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More than an icon

Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. (I John 4:11-12)

We all desire to 'see' God in some form, don't we? Since the beginning of time, mankind has tried to 'see' God, going to the extremes of making 'images' of him so they could have a 'thing' to look upon that reminded them of God. The 'images' didn't even come close to really represent the character, power, or majesty of God. The truth is that God is 'evident' in each of us - his love being brought to full expression in us through the power of the Holy Spirit within. We don't need 'images', we just need to observe how God manifests himself through those around us. 

God's grace has a unique expression in each of our lives. We are not the same - so what makes us think God's 'image' would be expressed the same way through each of us? We begin to understand the many-faceted love of God as we look upon the way his grace changes the lives of those around us. As uniquely as his grace comes through our lives in the form of transformation, we learn little aspects of God's character and power - his love in action within the lives of those who have said a resounding "YES" to Jesus. 

We don't need images - we just need Christ in us. We need each other - relishing the glimpses into his heart that each of us uniquely exemplifies. We don't need more religion - we need more relationship. We don't need more truth - we need to use the truth we have been given. As we focus more on that ONE relationship that matters above all others - Christ First - we begin to see evidence of his love in our lives. That evidence becomes the ONE THING that may actually draw another into relationship with him. There is more power in an example of love than there is any number of words, images, or 'icons' of love! Just sayin!
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