The Love of God

 

The intense love of God burns like a fire deep in our soul, warming us as we travel through this cold world of sin and degradation. Christ died so that we may possess this everlasting love (Romans 6:23). We are precious to Him and we bring Him delight by our obedience (John 14:15). Everything God gave to His firstborn Son, Jesus, He shares with us, His adopted sons. Jesus sacrificed His throne and crown for us, and He did not reserve His life or blood, but gave His all for us.

Only as we completely surrender our life to Him in return, will we come into perfect union with Christ within us.  We totally submit to the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. We live according to God’s divine will for our life (Ephesians 2:10), and find our fulfillment in our union with Christ. We seek only the will of God in our thoughts, words and deeds, so that He might be glorified in us, just as He was in Jesus (John 14:13). We completely dwell in His love (John 10:17).

We come to the day where we stop offending God with our sinful desires, because the Spirit sanctifies us from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). He gives us discernment and His Word, so that we can ascertain what will bring God glory. His righteousness pervades our life to the extent that we surrender our sinfulness to Him. We live in harmony with Christ in us through the anointing of His name. Our prayers are centered in Jesus’ name and our life is lived in the power of His name.

Our union also provides us with faith to believe in His faithfulness. We live in unreserved obedience to the Father (1 John 3:22). We pray with confidence in our intimate union with Christ. We sit silently in His presence, knowing that He knows what we need before we even speak it (Matthew 6:8). An abiding life of faith in Christ alone provides power to our prayers (John 15:9). We wait at His feet for Him to provide all of our needs according to His glorious riches (Philippians 4:19; James 4:3).

Jesus shares with us His life, His inheritance, His righteousness and His Spirit. He keeps nothing from us, but freely gives us all things (Romans 8:32). His love is an example of the Father’s love for us as well. Our sinful state magnifies the beauty of His sacrificial love, and His compassion changes us from the inside out. God is love and we abide in His love through His Son (1 John 4:8). As we completely yield our life to His will, we reap the abundance He died to provide for us.

Prayer:

Father God, help us to find the eternal dwelling place provided for us by Your love (Deuteronomy 33:27). Our soul finds its peace in the shadow of Your wings (Psalm 91:4). Cause us to hear Thy loving kindness each morning, for in You we place our trust. Fill us to the brim with Your Spirit, and cause us to know Your will for each moment of our life (Psalm 143:8). We want to abide in Your presence and in the fullness of Your joy (Psalm 16:11).

Thought for the Day:

God’s everlasting love promises us eternal blessings. – Psalm 21:6

If You Really Knew Me

Read: Psalm 139

“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous - how well I know it.” – Psalm 139:14

I have a question for my friends. If you really knew my true, inner self, would you still be my friend? Would you have compassion on my idiosyncrasies, tolerance with my shortcomings and patience with my failings? Do I have to wear a mask for you to like me? Do I need to play games in order for you to spend time with me? If this is the case, then I am above all people, most miserable! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? (Romans 7:24).

Thanks be to God, I am already accepted through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Jesus came to earth to demonstrate that He is for me and not against me. He came to let me know that He is not counting my sins against me, because He died for them, so that He could reconcile me to Our Father. His death was the ultimate expression of God’s love for me (Romans 7:25; Ephesians 1:6; Romans 8:31; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; 1 John 4:10).

Jesus gave up everything He loved in Heaven, so that He might show me how much He loves me. If I receive His gift, I also receive God’s Spirit living within my spirit, because Jesus and the Father are one. Now, nothing will ever separate me from His love again. He looks forward to my homecoming, so He can throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen (Romans 8:31-32; 1 John 2:23; Romans 8:38-39; Luke 15:7; Ephesians 3:14-15).

I am not a mistake, because God planned for my life. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. He knit me together in my mother's womb. He brought me forth on the exact day I was born (Psalm 139:13-14, 71:6). God chose me and planned a life for me before He even created the world in which I would live (Ephesians 1:11-12). The Father, Son and Spirit made me in their image – a triune being with a body, soul and spirit (Genesis 1:27; 1 Thessalonians 5:23).

God called me to be His child, because He knew me even before I was ever conceived (Jeremiah 1:4-5). He even knows the number of hairs on my head (Matthew 10:29-31). God determined the exact time of my birth and even where I would live (Acts 17:26). Jesus transforms my soul and makes me a suitable member of God’s beloved family (Ephesians 1:6). God knows everything about me, but He still loves me and makes a difference in my life. He knows when I sit down and when I rise up. He is familiar with all of my ways (Psalm 139:1-3).

God’s plan for my future is completely filled with hope, because He loves me with His everlasting love. His thoughts toward me are as countless as the sand of the sea. He even rejoices over me with singing, because I am the apple of His eye. One day God will wipe away every tear from my eyes. He will take away the memory of all the pain I suffered during my lifetime (Jeremiah 29:11, 31:3; Psalms 139:17-18; Zephaniah 3:17; Psalm 17:8; Revelation 21:3-4).

Because all of this is true, the next question I have for my friends is this, “Now that you know who I really am, will you join me in allowing God to deliver you from a life that is dominated by sin and death, will you choose to accept Jesus sacrifice for your life and will you join me in enjoying all of these benefits as His child?” (Romans 7:24; James 4:8; Luke 15:11-32).

Prayer:

Father God, You love me even as You love Your only begotten Son. You revealed Your love for me through Jesus. He is the exact representation of You. You made the world and everything in it. You made Jesus the Lord of heaven and earth. You do not live in temples built by human hands, but in the spirit of every Born Again Believer. You are not served by human hands, as if You need anything. Rather, You give me life and breath and everything I need. (John 17:23, 17:26; Hebrews 1:3; Acts 7:48, 17:25; Psalm 23:1).  

Thought for the Day:

Every one of our days is written in His book. - Psalm 139:15-16

God's Perfect Plan

Read: Romans 8:5-39

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” – Romans 8:37

Our finite view of life is so limiting. We get so bogged down in the problems, issues, hindrances, illnesses, and negativity inherent in life in this world. Freedom from these issues is just a prayer away, however. God has a perfect plan for each of our lives.

 

Our whole perspective changes when we live in His will and set our affections on things above rather than things of this earth (Colossians 3:2-3).  

The battle does not belong to us. It is God’s (2 Chronicles 20:15). We have no need to be afraid or discouraged over life’s problems. We can focus our thoughts, emotions and beliefs on God. His words are totally trustworthy. Our faith in Him to have a perfect plan no matter what situation we are facing is not in vain. We are God’s children and co-heirs with Christ. Although we share in His sufferings in this life, we will also share in His glory (Romans 8:16-18).

Even God’s creation groans to be liberated from the bondage and decay of this corrupt world (Romans 8:19-20). Creation looks forward, as we do, for the glorious freedom of the sons of God to be revealed (Romans 8:21-23). We have hope in His coming and this gives us patience to endure the trials in our life (Romans 8:24-25).

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness, and even when we have no idea how to pray. The Spirit hears our groans and understands exactly how we feel; therefore, He intercedes for us according to God’s will (Romans 8:26-27). The Spirit also gives us the confidence that God is working all things, even the worst of afflictions, out for our good (Romans 8:28).

God knows our heart and He conforms us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ, through the process of Sanctification. Through His Spirit, we have assurance that He called us, justified us and will glorify us when Jesus returns to take us to glory. Having this assurance helps us to live life from God’s perspective. Earth is a miniscule orb in relation to the rest of the universe. From God’s perspective our issues are not as insurmountable as we think. If He can keep the planets aligned and the universe ordered, He can certainly take care of our concerns.

At times, it does appear as if our world is spinning out of control. We master one aspect and another one flies off into outer space! Some of us have more troubles to face than others, but no matter what is happening, the Lord promises to deliver us out of them all (Psalm 34:19). God uses our circumstances to give us hearts of compassion (Ezekiel 36:26), to give us the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5) and to create Jesus’ image in us (Romans 8:29).

2000 years ago on Calvary’s cross, Jesus already won the war with Satan and death (Hosea 13:14; Ezekiel 37:13; Isaiah 26:19). Now, He makes us conquerors because He lives within us and is our hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). When we view our trials from God’s perspective He helps us to focus on His will for them. He reminds us that He is rich in mercy and loves us with an everlasting love (Ephesians 2:4; 1 John 3:1).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, no person and no amount of tribulation, stress, persecution, hunger, vulnerability, danger or life threatening concerns can separate us from Your love (Romans 8:38-39). We overcome all of these things because of Your presence within us. Even in death, you are with us and You send Your angels to escort us to abide with You forever (Luke 16:22).

Thought for the Day:

Since God is for us, nothing will ever separate us from God’s great love.

 

Spirit, Soul and Body

Read: Luke 16:19-31

Genesis 1:26 states, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."

God is a triune being...Father, Son and Spirit. He created us triune beings in His image. That triune image manifests itself in mankind in the spirit, soul and body. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Thessalonians 5:23

For the Christian, the life of Christ flows through us. It affects us physically because He brings us healing; it affects us spiritually, because if we ask Him to, He dwells within us and guarantees us eternal life (Romans 8:11); and it also affects our soul. People live a lifetime trying to find fulfillment in their soul ~ the mind, will and emotions. They cater to the flesh, buying every gadget known to man to make them happy, trying to amass wealth in the process. Yet, they are never happy and always want something more or different.

I know some people who are never happy in one place for very long, so they move often. Others want every new fad in clothes and accessories, phones, stereo equipment, cars, etc. Some people constantly change jobs, trying to find one they enjoy more than the previous one. Some even change mates whenever the current one is no longer exciting, solicitous or physically perfect. They seek pleasure rather than Godliness.

We often pray for the body to get well, and for God to fill our spirit; but do we ever pray for the soul? With the Spirit of God residing within us, He will fill our soul with all the fruit of His Spirit...love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, meekness, self-control and faith (Galatians 5:22). He will heal us from every negative emotion from the past, which we have hidden in our soul (Philippians 4:8). Our mind is renewed with the mind of Christ (Romans 12:2); our will is submitted to the will of God (Philippians 2:13); and our emotions are controlled by the spirit of God dwelling within us (James 1:19).

Therefore, when we are angry, we can sit quietly and ask God to fill our soul with gentleness, love and peace from our spirit. When we are anxious, we can ask God to fill us with patience, peace, and faith. When we feel self-sufficient, we can request that God fill our soul with meekness, goodness, and self-control. When we feel sad or depressed or hopeless, we can request an infilling of joy that will strengthen us (Nehemiah 8:10) and give us peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

More important than the soul, however, is the spirit. The spirit is dead within us at birth, until we ask Jesus Christ to be our Savior. We cannot truly live integrated, connective lives until we are born again. Then the Holy Spirit breathes the breath of life into our spirit. Genesis 2: 7 states, "And the LORD God formed man (body) of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (spirit); and man became a living soul." At death, the body ends up in the grave. However, the soul and spirit go on to our eternal destination (Luke 16:19-31). Where will you spend eternity?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help us to remember that the main point in life is that in order for You to fill our soul, we first need to be filled by Your Spirit. Our spirit must be born again by asking You to be our Savior and our Lord (2 Peter 3:18).

Thought for the Day:

The Spirit will lead you into all truth (John 16:13). He comforts us with His everlasting love (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).