Proof of His Love

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords:

His love endures forever."

Psalm 136:1-3

I read the words on the page proclaiming of God's amazing, enduring love, but how do I know it is real?  How do I know He loves me?  I mean, really know deep in my heart without a doubt?  How can I take a risk to place my entire life in His loving hands, trusting that He won't hurt me, exploit me or let me down?  It takes faith.  

Here is some evidence of His great love to bolster my faith.

Great Wonders.  Standing under the expanse of sky that crisp, clear night, I am struck by the enormity of the universe and of my own tiny, insignificant life.  In comparison to all the twinkling stars I see sprinkled throughout the dark canvass above me, I realize there is a great Force at work in this world who has created unimaginable wonders, things I can barely comprehend let alone try to mimic: Oceans teaming with wildlife, a plethora of flora and fauna waiting to be discovered, a sun whose rise and fall I can set my watch to, and the moon whose glorious glow, in the words of Clement Clark Moore, gives "the lustre of mid-day to objects below."  (Psalm 136:4-9)

And the conclusion the psalmist draws from recognizing such wonders?  "His love endures forever."  A God who would grant such glorious gifts to His most prized possession, His beautiful image bearers, is the God of a permanent kind of love of which I can never lose.  I am secure in the love from a God such as this.  If He can perform such miraculous, creative wonders, is there anything He will not do out of His great love?  Nope, nothing is off-limits to such a loving God!

One of the most compelling pieces of evidence pointing toward God's enduring love is all of creation of which I am an integral part.

Salvation.  There is a track record of salvation written throughout the pages of scripture.  God is continually at work saving His people (Psalm 136:10-16).  Sometimes its the oppression of sin and fear that holds me down, compelling me to call out to the One whose sword can free me from the guilt and anxiety that often comes with living in a fallen world.  Other times its the so-called impossible situations I often face which send me to my knees where I find delivery from what I once labeled as my lot in life.  Then there are the times when I'm confronted by the ugly monsters of life, the giants that bully me into submission, giving me cause to cry out in desperation to the God who fights these overwhelming battles on my behalf.

And the conclusion the psalmist draws from remembering such salvation?  "His love endures forever."  A God whose heart is inclined toward the suffering of His people produces the kind of love on which I can count.  His love will never let me down, and there is never a time when I cannot cry out to Him and expect Him to ride in on His great white stead and rescue me from my present danger.

One of the most compelling pieces of evidence pointing toward God's enduring love is His willingness to rescue me.

Sovereignty.  Protection.  Provision.  Blessing.  Rescue.  Despite my unfaithfulness to a God who is in complete control, He still chooses to remember me, to see me in my current situation, to comfort me in all my troubles.  His authority over all things is often forgotten as I go about my day, attempting to feebly protect my wounded pride with coldness of heart, guarding against every conceivable disaster with insurance and money in the bank, and struggling to rescue myself from the stresses of life by using my own twisted methods of coping.  I find myself failing miserably, yet He never writes me off as a lost cause, always ready to use His sovereign power for my benefit.

And the conclusion the psalmist draws from realizing such perfect authority over all things?  "His love endures forever."  A God who is completely in control of all things yet yearns for me to willingly submit to His perfect plan for my life is a God whose love can be trusted as safe, faithful, and abundant.  He does not need me, yet He wants me.  And not just parts of me as I so often tend to give, but all of me; every nook and cranny of my heart.  

One of the most compelling pieces of evidence pointing toward God's enduring love is His sovereignty over all things yet willingness to be a personal part of my seemingly insignificant life.

It's sometimes hard to believe anyone, let alone the God of the universe, could love me.  He is all-powerful, all-present, all-knowing; why would He care about me?  The beauty of this God of all gods is that He is made of love.  And the proof of His great love is written throughout His creation, found in the way He chooses to save me, and in His sovereign power that is used for my good.  This is some evidence of His love which can propel me forward into His waiting arms.  Why wait another minute?

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust my whole life to such a God as this.  

How do I hold out on God, unsure of His love for me?

When do I doubt His love despite the fact that there is evidence everywhere?  

His Love Never Fails

"Because of the LORD's great love

we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail."

Lamentation 3:22 ESV

What are you facing right now?  His love is strong enough to get you through it.

What keeps you up at night?  His love will not grow dim through the night watches.

How do you feel discouraged, like giving up?  His love will never fail, even when your will does.

When do you feel unlovable?  His love does not depend on you but on God, and He is faithful.

Listen to today's song of praise about the great love of our amazing God, and worship Him for His limitless love.

  

Just a Hometown Boy

"'I tell you the truth,'

he continued,

'no prophet is accepted in his hometown.'"

Luke 4:24

The headlines screamed out from the page lying on the counter of the little cafe: "Hometown Boy Makes it Big."  The small town gossip soon followed. . .

"What do ya' think about ole' Joe's boy?"

"I heard he wrote a book that made the NY Times bestseller's list."

"He's got millions of viewers on his television program."

"Ya, he's pretty popular."

"Remember his family?  Joe was a contractor, never really made it big.  Always had little jobs here and there, but nothing significant.  Never even had enough business to move out of the shop he had set up in his garage."

"Then there was his wife, Mary Jo.  She just kept having kids and always kind of kept to herself. In fact the whole family seemed like they thought they were better than everyone else."

"Ya. . . just kind of weird to see their oldest become such a star."

"Well, like they always say, 'there's no accounting for taste.'"

It's hard to believe when someone we grew up with becomes successful and well known in their field.  Somehow, I always think of them as that little kid who used to trip over his shoelaces, or the girl who had a crush on a different boy every week from the time she was in 3rd grade.  If I try to pay attention to the message their delivering, I get distracted by their past.

God uses broken, sinful people to accomplish amazing things in His Kingdom.  (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)  He does this so He will get all the glory.  Sometimes, though, when God uses a close friend or relative to deliver a message, I may miss it because I'm distracted by the messenger.  How can so-and-so know anything about marriage when she's divorce, I may think, or, what could he tell me about living as a peacemaker when he was the biggest bully in school. 

God can use anyone to speak truth into my life.  Humility allows me to look past the flesh and see and hear the Spirit within.

Full Disclosure

In the field of security, "full disclosure" is a term used to describe the idea that revealing weaknesses and problems with security systems will bring about solutions from industry professionals who want to protect their product's image and reputation.  Giving away the vulnerabilities forces the industry to come up with a better product, whether it be in the areas of computer security, alarm systems or safes and locks.  The idea is that transparency drives improvement. 

Unfortunately, this same concept does not translate well to other areas of life.  The more people know about me, the less they'll see that's admirable and the more they'll see that's fodder for gossip and slander.

Thankfully, God knows me intimately, and still loves me and chose me to belong to Him.  (Psalm 139, John 15:16) He knows all my weaknesses, all my sin, all my foolishness but wants to use me anyway!  Because of His great love and mercy, I can trust His choice of servants.

When I hear a child who is known for her spastic, disruptive behavior say, "Just trust God, Mrs. Boose."  I can either discard it as a ranting of a mere child, or I can take it before the Lord and seek His will.

If a relative who can never seem to get his life together begins a ministry that offers hope to the hopeless, I can dismiss it as foolishness or ask God's blessing upon him.

When a notorious gigolo becomes a man of God and is used by Him to strengthen marriages, I can laugh in his face or I can humbly accept God's sovereign work.

Knowing a person's faults can sometimes get in the way of how God is using that person but humility means looking past the flaws and seeing the Truth.

History

One of the hardest parts of the election season is all the dirt that comes out about each candidate.  It seems to be the objective of political campaigns to elevate themselves by dragging down their opponent so the voters are left with choosing the lesser of two evils.

Every human being has a history.  Some possess a more colorful past than others, but at the foot of the cross, the ground is level.  Sin is sin in the eyes of God. (John 5:17)  As a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, my sin is made as white as snow.  In the eyes of God, I appear as if I were without sin. (Romans 3:22)

For this reason, God is able to use me.  He made me to be a vessel of His good works.  (Ephesians 2:10 , 2 Corinthians 4:7)  This truth goes for all whom God chose.  It then makes sense for me to look past another's record and instead keep my focus on what God is currently doing in their life.

God uses people for His purposes and glory.  He chooses those according to His plan, not because of their own worth, ability or qualifications.  He uses tricksters, murderers, prostitutes, and liars.  (Romans 9:10-13, Genesis 25:29-33, Exodus 2:11-14 ,Joshua 2 , Hebrews 11:31, Genesis 20) 

My history or the past of anyone else does not nullify the Word of God.  Letting go of yesterday means I can trust God with tomorrow and place my confidence in who He chooses to use.

Knowledge of history, my own or that of someone else, bears no importance to the sovereignty of God's plan but can instead be used as an impetus to grow my faith.

God Alone

I remember being at an event at a park where I couldn't see a thing that was happening on stage because of the large crowd that had gathered to watch the performance.  I could hear the music and message, but couldn't see the performers.

In God's kingdom, I am not a performer or entertainer, but a servant used by God.  (Matthew 20:26-28)  Many times, though, my own flesh will get in the way with what God is doing.  Either my fear will stop me from obeying, my past failures will give me reason not to step out in faith, or I listen to the voices around me who are speaking against what God has told me.  

Whatever the source of the obstacle, I must remember the truth that God alone can produce kingdom fruit in my life.  (Galatians 5:22-23)  Apart from Him, I can do nothing.  (John 15)  Everything good I see in my life and in the lives of those around me comes from the Father of lights.  (James 1:17)

As I go through my day, I can choose to focus on the weaknesses I see in my flesh and the humanness of those around me, or I can look for evidence of God's work.  If I look, I will find it!  

Knowing that God is the only one who can do good things gives me the ability to look past the faults and history of myself and others and focus on all the good that He is doing.

Jesus was not accepted as the Son of God in His hometown, Elijah was not sent to a widow he knew and Elisha didn't heal his friends and neighbors.  Many times our faults and history can get in the way of what God is doing.  In order to keep from being an obstacle to God's sovereign plan, I must guard against letting human weaknesses impede my vision of the Almighty.  I just might be surprised where I see God working!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to know that He can use anybody.

How do I doubt God's plan when I catch sight of His servant?

When do I put a halt to God's work in my own life because I can't get past my fears?

His Steadfast Love

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
            His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
            His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
            His love endures forever.

Psalm 136:1-3

I love ice cream!

I love that song!

I love that show, it's my favorite.

I love it when it snows!

But mom. . . I love him.

I love shopping. . . .running. . . .sleeping. . . .

I love _______________.

We throw around the word "love" much too easily.  I have no concept of real love; God's love.  His love does not shift like the sand dunes in the desert, there today and moved on somewhere else tomorrow.  His love is not shallow.  His love is not fair.  God is love. 

If I want to know about love, real love, I must get to know God.  And the only way to get to know God is through faith in Jesus who restores my relationship with this God of love.  As my relationship with God grows, my understanding of love will grow.

Neverending

I remember as a child, standing out in my backyard and trying to imagine what infinity looks like.  I had just learned in school that there are an infinite amount of numbers, and I could count forever and never get to the end.  The concept of infinity blew my mind.  Everything I saw around me had a beginning and an end so I could not relate perpetuity to anything I knew. 

God's love falls into this same category.  His love is like space. . . it goes on forever and ever.  David wrote about this love in Psalm 103: 8 and 11 (NLT).  He said, "The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. . .For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth."

I cannot measure the love of God, just as I could not comprehend the infinite nature of numbers as an elementary student.  All I need to know, however, is that His love will never come to an end. 

Never Absent

I remember the year we moved from our rental house to the housing on Ft Bragg, North Carolina.  It had taken us two years to work our way to the top of the waiting list.  During that period of time, we had established ourselves in a congregation at one of the Army Chapels.  I told my friends at choir rehearsal one night that we'd be moving soon and everyone said they would help us.  I was so glad to know we wouldn't have to do it by ourselves.  But when the day to move came, no one showed up. . . the help could not be counted on. 

In contrast, God's love can always be counted on!  Paul described it this way in Romans 8:37-39.  "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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."

As I grow in my relationship with God, I learn how much His love never fails me.  I can count on His never-absent love.

Never Conditional

Human love is conditional; there's always a deal-breaker. . .which may explain the high rate of divorce in this day and age.

It is in my nature to give up on someone I love when they hurt me in some way that I think I can't forgive.  Thankfully, God does not love in this same way!  David described this characteristic of God's love in Psalm 103:9-10, 12-13(NLT). 

"He will not constantly accuse us,
      nor remain angry forever.
  He does not punish us for all our sins;
      he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.. . .

He has removed our sins as far from us
      as the east is from the west.
  The LORD is like a father to his children,
      tender and compassionate to those who fear him."

God's love is not based on my performance or my worthiness.  God's love is.   It simply exists as a part of His character and He cannot go against who He is.  In fact, "God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." (Romans 5:8)

God's love does not appear when I do something good and disappear when I mess up.  God's love is never conditional.


As I grow closer to God and learn to respect and honor Him as the Supreme Being who created all things, I learn about His astounding love.  His love has no end, will never let me down, and is not based on my deeds.  God's love never fails!

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can surrender myself to this God of love.

How do I use the word "love" too lightly, minimizing the power behind the word?

Where do I fail to allow God's love to pass through me, resulting in a conditional, fickle and shallow brand of love to show instead?  

Distracted by the Dust

"Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey

so that it may go well with you

and that you may increase greatly in a land

flowing with milk and honey,

just as the LORD,

the God of your ancestors, promised you.

  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

 Love the LORD your God with all your heart

and with all your soul

and with all your strength.

These commandments that I give you today

are to be on your hearts."

Deuteronomy 6:3-6

The dust would be enough to get me.  The dry, gritty dirt everywhere. . . in my cooking pots, in my clothing, in my bedding, in my food, in my eyes.  The relentless hot wind blowing the stuff around, making cleaning an exercise in futility.  It would get under my skin after awhile.

The Israelites lived in tents under these kind of conditions as they received the above commandment from the Lord who brought them out of slavery in Egypt.  I can understand the constant relapse by the Israelites into an attitude of ingratitude and grumbling.  It happens to me all the time.

I complain about my hard life, how I'm busy from before the sun comes up until well after the day is done.  I am disappointed in the balance in my checking account compared to the pile of bills laying before me, waiting to be paid.  I gripe about my lack of imagination when it comes to preparing meals, I'm just tired of the same old thing.  I whine about not getting enough sleep.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not whining out loud.  All this bad attitude can be found in my heart. 

So, I can relate to the plight of the Israelites.  As easy as it is to criticize them and judge them, in reality I would behave in the same manner if I were in their shoes. 

God has chosen me to be one of His own; an adopted part of the nation of Israel by faith in Jesus Christ.  And as His child, He has called me to obey Him.  Not out of duty or fear, but out of love for Him.  But most of the time my heart has not love for Him. Rather, I am distracted by all the "dust."

Love God with All my Heart

Shakespeare coined the phrase, "In my heart of heart," for Hamlet, to mean in my heart's core, or in the most tender part of my heart.  As the seat of my emotions, the heart is a vulnerable place.  It is easy to harden my heart in order to protect it's susceptibility to injury. 

God calls me to love Him with all my heart, even with the most tender part.  If I were to completely let down my guard with God, my grumbling would be gone and I would experience contentment no matter where He placed me, or what circumstance I find myself because I would understand that He is all I need. 

My heart needs God.  He created my heart to love Him.  When I take God lightly, treating Him as a genie or a vending machine, only going to Him with things I want and need,  I jeopardize my heart.  Proverbs 28:14 reminds me that, " Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble."

Loving God with all my heart means trusting Him with the deepest part of me.



 Loving God with all my Soul

When I think of my soul, I think of the part of me that makes me who I am.  It is the part of me that will live eternally with Jesus.  My soul is the real me.

Loving God with all of me is hard.  I hold back many areas which I am not ready to surrender.  I am afraid if I love Him with abandon, He may ask me to do something which I am not comfortable doing.   Far be it from me to get out of my comfort zone!

Loving God with my soul means putting His plan, His will, His commandments above myself and desiring only that which is important to Him. 

People are important to God.  He created us in His image, and as image bearers, we are of the most value out of all His creation.  To be honest, I don't treat all of His most treasured as cherished.  Instead, I tend to treat others as a means to an end. 

If I'm on the phone with a foreign tech support agent who can't understand the technical issue I am having with my computer, it is easy for me to treat him disrespectfully out of frustration.  Or when I'm late for an appointment and another driver cuts me off, slowing down my forward progress and putting my life at stake, I may not harbour loving feelings toward that person.

Loving all of God's image bearers means that I am placing God at the forefront of my life as my Lord instead of placing myself in that position. 

Loving God with all my soul means treating others with love.

Loving God with all my Mind

My mind is constantly working; analyzing data, formulating strategies, reviewing endless lists, not to mention solving problems.  It is hard to quiet my mind. 

I could harness this analytical capacity and use it to study God and His Word, getting to know Him better.  While I believe there is great value in this exercise, I think there is a better way to love God with all my mind.

God says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,  I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10)  When I quiet my mind and focus my thoughts on God, I am reminded that He is supreme.  He is above all things.  He is the highest.

When I calm my thoughts, all things are put back into perspective and God rises to the pinnacle of my priorities.  He is Lord.

Loving God with all my mind means stilling my thoughts and knowing the magnitude of God.

I am easily distracted by all the difficulties of life, but God calls me to love Him.  By trusting Him with my heart of heart, loving all His image bearers, and quieting my mind, I can love Him with all my heart, soul and mind.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can quiet my mind and know that the Lord is my God.

In what way do I let annoyances and irritations distract me from loving God?

How do I shield my heart of heart from God?

Perfect Love

"Such love has no fear,

because perfect love expels all fear.

If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment,

and this shows that we have not fully experienced

his perfect love." 

I John 4:18 NLT

There are so many things in this world that can draw me into a state of fear.  I often fear what may happen in the future, what people might be thinking, or how someone may react.  Fear is a common human emotion, but it can cripple and render a believer helpless. So common is fear that you might be surprised at the men of faith who experienced periods of fear in their lives.

Sinking  Peter, along with the disciples of Jesus, had just experienced the miracle of Jesus multiplying the loaves and fish to feed a crowd of five thousand.  Jesus retreated to a place of solitude as the rest of the group crossed the lake in a boat.  As Jesus later walked on water toward them, they were all gripped with fear, but Jesus reassured them:  “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27) Immediately, Peter asked Jesus to confirm his identity by asking him, a mere human, to walk on water!  When Jesus said, "Come," Peter jumped out of the boat and walked on water.  But as soon as he turned his focus from the one he loved, toward the threatening waves, he began to sink.  As Jesus reached out to pull Peter up, He asked, “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (verse 31)

Run for your life  Elijah was one of the greatest men of faith, proclaiming a period of drought which would only end at his word, healing a widow's son, and boldly showing God's power against 450 prophets of Baal.  After these amazing feats of faith, Elijah fled for fear of losing his life at the hand of the evil and powerful Jezebel, wife of Ahab the king of Judah,. (I Kings 18-19) 

Deception  Abraham, the chosen father of many nations who couragously left the land of his father and obediently traveled to a land he did not know, was plagued with fear at times.  He claimed his wife Sarah to be his sister out of fear that the reigning king of the region would kill Abraham and claim her as his own.  And he did this not once, but twice! (Genesis 12, 20)

Panic  How did these men of great faith who had witnessed mighty acts of God fall into a state of panic, driving them to sink, run and deceive?  They were human just like me and you.  No one is immune to fear, but we do not have to be ruled by fear.

Faith  There is a saying of unknown origin that goes, "Fear knocked at the door.  Faith answered.  No one was there."  Faith is an antidote to fear.  Peter sank when he took his eyes off Jesus and instead focused on the threat of danger all around him. He began to doubt that Jesus could enable him to walk on water and started to instead believe that the waves would overtake him.  This is how I many times feel in life when I forget that Jesus can deliver me from the cares of this world.   I can ward off fear by choosing to trust in Jesus.

Love  Sometimes I fear what others will do to me, or think of me, because I know only too well the state of the human heart.  But love is an antidote to fear.  Fear is based on a faulty understanding of God's love.  When I truly grasp, "how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that (I) may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God,"  (Ephesians 3:18b-19) then I will not fear.  I can ward off fear by choosing to rest in the completeness of God's love instead of wallowing in the shallowness of my own feeble humanity.

Choice  Fear is inevitable, but I do not have to let it rule my life.  Instead, I can choose to keep my eyes on Jesus, and seek to comprehend the abundance of God's love.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will not let fear rule my life.

Where am I afraid to follow Jesus?

In what ways do I let fear cripple me?

Thanksgiving

I will praise God’s name in song
   and glorify him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 69:30

Giving Thanks  The turkey is roasting, the side dishes are awaiting their turn in the oven, the pies are resting, lined up in a row on the counter, the table is set and the guest are arriving.  This will be the scene in most American homes today as we celebrate a day in which we give thanks for the abundance of our lives.  But most of the time, my focus is on the feast and spending time with those gathered around the table.  Today, I want to give thanks for my God, who is merciful and gracious enough to give me another day.

His Love  Paul's prayer for the believers at Ephesus was that they, ". . . being rooted and established in love,  may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:18-19)  The love my Lord and Savior has for me is beyond my comprehension.  Today, I give thanks to my God who loves me this much! 

His Sovereignty  I love the imagery of Isaiah 43, with the thought that God will be with us when we pass through the waters, and the rivers will not sweep over us.  What a comfort to know the One who controls the universe is keeping us in such a way!  This passage ends with a statement of his absolute sovereignty.  " 'You are my witnesses,' declares the LORD, 'that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand.   When I act, who can reverse it?' " (Isaiah 43:12b-13)  Today, I give thanks to my God who is in complete control.

The Cross My life would not be the same without my relationship with my Creator through faith in Jesus Christ.  There is no greater love that can be shown than how Jesus chose to die a horrible death on a Roman cross in order that I can be made righteous in the eyes of a Holy God.  Astounding!  I cannot fathom this kind of love, nor can I properly thank Him for this gift of salvation.  Songwriters Ian Eskelen and Chris Megert describe Christ's work on the cross in these lyrics of "Battle," performed by Chris August. 

There’s a battle between good and evil
And it’s raging inside of me
There’s a struggle - it’s God and the devil
It’s Love against the Enemy


Life’s a fight of wrong and right
That’s tearing me apart
Oh but what the cross has done
Yeah the world will try to battle for my heart
But the war is already won

Today, I give thanks to my God who has already won the battle between good and evil.  Thank you to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

As I begin this day of cooking, eating and celebrating, I pray that my heart will be inclined toward a loving, sovereign, redemptive God.

Open the Door

Here I am!

I stand at the door and knock.

If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Revelation 3:20

"Ding, Dong!"

"Oh, no!  They're here already. . .why are they early?  We're not ready yet!  Quick, everyone, finish tidying up and I'll stall them at the door.  Somebody put the dogs in the room.  Oh, and don't forget to check the bathroom!  Go!"

Has this ever happened to you?  You're running late in preparing for dinner guests and then they show up before the appointed time!  This is kind of how I can feel about Jesus.  He is waiting at the door for me to invite Him into my life, but I am busy scurrying around trying to make myself presentable before I let Him in.  But the key to being a good hostess is not in impressing my guests with a clean home and wonderful cooking, but in welcoming them into my life as it is and helping them to feel as part of the family.  The focus is on the guest, not on the hostess.   How can I let Jesus in now, and not wait until it may be too late?

Be Thankful  The Westminister Shorter Catechism states that the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.  Paul instructs in I Corinthians 10:31 to take part in life with a spirit of thankfulness in all things.  "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."  As I go through the mundane parts of my life, if I make Jesus my focus and my reason for doing all that I do, my attitude will change from one of fear and restlessness, to one of satisfaction and contentment.  I am here for God, He is not here for me!

Be Accepting  Jesus does not expect me to make myself presentable before I allow Him into my life.  He know me well, as He demonstrated when He met the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4).  He knew every detail of her life, but He loved her anyway! It is the same with me and you.   In fact, ". . . God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)  Jesus did not wait until I was halfway there before He sacrificially gave His life to make me presentable before a Holy God.  No!  He did all the redemptive work for me, all I do is accept.  He knows my sin better than I do, but He loves me just as I am.  All that's left for me to do is let Him love me!

Be Purposeful  Today is the day to let Jesus into my life, to live alongside of me.  None of us are guaranteed tomorrow!  God's Word found in James 4:14 reminds us that, ". . . you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."  Since we don't know how long we have here, we should make the most of every opportunity. (Ephesians 5:15-16) 

Perhaps Benjamin Glover and Jeffrey Thomas Pardo said it best in the song they penned for Mandisa called, "Waiting for Tomorrow*." 

Maybe tomorrow we'll start over
Maybe tomorrow I will finally change my ways
Said the same things yesterday
Don't know why I'm so afraid
To let you in
To let you win
To let you have all of me

Can't spend my whole life wastin'
Everything I know I've been given
'Cause you've made for so much more than
Sittin' on the side lines
I don't wanna look back and wonder
If good enough could've been better

Everyday's a day to start over
So, why am I waiting for tomorrow

Maybe today I'll start believing
That you're mercy is really
As real as you say it is
It doesn't matter who I used to be
It only matters that I've been set free
You rescued me you're changing meJesus take everything

Oh, I'm makin this my moment now
To grab the hand that's reachin down to save me You saved me
And I'm makin this my moment now
To grab the hand that's reachin down to save me You saved me

I'm gonna grab the hand that's reachin down
And I'm not gonna wait until tomorrow
Oh, tomorrow

Do I have caution tape around the door of my heart?  You and I cannot afford to wait any longer to let Jesus into our lives.  What are we waiting for?

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will let Jesus into every part of my life and not attempt to hide anything from Him.

What am I trying to make presentable before showing it to Jesus?

How am I withholding parts of my life out of fear of what Jesus will think, forgetting that He loves me as I am?

* Lyrics from http://www.absolutelyrics.com/lyrics/view/mandisa/waiting_for_tomorrow

Looking For Love

Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:12-13

I think we've all seen the t-shirts, steering wheel covers, and other items emblazoned with the script, "Love Kills Slowly."  Humans have a low view of love, mostly using the word to describe a romantic passion between a man and a woman.  The pattern of this world is that I give my heart to a man. Inevitably the man will hurt me and I will die a little each time until the final blow comes when that "love" leaves me for another.  Then the process starts over, killing me slowly over time.  But if we want to know what real love is, we must look to God because God is love!  (1 John 4:8)

Undying  God's brand of love does not tear us down and kill us over time because His kind of love is perfect and holy.  Real love is not a feeling, but an unselfish concern for others and, ". . . love builds up." (I Corinthians 8:1)  When we try to love, or be loved, the human way, we will always be disappointed.  God, however, will never let us down in this same way.  I can trust Him with my heart!  The Apostle Paul understood this kind of love as evidenced by the following . "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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 8:38-39)  God's love can be counted on!

Sacrificial  Love involves some kind of personal sacrifice because, by definition, it is other-centered.  When we love someone as Christ has loved us, that means we do whatever is in their best interest.  That could mean risking my life by running into a burning building to save a stranger, or to take the time to help my husband even when I have a million other things to do. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice by taking the punishment for our sins when He died on the cross so that our relationship with God could be restored.  

Servant-like Loving others the way God loves us means we will get dirty.  Before Jesus shared the Passover meal with His disciples, he performed an extraordinary act. He removed his outer garments, bent down on the floor, and washed his friends' feet.  During this time period, washing one's feet was a lowly task left to the servants.  But Jesus demonstrated a servant's heart in his willingness to lower himself to perform this act of love.

Do I look for love in all the wrong places?  I need look no further than God, who will completely fulfill my need for love, freeing me to love others the way He loves me.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can love others as God has loved me. 

Where am I stingy with my time, resources and talents?

How do I elevate my desires above the needs of those God has placed around me?

Courageous

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:7

There is a powerful movie recently released called, "Courageous," which is a kind of call-to-action for fathers.  But the message, and the song of the same name, is a call to each one of us who follows Christ.  As you read some of the words of the Casting Crowns song*, think of it in light of 2 Timothy 1:7, and as it applies to our position as light in a dark world.

We were made to be courageous
We were made to lead the way
We could be the generation
That finally breaks the chains
We were made to be courageous
We were made to be courageous

We were warriors on the front lines
Standing, unafraid
But now we're watchers on the sidelines
While our families slip away

Where are you, men of courage?
You were made for so much more
Let the pounding of our hearts cry
We will serve the Lord

We were made to be courageous
And we're taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight

The only way we'll ever stand
Is on our knees with lifted hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous

This is our resolution
Our answer to the call
We will love our wives and children
We refuse to let them fall

We will reignite the passion
That we buried deep inside
May the watchers become warriors
Let the men of God arise

We were made to be courageous
And we're taking back the fight
We were made to be courageous
And it starts with us tonight

In the Fight  God did not give us a timid spirit, yet it is so easy to be a watcher in this culture of political correctness that is hostile to the Christian worldview.  But we are not called to be spectators, standing on the sidelines as our culture crumbles around us.  We are called to be in the fight, salt and light in a lost world.  How can we break free from our timidity and embrace the power, love and self-discipline that is within us?

Stay in Jesus   In the American culture, it is dangerously easy to do things on our own.  But Jesus was clear in His teaching of how to live a fruitful life in a world that hates us.  He said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)  If we are to have any hope of accomplishing any Kingdom work in our neighborhoods, workplaces, or schools, we must follow Jesus closely. We cannot make an impact in our culture in our own strength.   If it is not Jesus doing the work through us, it does not count. 

Stand Firm   After giving a preview of things to come in eternity, Paul exhorts us to, ". . . stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."  (I Corinthians 15:58)  Knowing that the sacrifices made here will not be in vain gives us strength and courage to lovingly take a stand for the Truth.  We are called to love, but love does not back down.  Rather, "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (I Corinthians 13:6-7)  Don't give up! 

Spotlight the Kingdom   As we witness all the evil around us, it is easy to get drawn into a campaign to change the world.  But that is not our role.  God is the One who changes hearts and lives.  We are to live our lives in such a way that those around us are profoundly affected when coming into contact with us.  As we focus on God's Kingdom, He goes about drawing the hearts of those who are being salted by our lives.  It is more of a roundabout change that occurs, not as direct result of us working to change our coworkers, neighbors and friends, but in God working through us. 

Real Change  When we draw on God's power, love and self-discipline in order to answer His calling in our lives, He will work to change the world around us.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will stay true to Jesus and the principles He has taught me.

Where have I compromised God's teachings in my life?

How have I allowed the world around me to influence the way I think, act or speak?  Am I willing to be courageous in this area?


 
*lyrics for Courageous from  http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=683

Let Love Rule

 "But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.  Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know.  But whoever loves God is known by God."

I Corinthians 8:1b-3

Hypocrisy  The rickety station wagon plastered with "Jesus" bumper stickers cut me off and pulled into the parking lot in front of me.  As the driver eased to a stop in front of the curb, I watched in curiosity.  A tall, thin man climbed out and briskly walked into the gym. Later, I was surprised to see this same man take my elliptical as I quickly ran to the restroom in the middle of my workout.  "Oh, I'm sorry, was this yours?"  he asked as he continued his training.  I retrieved my water bottle, book and towel and mumbled something about finding another machine.  Before leaving the gym that day, his voice stood out among the clanks of the weights.  "Oh yeah, reading the Word is so important.  I make sure and do that every morning." 

All the Right Things  The scenario described above illustrates the importance of knowing God.  I can know the Bible like the back of my hand, attend church regularly, take advantage of every Bible study offered, and listen to sermons on the radio in my spare time, but if I don't know God, it just serves to puff me up with importance.

Hollow  I remember seeing the most delicious-looking pastry sitting on the serving plate in the dining room of the hotel we stayed at when we first arrived in Germany for a 3-year tour of duty.  I carefully chose the delectable donut and placed it on my plate.  As I bit into it, I was saddened to find out that it wasn't at all what I had first though, but was actually hollow and quite empty of filling.  Disappointed, I left the pathetic thing on my plate and finished the rest of my breakfast.

Empty Shell  Knowledge of God's Word apart from God Himself does this to me.  I become this empty shell of a person who thinks I know all, yet am completely oblivious to how my actions affect those around me.  Kind of like the guy at the gym.  So how do I avoid this dangerous trap? 

Spend Time with God  One of the greatest areas of frustration in my life is when I am not able to spend time with my husband.  I love him and want to enjoy his company.  But many times the busyness of life competes with this time and I find my love growing cold.  We have to make a conscious effort to cultivate our relationship.  It is the same with God.  To know Him, I must spend time with Him in quiet meditation, honest conversation, and healthy study of His Word with a sensitivity to His leading as I read. 

Cultivate a Love for God  It is easy to get caught up in the religion of Christianity, learning all the rules, lingo, and traditions but forgetting the most important thing: Love.  "We love because he first loved us." (I John 4:19)  Love does not come naturally in my flesh, but it is born out of my connection to God, who is love (see verse 16).   As a follower of Christ, I have love dwelling within me, but it can so easily be suppressed.  It is kind of like the beautiful roses growing in the flower bed on the side of my house.  They need constant care and protection against the danger of pests, diseases or lack of water. Similarly, I must take care to cultivate my love relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, guarding against legalism, pride, selfish ambition and all those things that elevate myself about my God.

God's Perspective   I remember sitting on my neighbors porch and marveling at how different my house looked to me from another viewpoint.  Its the same with God.  He sees things differently than I do, and if I want to love others, I need to be able to see them from His viewpoint.  I have my sinful attitudes, prejudices,and beliefs that cloud my viewpoint.  If I really want God's love to flow through me, I have to ask God for His perspective.  When I yield my will to His, He allows me to see people the way He sees them and I become compassionate, caring and kind.  When I place my agenda above God's,  I see people from my own perspective and I become irritable, impatient and harsh. 

Spending time with God, cultivating my love relationship my Him, and seeing things from His perspective is what will guard my heart against the hollowness of mere learning.  Love is the key, as it serves to build up the body of Christ, while knowledge solely puffs me up as an individual. 

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can let the love of God rule in my life and be known by Him.

Where am I taking pride in the knowledge of scripture yet not letting the Truth of it change me?

What parts of my life are getting in the way of my love relationship with Jesus?