†††~~p r e s e n t s:~~†††
†††~Because God Loved First!~†††
(Submitted By Batone)
Even though Paul said "the greatest of these is love" (1 Cor. 13:13) and even though Jesus said the greatest commandment is love (Mark 12:30) and even though John wrote "God is love" (1 John 4:8) we now have an entire generation of Christians who apparently would rather believe in things, issues and experiences instead of aiming, as obedient children, for the love of God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. How can such a terrible climate of spiritual sickness be healed?
If each of us would simply remind ourselves it is because "God so loved the world" (John 3:16) that we are even Christians in the first place, and if we would humble our hearts, cleanse ourselves of all our so-called "spiritual knowledge" and step into the yoke of our humble Savior (Matt. 11:29) so we might learn of the One Who is love, then we would be well on our way to reestablishing Jesus Christ as the true and actual Lord of our Christian life.
Remember, Paul also wrote, "Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies" (1 Cor. 8:1).
If love is our goal, then we will joyfully give up all other discussions, realizing they are all ultimately fruitless and can only lead to a spiritual blindness of arrogance. We don't need quarrels or a new experience. Instead we need to gratefully acknowledge and fully embrace the true life-changing experience of receiving Jesus Christ as our Savior, our Way, our Truth, and our Life (John 14:6).
Let us affirm this day, anew and afresh, that God is our all in all. He is everything to us. He is the Light this world needs to see. He is the healing the body of Christ needs to receive. And He is the goal we need to aim for.
If we will follow this simple and profound act of contrition before our Lord Jesus Christ, then we will focus on the prize of the upward call (Phil. 3:14) and at the end of our lives we will have reached our goal, crossing the finish line of love with purpose, joy and ultimate fulfillment in God.
"And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ." (Col. 1:28).
[This Series was created by Kenny Mitchell for WebUplifterMinistries ®2002]
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