Love Is Victorious!
Father, as I look out over my life You have truly blessed me in so many ways. I have done nothing to deserve Your blessings but You do so because You love me. May I be generous in sharing that love and blessing with others around me. Amen.
1 John 2:7-8 (<<click here)
Wow! So many thoughts from just two verses! My thoughts from the initial reading – thoughts from the study Bible notes – thoughts even from yesterday’s sermon – AND thoughts of how once again You have taken my opening thoughts and prayer and meshed it together with today’s passage of Scripture! Thank You, Lord!
It really all just boils down to love. I realize that I wrote of love just a few days ago but love has to be at the core of who we are and how we live. If love is not there everything we do is for naught! The foundation upon which we must build our lives is expressed in a passage of scripture that You, Lord, identify as the greatest of the commandments – the most important one. You quote it in Matthew 22. You gave it to Moses in Deuteronomy 6:5 to give to us,
“…you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.”
You also stated that that was the “first and greatest commandment” but that a “second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” which You quoted from Leviticus 19:18.
“The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
The command to love is old but it is new. It has been around for millennia but when we give ourselves over to You, You create it new every day – every moment – in our lives.
The final line in John’s passage this morning gives me renewed hope.
“For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining.”
Darkness is rampant! It seems to be in control…but it is not! Darkness is in its death throes! Its days are numbered for love is mightier because it is YOU! You, Lord, have already won! You are victorious! And we are truly blessed to be counted as Your children! May we carry on, bearing the torch of light and love!
Apr 10th, Mon, 5:15 am
The Essence of Our Entirety
It’s one of those quiet evening times where I get myself to settle down and write (or type as the case may be). Father, there is no greater companion than You. Today has not been a crazy day by any means but through it all, we have been together. Thank You for Your comforting presence.
1 John 2:3-6 (<<click here)
Lord, if I tried to put the essence of your entirety into one single word, it would have to be the word LOVE. The Apostle John himself a few verses later in this epistle states that You are love. 1 John 4:8
He is also the apostle that, in his Gospel, quotes You as saying,
This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. John 15:12
Here in this passage he says,
3And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
Lord, the life You lived on this old earth was a life of love from the moment You chose to come to live amongst us to the moment You were taken up into heaven following the forty days You encouraged the disciples after Your resurrection. Why can’t we get it? It is so simple, You…love…us! Every interaction with every single individual of Your creation was full of love. Even Your sternness with the religious leaders of Your day was tough love. You want no one to perish. John 3:16
So…if we claim to “know God” we should obey You. If we say that we “live in God” then we “should live [our] lives as Jesus did.” We must love the lovable and those who are not.
In fact, we must not just love the unlovable but we must love the hateful, as well. What were some of Your final words from the cross?
“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34
May others be able to put the essence of our entirety into one single word as well – LOVE. Amen!
Apr 6th, Thurs, 8:18 pm
Swept Up into Your Arms
When I call You, Father, that denotes that I am Your child…and there is no better place to be. Life is a big thing. It is full of good things. It is full of bad things. As a child needs a parent to navigate through all the good and the bad in life, I need You.
Prior to writing this morning, I have already processed many things, good and bad. I’ve read of people’s love for each other, the joy of welcoming children into this world and the anticipation of the same. I’ve also read of people’s disregard for the preciousness of life and the audacity they have of expressing that mentality to others…and unfortunately the pain that such words can bring.
As I sit here, I need You Father. Not to just to hold my hand or to pat me on the head but I feel the need to be swept up into Your arms and to bury my face in Your strong shoulder. To be held tight. To feel Your strength…and Your love…Your understanding…Your comfort. Those are the things we so often need. These are the things we crave.
So many of us go through life and we never experience these things. The last part of James 4:2 states,
“You do not have because you do not ask God.”
Father, I am asking and I want to encourage others to ask, as well. You are willing and You are more than able. You can meet every single one of our needs. You can strengthen us for the paths we must tread. And much of that strength is in knowing that You are by our side. May we never forget what a great and awesome Father we have. Amen.
Apr 5th, Wed, 6:44 am
My Paracletos
I am grateful, Father, that it is not just the spiritual mountaintop experiences of life nor just the valleys of desperation and great need that I realize Your presence. Even on the humdrum, routine, same old, same old days, You are by my side. Thank You for loving me through all the ups and downs and in between.
1 John 2:1-2 (<<click here)
Advocate. The New American Standard Bible tells me that the original Greek for this word is Paracletos which means one called alongside to help. I so realize the importance and necessity of You being my Advocate, Lord. There is no one more qualified to be my defender before the Holy Father. You alone are “truly righteous”. You alone are “the sacrifice that atones for our sins”.
Yes, You are my Advocate but that word goes beyond the formality of defense. To me, that word and the word Paracletos convey the reality of personal, caring, hands-on attention. I surely need Your help but it is far from cold, calculated and formal. It is warm and caring. It is compassionate. You are not just doing Your duty like a court appointed attorney. You love me. You truly care about me. You have my best interests in mind. You want the weight of my sins removed so I can fully experience the benefits of our relationship. You “come alongside to help.”
It is impossible for me to do any of this on my own. Only when You “come alongside to help” will I find success. You alone are the atoning sacrifice for my sins. Thank You, Lord, for the work You do in my life and through my life.
Apr 4th, Tues, 6:43 am
Honor and Love
What a beautiful day yesterday, Father! The scenery, the company, the food, all made for a great day. Thank You, Father, for Your blessings!
Lord, a good part of our day yesterday brings a passage in Ephesians 6:2-3 to mind.
“Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise. If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on earth.”
We had the privilege of spending time with Karen’s parents, a nice meal out, some shopping and sitting and talking. The last several months have been a challenge, to say the least. Following her dad’s broken hip, life has been full of all kinds of hurdles. It has not all been easy or pleasant for that matter, but we have relied on You, Lord, and loved each other.
I’m at that age where those of us privileged enough to still have our parents with us are stretched, sometimes to the breaking point. Physical issues, struggles to maintain independence, the necessity to switch roles of parent and child can be very taxing. But regardless of the hurdles, honor, and love must factor in.
It is surely not an easy road. But rest assured that we do not travel alone. Just in my small circle, I have cousins working with an uncle recovering from a stroke. I have a family from one of my church’s dealing with the same thing. Another family from that same church has called Hospice in to help care for a dying patriarch. And there are many more of us traveling this road together. But most important of all is that You, Lord, are with us. We can lean upon You and You will never cease to be there.
May our love for each other be as Your love for us – patient (long-suffering!), deep, non-judgmental, strong, and without end. May we cherish one another in the time we have together. Every moment is a blessing. Amen.
Apr 3rd, Mon, 6:37 am