Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- May 24, 2011
“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
Almighty God loves with an incredible love. His love has no boundaries or bias. The love of Jesus is limitless to the extent to which He will give us His grace. His love goes behind the enemy’s lines of deceit and rescues those lost in their loveless state of mind. Christ’s love looks for the unloved and offers comfort, care, compassion and forgiveness.
The love of God is not without benefits. Those cloaked in the love of Christ will have great boldness on the Day of Judgment—indeed, His great love covers all sin for those who have appropriated His salvation. Moreover, fear is cast out of the peace-loving presence of the Lord’s love. Fear and love cannot coexist where the love of Jesus fills humble hearts.
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18a).
So, do you rest in the love of the Lord or strive under the unnecessary pressure of having to prove you deserve to be loved? Daily doses of eternal love are a remedy to earthly love’s limited effectiveness. No one—no matter their sincerity—can replace the need for the love of Jesus to fill your soul. Receive first God’s love and let other’s love be a bonus.
Why does the Almighty love you with such abandonment? One reason is so that you can be a catalyst for Christ’s love. You have the inconceivable opportunity to love others on behalf of the Lord. While a friend or family member may writhe in physical agony or emotional pain, you are an extension of God’s eternal love on earth, because you are extremely loved by God. You have His extra love to administer to other’s loneliness and to their frantic fears.
“But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth” (2 Thessalonians 3:13).
Love is not received to be stored up in your soul like a savings account, rather to be paid forward to neighbors, work associates and enemies. Love is quick to forgive and slow to criticize. It looks for ways to bless those whose last blessing is long gone. Love grows a relationship into a beautiful garden of green plants, deep-rooted trees and the tantalizing smell of luscious flowers. Love does not sit still, but searches out souls in need of its care.
Therefore, take time to regularly receive the love of Jesus into your life. Commune with Christ, the lover of your soul, and you will experience His peace and security. Your rested spirit is positioned to be a robust lover for another hungry heart. Enter into God’s eternal love, so you can deploy it on earth. The Lord loves on you, so you can love on others.
“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:16b).
Today, have I experienced my heavenly Father’s love? Today, whom can I love on?
Related Readings: John 14:23; 15:9-13; Romans 12:10; Galatians 5:13
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Thank you for this message. My husband read it to me when I was almost ready to quit trying! We are losing our home, my husband had to go on disability, and we are moving. It has been my desire to become a public speaker and my husbands to be a minister but it seems as if my dreams have been dashed so often. This encouraged me!!
God Bless
Malinda