Yesterday we discussed the experience of RECEIVING the gift of God’s love. Do you know the greatest proof that we possess this amazing gift is NOT in how knowledgeable we are about the Bible, NOT how much we go to church, or NOT how beautifully we pray or sing? Rather it is in the LOVE we GIVE.
Experiencing God’s love for ourselves intensely transforms our love for others. It is a priceless gift.
Yesterday, when we examined the gift of love we received from God, I realized that this is a gift I must treasure. I have gone back and reread the last devotional just to let the knowledge of the sheer magnitude of God’s multifaceted love work its way deep into my heart. I’m not sure that I can comprehend it—ever—but I strongly desire to know all that I can about this remarkable love.
Don’t you?
Amidst the trouble, turmoil, and painful hardship of this life’s journey, I need to remind myself: “It really IS possible to possess this remarkable love for my soul!” But where life slaps us in the face and we find ourselves reeling from all our own problems, it’s easy to wonder if we’re even capable of loving the way the Bible describes it in 1 Corinthians 13. But the answer, according to the Bible, is “Absolutely!” In fact, Jesus commanded us to love like He does!
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
When Jesus commanded us to love each other the way He loves us, I believe He was serious. He lived the ultimate purpose-driven life. His goal in living and dying for the purchase of our redemption was motivated by love. His purpose was proven by His love. He gives us the opportunity to live gloriously by making our life the greatest proof of our own redemption!
So why don’t we see more Christians overflowing with the supernatural love described in 1 Corinthians 13?
Well, in my experience, I think we often try to love—without God. God is love and we can’t give away what we don’t have. My friend, to love like God loves—we need to be close to Him. This requires full daily surrender to Him. My friend, we are NOT capable of loving like He does—without Him. We cannot manufacture this highest form of love by our own efforts. God’s love is impossible without the experience of God’s presence.
How do we experience God’s presence, and thus, His love?
God’s presence begins when we receive His gift of salvation. Our strong sense of His presence grows as we live in heart-obedience to him. Indeed, Jesus said:
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
Heart-based obedience draws us into God’s presence.
My friend, we must obey God out of love—not obligation. Love makes us powerful; obligation simply makes us bitter and cold. Our love from God springs from having a thankful heart. We must learn to live in the realization that every gift, every breath, every friend, every peaceful moment, every blessed hope—are all a manifestation of the goodness of God. This exercise of gratefulness may be one of the most important catalysts for creating heart-based obedience.
Thankfulness awakens our soul to the humbling realization of just how much God loves us.
As we begin to absorb the multifaceted love of God we experience in His presence, we KNOW it is the best love we’ve ever had. We never want to lose it. As God fills us with His love, we can’t keep it to ourselves. God’s love by its very nature, cannot be withheld; otherwise it is not God’s love—it is merely self-love.
My friend, if you want to experience the receiving and giving of the most remarkable love; a love—that endures, is kind and patient, is not envious, confers goodness without expectation, is not arrogant or rude, is not self-seeking or easily offended, does not keep score, does not presume bad motives, believes and hopes in goodness, and never fails—it is just waiting to be poured through you. But to have it—you must have God. When we are born again AND living in full heart-obedience to God—we can’t help but to have it. Living in God’s presence WILL produce His love in us and through us.
Love is the best gift; it is the proof we know God.
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.”
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There are times when I think of how much God loves me and all of us, it just overwhelms me. I start crying, and a sense of peace comes over me. Thank you so much for all of your wonderful devotionals. Merry Christmas. God bless you and your family!
Have a blessed Christmas sweet lady…it’s so good to be overwhelmed by God’s love!