Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Cor. 15:58

design

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

day 170: Real Love

1 John 4: 9-10

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life though him.  This is real love-- not that we loved God, but that He loved us.

***************************

Someone told me the other day that he didn't feel they could do things for God because he wasn't worthy or a good enough person.  I told him that if we all thought that nothing would ever get accomplished for God.  This blog certainly wouldn't be written if I waited to be 'worthy' enough to talk about God.  I dare say that many of you would be up the same creek as me.

I'm glad God brought me to this verse tonight.  Nothing we get from God is because we love Him.  He gave us Jesus because HE loved US.  We get that backwards sometimes.  Sometimes we love someone based on what they gives us... married folks we are so in this!  You love your spouse based on how much they love you... how much they do for YOU... what presents they give YOU... how much time they spend with YOU... etc.  God doesn't want us to be that way. 

Real love, like God showed us, isn't payback for what we get.  God sent Jesus to die not only for us (the 'good' people of the world), but for the worst serial killer ever imagined... for the child abuser... for the person who spits on Christianity like the plague... Sometimes that's hard for us who try to be good to hear, but it's true.  God didn't send Jesus because WE loved HIM.. but because He loves us (ALL of us... even the 'us' that don't believe in Him) that much and He wants us to come back to him.  If God can give up his only son for someone that hates him, how hard is it for us to love someone who just irk us?  Something to definitely think about...

Our 6th Christmas song (seriously?  It is the SIXTH of December already???!!) is "One King" by Point of Grace.  I heard this song at church for the first time probably five or six years ago and it has stayed with me.  There weren't just three kings in the stable....



1 comment:

  1. Really good thoughts today, Kelly! What amazing love!

    ReplyDelete