The Joy We Share
By Angela Posey-Arnold
“Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love.” (1 John 4:18 NLT)
“……and He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own.” How I love the great old hymn, “In the Garden”. Hymns bring me closer to Him. (Maybe this is why the songs are called Hymns.) Grand old hymns of the church stand the test of time teaching Biblical truths we hear with our ears and feel in our hearts.
Movies, tangible visuals, on the other hand have a profound lasting effect. I will never forget the first time I saw the movie, “The Passion of The Christ”. Experiencing the movie is probably the closest I will ever come to the reality of the crucifixion as far as actually being there is concerned.
I loved the scenes of Jesus smiling and laughing, teaching and loving. As close as Mr. Gibson came to creating a reality, I believe only heaven will allow us to experience the fullness of Him, the joy, the laughter, His smile like nothing else anyone could ever imagine. In heaven Jesus will take the redeemed by the hand and say to our Father, “she is with Me”. He might have to get angels to carry me because I don’t think I will be able to walk or stand.
The terribly graphic scenes of Mel Gibson’s movie cut like a knife in my soul. To see with my eyes what the crucifixion must have been like for Jesus left me numb. I felt the hurt so deeply I could only shut my eyes to escape the horror of it. As He carried the cruel cross on His torn beaten back, I found myself with my feet up in the seat and my hands tight in a fist. Angry at what they were doing to Him, and aware He endured it for me. I wept and shook, closing my eyes and saying out loud, “stop it, stop it”.
My dear friend Valerie sat silently leaning close to me I could feel her trembling. We couldn’t look at each other and barely could we watch the scene unfolding in front of us. We held hands to keep each other in our seats. I remember thinking, “how can I sit here and watch this?”
How could I not watch? Painful and horrid the truth remained, He did it for me. The love of which is beyond comprehension. As much as I love Him, He loves me more. It is hard to understand sometimes, how He being God could possibly love a weak, silly woman like me. But, He does. He loves me because I am a weak silly woman.
Through His love, behind the very same cross, I am so much more. I am what His love says I am. I am redeemed by love Divine.
I don’t remember falling in love with Jesus. For me it hasn’t been a onetime event. Falling in love with Him happens to me over and over and over. I’ve always loved Him because His grace bore me into a family who loved Him. For His grace I am eternally grateful, so thankful for my parents, grandparents and the church who brought me up in the nurture and admonition of Him. The same precious ones who taught me to sing, “Jesus loves me this I know……”
Digging through piles of first grade report cards and old pictures, I found my baby book one day in Momma’s overstuffed closet. I sat down and read the things she wrote about me. Standing out most in my heart and mind are the words, “Angela loves to hear stories about Jesus.” I still do.
My love for Jesus grows stronger and stronger as He walks with me through my journey here on earth, through trials and storms, betrayals, losses and sadness. He is ever there to love me, catch me when I fall and protect me, giving me strength to survive and live for Him. Even in times when I thought I could make it on my own, He never stopped loving me. I have never stopped loving Him.
As He talks with me through my heart, I hear Him. I know His voice. He never says, “Now Angela, you should not feel this way.” He never turns His back on me or makes me feel I am not important to Him. His everlasting loyalty, His ever present help, His love endures forever. I never have to doubt His love or wonder what His motivation is. My Jesus will never betray me or flippantly toss our relationship aside. He always has time for me. And He will never ever leave me alone. Our love is eternal. He tells me I am His own. He is my Shepherd and I am a happy sheep.
“…….and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other, has ever known.”
My relationship with Jesus is ours and ours alone. No one can take it away. Brothers and sisters in Christ know their own joy in their relationship with Him. It is a personal relationship.
Loving Him is the very one and true thing no one can tell me not to take personally. It is personal, very incredibly awesomely personal. I see Him with my heart, feel Him with my soul and love Him beyond measure.
Everyone has a choice to love Him or not. It is a personal choice and a personal relationship. No one will ever love you like Jesus does. The choice is an easy one for me; my prayer is for each one to choose this awesome love, love like no other.
And so, I sing, loving Him and aware of the sacrifice He made for me……. “I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses, and the voice I hear falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses…And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other, has ever known.
He speaks and the sound of His voice, is so sweet the birds hush their singing, and the melody that He gave to me, with in my heart is singing……………………………………
©Angela Posey-Arnold 2009
