A Life with Love Does Not Judge

Love does not judge others and love does not condemn others. There will be a place for judgment and there will be a time for condemnation but we are not in that place or that time.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. John 3:16,17

Those who believe in Jesus Christ will not be judged. They have passed out of judgment into life.

He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18

Those who are afraid of being judged have already been judged by their own life.

This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. John 3:19,20

Each person will judged and condemned by their own words.

But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36,37

Judgment day is coming.

And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, Hebrews 9:27

It will be a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of a living God.

For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:26-31

The Lord will judge the Christian and the Lord will judge the non-Christian.

But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world. I Corinthians 11:31,32

Either we can judge ourselves or we can let the Lord judge us. If we judge ourselves rightly then we will not be judged by the Lord, for we will have judged ourselves according to His truth.

If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:8,9

The only way that we can judge ourselves rightly is according to God’s Word. We must look intently into God’s Word and let it be a mirror of our heart. Then when we see the wickedness and evil of our heart then we can confess to the Lord what is true. We have all sinned and our hearts are deceptive.

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25

How much of the Word of God are we actually doing? It is only what we are doing that we really believe. Faith is acting on God’s Word. Faith and fear can not live together in the same person. Anything that is not of faith is sin.

and whatever is not from faith is sin.Romans 14:23b

Are you growing strong in faith or are you controlled by your fears?

yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, Romans 4:20

The Lord did not give us a spirit of fear.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. II Timothy 1:7

The only way that a person can live life fully with an absence of fear is if he lives a life of faith and obedience, fearing the only One who has all power and with whom judgment belongs. When you fear God then you see His love and that love empowers you to believe Him and live a life of faith.

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. John 15:13,14

God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world or to condemn the world but that the world might know His great love. Those who love Jesus Christ and keep His commandments know His love. Those who don’t love Jesus Christ have brought judgment and condemnation on themselves because they have not believed in the One who came to love them and give them life. Love is a choice and the Lord gives us the choice of life, forgiveness and love through Jesus Christ or death, judgment and condemnation apart from Jesus Christ.

A Life of Much Gladness

Gladness is different from joy. Joy comes from the presence of the Lord. The Bible says, “in Thy presence is fulness of Joy”. Gladness comes from loving what is right and doing it. Gladness comes from a clear conscience that you did the right thing earlier and so you are not fearful about being questioned or being caught.  Gladness is closely related to happiness. If you love the right thing and do what is right you will be happier than all of your friends.

Hebrews 1:9 “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above your companions.”

Not only will you have gladness but you will also not walk in darkness for you will have the light of the Lord.

Psalm 97:11 Light is sown like seed for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart.

When others go their own way if you will seek the Lord and walk with Him then you will see that He will give you a witness of Himself and that He is good by giving you a fruitful life and will satisfy your heart with gladness.

Acts 14:16,17 In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”

However, when you walk with the Lord the gladness that the Lord gives you will even be greater than the gladness that you have when you have been blessed with an abundance on this earth. He will give you a gladness in your heart that transcends the blessings of this life on earth and you will sing for joy all the days of your life if only you will seek Him with all of your heart.

Psalm 4:6b,7 Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord!
You have put gladness in my heart,
More than when their grain and new wine abound.

When the Lord’s countenance shines on you then you will reflect the Lord to the world and your heart will be glad. His countenance shining on you is an expression of His favor. There is no sweeter experience than to have the favor of the Lord on your life. When you walk with the Lord in the light of His countenance then it truly is a taste of heaven on earth and is what the Lord designed for us in the garden of Eden.

Psalm 30:10-12 “Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me;
O Lord, be my helper.”
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,
That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

The Lord is the only One who can change our mourning into dancing and loose the things that make us sad and clothe us with gladness. If you heart is sad then let Him do this for you today. Taste and see that the Lord is good and follow Him with all of your heart that you may sing for joy all the days of your life.

 

A Life with Love Can Be Forsaken

True love does not forsake but love can be forsaken. Love is always a choice. If there was no choice then it would not be love. God gave man the freedom to choose. Man can love God or man can leave God. You can choose to love your spouse or you can choose to leave your spouse. There is the freedom of choice in love. Love is an act of the will and is not based on an emotion. Emotions come and go but we can always choose to love and when we choose to love our emotions will follow. God chose to love man even when man chose to not love God.

They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” Genesis 3:8-10

Adam and Eve were afraid because they had forsaken the Lord and they hid themselves from God. If we feel guilty then we don’t want to see the one who we have sinned against. Adam and Eve had sinned against God by desiring something other than what God had for them. Even in their sin the Lord had not forsaken them and He still sought to love them and provided for their needs and gave them hope through a promise.

He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.” Genesis 3:15b

The Lord promised a Savior who would crush Satan on the head.

The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. Genesis 3:21

The Lord provided clothes for Adam and Eve.

Then you are to say to them, ‘It is because your forefathers have forsaken Me,’ declares the Lord, ‘and have followed other gods and served them and bowed down to them; but Me they have forsaken and have not kept My law. Jeremiah 16:11

Just as Adam and Eve forsook the Lord when they did not obey Him, so we also, when we do not obey the Lord we too are forsaking Him for another god. It may be the “god of fleshly pleasure or fleshly desire” or we may be forsaking Him by pursuing the “god of the boastful pride of life” and neglecting spending time with Him in His Word or in prayer.

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. I John 2:15-17

Anything that we love more than God or in place of God has become an idol in our heart. We can not love God and love idols. Anything that keeps us from doing the will of God, by obeying His Word, has caused us to forsake God and His love for us.

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. Matthew 6:24a

We can not serve two masters. We will love one and hate the other. We can not serve God and serve something else. The love of God is what must be our one and only choice.

He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 10:37-39

We must love God more than any other human relationship. We must love God more than life itself. When we love God more than all else then we will find love and life.

O Lord, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You will be put to shame. Those who turn away on earth will be written down, Because they have forsaken the fountain of living water, even the Lord. Jeremiah 17:13

Those who forsake the Lord and His love will be put to shame.

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 9:10

The Lord will not forsake those who trust in Him and seek Him.

Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:7

The Lord gives us a choice. We can love Him and forsake all others or we can go our own way and forsake Him. Just as in a marriage, we must choose to love our spouse and forsake all others or we can forsake our spouse and “love” another. Love is a choice. Christianity is a love relationship with God that is based on God’s love for us and our response to His love. Will we forsake “our” way and turn to Him or will we continue to go “our” way and indulge in “our” unrighteous thoughts? If we will turn to Him with all of our heart then He will have compassion on us and He will forgive.

The Lord is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. Psalm 145:8

How to Avoid Being Disappointed in Life

Hope deferred brings disappointment but desires realized are sweet to the soul and refreshing to those who see their desires fulfilled. Expectations will often lead to disappointment and will weigh the heart down. How do we avoid disappointments in life and how do we deal with disappointments so that our hearts are not discouraged?

Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

There is only One whom we can put our hope in and who will never disappoint us. Since we are all sinners we will eventually disappoint each other. For this reason, you must look to Him and point others to the One who will never disappoint. His love is poured out within our hearts if we have the Holy Spirit living within us. He loves you and sees your heart and knows your needs.

Romans 5:5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

If you are looking to Him and He is your hope then your desires will be realized for He is the Giver of all things. He is the only One who promises us that we will not be disappointed if we believe in Him.

Romans 10:11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

Expectations in people will always ultimately bring disappointment if we put our trust in them to meet all of our expectations. Political leaders, even if they are good leaders will bring disappointment because they can never meet your expectations. Parents will ultimately disappoint you if you are looking to them with expectations. Husbands will disappoint wives if there are expectations. No one can meet all of your needs. You must look to the One who is God alone. He is the only One who will never disappoint you. This may seem hard since you can not see Him but He is faithful to His Word and He has promised those who believe in Him that they will not be disappointed. If you have never had this kind of trust and faith in Him then ask Him to help you. Pray the same prayer as the man in the Bible prayed, “Lord, I believe, help me in my unbelief.”

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.

Faith and trust in the Lord is increased through reading, studying and meditating on His Word. If you are not reading it every day then start there and read it every day. If you are reading and not studying the Word of God then find a Bible study that will help you study the Bible. If you are reading and studying but not meditating and putting it in your heart then start doing that and putting God’s Word in your heart. You can memorize and meditate on at least one verse a week. Watch God’s Word do His work in your life and increase your faith and trust in Him. You will not be disappointed.

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

 

A Life with Love Does Not Forsake

True love does not forsake. Since the source of true love is not the recipient but the one who is the giver of the love, true love is not dependent on the one loved but is dependent on the lover. The only source of true love is the Lord because He is the only One who never changes. However, He can give us His love for others so that we can love others with a true love. When Jesus Christ comes to live within a person then He can and wants to love others through the one whom He lives within.

We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. I John 4:18

Abide means to live within. When the Lord is where our heart abides and He abides in our heart then we will experience His love and others will experience His love through us. When we come to know God then we come to know His love and how great it is.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. I John 4:7,8

God’s love for us never changes. The Lord says that He will never forsake us, in other words, His love will never leave us and God will always be with us. This is one of the most amazing truths about Jesus Christ and His love for us. The reason why this truth is so powerful and amazing is that this love came at a very high price. All of us forsook the Lord and so we deserve to be forsaken. Forsake means to leave and all of us left God. Adam and Eve left God when they sinned in the garden and everyone who has descended from them inherited the same sin nature to “want to live life on our own” and “be our own master” with the same outcome of death.

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— Romans 5:12

Since all of us sinned then all of us deserve death. Death is ultimately separation from God. We are all born spiritually dead without the capacity to know God. Every time we sin we experience death to our soul, which is the guilt, remorse, regret and all of the other destructive things we feel when we do not keep God’s law. Man even tries to get rid of God’s laws so that man can rid himself of the guilt but God’s laws are written on our hearts and so we have to close ourselves completely off to God to try to get rid of the guilt. The only way we can do this is to say that there is no God. However, even our mind can not accept that because the Lord has put it within us to know that there is a Creator. So…we try to get rid of a Creator by saying that we all evolved through the theory of evolution. However, as all of us can see, trying to get rid of God becomes even more foolish because only God can give life and breath. For this reason, it has been said, that there are few atheists on the deathbed. In our hearts, all of know that there is a God. We have to be taught that there is no God and we believe that teaching only if there are things in our lives that go against God’s laws, such as immorality, stealing, lying or anything else that brings guilt on us.

So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. Romans 5:18

Through Adam’s sin came death and condemnation to all men. However, through the righteousness of Jesus Christ came the gift of justification and life to all men.

For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17

Jesus Christ is the only One who never sinned and did what was right in God’s eyes. He kept the entire Law of God and in obedience to the Father, Jesus Christ went to the cross for us. He took our sin and death on Himself in order to give us His life and righteousness.

For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19

Jesus Christ was forsaken so that those who receive the gift of what He did on the cross for them, the gift of life, would never be forsaken. Forsaken means to be cut off from God’s presence and His love.

At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Mark 15:34

When Jesus Christ took our sin, He also took the death and condemnation that we deserved. God’s wrath was poured out on Jesus Christ when He was on the cross. God, the Father, turned His back on Jesus Christ. God, the Father, forsook Jesus Christ on the cross so that we would not be forsaken.

for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” Hebrews 13:5b

Jesus Christ was forsaken so that we would not be forsaken by God. Jesus Christ is the gift that God gave because He so loved the world.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

The gift of Jesus Christ is available to all men and any who will believe in Jesus Christ and receive this gift of God will never be forsaken. This amazing love and promise is for whoever will believe in Him.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, John 1:12

Those who receive Jesus Christ will never be forsaken and will live in His love for all eternity because God gives them the privilege and right of becoming His child. God restores what was lost in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned. God restores the love relationship and sweet fellowship with God that He designed for man to have through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ paid the price for our sin with His own blood.

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. I John 3:1

It is not until we come to know God’s love that we can ever truly love someone else with this same kind of love that will not forsake or change. We are never more like God than when we love, for God is love and the one who loves is born of God and knows God.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. I John 4:7-9

If you want to find love and keep love in your life then you must find God. He allows Himself to be found by those who will seek Him with all of their heart. Seek Him and you will find Him. In finding God, you will find true love and the true love of God will never forsake you.

But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. Deuteronomy 4:29

A Life that will Not Disappointed

The Master Builder says that you will not be disappointed if you build your life on His design and according to His instructions.

Romans 10:11 For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”

Believing means that you are trusting Him to be your Lord and will follow His instructions exactly how to build your life. Not only that, but you will let Him be the builder and allow Him to build your life and make the choices. The opposite of allowing Him to be the builder is believing that you know what is best for your life and that you need to make the decisions…such as, who you will marry, where you will live etc. Lordship means that He is Lord of your life and you are to follow and obey Him. His promise is…”you will not be disappointed”. He is the only One who can make this promise and keep it. No human can ever love you the same way.

Isaiah 64:5 You meet him who rejoices in doing righteousness, who remembers You in Your ways.

The Lord meets the one who wants to do life right, that is, according to His ways. He will help the one who wants to build their life on His Word. He will come to you and help you learn to obey Him and follow His instructions and His commandments.

Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.

The outcome of doing life God’s way and building your life on His Word is that you will not be disappointed and you will have a life of peace, quietness and confidence. If you don’t do it God’s way then you will be disappointed and will be tempted to be bitter and envious of others and there will be NO peace, quietness and confidence. You will have doubts and regrets.

A Life with Love Casts Out Fear

There is no comfort in fear. Fear can emotionally paralyze the one who has it. Fear can control us and ultimately destroy our mental well being. Fear comes from not knowing and not being in control and when life seems out of control we become anxious and fearful. Fear is not a part of God’s will for your life.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, I John 4:18a

The only cure for fear is when we will trust the One who is always in control and who loves us perfectly. We do not even love ourselves perfectly so we can not even trust ourselves. Nor do we have all power to control everything always so we are helpless and can not even help ourselves. There is only One who can ultimately help us and He is all loving and all powerful and we can trust Him. He is in control and is fully aware of everything that is going on in our lives. Nothing catches Him by surprise.

The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all. Psalm 103:19

The Lord can do whatever He pleases. He is the only One with that kind of power.

Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps. Psalm 135:6

The Lord loves you and He loves all of us. He does not show partiality.

For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. Deuteronomy 10:17

His love is perfect and it is available to any who will call on Him. He is able, He will and He wants to deliver you from your fears.

And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Will be delivered; Joel 2:32a

The Lord will not only deliver you from your fears if you call on Him but He will save you. He will be your Savior in this world and for all eternity if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead.

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9,10

He will never leave you nor forsake you if you call on Jesus Christ to save you.

for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. Hebrews 13:5b, 6a

He will replace your fear with His peace. There is not anything that can take His peace away from you.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27

To those who call on the Lord Jesus Christ to save them He will be their refuge and One whom they can go to any time and call on any time if they ever start feeling fearful again. He will deliver them from evil and their soul can find safety and shelter from the troubles of life.

For you have made the Lord, my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place.
No evil will befall you,
Nor will any plague come near your tent. Psalm 91:9,10

Those who call on the Lord Jesus Christ and put their trust in Him will not be disappointed.

For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:11-13

He is a present help in time of trouble. If this is a fearful and troubling time for you then maybe God has allowed this time so that you will realize that you need Jesus Christ in your life, not only for now, but for all time.

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

If you are weary of trying to make it on your own or if you are weary of carrying the burden of your fears and anxieties then come to Him. He invites all who are weary to come to Him. He is gentle and humble of heart and He understands your fears, anxieties and troubles and He loves you.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus Christ loves you and in His love your fears will be cast out and in Him you will find rest for your soul. He will be a present help in time of trouble and you will be able to take refuge in Him and be safe. He will give you His peace and nothing can take it away. He will never leave you. You will not be disappointed when you put your trust in Him.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe. Proverbs 18:10

How to Avoid a Life Empty of Love

Love is a basic human need for a healthy development and happy relationships yet it seems illusive at times and often the ones that we “hate” the most are those closest to us or that we have been close to at some time. How do we love others on a long term basis and keep loving, happy, healthy relationships? Love is the greatest commandment and if we fulfill this commandment then we will fulfill them all.

Matthew 22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Just as moral excellence is the root of love so love is the foundation of the Law and Prophets. The Law was to teach us how to love God with all of our heart and soul and mind and our neighbor as ourselves. The prophets were continually calling the people back to loving the Lord with all their heart, soul and mind and their neighbor as well. There is no peace, love or joy apart from love. There is no love apart from God, for God is love. Remove God from society, families and all relationships and you will eventually remove love.

I John 4:8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

The opposite of loving God and others is selfishness. Selfishness is loving ourselves at the expense of someone else. It is taking and not giving. It is me and not you. No one can serve two masters. He will either love the one and hate the other or vice versa.

Matthew 6:24a No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.

You can not love yourself first and love God second. You must love God first and that will include loving others and then you love yourself next. If you love God first then He will watch out for your interests and He will be your security and defense. If you love yourself first then you will not be loving others the way you should. All of your “love” for others will be selfcentered and not love for them at all. There will always be a conflict of interests. For this reason, the Lord says that if we are to follow Him and love Him then we must die to ourselves.

Luke 9:23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

This is what it means to take up your cross daily, it is to die to yourself. The cross represents death. You can not truly love others if you do not learn to die to yourself. When you get married, the question is not, “Do I love this person more than everyone else?”. No rather, the question should be, “Do I love this person more than myself?”. If you truly love your mate more than yourself then you will truly love that person the way the Lord wants you to love them and there will never be another person that you will ever love in the same way (while you both shall live) because all marital unfaithfulness is all about loving yourself. Most marriages that fail began with selfishness and ended with selfishness in one or both spouses. Selfishness is loving or not wanting someone else for what they have or don’t have to offer to you.

I John 4:7-9 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.

Jesus Christ is the ultimate expression and manifestation of love. If you want to know love then you must know Jesus Christ. He came into the world to love and He loves everyone and the gift of His love is offered to everyone. Whoever will receive Jesus Christ will receive His love. We can not love others with a Godlike love without Jesus Christ.

I John 4:10-12 In this is love, not that we 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 seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.

Jesus loved us and took our sins that we might receive and live in His love. He came that we might be able to love God and love others as He has loved us. If you know Jesus Christ then you will know true love and His love will be perfected in you. When you live in His love then His love will overflow into the lives of others. The life of love, joy and peace will truly overflow within you and you will begin to experience heaven on earth and what it means to live in His kingdom.

I John 4:20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

Hate comes from unresolved anger and unresolved anger comes from unforgiveness from being hurt. If you have been hurt and still struggling to forgive then take that hurt to the Lord and ask Him to help you forgive. He went to the cross to forgive us and because He has forgiven us then we can forgive others. He is the source of all love and because He loves us then we too can love others even those who previously seemed unlovable. You will also find that as you love others then your life will be filled with the love of others. Through Him we can love the world and everyone in it but apart from Him we can love no one.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”

 

 

 

A Life with Love has a Refuge

A refuge is a safe place where a person can feel secure. We all need a refuge. We need a refuge from the storms of life just as a person needs a refuge if they are caught in a physical storm. There is something very unsettling about being in a place that starts to shake during a hurricane or a very bad storm. The winds blow and howl and the rain seems never to stop. Often the storms seem worse during the night. The sounds can cause much fear and more than anything else the unknown can seem the worse. Not too many years ago there was not much warning when a hurricane was coming and people did not know how long it would last. The storms of life are kind of like that, we don’t know how long they will last or what will be the outcome. Storms can be frightening.

Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:8

The Lord is the only One who can be a refuge for us at all times and at any time. We can trust in Him all of the time. He wants us to pour out our hearts to Him. He is a present help in time of trouble.

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Since the Lord does not change and He loves us perfectly therefore He is the perfect refuge for us. Everything else in life will change but if God is our refuge then we do not need to fear. We do not need to fear the unknown or the changes. The Lord is a present help in time of trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Psalm 46:2,3

The Lord will cover you with His pinions and under His wings you seek refuge. Just as a mother bird will protect her babies so the Lord will protect those who take refuge in Him.

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!”
For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper
And from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His pinions,
And under His wings you may seek refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. Psalm 91:2-4

The Lord can protect you from harm. His faithfulness is a shield and a bulwark. He is faithful to His Word. You can trust Him.

As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the Lord is tested; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. II Samuel 22:31

The Lord preserves those who take refuge in Him.

Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You. Psalm 16:1

Those who take refuge in the Lord will not be ashamed.

In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed; In Your righteousness deliver me. Psalm 31:1

The person who takes refuge in the Lord will see how great His goodness is that He has stored up for them.

How great is Your goodness, Which You have stored up for those who fear You, Which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, Before the sons of men! Psalm 31:19

How blessed will be the one who takes refuge in the Lord.

O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Psalm 34:8

None of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned. He redeems them.

The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned. Psalm 34:22

The Lord wants us to hasten to Him and take refuge in Him. When the storm is coming it is important to hasten to the place of refuge.

I would hasten to my place of refuge from the stormy wind and tempest. Psalm 55:8

You will find that as you learn to take refuge in the Lord that you will want to sing of His love and His faithfulness. Your heart will overflow with joy. The storm will not last forever and those who took refuge in the Lord will have a testimony to share of the Lord and what He has done for them. Do you want to see the Lord and experience His love and faithfulness? Learn to go to Him rather than seek refuge in people or other “things”. He is the only sure refuge and you will be safe and secure.

But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, For You have been my stronghold And a refuge in the day of my distress. Psalm 59:16

A Life that is Filled with True Love

A life that is filled with love will overflow with love. The only way that one can live a life that is filed with love is to live in the love of the One who so loved that He gave us His Son. His love is perfect, sacrificial and eternal. He loves because He is love. When we love because of His love through us then we will have His love for others. It is unconditional and iy is true. Our love is conditional, imperfect and selfish.

I John 4:19 We love, because He first loved us.

How does one experience His love? It begins by receiving His love for you. How is this done? It is by keeping His commandments.

John 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and disclose Myself to him.

His first commandment is to come to Him. When we come to Him then we turn our back on our sin. We can not continue to sin and come to Him. All of us some time or other turned our back on Him and came to sin. Now, He is calling us to turn our back on our sin and come to Him. He will meet us the moment we turn to Him. Then He will let us know the next thing He wants us to do. It will be in accordance with His Word. It may be that He wants us to change friends, or ask forgiveness or forgive someone else.

John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;

If you belong to Him then you will hear His voice. If you do not obey when you hear His voice then you may not hear it again. He waits until you obey. He wants obedience so that you can learn to live in His love. Is there something that you know that you should be doing and have not done it? You need to obey Him.

II Peter 1:5-8 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in moral excellence, knowledge, and in knowledge, self-control, and in self-control, perseverance, and in perseverance, godliness,  and in godliness, brotherly kindness, and in brotherly kindness, love.

Moral excellence is obeying the Lord in what His Word says and keeping His commandments. That is the beginning of love. This is why many marriages fail…it is because the couple sowed seeds of a lack of moral excellence before they were married and then they reaped the bad fruit later. Nearly all marriages fail because of the seeds that were sown before marriage. It is the same in all of your relationships. There must be moral excellence for relationships to have the right foundation.

James 3:13-18 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

There are two kinds of wisdom just as there are two kinds of relationships. One of jealousy and selfish ambition or one that is pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering and without hypocrisy. How sweet life is when it is done God’s way.