This past Sunday the Denver Broncos squared off with the Carolina Panthers in the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California for the golden anniversary of the Super Bowl to see who would become the National Football League champions. 
With a halftime show featuring British rock group Coldplay and returning artists, Beyonce and Bruno Mars, it was the third most-watched U.S broadcast ever with a staggering 111.9 million viewers! I personally had a blast watching and cheering throughout the entire event with some of my favorite people on the planet hanging out at our house. When you get a big crew together from Highway Community Church, you know it’s going to be a good time! Anyway, there was a moment at the end of the half time performance that really caught my attention when the stadium attendees took the colored cards that they were given and held them up for the world to see. In multi-colored brilliance the words read, “Believe In Love”. Now typically this might strike most just as a feel-good, We are the World kind of moment, but I saw it through a different lens.
That morning we began a new series at our church called, Deeper Love. Of course it’s easy to assume that this would be an expected topic due to the seasonal celebration of hearts and cupids we call Valentine’s Day. But, we really were drawn to a “deeper” understanding of what God views as love. You know…what it looks like; how it’s given and received. 
Answering the question of why it’s important to experience. After all, the Apostle Paul wrote in his New Testament letter to the Christ followers in Ephesus, “May you EXPERIENCE the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:19). He understood that it had to move past a simple head-knowledge to a heart experience. And I firmly believe that if people truly experienced God’s love…in a tangible way, that they would be radically changed forever! The Bible records that Jesus was put on the spot one day by the religious leaders. As committed religious legalists, they wanted to expose Jesus’ views of the commandments, so they asked for Him to tell them what He thought was the greatest commandment given by God. His response could have been held up on colored boards handed out to His disciples to hold up, but He had no problem responding to this inquisition personally! Love…not the cheap conditional kind mind you. The kind of love that demands something of you. All of you…who you are, how you think, every fiber of strength that you have in you to give that kind of love. Now FIRST, take that love and give it to God. After all, it’s simply returning the love He first gave us (1 John 4:19). And then take that thing that is happening between you and your Creator and share it with someone around you. First love, before you do anything else…give love away! So yes, we must believe in love. It is an extremely powerful tool to change things, but it takes it to a whole other level when it carries the DNA of God! Whet you have received, then freely give. And the more you receive, then become even more generous in extending it to others. It can change the world!
Maybe you are reading this, and you’re not sure if you remember a moment that was “God” loving on you. Honestly, there are probably more moments than you realized because you didn’t have a “spiritual” antenna up. But realized or not, start today by asking God to extend His love to you in a tangible way. Many people call this “prayer”, but think of it as simply having a conversation with God. Don’t worry, He will hear you. It’s a simple request, but very intentional with it. And then be ready to receive it when it shows up. There could be a supernatural moment where you truly have a spiritual experience, but it may come at some point in the day when a person opens a door for you. I can’t tell you specifically how it will happen…just be ready when it does. God really does love us. He has proven it in the past, but He wants it to be a reality in your life today. Believe in love!
Oh, and yes, I am proud to say that our Broncos won! #GoBroncos!
With a halftime show featuring British rock group Coldplay and returning artists, Beyonce and Bruno Mars, it was the third most-watched U.S broadcast ever with a staggering 111.9 million viewers! I personally had a blast watching and cheering throughout the entire event with some of my favorite people on the planet hanging out at our house. When you get a big crew together from Highway Community Church, you know it’s going to be a good time! Anyway, there was a moment at the end of the half time performance that really caught my attention when the stadium attendees took the colored cards that they were given and held them up for the world to see. In multi-colored brilliance the words read, “Believe In Love”. Now typically this might strike most just as a feel-good, We are the World kind of moment, but I saw it through a different lens.
That morning we began a new series at our church called, Deeper Love. Of course it’s easy to assume that this would be an expected topic due to the seasonal celebration of hearts and cupids we call Valentine’s Day. But, we really were drawn to a “deeper” understanding of what God views as love. You know…what it looks like; how it’s given and received. 
Answering the question of why it’s important to experience. After all, the Apostle Paul wrote in his New Testament letter to the Christ followers in Ephesus, “May you EXPERIENCE the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:19). He understood that it had to move past a simple head-knowledge to a heart experience. And I firmly believe that if people truly experienced God’s love…in a tangible way, that they would be radically changed forever! The Bible records that Jesus was put on the spot one day by the religious leaders. As committed religious legalists, they wanted to expose Jesus’ views of the commandments, so they asked for Him to tell them what He thought was the greatest commandment given by God. His response could have been held up on colored boards handed out to His disciples to hold up, but He had no problem responding to this inquisition personally! Love…not the cheap conditional kind mind you. The kind of love that demands something of you. All of you…who you are, how you think, every fiber of strength that you have in you to give that kind of love. Now FIRST, take that love and give it to God. After all, it’s simply returning the love He first gave us (1 John 4:19). And then take that thing that is happening between you and your Creator and share it with someone around you. First love, before you do anything else…give love away! So yes, we must believe in love. It is an extremely powerful tool to change things, but it takes it to a whole other level when it carries the DNA of God! Whet you have received, then freely give. And the more you receive, then become even more generous in extending it to others. It can change the world!
Maybe you are reading this, and you’re not sure if you remember a moment that was “God” loving on you. Honestly, there are probably more moments than you realized because you didn’t have a “spiritual” antenna up. But realized or not, start today by asking God to extend His love to you in a tangible way. Many people call this “prayer”, but think of it as simply having a conversation with God. Don’t worry, He will hear you. It’s a simple request, but very intentional with it. And then be ready to receive it when it shows up. There could be a supernatural moment where you truly have a spiritual experience, but it may come at some point in the day when a person opens a door for you. I can’t tell you specifically how it will happen…just be ready when it does. God really does love us. He has proven it in the past, but He wants it to be a reality in your life today. Believe in love!
Oh, and yes, I am proud to say that our Broncos won! #GoBroncos!
0 Comments