the kind of love that tries to represent love the best way it can, but really isn’t true love. The kind of love that  the world needs more of is on a deeper level. It’s a love that only God can provide. In Scriptures it says that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). That is the kind of love we should all represent, and we are failing. The Bible also tells us to love God with all our heart, all our soul and all our strength (Matthew 22:37 and Deuteronomy 6:5), and we are failing at that also.

 

The Second Commandment Christ provides us with is to “love our neighbors” (Matthew 22:39) and I think this is where we have surely lost our way. We’re missing the point. This kind of love, people just don’t really understand. It almost seems unreal or impossible. It usually surprises people and leaves them wondering, “what kind of love is this?” or “I’ve never seen this kind of love.”  This is the kind of love we need to come back to, a Christlike love. This is what Jesus demonstrated on the cross, even while we were doing wrong in the world -- yet he still choose to lay down his life.

 

A love like this is what we need to model ours after. 

 

It’s a sacrificial love that puts others in front of our own personal needs. Christ said that it’s more of a blessing to give, than it is to receive (Acts 20:35)  There is a truth to this? It’s hard to understand this kind of love without looking first at Jesus.

 

It’s a love that is patient and kind; love that does not envy or boast; it's not arrogant or rude. Love bares all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things. What this means is:  this love will speak for itself. You don’t even have to boast about it because it does all the talking for you. It’s a kind of love that gives without wanting anything in return. It gives freely, with no strings attached. We usually want to give love, but want the same kind of love in return --  as if it’s some kind of “payment plan” type of love. Conditional love is the kind of love that has something attached to it, so don’t tie yourself to this kind of love. This is the type of love many of us are used to.

 

The secret is, if we represent God with the kind of love he first showed us (1 John 4:19), people will feel his presence at any given moment on our life. A kind word, a much needed hug, a heartfelt “I love you” or just a simple smile allows us to feel his goodness.  Look at Christ alone because he provides the example of love that is unlike any other. As Christ minded people we should try to represent him the the best way we can.

 

We need to get back to experiencing a real, deep love for one another, – even those who may not deserve it (that’s another topic I’ll discuss later). An undeniable kind of love that can’t be questioned or understood. But we can’t spread this kind of love out into the world without expressing it in our own homes first. It has to start at the cross and then from where you are standing right now. After that, we can express this love to a much needed world... I truly believe with all my heart that if you understand how God’s love works, you will experience a love in return that can’t even be expressed in words. 

 

In life, there will be times when you will run into these kinds of people: people who share God’s love with you. It’s like finding a hidden treasure. There are very few of them, but once you find one, you must stay close. They understand something that most people do not. 

 

I hope that one day we can express this love the way Christ intended it to be. My prayer is that this website portrays that kind of love, built on truth, honestly and patience. 

 

God bless you and thanks for reading.