God’s Love

 

 

This morning has been a strange day for my study.  I have rewritten sections of this post several times.  Now I am basically starting over.  This morning I have struggled with focus.  But I found it in the Love of God.

There are three or four passages that worked through my head.

 

John 13:31-35 (ESV)

³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. ³⁵ By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Mark 12:29-31 (ESV)

 ²⁹ Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Galatians 6:1-10 (ESV)

¹ Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. ⁵ For each will have to bear his own load.

⁶ Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. ⁷ Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ⁸ For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. ¹⁰ So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

2 Corinthians 3:4-6 (ESV)

⁴ Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. ⁵ Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, ⁶ who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

2 Corinthians 4:13-18 (ESV)

¹³ Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, ¹⁴ knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. ¹⁵ For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

¹⁶ So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Reflections

As I read these passages I am reminded of where my focus must be first in God.  I must love and worship Him with all my heart and soul.  Next, I must love my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.  “³⁵ By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” (John13:35)

But this love shows itself in so many ways.  I am to be my brother’s keeper. If I see him slipping into temptation I am to reach out to him.  In Galatians 6 it is to be “in a spirit of gentleness” (Gal 6:1) taking care that I am not tempted myself.  And I cannot do this on my own.

I have no true strength.  I can do nothing on my own. “our (my) sufficiency is from God, ⁶ who has made us (me) sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. (2Cor 3:6).  There is no room for pride here…

Humbled

2 Corinthians 4:13-18 (ESV) hit me hard this morning as I considered all I had read.   As I reviewed this passage over and over I was simply humbled by it all

13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Closing…  the love of God thru Me

As I reflect on these things I am reminded that through me shows the Love of Jesus.  Not because I am by nature loving but because He is in me and He has shown me how to love.  This love means caring enough to hold each other accountable in a spirit of love and kindness and share it so that Grace which God gives me extends to more and more people as they learn of the truth…  the one and only truth of the Gospel.  By myself, that is an impossible task but with God ALL things are possible…

To God be the glory!!!