WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 11, 2019.
INTIMATION:
The Owner and Giver of life is God. And God is love. The best use of anything is in the hands of the owner. God is the Producer and Owner of life, and God is Love, therefore, the best use of life is in God—in Love. In leading a life of intimacy with God, love is what matters most. To know God is to know how to love because God is love, and created us in His image and likeness. The most important lesson He wants us to learn on earth is how to love. It is in loving that we should be like Him most. It’s noteworthy that love is the foundation of every command He has given us. The Bible, in Galatians 5 vs 14, says, "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "you shall love your neighbor as yourself."
SUBJECT : THE BEST USE OF LIFE IS IN LOVE!
Memory verse: "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love."
(First John 4 vs 8.)
READ: First John 4 vs 7 - 8, 12 - 13:
4:7: Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God.
4:8: He who does not love does not know God, for God is love."
4:12: No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
4:13: By this we know we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us His Spirit.
The Owner and Giver of life is God. And God is love. The best use of anything is in the hands of the owner. God is the Producer and Owner of life, and God is Love, therefore, the best use of life is in God—in Love. In leading a life of intimacy with God, love is what matters most. To know God is to know how to love because God is love, and created us in His image and likeness. The most important lesson He wants us to learn on earth is how to love. It is in loving that we should be like Him most. It’s noteworthy that love is the foundation of every command He has given us. The Bible, in Galatians 5 vs 14, says, "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "you shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Love should be your top priority, primary objective, and greatest ambition. Love should, and is not a good part of your life; it's the most important part of your life. The Scripture in First Corinthians 14 vs 1, says, "Pursue love, ...." To "pursue" means to "chase after," "strive for," "to work hard at," "persist in." It is not enough to say, "One of the things I want in my life is to be loving," as if it's in your top ten list. Relationships must have priority in your life above everything else.
God is invisible, and a Spirit. How then do we develop intimate relationship with Him? We only draw closer to Him if we love one another. In the passage we read today, the Scripture clearly stated that ‘no one has seen God at any time.’ If we relate in love with one another, we demonstrate the love nature of God in us, and His love has been perfected in us. Therefore, by loving one another we know we are His followers, we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us His Spirit. Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.” (John 13 vs 34 - 35.)
Love is much more than simply warm feelings. It is an attitude that reveals itself in action. How can we love others as Jesus loved us? Remember He gave His inestimable life for ours that is completely worthless because of sin. Therefore, we love like a Him; (1) By helping when it is not convenient, (2) by giving when it hurts, (3) by devoting energy to others' welfare rather than our own, (4) by absorbing hurts from others without complaining or fighting back. This kind of loving is hard to do. That is why people notice when you do it and know you are empowered by a supernatural source. Learning to love unselfishly is not an easy task. It runs counter to our self-centered nature. That's why we are given a lifetime to learn it. Of course, God wants us to love everyone, but He is particularly concerned that we learn to love others in His family.
In heaven we will enjoy God's family forever, but first we have some tough work to do here on earth to prepare ourselves for an eternity of loving. When we are not motivated by love we become critical of others. We stop looking for good in them and see only their faults. Have you talked behind someone's back? Have you focused on others' shortcomings instead of their strengths? When you begin to feel critical of someone, make a list of that person's positive qualities. If there are problems that need to be addressed, it is better to confront in love than in hate or to gossip.
God trains us by giving us family "responsibilities," and the foremost of these is to practice loving each other. God wants you to be in regular, close, fellowship with other believers so you can develop the skill of loving. Love cannot be learned in isolation. You have to be around people; imperfect, frustrating, irritating people, all manner, to learn how to love in action, and as Jesus loved.
Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with Your excellent spirit of love for You and others, that I may be found worthy a disciple of Christ, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!
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