WHERE IS THE LOVE? WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?

SCRIPTURE:
But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most 
holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in 
God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ 
to bring you to eternal life.  
(Jude 20-21)

MEDITATION:
The Bible is a revelation of the fact that God is love. 
Many people misunderstand the attribute of God’s nature - which is love.
It doesn’t mean that God could not possibly allow punishment for sin.
God’s justice is justice tempered with love.

God’s righteousness is righteousness founded on love.
God’s atonement is an atonement planned by love, provided by love, 
given by love, finished by love, and necessitated because of love. 
The resurrection of Christ is the miracle of love. 
The return of Christ is the fulfillment of love. 

When we think of God, we should automatically think of love.
No matter what sin we have committed, or how terrible, dirty, 
or shameful it may be, God loves us. 
This love of God is immeasurable, unmistakable, and unending!

We are told to keep ourselves in God’s love by building ourselves up.
Does that mean we become selfish and egotistical?
Of course not.
It means we build ourselves up in the way God wants us to – His way.
We maintain a holy faith and we pray with the attitude of the Holy Spirit.

Since the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, 
we should pray intercessory prayers for others.
We should pray for their salvation; 
we should pray for their healing; 
we should pray for their encouragement; 
we should pray for them to overcome the evil one;
we should pray that they use the spiritual gifts God has given them;
we should pray for anything that will make them more righteous.

So what is the result of keeping ourselves in God’s love?
We develop patience 
as we anticipate the mercy of the Lord to bring us to eternal life.
We cannot get our minds around the bliss that awaits us in heaven, but we 
know it will be wonderful because we know it is filled with God’s love!
That’s what we are told in God’s Word.

ACTION:
Are you fully aware of God’s love for you?
How has His love changed your life?
Do you allow His love to flow through you to others?
Are you making efforts to remain in His love?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your never ending love for me! 
Thank You for loving me in spite of my faults and failures. Teach 
me to love others in the same way that You love me. Show me how 
to change my attitudes and allow Your love to flow through me. Help 
me to maintain my faith and to communicate with You daily through 
prayer. There is no other source for me to learn about true love than 
through You. I express my heartfelt gratitude to You, Father, for Your 
forgiveness and love.”