Love

 

Love

Romans 5:6-11

6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

The love of God is everywhere in the heavens, universe, and earth. We must look outward sometimes and gaze at the beauty that we see. We have so much to be thankful for to see and feel the goodness of God in our lives. The flowers that bloom, the crops are producing an abundance of seed, a warm summer breeze that blows in the wind as the blue skies hang low. And the fact that we are still here in the earth that’s all God granting us life. But in all His creation He chose to dwell within us through the Holy Spirit.

 

No matter where we are God is with us. We must take the time to read His Word to learn about His nature, principles, and laws. There is a plan that He put into existence before time began to save us. We have the gift of grace that He put everything into divine order. This was God’s love covering us and making a way to reconcile mankind back to Him. Ephesians 2:8  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

 

God’s love is perfect and eternal. He knows the plan that He has for those who love Him. When we believe in the Word of the Lord, we will follow Him. Christ is the Messiah, the anointed One who God sent to teach us about the kingdom of heaven. The parables and the life of His, Son Jesus is who we owe our lives too. John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

 

The blood of Jesus is the proof that was given for the penalty of our sin debt. There is no other required sacrifice, it was the final sacrifice that covered our sins the sins of the world. Hebrews 10:12-14 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace, Revelations 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.

 

We have so much to rejoice about because God loved us before we knew Him. Our spirits must be fed with the Word of the Lord daily. Our minds and hearts must be free of the world’s programming about satisfying our flesh. Our Savior lives and His light is shining upon us as He illuminates the path that we must walk to live in the light. His blood, love, sacrifice, and life were given for our redemption. This kind of love is perfect because Christ died for our offenses and transgressions. He took our punishment which was eternal death and nailed it to the cross by sacrificing His life. John 10:17-18 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” John 6:47-51 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

 

His peace is resting inside our hearts as we worship and sing praises to the Lord. We must cling to God’s Word for the strength to endure till the end. Wherever we are the Word is abiding within us. The Word and power of God is our defense and amour to keep us connected to His Spirit. Our souls are accounted for as sheep that belong to the good Shepherd. Wherever He leads us we must follow to remain protected and cared for. This is perfect love that the Lamb of God would lay down His life to save His sheep. He is faithful and true because witnesses have seen and testified about Christ’s baptism, death, and resurrection, love, grace, and mercies that they received.

 

We are loved by God time past, present, and future. The Word tells us how great and mighty our creator is in the universe. He is Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent. This is how we revere Him because our lives depend on His love. He sees every tear and hears the cries of His children. Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.

 

He wakes us during the midnight hours to meditate on His goodness and mercies. We must be quick to listen and slow to speak and let the Holy Spirit minster to us. This is our revelation and moment of instructions. Those of us who delight in the Lord are always willing to invite the Holy Spirit into our lives. Our love must be proactive and spontaneous as we pray, praise and worship God. There is nothing of greater value than having the intimacy of our heavenly Father’s presence and time. This love is perfect, and we must cling   to and protect it. Matthew 13:45-46 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

 

Christ love was demonstrated when He came into the world to teach men where to look for it. Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. The light revealed that there is a better way to live and the light revealed the darkness in men who loved evil. The power of God’s love is working in our lives to compel us to seek His righteousness. We must repent and turn to Jesus because He is the Son of God. 1 Timothy 2:3-6 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 

 

Today, we must ponder on our first love who is Jesus Christ. 1 John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us. If we say that we know Him and do not obey His commandments to love one another than we do not have love in us. 1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. 

The love of God was poured out upon all men through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. We must obey and love with all our hearts and minds and through our intellect. There is no boundary or barriers that will stop the love of God from reaching us. We must get out the way with our finite minds and let God’s love abide in our hearts. 1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ This love is perfect.

 

A Beautiful Grace

 

Sometimes blessings are in disguise

Listen to the birds as they sing

 Quiet your mind and ponder the sound

As seasons change and nature blooms

Peace and joy has filled the earth

And yet you are still here

Take the time to say thank you

Prayers are being answered

As you envision a different world

Your time will come to reap too

Every living creature has a purpose

If you seek God’s love you will find it

Believe in your inheritance and give praise

Stay steadfast in the Lord

His grace is unmerited and everlasting

ã2004 “Naima’s Inspirational Melodies”