WHAT KIND OF LOVE?
BIBLE PASSAGE:
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.”
(John 8:36)
MEDITATION:
Ever heard these comments?
“If there is a God and He is a good God, then why is there
suffering? What kind of a God is it that has created evil?”
Have you ever made these types of comments yourself? You’re not alone.
Many people have thought the same thing, but that’s not correct thinking.
The truth is, God didn’t create evil; God created perfection. God made man
perfectly free, and freedom therefore gave rise to evil. For us to love, we must
be free to choose love. If we have the option to choose love, then we must also
have the option of choosing not to love.
Which kind of love do you want from others? Do you want a forced love
or a free love? Which sounds better, “I must love you” or “I love you”?
Aren’t you glad that God has given us the freedom to make choices? It
can be a blessing when we choose correctly, but it can cause all kinds of
problems (for us, and for others), when our choices are incorrect and lack
righteousness when making our decisions.
The greatest freedom of choice is our opportunity to ask God to forgive
us of our sins and create in us a new heart of love and forgiveness. That
is what defines Jesus, and as His followers, it should define us as well.
ACTION:
We should ask ourselves:
– Do I readily accept love from others, but fail to show them love?
– Can I identify specific changes the Lord has made in me?
– Can I honestly say I am becoming more righteous every day?
– Do I realize that becoming more like Jesus is a lifetime process?
– How much do I accept and embrace God’s sanctification process to
remove unrighteousness from my life and increase my righteousness?
– How much more do I love others now than I have in the past?
– How often do I express love toward others through my words and actions?
– How often do I check on others who are sick or have issues to deal with?
– Do I stand aside with the thought that others will encourage those with needs?
– Do I realize that God may want to speak to someone through me in a way
that will impact someone more effectively than through anyone else?
– God included me when He reached out to mankind, so why
wouldn’t I want to reach out to someone who has needs?
– Do I consider myself as someone special who is
exempt from obeying God’s command to love others?
– Will I embrace my freedom to choose and make
special efforts to reach out and show love toward others?
Look at the following verse:
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
(John 8:36)
When we receive salvation from the Lord, we are given a new
freedom. We have been given the freedom to love others in the
same way the Lord loves us. No longer are we inhibited by our
natural desires or how we are perceived by others, but we can
joyfully participate in showing love to others in the same way
Jesus shows His love to us.
Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love and forgiveness
for me. Help me to have the same type of love and forgiveness
of others. Convict me of any resentment or animosity I have
toward anyone else. Remind me that as a child of Yours and
a follower of Jesus, I have a responsibility to allow Your love
to flow through me. Help me to take off my ‘old self’ and to
put on a ‘new self’ as Your Word tells me to do. Anytime I start
to focus on the faults of others, remind me of how You forgive
me of my own faults and love me in spite of them. I want to prove
to You and to myself that You are changing me to become more
like Jesus.”
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