FEELING UNLOVED? IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY.
BIBLE PASSAGE:
The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying:
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”
(Jeremiah 31:3)
MEDITATION:
People are drawn to others by any number of ways. Some are attracted
to someone who has a charismatic personality. Some are drawn toward
someone who impresses them with their intellect. Some people want to
be around others who have wealth or fame.
However, most everyone is drawn to someone who shows them sincere
love. Not the kind of love that causes a man to be attracted to a woman
(or vice-versa), but the kind of love that is referred to as “phileo”, which
is a friendship type of love. Although a friendship type of love is attractive
to anyone, there is a greater type of love, named “agape”, that should be
the desire of everyone.
“Agape” love is not based on the merit of the person loved. It is a love that
is kind and generous. It is also a love that continues to give even when the
recipient is unkind, unresponsive, and unworthy. “Agape” love is filled with
compassion and a desire for good things in others. This describes the kind
of love the Lord has for you and me.
Although it may be difficult to wrap our minds around it, this love flows
from the heart of a righteous God. It might be an incomprehensible and
an inexplicable mystery, but it is real, and it is from the Lord. We cannot
measure it or explain it, but we know we all need it in our lives.
Paul tells us that God’s love is a love with a promise.
No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been
hidden and that God destined for our glory before time
began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for
if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of
glory. However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has
conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who
love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by
his Spirit.
(1 Corinthians 2:7-10)
God loves us so much that He has created a wonderful, exciting,
challenging and thrilling future for every faithful, believing and
completely surrendered member of His family. His love for us
and our love for Him, opens the door to the blessings He has for us.
God has even given us an opportunity to prove our love for Him.
And, when we do, we can receive many additional blessings.
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there
may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the
Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the
floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing
that there will not be room enough to store it.
(Malachi 3:10)
Did you notice in this scripture God said, “Test me in this”?
Why do you think He said that? Isn’t He telling us that we
have an opportunity to prove we trust Him?
We can say and believe we trust Him, but when it comes to
actively proving it, we can fall short, especially when we are
asked to give up something we want to keep (and in this case,
we aren’t really giving up anything, but are bringing to God
what belongs to Him).
“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.
“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In
tithes and offerings. You are under a curse
(your whole nation), because you are robbing me.
(Malachi 3:8-9)
ACTION:
Take a moment and visualize yourself standing before God on
the day of judgment and He asks you, “Why did you rob me?”
What plausible answer will you give Him?
When thinking about obeying God’s commands,
consider these words from Jesus:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will
enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who
does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many
will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not
prophesy in your name and in your name drive out
demons and in your name perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away
from me, you evildoers!’
(Matthew 7:21-23)
Have you experienced God’s “agape” love for you? He
offers it to everyone, so a question we might ask ourselves is,
“Am I doing (or not doing) anything that
prevents me from receiving His blessings?”
The scriptures are clear; we were created to “do good works”.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do
good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
(Ephesians 2:10)
Jesus reminded Simon Peter that as a follower of Him, and a
member of God’s family, there are things he needs to be doing.
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again, Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him,
“Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time,
“Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things;
you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
(John 21:15-17)
If you are enjoying His love for you, do you spend time
time thanking Him? Don’t you think God wants to hear
us say, “Thank You” for the blessings He has given us?
There are no other blessings we can receive that can
compare to the blessings from our Heavenly Father.
Pray,
“Heavenly Father, my finite mind cannot grasp all there is
in store for those who love You, but my lack of understanding
does not take away my joy and anticipation for all You have
lovingly prepared for me. Thank You for Your love for me,
and for everyone else. Even though I may not understand it,
the Bible tells me Your love exists, and I believe Your Word
is truth. Lead me in all that I say and do so Your love will
flow from You to others through me. Thank You for Your
blessings which are included in Your mystifying, intense,
overwhelming, unimaginable and undeniable love for me.”
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