  
|
|
What’s Love Got To Do With It? I John 4:7 ¶ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Judging by the theme of most popular songs and the content of TV and the movies, I believe it is safe to say that, “Everybody wants to be loved.” We may not really know the definition of love or be very good at loving in return but that’s another subject. God commanded love in Deuteronomy 6:5. We were to love Him with all of our heart, soul and might. We were to have no other gods before Him (Exodus 20:3). That didn’t exactly work out, did it? Jesus had much to say about the true application of Love in The Sermon on the Mount . I read this and recognize it as the word of God. I know I need to be able to give love, just as much as I desire to receive it, but something keeps getting in the way, namely me. Loving is contrary to my unregenerate nature. God saw my dilemma and decided to do something about it. He saw that I was incapable of loving Him. Sin had caused a barrier that only blood could erase. He loved me so much, that He wrapped Himself in flesh and came into His own creation as a Son (Hebrews 3:6) and a Servant (Isaiah 42;1, 52:13; Matthew 12:18). He paid the price for sin they He Himself had prescribed (Leviticus 17:11, Hebrews 9:22). The soul that sinned was doomed to die (Genesis 2:17), but He took my place on the cross of Calvary. Jesus told Nicodemus that a man could not see or enter the kingdom of heaven unless he was born again or born from above (John 3:5). This new birth could only be accomplished until someone paid the penalty for sin. This, Jesus did for you and me. As the song says, "He paid a price He did not owe, I owed a price, I could not pay." Jesus also told Nicodemus that after He was lifted up (on the cross) He would draw all men to Himself (John 12:32) . He promised that I would be without condemnation if I simply believed and placed my trust in Him (John 3:18). That’s love my friend. When I believed and obeyed the gospel something happened: I was born anew (John 1:12-13; I John 5:1). I was given the privilege of being a partaker of His divine nature (II Peter 1:4). Old things passed away, all things became new (II Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15). Things that were once contrary to my nature, i.e. going the second mile and turning the other cheek didn’t seem so outrageous. He enabled me to put away the old carnal self and to become a new creature in Him. He loved me when I was unlovable. He loved me while I was yet in the depths of sin (Romans 5:8). 1Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. He didn’t love me because I was good or did anything to impress Him, He loved me because of His mercy. He loved me because love is His very nature (Ephesians 2:5,8). Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; May I never forget where I was when He found me. May I never forget what I was when He found me. May I always remember that I didn’t do anything or deserve anything. He did it all! 1John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us. May I always remember that I am to love others just as He loved me. In About-Him
A New Recording: Blessed Assurance by my friends, Mark and JJ Holland with Dehner
Franks on the keyboard. You've never heard it quite like this before. I guarantee, you will be
blessed!
RealAudio
MP3
Listen to this on Instant Play Audio! We're very excited about the opportunity to flavor and complement our written devotion with a short,instant play, online audio clip. These are of somewhat lesser audio fidelity in order that they be accessible by those on dialup service. We will also have links to higher fidelity RealAudio and MP3 versions. Online Sermons http://about-him.com/sermonlink.html Our Bible Studies http://about-him.com/bslinkpage.html Our Music: http://about-him.com/audio.html Flash Theater http://about-him.com/player.html Scripture list on 30 subjects http://about-him.com/wordarc.html Humor
"How long have you been driving without a tail light, buddy?" demanded the policeman.
The driver jumped out, ran to the rear of his car, and gave a low moan.His distress was so great that the cop was moved to ease up on him a bit. "Aw, come now," he said, "you don't have to take it so hard. It isn't that serious." "It isn't?" cried the motorist. "What happened to my boat and trailer?" Somebody Has Said
"Character is always lost when a high ideal is sacrificed on the altar of conformity and
popularity." - Charles Spurgeon
Keep Looking Up! Don and Marie Spooner About Him! Ministries Your thoughts and Inquiries Contact@about-him.com Subscribe to this devotional? Subscribe@about-him.com
The purpose of About-Him.Com is to glorify the Lord Jesus
Christ whom we preach as the Almighty God manifest in the flesh.
It is our desire that everything presented on these pages increases your
faith in our God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
|