Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Monday, June 26, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-06-26-2017

This is devotional thought number four in our devotional series, “Essentials of Faith.” Our subject is “God’s Love for Me.”

Here’s the question for consideration: Since God loves me, how can I show my love for Him?

“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” (John 15:10–14).

Not everyone talking about heaven is going there. Clearly, not everyone talking about the new earth is going to inherit it either. Love is the key that unlocks eternal life with God.

We have said it before, God’s love makes us new creatures. He does not renovate or remodel us when we are empowered to surrender to Him. He makes us anew. This is critical because the old us, according to Scripture were not submissive to the law of God, nor indeed could be. But as we saw briefly in Paul’s conversion story, we become moldable in our Father’s hands, to become living models of His ability to save anyone willing to be saved.

How does this new creature principle actually look? Let’s choose liars as a case study for all sin, shall we? When we are born, we have no innate ability to do God’s will. Yes, we know the difference between right and wrong. Yes, most have a conscience against evil. However, these represent a small measure of faith that God instills in us so we can be reachable. Without it, nobody would have a chance. That being said, when God does actually begin to entreat us to give our lives to Him, He is facilitating a transition of power. We are born powerless against the trials and temptations that bombard us. For example, a liar might periodically tell the truth, but if lying is his or her thing, it’s just a matter of time before he or she returns to deceptive ways. There is no insulation against the evil onslaught. The devil’s power to tempt and to deceive overwhelms the liar’s sensibilities. There’s a powerful law of sin and death at work, at all times.

Conversely, if a liar recognizes the call of God to surrender, and he or she is motivated by God’s loving measure of faith to serve Him, he performs heart transplant surgery immediately. He said, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26). In that moment, the power of God overwhelms the enemy’s power over the liar’s life and Jesus writes His law in that new heart. That man or woman who once was a helpless liar becomes a victorious saint as long as he or she continues to submit to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

Let’s be frank here. We are not talking about a hypothetical liar, really. We are talking about you. We’re talking about me. Since God loves me, how can I show my love for Him? When I receive my new heart and the Spirit empowers me to do His will, I no longer excuse myself to break His law. I joyfully do whatever He tells me and humbly put the needs of others before mine. I become willing to give all for God and do all in my power to help others do the same, until Jesus comes.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)