Beautiful Romance

What's it like to be in love?

I'd like to clear something up.


There is a terrible misconception about me.


I've been told that I'm religious.


I'm not. 


I've been told that I'm too churchy.


I'm not. 


I've been told that I talk about Jesus too much.


I don't. 


I don't talk about him enough.

I don't have the self discipline to be religious, there are days when I really don't want to go to church, and I definitely don't talk about Jesus as much as I should.


I am a Christian.


There is a terrible misconception about me.


I believe there is a terrible misconception about Christianity.


Religious? Intolerant? Pushy? Hypocritical? Self Righteous?


These descriptions grieve me. But I'd have to admit that I've met people that call themselves "Christians" that would fit the stereotypes above. Sadly, these people that call themselves "Christians" are even more clueless then the ones who have invented the stereotypes. After all, simply labeling yourself a Christian does not make you one any more than calling yourself a horse gives you four legs, a mane, and a tail.


But even true followers of Christ have their faults, and you don't ever have to look that hard to find them.


But I would suggest that there is much more to Christians than faults and failures.
I should know, I am one.


And if there was just one thing I could tell you about myself, I would tell you this:


I'm in love.


I'm in love with Jesus.


The Jesus Christ from the Bible that claimed to be the son of God. The one the religious leaders hated, the one the Romans scorned, the one the disciples loved, the One who allowed His creation to nail him to a tree.


That Jesus.


He loves me.


I cannot comprehend why the almighty God of the universe would take on the form of a man to become my Savior. To hurt for me. To weep for me. To die for me.


Why? 
Why would He choose to rescue a filthy and unworthy sinner like me? I am not good enough for Him! He is the perfect Creator, and I am nothing but His marred creation. Why?


Because He loves me.


Some people think I'm too obsessed with my "religion". But if that's what they think, they've entirely missed the very essence of my faith. I'm not obsessed with my "religion", I'm obsessed with Jesus!


I'm in love with Jesus.


When you are head over heels, passionately and wonderfully in love with someone, you just can't keep it to yourself. You have to tell someone!


If you had a death sentence hanging over your head, and the Judge pardoned you with his own blood and then wanted to protect you, teach you, and shape you into something beautiful, wouldn't it change your life?


What if He, after saving your life, wanted to have an intimate relationship with you? To get to know you? Would you be able to keep it a secret?


That's what Jesus has done for me. I can't keep it a secret! Why would I?


The Creator of the world has offered me a personal relationship with him and I have accepted. It's the best thing that's ever happened to me.
The more I get to know Him, the more I fall in love. The more I learn about Him the more wonderful He is to me.


If I could only make you understand! But I can't! See, if you've never met Jesus, I guess I look kind of stupid.


He's my lifeline, my everything. He isn't just a hobby, he's my whole life. Yes, I still make mistakes. Yes, I still struggle with sin. But it isn't about me, it's about Him. That's the best part! It doesn't matter who I am, or what I've done, or how good or bad I think I am. That's not what my faith is about.


It's about loving Jesus.


Loving him enough to look like a fool.


Loving him enough to take up my cross and follow him.


Loving him enough to sacrifice everything for His sake.


It's all worth it because He loves me!


But how can I put that into words?


How do you explain what it's like to be in love?


How can I tell you that when I say I'm a Christian, I mean it! I'm a follower of Christ. His beloved!


It isn't about religion. Christianity has never been about religion.


It's a Beautiful Romance.


But how can I show you that?

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“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

-John 3:16

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

-Zephaniah 3:17

"And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

-John 17:3

"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ"

-Philippians 3:8

"nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord"

-Romans 8:39

This is what the Lord says:

“Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom

or the strong man boast of his strength

or the rich man boast of his riches,

but let him who boasts boast about this:

that he understands and knows me,

that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,

justice and righteousness on earth,

for in these I delight,”

-Jeremiah 9:23-24