God is so good to keep teaching us. I have said that before, but today, I say it again. I am so grateful He doesn’t leave me where I am, but he loves me enough to continue to remind me of His love. Even when we forget, and lose our focus, He graciously and faithfully draws us back to Himself.
Again, I have a couple quotes and responses.
Quote: “Are you more aware of what the verse is commanding you to do-to imitate God and to walk in love? Or, are you more aware of what the verse says about who you are, a beloved child, or what Christ has done, loving you and giving himself up as an offering and sacrifice to God?”
Response: Admittedly, I am more aware of what the verse is commanding me to do. This book has caused me to notice, in a fresh way, to take a look at the why again. While I know I have savored the why in the past, I have grown into a practicer of the what instead of one who first clings to the why. I have had it backwards for some time. I am a dear child of God! He loves me.
“Our natural unbelief will always cast doubt on His love for us. It is the awareness of His love and only this that will equip us to wage war against sin. Until we grasp how much He loves, we will never be able to imitate Him.”
While I am not unaware of His love for me, I think I have stopped pondering it and I miss the extent to which He has loved me. I have settle into the day in and day out of the Christian life and I have lost some of my wonder at His deep and sacrificial love for me.
This week my husband and I had the opportunity to think on this great love when we were asked to give up something that we really enjoy because the company was openly and boldly supporting something that is defined as sin in the Bible.
If you know me at all, you know that I am not one to take stands like this…I am not drawn into boycotts on a regular basis, but we were compelled by the God’s love for us and our love for Him. We love Him…how could we support what He hates. God used this as a great reminder of where our hearts are settled…we are hidden in Him and the things of this world are nothing in comparison. This was a reminder to me of how my motivation does lie in knowing His love for me which causes me to respond in great love toward Him in the practical things of life.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15, “for the love of Christ controls is, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who for their sake died and was raised.”
His love for us is shown in this statement: “we’re more sinful and flawed than we ever dared believe, but more loved and welcomed than we ever dared hope.”
When I remember this, I am humbled. Even though I don’t understand the depths of my sin, God does. And, even though I don’t understand the depth of His love, I am still loved out of this depth. This fuels a deep desire for obedience. It gives so much hope!
We must tell this story. We must tell it with our words and with our lives.
Quote: “Loving our neighbor the way we’ve been loved….washing feet, washing dishes; it’s speaking words that cleanse the soul and refraining from words that sully it; it’s submitting to unrighteousness authority because we submit to a righteous higher authority; it’s putting Dow. The remote and engaging our spouse in open and attentive conversation; it’s opening our lives so others can see our sin and God’s grace at work.”
Response: We must live in such a way that we proclaim His excellencies in word and deed. We cry from the mountain tops that our God loves sinners and has provided a way that they can know this forgiveness too!
I am going to close with the fourth question that Ellyse asked, “do you realize that every sin you commit is a fairer to love? Think back over your day to ascertain how this is true in your life. If you were to put on a life of love, how would this day have been different? What must be done if you’re to love others tomorrow? What do you need to think on, put off, and put on?”
I would like to start my day asking this question so that when I end the day, by God’s grace, I can have a better answer.
Blessings!
