Love comes from God - 1 John 4:7 (Amplified Bible)
1 John 4:7 (Amplified Bible)7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; and he who loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God [to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of Him].
God is love - 1 John 4:8 (Amplified Bible) 8He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16, KJV).
“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).
“God shows His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, KJV).
John 15:12-15“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."
“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” (1 John 4:9, KJV).
“The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5, KJV).
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1, KJV).
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.—Romans 8:38-39
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.—1 John 3:1
1 John 4:9-18In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
On the Path to Surrender
February 25, 2009
I was listening to a message my pastor did, and he brought up the scripture: "Be willing and Obedient to eat the fat of the land". He was explaining that we may not be "eating the fat of the land" so to speak (i.e walking in the fullness of what the Lord has for us) because sometimes we're not willing, and sometimes we're outright not obedient - and the root of all that is self.
To me, "Self" is the opposite of trusting God. The bible says Stubborness is as the sin of idolatory, which is self worship. ...so if I want to come after Him I have to crucify self, which means I have to identify and put in check anywhere where I'm not trusting God.
It's easy to say "I'm trusting God with this or that", but am I really?
I have to say it seems so overwhelming sometimes that it seems I'm trying so hard (yeah, sure) and it's still not good enough! But that's because I'm focusing on my efforts and my ability to do.
The key is to surrender ALL to the Lord and let Him do these things through me - because His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
But while I know this intellectually, it's quite another to actually walk it.
Something Pastor does mention that helps is to trust the Lord's love and His purposes in order to have the victory. I can definitely see how as I grow in trusting the Lord and trusting His purposes, I can surrender more and more to Him because I know He cares for me and won't let me down... But I can't do it on my own though.
So my prayer each day is asking the Lord to teach me HOW to surrender, and help me to just do it. Just bite the bullet and do it - one thing at a time. The sky will not fall if I let go. really.
That's why I'm trying to meditate daily on scriptures that speak of God's love for me, so I can get it in there. It needs to get into my heart, get mixed with some faith so that it can power this surrender thing.
I guess it's one day/issue/experience at a time... It requires practise just like everything else.
Excerpt From "the practice of the presence of God" by brother Lawrence:
http://www.amazon.com/Practice-Presence-God-Brother-Lawrence/dp/0924722193/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235599621&sr=1-1
In the beginning, Brother Lawrence declared that a little effort was needed to form the habit of continually coversing with God, telling Him everything that was happening. However, after a little careful practice, God's love refreshed him, and it all became quite easy.
When he considered doing some good deed, he always consulted God about it saying, "Lord, I will never be able to do that if you don't help me." Immediately he would be given more than enough strength.
When he sinned he confessed it to God with these words: "I can do nothing better without you. Please keep me from falling and correct the mistakes I make." After that, he did not feel guilty about sin.
Brother Lawrence pointed out that he spoke very simply and frankly to God. He asked for help with things as he needed it, and his experience had been that God never failed to respond.
by Brother Lawrence Scroll Publishing Co. · 2007ISBN: 978-0-924722-19-6
I was listening to a message my pastor did, and he brought up the scripture: "Be willing and Obedient to eat the fat of the land". He was explaining that we may not be "eating the fat of the land" so to speak (i.e walking in the fullness of what the Lord has for us) because sometimes we're not willing, and sometimes we're outright not obedient - and the root of all that is self.
To me, "Self" is the opposite of trusting God. The bible says Stubborness is as the sin of idolatory, which is self worship. ...so if I want to come after Him I have to crucify self, which means I have to identify and put in check anywhere where I'm not trusting God.
It's easy to say "I'm trusting God with this or that", but am I really?
I have to say it seems so overwhelming sometimes that it seems I'm trying so hard (yeah, sure) and it's still not good enough! But that's because I'm focusing on my efforts and my ability to do.
The key is to surrender ALL to the Lord and let Him do these things through me - because His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
But while I know this intellectually, it's quite another to actually walk it.
Something Pastor does mention that helps is to trust the Lord's love and His purposes in order to have the victory. I can definitely see how as I grow in trusting the Lord and trusting His purposes, I can surrender more and more to Him because I know He cares for me and won't let me down... But I can't do it on my own though.
So my prayer each day is asking the Lord to teach me HOW to surrender, and help me to just do it. Just bite the bullet and do it - one thing at a time. The sky will not fall if I let go. really.
That's why I'm trying to meditate daily on scriptures that speak of God's love for me, so I can get it in there. It needs to get into my heart, get mixed with some faith so that it can power this surrender thing.
I guess it's one day/issue/experience at a time... It requires practise just like everything else.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Hope this encourages you as you practise the presence of God:
Excerpt From "the practice of the presence of God" by brother Lawrence:
http://www.amazon.com/Practice-Presence-God-Brother-Lawrence/dp/0924722193/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235599621&sr=1-1
In the beginning, Brother Lawrence declared that a little effort was needed to form the habit of continually coversing with God, telling Him everything that was happening. However, after a little careful practice, God's love refreshed him, and it all became quite easy.
When he considered doing some good deed, he always consulted God about it saying, "Lord, I will never be able to do that if you don't help me." Immediately he would be given more than enough strength.
When he sinned he confessed it to God with these words: "I can do nothing better without you. Please keep me from falling and correct the mistakes I make." After that, he did not feel guilty about sin.
Brother Lawrence pointed out that he spoke very simply and frankly to God. He asked for help with things as he needed it, and his experience had been that God never failed to respond.
by Brother Lawrence Scroll Publishing Co. · 2007ISBN: 978-0-924722-19-6
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)