Love Finally Seen

Love Finally Seen

Revelation 22: The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him. ⁴ They will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. ⁵ There shall be no more night, and they will not need lamps or sunlight, because the Lord God will be their light, and they will rule as kings forever and ever.

 

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When I found a leader I liked, I tried to imitate that person. I would speak, walk and use ism’s I heard from the person. I found men and women who had some great styles that I could borrow from. It was flattery to my ears when I would hear “You are acting just like him or her.”

 

• I wanted to imitate great people.
• I wanted to put what I learned from him or her, into action.
• I wanted to “be” just like those successful people.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, saw the throne of GOD and of the LAMB which is JESUS. He also saw everyone who ever served people for JESUS sake. They had JESUS’ name written on their forehead.

 

My Observations:

• I cannot see my forehead when looking at JESUS, BUT JESUS can see HIS love in me when HE looks at me.
• One day I will not need artificial light, or even sunlight because I will be in the presence of JESUS who is the LIGHT.
• Seeing JESUS face means I will be looking at pure love.

 

Human examples of love are desperately flawed. I mean, when one person acts in love another twists it into hate. One person’s protection is another person’s control. Soon, preferences prevail over pure love. BUT GOD has a remedy.

 

JESUS, being GOD, showed pure love by taking on the consequence of sin for you and me. HE became a human out of pure love. HE then allowed HIS own creation to murder HIM while not putting up a fight. HE was raised from the dead and was placed in authority of everything. I look forward to one day seeing HIS face.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer keep mentioning light?
• Have you ever observed abusive, manipulative or coercive behavior labeled as love?
• Have you surrendered your life to CHRIST so you can experience pure love today?

Live In

Live In

3 John 1: ¹ From the Elder—

To my dear Gaius, whom I truly love.

² My dear friend, I pray that everything may go well with you and that you may be in good health—as I know you are well in spirit. ³ I was so happy when some Christians arrived and told me how faithful you are to the truth—just as you always live in the truth. ⁴ Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children live in the truth.

 

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“You have to eat specific foods” said the personal trainer at the gym. I wanted to get into heavy weightlifting and found myself unable to get beyond where I was at. People surrounded me and had me start over with technique, food and rest advice.

 

• I knew what to do, but it was up to me to actually do something about it.
• I had to change my lifestyle to be part of this new world to me.
• I had to be presented with what to do so I could make the change.

 

John starts off his third letter with a greeting to Gaius. He had heard about the faith Gaius was showing. Gaius was living in “the truth.” John may have talked to him about CHRIST and heard word that Gaius was “living in the truth.”

 

My Observations:

• JESUS is the Way “the Truth” and the Life, in which I can receive eternal life.
• GOD wants me to love my neighbors versus complaining about them and HE wants me to love HIM more than anything I have.
• Living in CHRIST provides me with all the protection that I need.

 

Knowing versus doing is a quandary we all face. I mean, GOD placed right from wrong inside all of us by writing HIS law on every heart, yet we choose not to follow HIS ways. BUT HE made a way back to HIM through JESUS.

 

By accepting CHRIST as my personal Savior, I can follow HIS ways without questioning them or fighting them. HE provides the HOLY SPIRIT to live inside my heart and to guide me  HE provides boundaries for me to live in and I am freed from the pressures of the world and can simply “be.” I gladly abide in what GOD has for me.

 

Challenge

• Do you sense the love from the writer?
• Have you ever known what was right to do, yet you did not or could not bring yourself to do it?
• Will you seek JESUS by asking HIM, “How do YOU want me to live? And let the HOLY SPIRIT guide you to “live in” HIS ways today?

 

Living Inside

Living Inside

1 John 1: ⁵ Now the message that we have heard from his Son and announce is this: God is light, and there is no darkness at all in him. ⁶ If, then, we say that we have fellowship with him, yet at the same time live in the darkness, we are lying both in our words and in our actions. ⁷ But if we live in the light—just as he is in the light—then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from every sin.

 

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Wanting to live outside for a while, I grabbed a blanket from the house to fashion as my tent. I draped it over a clothesline and placed bricks on the edges. “That was easy!” I thought to myself. But then I got hungry and bored. I went back inside and grabbed food from the cabinet and took my favorite comic books outside. But then it threatened rain. I went inside.

 

• I thought I could live outside by using my wits.
• I thought I could live outside by my own effort.
• I thought that I thought of everything to live outside, but I was very mistaken.

 

John poetically describes GOD as light, as told by JESUS. He implies light as knowledge, love, holiness, purity and everything great about GOD. He also implies darkness as misinformed, full of lies, infused with hatred, prideful and everything evil brings. He gives the bad news that living in darkness while thinking we are living in light is a lie.

 

My Observations:

• GOD has revealed HIS SON JESUS who gave us one command to live by, namely love one another.
• GOD provides love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control to anyone who believes in the SON for salvation.
• GOD is the only one who can give our minds rest when all else is turbulent.

 

Living inside of GOD brings shelter from the storm. I mean, when the storms of life hit, GOD can grant me peace that doesn’t make sense. HE can also give me joy when others are looking for happiness and cannot find it. When I try to live outside of GOD I find myself in trouble.

 

“My” plans fail. “My” insecurities grow. “My” lies increase because I may pretend to live inside of GOD, but in fact may be living outside of HIM. Fortunately for me, GOD sees my heart because JESUS died to erase my sins. I am glad I can live inside of GOD because of JESUS.

 

Challenge

• How does the writer describe GOD?
• Have you ever thought you knew something and were far, far from the truth?
• Have you ever tried to get your own way, knowing that it may bring trouble?
• Will you consider following GOD’s way by believing you need JESUS to guide you, protect you and grow you inside of HIM so HE can have fellowship with you today?

Love is Exciting

Love is Exciting

1 Corinthians 13: ⁴ Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; ⁵ love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; ⁶ love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. ⁷ Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail.

 

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After reading this list, I realized that I had not shown love to my family and friends. It made me feel bad. But replacing “love” with “JESUS” the list becomes less of a burden on me and more excitement in my relationship with HIM.

 

• Expecting humans to show this type of love will bring on disappointment.
• Expecting humans to show unconditional love is false.
• Expecting humans to show pure love that has no sin in it, is impossible.

 

“All have sinned and fall short of GOD’s glory.” Paul said this and knows humans cannot produce the type of love needed to save humanity. BUT JESUS did. Paul writes about they type of love JESUS showed us. JESUS executed love flawlessly.

 

My Observations

• When GOD says to me “I love you”, HE means it.
• When GOD says to me “I will always be with you”, I can believe this to be true.
• When GOD says to me “I stand at the door and knock, if anyone opens the door I will come in and sup with you”, I can open my heart to HIM and know HE will fill it up with HIS love.

 

GOD never lies and is the only one who can show true love. But where does that leave humans? It leaves us with a hole in our hearts that can only be filled with GOD’s love. If I try to fill this hole with work or prestige or materials possessions or worldly lusts, the hole in my heart drains the actions onto the ground.

 

When I allow GOD to fill my heart, the HOLY SPIRIT guides me to an abundant life that the world may not understand. I am excited about the pure love JESUS has shown me and all who believe in HIM.

 

Challenge

• What do you observe when you compare this list to what JESUS did for you?
• How do you feel about this list when you look at other humans?
• How do you feel about this list when you look at JESUS?
• Will you rethink the source of love and allow GOD to place this source in your heart today?

Untwisted Love

Untwisted Love

1 Corinthians 13: I may be able to speak the languages of human beings and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell. ² I may have the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move mountains—but if I have no love, I am nothing. ³ I may give away everything I have, and even give up my body to be burned—but if I have no love, this does me no good.

 

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Reviewing another human’s actions and comparing them to this list, I can only come to the conclusion that all humans hate each other. Not one can do what is said in this list. But rereading the list, replacing the word “love” with “JESUS” and now, the list makes sense.

 

• My “love” will be misinterpreted.
• Someone else’s “love” can be misunderstood.
• Our “love” can be selfish, filled with sin, and, in reality, twisted and false.

 

Paul wrote an entire letter, trying to get this church to focus on spreading the good news about JESUS. Unfortunately, the selfish look at this list as a “what about me?” list.  Paul was trying to unify “the body” and provided the only solution. Rereading the list shows the need for JESUS and it stops there.

 

My Observation

• I may be able to do many things, but if I have no JESUS, the things I do are worthless.
• I may be able to acquire large sums of money but if I have no JESUS, the material possessions will hold me.
• I may be able to give up everything and be homeless, serving worthy causes, but if I have no JESUS, all my actions will be in vain.

 

JESUS is pure love because HE is GOD. Measuring someone else’s “love” would be problematic because there would always be a smidge of sin in it. Love cannot contain a smidge of sin, hurt or hate, so JESUS had to provide pure love to the world.

 

My “love” is tainted, but GOD has given me pure love that is not. I am glad I can point people to this pure love so anyone who accepts HIM will feel true love.

 

Challenge

• When you replace the word “love” in the passage above, what do you notice?
• What do you observe about the list of comparison items such as languages, preaching, understanding scripture, faith and sacrifice?
• Who did the Pharisees overlook and what actions did they pride themselves on?
• Will you rethink love and focus on JESUS versus the tainted love humans give?

Moods

Moods

John 15: ⁹ “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. ¹⁰ If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

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Walking into the stall, I saw the worse use of a toilet that I had to clean up. “I hate this job” I said to myself. When I was stuck in traffic, I sat behind the “slow” driver who left gaps. “I hate drivers like that” I groused. When I confirmed my suspicions of my sneaky boss looking at “my” ideas and stealing them, I set the person up for failure. “I hate bosses like that” I said to myself. I was in a bad mood in every instance.

• Looking back, I used the words “I hate” a lot.
• Looking back, I thought negatively a lot.
• Looking back, I had a lot to complain about.

JESUS implores HIS disciples to keep HIS commandments. A new commandment HE gave was for humans to “love one another”, not just tolerate them. HE said “If you keep MY commandments, you will abide in MY love.” All commandments were made off of one commandment, namely “Love one another.”

• JESUS wants me to decrease my negativity and increase my trust in HIM.
• JESUS wants me to look for opportunities to love those HE sends to me.
• JESUS wants me to see HIS examples of love and follow them.

Showing love actually guides my mood. I mean when I do what GOD says and show love to “those” people, the HOLY SPIRIT gets excited. No “thank you” is needed or expected because GOD has a special reward for me each time I serve someone silently.

GOD wants me to “go” and “serve” and “teach” and “baptize” and “pray” and “praise” and “show kindness” and “have patience” and “make peace” amongst a long list of things I could do right now. I am glad HE showed me examples of HIS love.

• Are you complaining a lot?
• What are you thankful for?
• Will you lift your spiritual eyes up and give thanks today?
• Will you show love to all those HE brings to your mind?