Guest Writer: Meet my friend Shana Schutte. We are blessed to have her as our guest writer.
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – July 14, 2015
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32
In his book, When God Doesn’t Make Sense, James Dobson writes that when life hurts and we believe a “life should-always-be-free-from-pain” theology, someone has to take the blame—either us or God. We typically “stumble toward one of several conclusions: (1) God is dead, irrelevant, bored, or uninvolved in the affairs of man; (2) God is angry at me for some sin I’ve committed; (3) God is whimsical, untrustworthy, unfair, or sinister; or (4) God ignored me because I didn’t pray enough or display enough faith.” All these conclusions create a crisis of faith that makes us believe that God can’t be trusted and He’s not loving. What a painful place to be!
I once believed God had let me down. I thought if I prayed hard enough and had enough faith, He would give me the answers I wanted. Sadly, I bought into a subtle and deceptive doctrinal teaching which was my way of trying to be my own god, take the wheel from Christ, and make Him in my own image. Unfortunately, I was missing out on one of the most important aspects of relationship with God—He loves me with agape love.
John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
As you may know, the word “loved” in this verse is the verb agapao in the original Greek text; the noun for this love is the Greek word agape. Agape love is benevolent love that has the loved one’s best interest in mind.
One amazing thing about agape is that it’s not motivated by what the one loved – that’s you and me-thinks she needs but by what God knows she needs—that’s God. In a nutshell, God loves us according to what He knows is right for us, so when we pray “in Jesus’ name,” or when we think, “If I only believe enough, God will answer how I want.” God will still say no if He knows it will be best for us and in accordance with His agape love. Isn’t it wonderful that we have a God who loves us so much that He won’t be bossed around?
“For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5)
Prayer: Lord Jesus, please help me to remember that you revealed the depth of your love for me on the cross. The cross is proof you will not withhold any good thing from me.
Related Readings: 2 Corinthians 1:20; John 15:13; Jeremiah 29:11
Post/Tweet: God’s perfect love demands that He give you what you need; not just what you want. #TheBestKindofLove #wisdomhunters
If you’d like to read more from Shana, you’re invited to download her free e-book, 5 Great Relationship Truths That Will Change Your Life.
Additional Resource: 5 minute music video- Gaither’s: Love Lifted Me
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