but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
God's love can't be earned, it was offered in full while I was still His enemy. I was a sinner. His love is a free gift given because it is who He is. So why is it that so often people move into a works based mentality?
It is because we don;t understand the finished work of Christ. The gift was given, the price was paid in full on the cross at Calvary. There is no way for us to earn that now. We can only choose to receive the gift. He will not force us to, that is how He shows us His love. He did it regardless of our response.
While we didn't deserve it and we certainly can't earn it, we can freely receive it. At that point, we show our love back to Him through our actions. It is a conscious choice to love Him back.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
This scripture gives us a look at what God's love towards us looks like. His love towards us is patient and kind. It is not envious or boastful (So we need to stop with the "Look at what I did or what I am doing for God. Our right hand isn't suppose to know what the left hand is doing. We are either doing it for GOd or we are doing it to show man.). God's love is not arrogant or rude. To me that means I have to lose any judgemental attitude that leads to arrogance, or comparing myself to someone else because ultimately I fall short of God's standard! Love doesn't insist on it's own way. God doesn't force His way on me and I need to stop forcing my way hoping He will bless it. Love is not irritable or resentful. I can't be mad at God because He doesn't work things out in my timing or the way I see fit.
Bill Johnson said "God doesn't work for me, I work for Him." I can't be happy in my sin, but I need to rejoice in God's truth. Jesus is my standard. Love bears all things, even if I feel like I can't. If I keep my trust in God, He will see me through anything I face. My part is to believe in Him, His Words and His promises. I have to keep my hope in Him and I can do that remembering the finished work of the cross and that He is viewing everything from eternity not earthly time. I can endure because Jesus endured the cross for me.
Thank You Lord for loving me and paying the cost for me to be restored to You even while I was still a sinner.Help me to receive the fullness and completeness of Your love and love You better!
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