All tagged God’s Love
There is nothing more certain in our lives than the love of God for us in Christ Jesus. Even in our earthly death we remain with Him, and His love remains with us. Though we mourn, and suffer the death of our loved ones, God does not, because they remain in Him, and He in them through His Son Jesus, and the unfathomable depth of His Love for us. Isn’t it wonderful to consider the perfection of Christ, and the love of God? Doesn’t this sooth, and bring comfort to our mourning?
Are we ready to live, and defend, our faith with zeal? If a group who calls themselves believers wants to come into our place of worship, set up a table, and use it for what we know to be a sinful activity, would we stand idly by as they did so? Jesus was a man who had a zeal for God and His house, and when He turned over the tables of the money changers in the Temple, His disciples witnessed this. But, where do we worship today, and where are the tables that should be offending us being set up?
When we pray do we exert all of our effort, and dedicate every word, to asking for things we need, and for our desires to be met? If that is the case then we are missing the true treasure that resides within prayer. By praying in this way we are missing the full depth of relationship, such as Adam experienced during his walks with God in the Garden. When we love God, and are in relationship with Him, we should be discussing our lives, and asking questions about our heritage In Him, because He is our loving Father, and about His mysteries, because we are His adoring children who seek His wisdom.
We look around us in life and it seems that there are those who always have it easy as compared to us. These people have money, power, prestige, all the nice things in life, and even in church they give the most, and often have the greatest say as a result. Life just seems to flow smoothly for this elite few, while most of us are struggling along, calling out to Jesus at every turn. Jesus spoke about what should really matter to us as we travel through our lives... our salvation, relationship with God, and entering the kingdom of heaven. He said that the wealthy, and privileged can become entrenched in what the world provides, whereas those who are poor, downtrodden, or struggling, cling to God for their survival, and look towards heaven for their ultimate joy, and relief.
We may serve the Lord, pray eloquent prayers, give to the poor, and do all of those other commandments and mercies that God’s Word speaks of, but does that make us righteous? Does that make us Holy? At the end of the day are we any closer to our Heavenly Father? The question in doing any of these things should be this: “Am I doing this thing lovingly, and because I love the Lord?”, and if we stutter in our response, or can’t honestly say “Yes!”, then it is time to stop doing them and look closer at our faith, our heart, and our relationship with God.
Is there anything of yourself that out of love you have given to, or for, another? Is there anything you consider so valuable, or so dear to you, that you wouldn’t consider parting with? We often think that the most precious possession we have is our life, but is that true? Jesus gave up His life for us, and for the love He felt for God. He valued these two so completely that His life was considered less, and thus, at His Father’s request, He gave it in horrific fashion to redeem mankind... even for those who would wound Him. He loved, and He loved something He considered more precious than His own life.
Is there a place for Jesus in our heart? Have we called a feast today, killed the fatted Lamb, and made our own bed available to the Dove of Peace, or have we assigned Him a spiritual stable within our own soul’s Bed and Breakfast? Is Jesus the Lord of our heart, and life, or have we marginalized Him, and only call out to Him when it is convenient for us to do so... like at Christmas? Are we the innkeeper that found no room for Mary and Joseph, or would we yield the master bedroom to them... to the Christ Child?
Are you afraid of disappointing Jesus? At the end of the day, as you prepare to pray, do you find yourself asking if you have done, said, or acted in any way that would disappoint our Heavenly Father? Perhaps you have become so confident in your righteousness that this thought doesn’t cross your mind... but it should.
Are we occasional Christians? Are we occasional in our worship of God? Do we straddle the flaming rift between heaven and earth not knowing which foot to pull up, and which way to lean? Well our God is not a sometimes God, He desires our all, gives us His all, and as the chasm between heaven and earth continues to widen we will reach a point in which we will fall into the pit unless a choice is made. Which will we choose, or will the choice be made for us?
We are the children of God, and what a wonderful realization that is. Being God’s children is being loved by the very heart, and the origination of all love... and this understanding is amazing beyond description. We might stand in awe of God’s power, but His love is His true strength, and our greatest joy.