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.

 

============

 

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?

Overcoming Fear

Overcoming Fear

1 John 4: God is love, and those who live in love live in union with God and God lives in union with them. ¹⁷ Love is made perfect in us in order that we may have courage on the Judgment Day; and we will have it because our life in this world is the same as Christ's. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear. So then, love has not been made perfect in anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do with punishment.

 

============

 

Going out to play, I did not notice the door was broken, causing it to slam. “Stop slamming the door please” was the statement given to me that was easy to do. But when I was older and wanted to “sneak” back into the house after being out all night, I carefully placed the key in the door and gently opened it so it would not make any noise. I was met with “Who do you think you are?’

 

• I did not notice the door when I was doing something that was harmless.
• I did not even think about the door when I was enjoying myself the way I was expected to.
• I feared getting caught doing something I was not supposed to be doing, so I feared making noise with the door.

 

John attempted to address the fear of consequence. He started off by explaining that GOD is love. This is an important statement, because many may have focused on GOD dishing out wrath. He explained that by living a life that contains love, courage can increase and fear decrease.

 

My Observations:

• Satan wants me to live in fear, so he uses temptations that go directly against GOD to keep me wounded.
• GOD gave me HIS SON as a remedy to my sin, and by believing that I need salvation from GOD’s wrath, I can be saved from it.
• I no longer have to worry about GOD’s wrath, especially when I follow the leading of the HOLY SPIRIT.

 

Motivated by love reduces my fear. I mean, when I am motivated by something that GOD will object to, I get filled with fear. I try to handle things on my own or side with people who are fumbling through life, just like me. When things still don’t appear to be going well, my fear increases. BUT GOD has a remedy to this fear.

 

Focusing on what the HOLY SPIRIT wants me to do and say, makes me change my words and even change my motive. I may not want to do something, but I will do it, if it pleases GOD. I also may want to do something that GOD does not want me to do. So by listening to the HOLY SPIRIT, I may sigh, and leave whatever that thing is alone. I am glad GOD cares about my fears and replaces them with HIS love.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer explain that “GOD is love?”
• Have you ever thought that GOD is out to get you because of a known or unknown sin?
• Will you find the root of your fears and see if you are missing a solid relationship with GOD?
• Will you also consider overcoming any fear you may have by placing GOD’s love into your solution today?

Multiple Lives

Multiple Lives

Colossians 3: ¹⁴ And to all these qualities add love, which binds all things together in perfect unity.

 

============

 

“You have to be tough” is what people told me at work. This was the advice to be “successful.”  “You have to be smooth” is what my “friends” said as we entered bars and clubs. This was advice to get a “hook up.” “”You have to be friendly” or “You have to be punctual” were other words of advice that I tried to be.

 

• It was exhausting trying to be what everyone else expected me to be.
• It was hard trying to separate acting one way with one group and another way with the other.
• I was living multiple lives and at times they conflicted.

 

Paul addressed the conflict that resides in everyone. One part is sinful and the other is of GOD. People may have struggled with the “war within us” and did not know how to keep it together. One part of life would be solid while the other unraveled.  What was the solution?

 

My Observations

• Love is an eye-opening approach that GOD gave me to help me make better decisions.
• Adding love to my multiple lives reduces them into one life.
• GOD is love and wants me to use HIS way in all situations.

 

When my life is falling to pieces, love can keep it together. I mean, I can always depend on GOD loving me when the world does not. GOD’s love is unstoppable and it overcomes every situation I can face.

 

HE wants me to consider love as the glue that holds everything together. Instead of approaching situations with the way the world expects, GOD wants HIS love to be shown. If I “win” everyone else must “win” and the only way to do this is to show HIS love. I am glad HE loved me first.

 

Challenge

• What is the “perfect unity” the writer speaks about?
• Do you feel you are living multiple lives?
• Will you give all your actions, thoughts and concerns to GOD who is love and will provide love to you today?

Controlled Life

Controlled Life

Ephesians 5: Since you are God's dear children, you must try to be like him. ² Your life must be controlled by love, just as Christ loved us and gave his life for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice that pleases God.

 

============

 

Finally deciding to graduate, I focused on studying. I disappeared from having “fun” and focused on what I was supposed to do. It worked! I applied this focus on pursuing lustful items such as power, sex, and money. Each took time and controlled my life in its pursuit.

 

• I could not stop until I got what I wanted.
• I lost sleep over fruitless pursuits.
• I was controlled by the pleasures of life rather than something more solid.

 

Being adopted into a family means acting like the family. This overall behavior was the plea of Paul to everyone who believed in GOD. Since we cannot be GOD we can try to be like HIM on some level. The one way to be like GOD is to love like HIM.

 

My Observations

• GOD’s definition of “love” is far greater than anything I can imagine.
• JESUS provided me with the ultimate example of “love.”
• “Love” is an eternal pursuit that GOD wants for me.

 

Getting my way is not love. I mean, GOD says no to many of my requests, especially when they are harmful to others or myself. When I don’t get “my” way, I pout and question GOD’s “love.” HE forgives my childish tantrums and opens my eyes to the sacrifice JESUS made.

 

Humans were created out of love, for love by love. GOD is pure love and cannot be tainted. JESUS controlled HIS life out of love. HE never wavered from HIS purpose. I am glad JESUS forgives me daily and I ask for the tiniest bit of HIS love to control my life.

 

Challenge

• How does the writer appeal to everyone?
• Have you ever had something control your life like work or an addiction or loneliness?
• Will you let go of the things that easily control you and allow GOD to fill empty spaces in your heart with overflowing love for yourself and others 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.

 

============

 

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.

 

============

 

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?

Okay, do your thing

 

Okay, do your thing

Romans 1: ²⁶ Because they do this, God has given them over to shameful passions. Even the women pervert the natural use of their sex by unnatural acts. ²⁷ In the same way the men give up natural sexual relations with women and burn with passion for each other. Men do shameful things with each other, and as a result they bring upon themselves the punishment they deserve for their wrongdoing.

 

============

 

Thinking of another response I argued my point. The person, who was simply trying to give me advice said, “Okay, do your thing.” I kept on my path and ran into the problems he was trying to warn me about.

 

• There were times when I did not listen.
• There were times when I did what I wanted to do.
• There were times when I followed my heart, but inside was something bad.

 

Paul explains there would be some people who explain away GOD so they can do what they want to do. By doing this, some people would accept a path that was not defined by GOD. Some women would choose unnatural sex acts and men would choose men for sex.

 

• GOD wants me to ask “What do YOU want?”
• GOD wants me to follow HIS way, especially when I don’t want to.
• GOD wants me to understand that HE is the creator and knows the best way.

 

“Okay, do your thing” is a difficult sentence from GOD. I mean, HE has so much grace that HE allows me to sin as much as I want. The problem is, I can become so accustomed to the sin that I question HIS laws and HIS existence, simply because I do not like the rule. BUT GOD still has compassion.

 

HE allows anyone who believes in JESUS to be saved, no matter how deep in sin the person is. HE looks at any sin as the same. Lies, racism and sex outside of HIS definition are equally abysmal to HIM. That’s why HE chose to die for me instead of punishing me. Anyone who believes in JESUS surrenders sin little by little. I am glad HE gives me chance after chance.

 

• Are you arguing the existence of GOD because you do not like HIS rule?
• Do you push HIS love away to do sex your way?
• Will you believe in the truth, which is JESUS, and allow HIM to guide you to a life filled with purpose and abundance today?

Motivated

Motivated

Acts 2: ³⁴ “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
³⁵ Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

³⁶ “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

³⁸ Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

============

“Thank you” were the words I said at lunch. For years I had no idea this person was watching over me. They cleared up misconceptions. Stuck their neck out just for me. This gave me great motivation to serve the living GOD whom they served.

• Many times I have heard things that motivated me to do something.
• Many times I have listened to someone speak with passion and was motivated to act.
• Many times I have been responsive to someone’s acts of love towards me.

After Peter’s passionate plea, the crowd was “cut to the heart” at their actions. They may not have physically killed JESUS, but they may have been in agreement that HE should die. When they heard HE was alive, they were motivated to ask “What should we do?”

• GOD wants me to apologize for my sins.
• GOD wants me to outwardly show those around me that I belong to JESUS by getting baptized.
• GOD wants me to receive the HOLY SPIRIT as a gift I do not deserve.

“Sit at MY right hand” means let “ME” do all the work. JESUS has the power and authority to face any demonic situation that may arise. Though the situation may hurt, HE still is in control. HE wants me to surrender my life to HIM so HE can guide those HE chooses back to HIM. I owe my life to JESUS.

• What motivates you?
• Do you secretly want the spotlight without the consequence of desiring it?
• Will you add surrender to your life so JESUS can reach your heart today?

More to Life

More to Life

John 15: ¹⁶ You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. ¹⁷ These things I command you, that you love one another.

============

After working twelve hours that day, I took a break for dinner. I had a lot to do so I stayed overnight. I kept working until everyone arrived again the next day. I worked all that day as well. We did not land the account.

• There were times when I felt like saying “What is the purpose of life?”
• There were times when I was too busy to do anything else but work.
• There were times when I worked until I was exhausted so I rested, only to do it again.

JESUS explains to the disciples that they were chosen for a purpose. HE wants those who follow HIM to bear fruit. This fruit is not temporary, but permanent. JESUS equipped them before they went.

• JESUS equips me with the purpose of seeking those HE wants to save.
• JESUS equips me with the ability to ask the FATHER to clear any barrier that impedes bearing HIS fruit.
• JESUS equips me with love for one another as the primary weapon for bearing fruit.

There is more to life than getting stuff or fighting over getting more money to get stuff. JESUS says “Bear fruit” and that is it. Bearing fruit doesn’t have to be hard, it simply has to be done. Some places have complicated the message, guilting people into false fruit. BUT JESUS wants true fruit that lasts.

JESUS wants me to love those HE sends to me or sends me to. This will make tangible fruit that is unseen to the world but is permanent to GOD. It is not out of obligation that I bear fruit, it is because HE chose me and loved me first.

• Are you exhausted?
• Do you think bearing fruit requires hard work in some program or giving every last dime that you are worried about?
• Will you take GOD’s easy yoke and allow HIM to guide you to true and permanent fruit that only you can bear?

Internal Drive

Internal Drive

John 13: Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

² And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, ³ Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, ⁴ rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. ⁵ After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

============

As anger bubbled over, I was determined to make this person pay. I went and found a very large “friend” and confronted the person who called me the name. I was ready to have a fight because something inside of me was furious. It was eight of them and two of us.

• Many times I was driven to react with anger.
• Many times I was driven to react with hatred.
• Many times I was driven to react with a response that most people would say I was justified in doing so.

JESUS knew it was time to be murdered by HIS own creation. HE also knew that one of HIS closest disciples would betray HIM to the jealous church leaders. BUT JESUS acted in a strange way that HE had never done before. HE washed their grimy, dung laced feet.

• JESUS shows me just how much HE loves me by forgiving me.
• JESUS shows me HE cares for me daily.
• JESUS shows me HE wants the best for me by giving me the HOLY SPIRIT.

“HE loved them to the end” are words that I cannot understand. I mean HE never sinned and only wanted the best for HIS creation, yet we accused HIM of trying to get over on us. We slandered HIM and made HIM out to be a criminal. BUT HE loved us to the end. I am grateful JESUS was and is driven by love. I want to do the same.

• What are you driven by?
• Do you easily fall into sins of hatred, lust, envy, pride, or something else?
• Will you allow JESUS to transform you first before HE sends you out to help transform others to love HIM?