Love Never Fails

Read: I Corinthians 13:4-8

“For God has said, ‘I will never, never fail you nor forsake you.’ 6 That is why we can say without any doubt or fear, "The Lord is my Helper, and I am not afraid of anything that mere man can do to me.’ ”  - Heb 13:5-6 (TLB)

Trying to live in a constant state of perfectionism used to drive me in circles. Thankfully, I learned that God is love (I Corinthians 13: 4-8), and that His love covers a multitude of my sins. I do not have to be perfect in order to receive His love. Now, I can loosen up on myself and everyone else. His character includes patience and kindness; and though we fail, He never thinks evil of us. He takes no pleasure in disciplining us; but He is always faithful to discipline all of His children in order to bring us back to His straight and narrow road.

He bears with us, comforts us and embraces us in His everlasting arms. He rejoices when we walk in His truth and when we speak His truth to others and to ourselves. He believes we can do all things through Christ, His Son. Jesus endured the cross to ensure that we will never utterly fail. Now, Jesus lives within us by His Spirit, providing all the power of the entire triune Godhead for us to utilize as we need His help with a task, guidance to walk in His will, and protection to keep us safe.

These promises inspire assurance in my heart. I may make mistakes, but God’s love is not contingent upon my works. He calls us to reach for perfection, but He knows without His grace this goal is impossible. God created us as human beings, and He has the patience to wait as our character grows through the encouragement of His love. Therefore, I can do my best and leave the rest up to Him.

Prayer:

Lord, when I give in to Satan’s temptation to give up on myself, remind me that You are in my corner believing in my success. Help me to read Your Word, to delight in each thought it reveals, to allow it to divide between my flesh and my spirit in order to make me holy, and help me to share Your Truth with everyone I meet.

Thought for the Day:

God loves our humanity, because He made us as mere mortals!

A Joy-filled Life

Read: Hebrews 12:1-11

"Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:9

There are so many depressing events in our lives today. It is very hard to have peace and joy on a daily basis. That is why I love to read Paul's letter to the Philippians. I am encouraged by so many of his words.

Look at just a few:

• "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion" (1:6).
• “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (I:21)
• “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (2:13).
• “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection” (3:10).
• “Forgetting what lies behind and pressing toward what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal" (3:13-14).
• “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (4:6).
• “The God of peace will be with you” (4:9).
• "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength" (4:13).

Paul suffered more persecution than I will probably ever experience; yet, he found contentment in the midst of it all. He lived one day at a time. He kept His focus on Jesus rather than on his circumstances. He learned contentment in every situation. He trusted God as his supply and strength.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, never let me live as just a hearer of Your Word, but help me to practice Your precepts as well. Draw me ever closer to Your heart each and every day.

Thought for the Day:

Loving God with your whole body, soul and spirit produces a joy-filled life.

Loving With All of Your Heart

Read: Romans 12:1-2

“The man answered, "'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"- Luke 10: 27

In his sermon tonight, my pastor husband spoke about how God wants us to love Him. He made his point by using this example:

“I love my wife. I really, really love my wife. I tell her this all the time. I spend as much time with my wife as I can. I enjoy spending time with her and she loves to spend time with me. We do just about everything together.

“Now, what if I told my wife, ‘I really, really love you;’ but then, I did everything I could to avoid spending time with her? What if I fill up my days so full of activities that I barely have a chance to say, ‘Good Morning,’ and ‘Good Night’ to her? Would she believe that I love her? Would she believe that I was devoted to her and that I would do anything to make her happy? Would she let me get away with this type of behavior for very long without saying something to me about it? No woman in her right mind would feel loved without actions to back up the words.

“God wants this same devotion from us. He wants us to spend time with Him, as well as telling Him that we love Him. I meet people who say, ‘Oh, I really, really love the Lord;” but their day is so full of work, running their kids in ever direction at once, and pursuing their own hobbies or watching TV all hours of the day and night, that they never have time to read their Bible, to pray or to come to worship services and church Bible studies and prayer meetings. This makes me wonder just how much they actually love the Lord. How do you think the Lord feels when people act this way?

“If my wife expects me to be a man of my word and to love her in deed, as well as in word; how much more does the Lord expect this same consideration from me? Let us strive to love God not as hearers only, but also as doers of His Word (James 1:22), starting with constant communication with Him throughout the day (1 Thessalonians 5:19).”

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, teach us to pray without ceasing and to follow the leading of Your Spirit every moment of the day. Enable our love for You to spill over into our time with our family and community as well.

Thought for the Day:

God’s love fills in the cracks of our imperfections.