Our Source of Love

It was only a couple years ago that I couldn't truthfully say, God loved me.  I don't know what made me so unlovable. I new what the bible said, yet the words had not penetrated my heart.

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. -1 John 4:16

God did not give up on me.  It was a painful journey but now I can say with all my heart that God loves me.  I understand that God is the SOURCE of love. It is so important for us as Christians to understand how deeply loved we are by God.  

The basis of our relationship with God is Love not fear. Think about it though.  Isn’t it so often fear that drives us away from Him. We fear that He will see how messed up we really are and He won’t accept us. We fear that if He does accept us there will be a point where he will say you’ve exceeded your sin quota and now my love stops.  You’ve reached my limit.

We fear that He really isn’t love, but that He is judgement and anger and punishment.

But if we understand that our relationship with God... the starting point, the ending point, and everything in between is based on love...that should draw us to him and entice us to want to know him more.

1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

So if we understand how much God loves us what should our response be?  We need to show that love to those around us.  There is a world out there that does not understand how loved they are by God.

Read the entire passage here 1 John 4: 16-21

Matthew 25:31-46

The Next Step – Serve

I couldn't have been more humbled when I received this hand-made bench that now has a home on my deck, on the last day of the school year. I was walking away after twenty five years of working with an amazing group of adults and children at my middle school. 

In ways I felt like, "Hey, they got it!" They noticed I went out of my way to serve others, and I am a follower of Christ. That had been my mission field for many years. Then I thought, "Wait a minute, this isn't the end, it is just the beginning!" One of the reasons I am ending this journey is to embark on another one. The need is never ending, and service is just part of the story. 

In Matthew 25:31-46 we read the story of the Son of Man coming in Glory to separate the righteous from the unrighteous. How those who served others will reap the benefits of eternal life, and those who did not going away to eternal punishment. 

We don't like speaking of hell, but it is mentioned in many of the books of the bible. As I serve others and think of how I can do more, it is not because if I don't I may go to hell. I serve others because it's the right thing to do. It is following the word of the Lord. 

Jesus came to serve people, with humility. Because he was human, he surely felt uneasy and threatened at times, but he knew what we also know about what awaits us after this life. So being out of our comfort zone as Jesus often was is part of the mission. 

Today many of us are too busy to take the time for others in need. Well, we need to MAKE time. It may mean giving up other activities, or rearranging schedules to accommodate others, but that's how others know we care. They need to know how much we care before they will open up to us and trust enough to allow us into their heart.

We freely give gifts of money and material things on special occasions, but consider the difference it will make when we give the gift of the Savior. It's free and will last FOREVER. 

Read/Listen to Matthew 25:31-46