The Power Of A Great Affection

I have had a summer of stillness.
That is what I have called it.
It has been a summer of listening, watching, thinking, and pondering.
It has been a summer of trying to hear the voice of God speak to my heart.

When you talk about the voice of God, many think that you mean an audible voice.
I wish.

That audible voice of God has already spoken on the Mount of Transfiguration.
This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him. (Matthew 17:5)

I’m trying!

That audible voice of God has already spoken when John the Baptist baptized Jesus.
You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased. (Mark 1:11)

I take seriously the command, Listen to Him.
I am trying to hear that small, still voice speak to my heart; so I wait.
I get glimpses; I hear whispers.
I hear His voice when I spend time in His Word.

I reread portions of a book I read years ago, The Ragamuffin Gospel, by Brennan Manning.
Something struck me.
Something was illuminated.
Words jumped off the page.

Over a hundred years ago in the Deep South, a phrase so common in our Christian culture today, born again, was seldom or never used. Rather, the phrase used to describe the breakthrough into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ was, “I was seized by the power of a great affection.”

There it was!
I was seized by the power of a great affection.
That is the Truth I want to convey in my writing, in my words, and in my life.
I was seized, captured, and held fast by that same Great Affection.

What does that seizing look like in everyday life?

My daughter is back at college.
She is on the fourth floor of her dorm.
The dorms have air conditioning, which is a blessing.
For whatever reason, during a pre-fall heat wave, her air conditioner is not working.

I got that simple message in a text, told to me as an after thought.
She has called maintenance and being an RA, I know that it will be handled.
However two days have gone by, two days of almost 90-degree heat and still nothing.
Two days of 90 degree heat, four floors above the ground.

She is taking it all in stride.
She is certain her air conditioning will be repaired.
I’m OK, Mom; I’m using a fan.
The cool air blows right over me all through the night so I’m really fine.

Someone must have had a fan and given it to her during this time.
I am grateful.
The cool air blows right over me all through the night so I’m really fine.
The fan is circulating the cool air.

We have ceiling fans in all of our bedrooms, in our family room, and kitchen.
The cool air circulates around us and over us.
We are more than fine.
The air circulates around us.

Oh, how we need to circulate the air in our culture.
Is there a fan big enough?
Is there something that can move the stale air out and allow the fresh air in?
Is it possible?

We that have been seized by the power of a great affection, have grown stale.
We are a lot of hot air, saying all the right things yet our actions say otherwise.
We sit listlessly by and never feel the need to fan the flames.
We are not living out our seizing.

Tim Keller said it best:
The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.

That is the Great Affection that has seized us.
That is the Great Affection that is holding us fast.
That is the Great Affection that has captured us.
We should be shouting for joy.

But we are not.
Most of the time we look like we have swallowed lemons.
Christianity has become all the things I cannot instead of all the things I can.
The I can comes through Jesus Christ.

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

Everything.
No hot air, just Truth lived out.
Seized by the POWER of a Great Affection.
Powerful because we have been seized.

Does the rest of the world know that?
Does the rest of the world see the difference?
Does the rest of the world know that we have been captured?
Do we even know?

Joy should be the hallmark of every believer in Christ.
Joy is the only thing that will speak to an unbelieving world.
Joy should define those of us who have been seized.
Joy should be from our toes, not situational and sporadic.

I never wish for someone to be happy.
Instead, I wish them only joy.
Only the joy of the Lord will truly satisfy.
Only the joy of the Lord will capture an unbelieving world.

The joy that comes from the Gospel.

We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.

Are you seized by the Power of that Great Affection?
If you have been seized, live like it!
If you have been captured, let others see the difference!
If you are held fast by the One who loves you and accepts you, rejoice!

Really rejoice in your capture.
The Power of a Great Affection will never let you go.
Never.
Ever.

2 responses to “The Power Of A Great Affection”

1. So interesting that I should come across this lovely writing. I was looking for the meaning of a beautiful song I just discovered by Andrew Peterson, “The Power of a Great Affection”. I do understand the meaning, but was looking for what others thought. Do you know this song? If not, you should, because it pairs wonderfully with this poetry. The song is pretty amazing, and I strongly identify with the meaning, being a bit late to truly hold the great affection power. And from your writing I now know where the phrase originated, so it all comes together.

   Reply

   • Barbara,
     You are so right when you talk about the power of a song.
     I do know the song well.
     Andrew Peterson’s songs are favorites of mine.
     I am so delighted that the words of this Whisper helps you understand the song better.
     Blessings,
     Gina

     Reply