Is our love for one another sufficiently shocking?
by David Cross
I have recently returned from an Ellel Ministries conference at Blackpool. We heard some wonderful teaching from speakers who are watching the significant events occurring worldwide today and were helping us to see these from God’s viewpoint. We enjoyed dynamic worship, challenging workshops and times of powerful prayer ministry. It was a wonderful feast.
Shortly before leaving, I was speaking to an elderly lady and I asked her what had been the most important aspect of the conference for her. She didn’t hesitate in replying, "It was the love we have shared with one another; that’s what has impacted me most."
It was not quite the reply that I had expected but it was clear that she had experienced something particularly special in those few days. It reminded me of today’s verse. Jesus apparently thought it very important to explain to his disciples that the only certain evidence of His presence within a body of people would be the unusual depth of love that would be seen in the relationships. It would not be the power of the worship, not the extraordinary teaching, not the significant healings, but a manifestation of His presence through profound love.
The more I seek to discern spiritual reality the more I have come to the conclusion that the enemy can sometimes, unfortunately, do a reasonable job of counterfeiting the power of God, but he finds it extremely difficult to sustain an adequate presentation of the true character of God, particularly His love.
I believe that it was a special taste of this amazing love that this dear lady experienced at the conference, and I am sure that Jesus wants all of us to look for, and allow, this true evidence of His presence to grow in us and through us, until it actually shocks the world around us.
Prayer: Father God, we want the world to see that You are at work in our fellowship with one another, in Your body here on earth. Show us how to prune out the dead wood in our lives to let the fruit of Your love grow in abundance. In Jesus' name, Amen.
David Cross David is part of the Executive Leadership of Ellel Ministries, with particular responsibility for the Ellel centres in Western Europe. He is married to Denise and they have three grown up children and eight grandchildren. David has been a civil engineer and ski-touring instructor in the Highlands of Scotland. He is passionate about the teaching and practice of the healing and deliverance ministry of Jesus and has written several books: Soul Ties, Trapped by Control, God’s Covering, The Dangers of Alternative Ways to Healing(co-authored with John Berry), an A to Z Guide to the Healing Ministry, What`s Wrong with Human Rights? and, most recently, God`s Way out of Depression. You can follow a daily thought from David on Twitter: @dmcross62
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