For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV.

There is something that happens when you have been walking with Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit. You begin to delight in Him. The language of those who love Him speaks to your heart. You begin to trust Creator God for the provision we all need – closeness with Him. Last night we watched the first two round table discussions for Season Four of The Chosen. A Messianic Rabbi, a Catholic priest, an Evangelical scholar and Dallas Jenkins, the creator and writer, spoke about the first two episodes. No discord. No posturing. Awe and sharing of profound love for God were evident. I loved how Jason Sobel pointed out that it wasn’t the crucifixion or resurrection, important as those were for each one of us, that was amazing. It was the incarnation. Imagine, The Son, Creator God, emptying Himself of equality with God so He could live with us here on earth. In perfect and beautiful submission to the Father. It changed everything! In hearts and minds turned to Him in great need, it is a seismic shift. For the Son so loved the Father and us, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life with them together with us. Contrast that amazing love of God with the brokenness of this world we have all experienced, and how can you not yearn for His love healing and restoring us? Loving God helps us love one another because God’s love brings healing and hope in its provision. Loving God is everything we need.

And in our chapter, Ezekiel 48, the final chapter of Ezekiel, the tribal boundaries of Israel are laid out with special attention given for Judah because that is where the sanctuary will be at the center of it. And this final verse: “And the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE.” V. 35. The twelve gates of the city will bear the names of the tribes of Israel, three per side. I loved this in the comments below: “48:35 The book of Ezekiel begins by describing the holiness of God that Israel had despised and ignored. As a result, God’s presence departed from the temple, the city, and the people. The book ends with a detailed vision of the new temple, the new city, and the new people – all demonstrating God’s holiness. The pressures of everyday life may persuade us to focus on the here and now and thus forget God. That is why worship is so important; it takes our eyes off our current worries, gives us a glimpse of God’s holiness, and allows us to look toward His future kingdom. God’s presence makes everything glorious, and worship brings us into His presence.” Walking with Him in the light of His love illuminates the glorious beauty we were too blind to see without Him. A seismic shift of the most glorious proportions! We are loved. We can draw near to Him. Our hearts can sing with wonder and awe for Him. We can trust Him for all our provision so needed in this life…to Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Matthew 22:37-40. The New Testament Shema!