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?

Precision

Precision

Revelation 21: ¹⁵ The angel who spoke to me had a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. ¹⁶ The city was perfectly square, as wide as it was long. The angel measured the city with his measuring stick: it was fifteen hundred miles long and was as wide and as high as it was long. ¹⁷ The angel also measured the wall, and it was 216 feet high, according to the standard unit of measure which he was using.

 

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Building a clubhouse, we scavenged scrap nails and wood for the project. We grabbed hammers and handsaws from the garage, and began building our tower. With no measurements, we created a two story clubhouse that was about five feet tall!

 

• Our monstrosity had a window and a door.
• Only two people could fit inside at a time.
• Nails protruded out so we were easily wounded or our clothes were torn.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, saw the angel who measured the great city. The angel had a measuring stick forged with gold to probable keep its precision. The city was nothing like any human could ever conceive. It was long and wide and tall. The precision of the immense city was impeccable.

 

My Observations:

• GOD is very precise.
• GOD is not as random as we want HIM to be.
• GOD has our lives planned out to the second and knows every hair on our head.

 

We see random events, GOD sees a component to HIS plan. I mean, we may see a hole in a bag of coins. BUT GOD saw a story that a coin would fall in the water, be eaten by a fish and would be used by JESUS to tell a follower to catch a fish and get the coin out to illustrate HIS teaching.

 

GOD is not random. HE is very precise. HE knows the day and the hour of CHRIST’s return. HE numbers hairs, meaning HE cares about the tiniest detail. When HE provides a measurement, it is to demonstrate HIS power. I am glad GOD is precise!

 

Challenge

• Can you fathom the measurements presented by the writer?
• Have you ever seen a large city?
• Can you take a moment to ponder the great new city GOD will provide for those who believe in JESUS today?

Live In

 

Live In

2 John 1: ⁴ How happy I was to find that some of your children live in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. ⁵ And so I ask you, dear Lady: let us all love one another. This is no new command I am writing you; it is the command which we have had from the beginning. ⁶ This love I speak of means that we must live in obedience to God's commands. The command, as you have all heard from the beginning, is that you must all live in love.

 

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“Once you join the group, you have to follow the rules” a group leader said. I wanted to be part of the prestigious group so I did everything the group said. Once inside I became an ambassador for the group, taunting people to join and to be like “us.”

 

• I was totally invested in the group.
• I believed in the group so much, that I talked about the group’s decisions all the time.
• I even thought the group was the answer to some problems people were having in life.

 

John expressed the excitement of seeing “some” people living in the truth of GOD. He could see their lives were different than others because they took GOD’s words to heart and were loving one another. They were no longer living outside of GOD’s love.

 

My Observations:

• I may try to leave GOD, BUT HE will never leave me.
• GOD loves when I live in HIS truth and obey what HE says in HIS word, which is the Bible.
• Obedience to GOD requires that I surrender my life to HIM which gives me more freedom than I thought.

 

At one time I thought GOD was a restrainer who couldn’t wait to punish me. I mean, isn’t the Bible a list of rules that hypocrites use to control people? No! GOD revealed HIS love and spoke to many writers to reveal HIS SON, JESUS as the Savior from blindness of HIM.

 

Sin caused all humans to be blind to GOD’s love and we needed help. JESUS took our punishment and sent the HOLY SPIRIT to open the wyes of believers. This causes you and me to be able to “live in” the truth, obedience and love. I am glad GOD made a way.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer used the words “some of your children?”
• Have you ever wanted to be part of an organization, so you learned the rules and stuck to them?
• Will you take whatever battles you are creating and surrender them to GOD so you can live in HIS truth, by obeying HIS commands so you can live in HIS love today?

Broken Repaired

Broken Repaired

1 John 4: ¹⁹ We love because God first loved us. ²⁰ If we say we love God, but hate others, we are liars. For we cannot love God, whom we have not seen, if we do not love others, whom we have seen. ²¹ The command that Christ has given us is this: whoever loves God must love others also.

 

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Sitting on the couch of my apartment, it hit me that my life was not going so well. With creditors calling, and my car totaled, I wanted to hear a friendly set of words but they were not available.

 

“Why don’t you go to church with us?” someone asked. I went and heard words of love I hadn’t heard in a while. I felt great. Years of success later, a guy would come by my desk to steal ideas. “I hate that guy” I said to myself.

 

• I had forgotten what GOD did for me when I was broken.
• In my lowest moments, I needed GOD and HE was faithful to me.
• I was not faithful to GOD because I harbored hatred in my heart.

 

John addressed hatred. He knew the believers in CHRIST were persecuted by the very group that was supposed to be following GOD. He reminded everyone, that while we were still sinners CHRIST died for us. He then explained that you cannot love GOD and hate people.

 

My Observations:

• GOD is love and expects me to act like HIM.
• GOD loved me first and wants me to do the same.
• GOD wants me to love those who are spiritually blind, selfish, and mean.

 

Without GOD, love cannot exist. I mean, GOD is the one who defined what love is and HE created us in HIS image to love one another. Unfortunately sin entered the world and is a part of us. Humans conjure up a new definition of love, that could include selfish desires that are not aligned to GOD’s.

 

JESUS gave us the example to follow. HE, being GOD, did not think being a servant to those who hated HIM was a problem. Even before HIS death, he healed a guards ear, who came to arrest HIM. JESUS commands something that is a choice. “love those who hate you.” I am glad GOD loved me first, so I choose to follow HIS example, HIS way.

 

Challenge

• What lie does the writer point out?
• Has GOD ever brought you out of something?
• Will you consider examining your heart to see if you harbor any hatred towards someone and ask GOD to cleanse you of this and replace it with HIS love for others today?

This is What Love Is

 

This is What Love Is

1 John 4: ⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Whoever loves is a child of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. ⁹ And God showed his love for us by sending his only Son into the world, so that we might have life through him. ¹⁰ This is what love is: it is not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the means by which our sins are forgiven.

 

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Receiving a note with “Yes” or “No” boxes drawn on it and the words “Do you like me?” made my heart leap! I was in “love” and I didn’t know it until I got the note. Later in life, we were ogling over body shapes. I was in “love” with the body shape that was talked about most.

 

• My definition of love was skewed.
• My thought of what love is was defined by my own lusts.
• My description of love came from a human perspective which was very wrong.

 

John goes back to the greatest commandment given by JESUS, namely “love one another.” He didn’t leave it up to interpretation for those who were looking for selfish vaunts, rather he defined what true love is.

 

My Observations:

• GOD gave up something extremely precious just to have a relationship with me.
• GOD is made up of love so HIS definition is pure.
• GOD’s example of love can only be mimicked by humans in a tiny way.

 

Sin taints my definition of love. I mean, whatever I view as “love” may be mixed in with the world’s definition and it could contain selfishness, envy, jealousy and pride. When “I” am not getting the things “I” feel “I” should get, then perhaps “I” am not being loved. GOD says, this is not HIS definition.

 

JESUS volunteered to become a human, die for the sins of humanity and be raised from the dead. HE and HE alone can forgive sins that would otherwise, cause eternal death, suffering and pain. GOD loved us first, so much so, that HE gave up HIS one and only SON for us. I am so glad GOD loves me with pure love.

 

Challenge:

• What do you think the writer spells put “What love is?”
• Do you have a definition of love in your mind that causes someone to fail?
• Will you look at GOD’s definition of love and rethink yours so you can spread HIS love to everyone HE sends you to today?

 

Prayer

Dear LORD HEAVENLY FATHER, thank YOU for showing us love when we were selfishly using our own definition. Dear JESUS, thank YOU for dying for our sins. We celebrate YOUR resurrection!  amen

Different Thinking

 

Different Thinking

Hebrews 7: ¹¹ It was on the basis of the levitical priesthood that the Law was given to the people of Israel. Now, if the work of the levitical priests had been perfect, there would have been no need for a different kind of priest to appear, one who is in the priestly order of Melchizedek,^[a] not of Aaron. ¹² For when the priesthood is changed, there also has to be a change in the law. ¹³ And our Lord, of whom these things are said, belonged to a different tribe, and no member of his tribe ever served as a priest. ¹⁴ It is well known that he was born a member of the tribe of Judah; and Moses did not mention this tribe when he spoke of priests.

 

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“Why go to church?” was my question. I finally got tired of the same messages of “being good” or “giving money.” There had to be more to life that what was being said. I stopped going and started “having fun.” My “fun” became more of a problem than I thought.

 

• I did not have a place to put my hope.
• I did not fill the hole that was in my heart.
• I had to rethink “church” versus my relationship with GOD.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, may have tried to address a way of thinking that could have been detrimental to many. People may have relied on a human priest to cleanse them of their sins through confession and sacrifice. He explained, there is a “different kind of priest”, one who did not belong to the tribe of priests, who would be the one to follow.

 

My Observations:

• Humans struggle trying to understand GOD, BUT HE reveals enough to show me HIS love.
• Love is greater than keeping the law, because the law was founded by love.
• I do not have to worry about trying to be perfect, because JESUS was perfect for me.

 

Blaming GOD or blaming people who believe in GOD is a problem. I mean, when I question why GOD does things, or I question those who are supposed to believe in GOD, yet act duplicitous, I can fall away from HIM. BUT GOD knows there are many things that can come up against my relationship with HIM.

 

HE patiently allows me to fall into holes that I think can pull me away from HIM. HE gently lifts me up and dusts me off to serve HIM and praise HIM another day. I am glad HE is willing to renew my mind and show me HIS love!

 

Challenge

• What way of thinking is the writer trying to address?
• Have you ever tried to blame GOD or blame “churchy” people?
• Will you look at GOD’s love and think differently about how you approach church and the beliefs you may or may not have today?

So Much More

So Much More

Ephesians 3: ²⁰ To him who by means of his power working in us is able to do so much more than we can ever ask for, or even think of: ²¹ to God be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever! Amen.

 

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When I bought the car, I was excited. “I no longer have to take the bus” was my primary reason for being elated. When I had an accident which totaled the car, I realized I had no transportation to get to and from work. I also could not easily bring groceries home or not get wet as I walked to work in the rain.

 

• I could only see some things from a narrow perspective.
• I overlooked the usefulness of some things until those things were gone.
• I realized some things had more value than I originally understood.

 

Paul concludes his prayer by pointing to GOD. He explains that GOD is able to do so much more than we could ever ask for or imagine. He gives praise to GOD through CHRIST JESUS for all time!

 

My Observations

• GOD does not mind when I ask HIM for small things because HE is so much more.
• GOD knows that I cannot understand HIS power, but HE works in me anyway.
• GOD appreciates when I give HIM praise and when I recognize HE is bigger than my current situation.

 

Knowing that GOD is so much more, brings me hope. I mean, when I cannot see a way out and I am circled by difficulties, GOD makes a way for me and clears my path. HE has done this consistently, over and over and over again. Unfortunately I still doubt HIM.

 

HE forgives my doubt and works in me anyway. HE is bigger than my fears or worries. HE is the one who holds everything and will never forget me. I am grateful HE is larger than my imagination and I praise HIS greatness!

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer mentions requests in this part of the prayer?
• Have you ever limited GOD or doubted HIS love for you because of your circumstances?
• Will you see beyond your requests or circumstances and know GOD is so much more than you can ever imagine?

United Races

United Races

Ephesians 2: ¹⁶ By his death on the cross Christ destroyed their enmity; by means of the cross he united both races into one body and brought them back to God. ¹⁷ So Christ came and preached the Good News of peace to all—to you Gentiles, who were far away from God, and to the Jews, who were near to him. ¹⁸ It is through Christ that all of us, Jews and Gentiles, are able to come in the one Spirit into the presence of the Father.

 

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A slush-ball with a rock in it hit the car window as we passed by. I was in the back seat and could feel the tension as we drove through a neighborhood that was of a different race. Another incident happened as we were biking in a community of another race, I got kicked off my bike. I got back on and we were chased with racial slurs flung heavily at us.

 

• I did not know who I could trust in other races.
• I thought other races were against me because of my race.
• I could only see division as the answer, so I shrunk back into my own community.

 

JESUS did something amazing that Paul wrote about. HE died on the cross and was raised from the dead. This miracle enabled all who believed, to become part of GOD’s family. HE destroyed the wall that was between the two races and unified all to come into one SPIRIT.

 

My Observations

• GOD’s desire is unity.
• GOD wants me to align with HIS desire regardless of past hurts.
• GOD wants me to see that JESUS is the only answer to unity.

 

Bowing to JESUS means I do not want to steal HIM to show I am part of a superior race. I mean, I have been all over the world and saw JESUS represented in the race of that country. We argue over who is superior or who wronged who the longest. Meanwhile, GOD sees all races as HIS children and simply wants someone to step up and do the same.

 

GOD wants more than one race saved and no race is superior than another. The excuse of not believing in JESUS because HE is of a certain race is false. HE died for all races and lives for all. No human is without sin but JESUS. I am glad HE cares for me and all races.

 

Challenge

• Want enmity is the writer speaking of?
• Does it seem like the racial divide is getting larger?
• Will you align to GOD’s desire and seek unity on a small scale by simply praying for one another 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?

Mislabeled Leadership

John 4: Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— ² although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. ³ So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.

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“Why did you charge me so much for my system?” one person complained to me as I stood on stage. Since I was the leader of the organization that supported the system, it seemed only fitting to personalize the complaint towards me. I wanted to say “The last time I looked, I didn’t get any money for the system you bought” but that wouldn’t go so well with the people above me,

• Many times I have been labeled for things I did not do.
• Many times I had to accept the label because I was the leader.
• Many times I had to assume blame and simply try to make things right.

The church leaders were jealous of JESUS’s popularity. They went so far as to say “JESUS was baptizing people” as if to accuse HIM of not having the authority to do so. JESUS was not baptizing people, rather it was HIS disciples. But if HE did, HE definitely had the authority to do so.

• GOD wants me to accept responsibility for my actions without blaming HIM for my sin.
• GOD wants me to drop any jealousy I may have for someone who is serving the kingdom.
• GOD wants me to rely on HIS word which tells me exactly what HE is doing.

Knowing GOD removes blaming GOD. I mean when I get to know HIM, I understand that HIS motives are only to love me. Belief in this love not only gives me everlasting life, but care and protection in this life. HIS love for me is unsurpassed and that is the correct label I should give Him. GOD, the ultimate love, is my label.

• What are you blaming GOD for now?
• Does blaming GOD enable you to shirk your responsibilities?
• Will you study GOD to understand HIS vast love for you today?