All tagged love

Of Kittens, Entitlement, and Life within Us

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Loving God

If we live according to the commandments, are we owed righteousness and everlasting life? How can we be so bold as to feel this way after Jesus walked into the vile pit of worldly sin and human debasement, suffered for us there, took on our sin, died, and was raised again... all for us in our undeserving and fallen state. He loved us first; he chose us in love before the creation of the world and knew us while we were yet in our mother’s womb. So, how is it then that by simply being moral or working at following God’s commandments that we feel entitled to redemption and eternity?

Marriage - Flaming Desire, or Ash?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Becoming One

Two individuals enter a wedding ceremony, but upon the marriage’s consummation only one flesh emerges to form a life together. This is a beautiful mystery, and over the years it is fraught with hardships and challenges. Are we ready for the flame that purifies a marriage? Are we prepared to endure the fire and become one ash in the palm of God? Are we determined to live out the years together?

How Do I Love Thee, Let Me Count the Ways.

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Our Loving God

Do we follow Jesus for the reward of eternal life? Do we serve Him for the blessings He bestows on us? Is our fear of God because we might be judged and thrown into a pit of fire? If our answer to any of these questions is yes, then our faith might just be an illusion, and our love for Him far less than He deserves. This morning, I am reading Psalm 84. This is a declaration of love, and the language is incredible. There is no doubt of the psalmist's intense love for God as he begins by writing about his longing to be in the Lord’s presence…

Leaving Ourselves on the Cross

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Gauging Our Faith

When I came to Jesus it was in full submission to Him, but have I served Him over all else in my life? Have I been the servant that God expects me to be, or has my commitment to Him become a convenience on my part? These are my thoughts this morning and as I seek the answers to them, I find that they often serve to convict me. I gauge my faith and belief against that of Jesus and find myself lacking. It is in moments like this that I cry out for mercy, grace, and to be covered in the blood of the perfect lamb, Jesus Christ. Will you join me in this quest for true faith, and a plea for mercy?

Loving, Walking, Feeding… A Question of Love

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Loving and Obeying

This morning let’s ask ourselves the same question that the resurrected Jesus asked Peter repeatedly... “Do I love Jesus?” And, as we hear those words ringing in our ears, let’s think about what love truly is. Then, knowing love, let’s measure the depths of our ability to love and ask yet again, “Do I love Jesus?” Finally, as we continue our exploration into what Jesus truly wants from us let’s ask for a third time... “Do I love Jesus?” Do we know the answer? Are we worshiping, obeying, and following what Jesus expects of us out of love? Is our love the same one that He asked Peter if he had?

God, Honor, and Parenthood

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Honor Parents

Do you place a bit of your will and self before God when He asks something of you? Do you use such language as "I will but", or "just let me do this first", or perhaps you try to negotiate with Him by saying "what about this?" Do you place your own conditions on following God's will for you? Maybe it's time to just respond as you should have from the start by saying… "here am I."

One Church, and One Family

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Uniting the Church

In my devotional message yesterday, we discussed being one with Jesus and the fact that this promise is for today and not some future time. We talked about knowing God's will for us and submitting ourselves to Christ. So, to begin our study today let's dig a little deeper and ask ourselves why God would offer all of His children such a precious gift. Today we will discuss this even further, but the simple answer to why God would extend to us the same relationship He knows with Jesus, who was without sin, can be summed up in one sentence, and it’s all about God’s love and our accepting a single belief...

What am I in Life and Faith Without Love?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Life Without Love

Do we know what love is, and do we understand the depth to which it should be experienced and applied to those around us? This is our contemplation today, and let’s ask ourselves if we are truly showing others the love of God and Jesus Christ as it is described in scripture and shown to us through Jesus Christ. But before we can know if we are showing it, or fully giving it, we must first know what love looks like so that we can recognize it in our lives. Scripture helps us to recognize it by describing its attributes…

The Spontaneous Love of God

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Love and God

Love is many things, but more than just these things it is spontaneous.  We don't set out to love someone, it just happens, and if that spontaneity isn't present then it isn't love. How do we feel towards and approach God? Is it always in love, or out of need? Paul tells us in First Corinthians about the attributes of love. As he expounds on love he isn't telling us so much about how to love but is describing to us what love is... if you feel these things and see these things, then you are in love. But, if they must be developed or contrived, then you are experiencing something else which has no strong anchorage against the storms of life... nor safe harbor for our loving faith.

Are we Strong Enough to Submit?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Submitting to God

We live in a culture that honors self-assuredness and strength in pursuit of fame and fortune over all else, but God, on the other hand, places meekness and humility above pride and strength. When it comes to real strength, He is looking for how it relates to our faith and spiritual character alone. If we want to have what is really valuable in life, and to live our lives abundantly, then we need to hand ourselves over to God. This is a humbling thing, but not a weak one. To yield ourselves totally to the Lord requires great strength of character and faith. It requires us to trust in Him completely and without question… it redefines meekness as men are inclined to think of it.

Are We Lost in a Case of the “I Wants”

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Worldly Wants

Do we want to be great men and women of faith? Is our goal to be like Mother Teresa, Billy Graham, or Martin Luther King? Is working quietly in the trenches of faith unappealing to us? Did the first sentence of your prayer this morning contain "give me", "make me", or "let me?" Well, God sees no need for you to be great in the world unless it just so happens that by so doing it meets a necessity of His will. As a matter of fact, some of the biggest disappointments in the Bible have been great people (like Nebuchadnezzar and Delilah) but men like David became great despite themselves because God needed them for that purpose or as an example. Often (also like David) they were great without having sought greatness.

Rushing to Meet Jesus

Richard Forbes
Christian , God’s Abundance , Daily Devotional, Reckless Love

When was the last time that you instantly dropped everything you were doing and rushed to see something, or someone without consideration for what you were leaving behind? Have you ever abandoned everything you owned to pursue a dream, or to experience hope in something? How about your faith? After the resurrection of Jesus, He appeared to Peter and several others while they were fishing. He yelled out to them to cast their net on the right side of the boat and when they did this their nets were filled with fish. They really didn't know it was Jesus who had instructed them, but when the one He loved said it was Him, Peter immediately dressed, threw himself into the sea, and swam to meet him.

Load More