All for the sake of Love 💕

Recalling the echoes of Jesus, his life and purpose from birth to death and then life again, it was all for the sake of love. Even before He stepped into time, his eternal existence was one of love. Through the ups and downs of this brief life, when I pause to consider that God's intentions always come from a pure heart of love, that knowledge reframes everything for me. Who I am, my past, present, and future. It’s really overwhelming. But in another way it simplifies my life as well. The Bible says that I am created in God's image, as is everyone else. His word also states that God IS love, so if my identity, my thoughts, feelings, and actions are in harmony with love, I can walk in the peace and freedom that can only exist in friendship with Jesus

In a sense, it’s as if I am back in Eden.

As I sit and watch a gentle rain fall over the Nest this morning, I wonder if this is like Eden. The motives of the mission are pure, we’re nestled in the bounty of nature, we’re covered in prayer and walk by faith.

But wait!

(This is at the point when the record skips and that scratchy squeak abruptly stops the music.)

We are not in Eden at all. All around us are hurt and damaged people, I am a hurt and damaged person, this world is not as God intended, it’s actually quite sad and broken. And that my friends is a truth that cannot be ignored. It seems so paradoxical that on one hand I have the inexplicable joy and freedom in Jesus, and on the other the pain and confusion of life. It’s like both realities coexist at once.

And so it comes down to one solitary thing. What is my decision on what I base my life on? Every day I get to choose from where I will think and act upon. It wasn’t all that long ago that I made the decision to follow Jesus with my life as a missionary (as one on a mission) but now that I’ve tasted this way of life, there’s no going back

Life at the Nest is at once complex yet simple. We live in the gap, and the tension is turned over into trust. It’s only by faith (which sometimes feels like stepping off into thin air) that I find Him there very much real. As a result, I aim to live my life for the sake of love. And it’s not a self love, it’s a love for Jesus and His love for others simply gets transferred onto me.

It’s like Jesus said when summing up all the commandments of scripture: first, love God , and then love others. Pretty basic stuff really.

With Easter approaching us here at the Nest, we are preparing in prayer for our big Easter weekend youth camp. It’s going to be a sleepover with two full days of worship, food, teaching, playing, dancing, and safe fun. We’re expecting about 80-120 kids here, so be in prayer as the time gets closer, that God's spirit will draw children to Himself and we can be partners with Him in bringing the good news to these kids. That all we do and say would be for the sake of love.

Everything else here at the Nest is coasting along fine, the plants and animals are doing what God intended them to do, our staff have had some defeats and victories but at the end of the day we remain in a spirit of gratitude.

One last thought. When I think about the state of this world I think please Jesus come back soon. But when I look around the Nest my heart says that you Lord are more than sufficient for this day.

With love and gratitude

James Beach