"What prepares us for God’s love?"
Lately this question has been one of many bible group reflections? Usually, it annoys my mind during times when life is not as prosperous as other times, or during talking the talk with others that think they have everything on earth but don’t know the knowledge of the reward. Which results in“What they have up in the heaven?”
“Forwe wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesian 6:12
To me this is when Satan uses his shrewdness, he waits until life is hard and when we are more vulnerable (though he has plenty of missiles for our good times as well). He suggests to you that God does not love you, he suddenly sounds compelling. Why do we get tangled up in his web and not use our wits and Faith when suffering comes our way? One reason we ask this question of “God’s love” again and again is because it is spiritual, which makes it difficult to see.“we must acknowledge our need to see by faith” 2 Corinthians 5:7
This is why we need to listen to our heart and the Holy Spirit as well as the aid of other people in Christ who can join you in prayer during these times of Spiritual battles; encouraging us with their presence and truth of the word. But there may be another question to ask, one which Jesus posed to the apostle Peter. “Do you love me?” John 21:15-17. Our answer will not change his love (2 Timothy 2:13), but it might suggest that the problem lies within us, rather than in God?So, at the very least our thinking will be directed by prayers and lead to vastness for the love of God and for us to love him in return.
As the discord of this question continues, “What prepares us for God’s love?” does it become the Big Lie for us because we daily, personally and individually hear it so much in our doubtful mind or are we surrounded by the conditional love of finite humanity and we cannot easily comprehend that God would love us? We know our faults. We know that God is perfect and sinless (Do you every doubt this thought?). We know that we are not. Why would God, who is infinite and holy, love us, who are finite and sinful? And yet the great truth of the gospel is that He does! Time and again, Scripture reminds us of God’s love for us. But because it is unseen because we are not in a daily relationship with God by his word, we tend to follow the quote, “Show me the Money” the reward, so I can believe it. But the reward the Lord gives is the inheritance, the all-satisfying joy of knowing him forever. So, to work heartily for the Lord means to work heartily for the reward of joy in the Lord.
It’s like when I was a football coach when I pulled the team together and said, “Let’s do this for the win!” What I meant is, let’s do this for the reward of winning.
The Christian need never fear punishment but can look forward to crowns of reward that he can cast at the feet of the Savior those rewards on the basis of what we have done, we can safely say that there will be a time of reward for believers and that the rewards will differ somewhat from person to person. “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done” (Revelation 22:12). Since Jesus will be distributing
Perhaps the greatest picture of God’s love is Jesus’ passion and crucifixion. Paul reminds us, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8). Jesus’ work on the cross was a clear, unmistakable declaration of love. And this love is unconditional.
Remember, Paul was formerly an enemy of Christ. He vehemently persecuted Christians. He lived by the letter of the law rather than through an understanding of God’s love. Paul, if he even thought of God’s love, probably felt that God could not love him apart from rule-following. Yet, in Christ, he found God’s grace and accepted God’s love. One of his greatest articulations of God’s love is this: “If God is for us, who can be against us? neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:31-32, 35-39).
Look to Scriptures with Passion, question and for more about God’s love for you setting aside a daily time every day. Here is a start:
1 John 4:8 – “ … God is love”
Ephesians 5:1-2 – “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Ephesians 5:25-27 – “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”
John 15:9-11 – “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
1 John 3:16a – “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.”
So, the simple answer is, “Yes-Yes”, Are you Listening, God loves you! As hard as it may be to believe or see, it is the truth. Finally Think of what God has called you to do or better yet marinate on the following questions daily, “What is your Purpose? Who are You? And Whom do you Belong To”?
God Bless You and This Ministry!
No comments:
Post a Comment