Loving God- DAY TWO
Loving God
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Day Two
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Scripture: "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:3-5 ESV)
Thought: Have you ever looked up specifically what Jesus' commandments were? I did and there are approximately thirty-eight listed in the four Gospels. These commandments from Jesus were to be entrusted to the Church by way of the disciples. The last thing He told His disciples to do before He ascended to Heaven was to "go and make disciples" - to teach us what they had been taught. John said that the commandments of Jesus are not burdensome. In fact, you will see if you look at them that they are more about how to live rightly before God and man rather than being a list of rules and regulations. They are words of discipleship from Jesus, our Teacher, to help us become His disciples.
In the passage above we see the writer, Apostle John, connect our love for God with keeping the commandments of Jesus. He also tells us that our faith is connected to our love for God. Finally, John indicates that those things joined together will make us overcomers. Therefore, we see that loving God also empowers us in living our life.
Application: So, how are you doing with loving God? Are you giving Him the measure and depth of love that He desires and deserves from you? Has your love for Him invaded your heart, soul, and mind? Can you look at your life and the way you process through it and say for sure that you are an "overcomer?"
As you interact with the truth of the scripture above, and then apply it to your life in answering my questions to you, evaluate how you show your love for Jesus with your heart? Do you really love Him at this deep, deep level? Are you loving God as your Daddy and experiencing the intimacy of a child with his or her Dad? Are you making it a choice to love God and make it a priority? Take a moment now to seek your answer from the Holy Spirit through prayer about those questions.
Q: What do you think the Holy Spirit said to you?
Q: What adjustments do you need to make to begin loving God as He deserves?
Response: Make a commitment now to follow through with any changes that you need to make. Remember, He loves you and He wants you to enjoy the blessing of loving Him in return. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you with this. He will be faithful to show you the way.