Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Thursday, November 1, 2018
Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-11-01-2018
This is devotional thought number 1 in our devotional series, “The Protest is Not Over: Transformation is Key to Reformation.”
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).
Love. It is one of the least understood terms in our vocabulary. We say we love all sorts of things like cars, that dress, lasagna, watching TV, and how that song makes us feel. We say we love the way person X looks at us. We say we love certain holidays and how the sky looks. I understand that there are levels of love, and that we express our zeal and approbation, often using the most powerful words we have at our disposal. But, really, does it help people get a sense of our pleasure and enjoyment regarding something, when we overuse such a meaningful word?
John taught us that God so loved the world that He gave us the best Gift in the universe—His Son. The love of which the prophet spoke is nothing like the examples I gave a moment ago. This love has the power to transform hopeless sinners into saints. When I say God’s love can transform us into saints, I am not referencing some mystical canonizing of special people who have beatific vision. I am not referencing the idea that somehow people can go through various stages of commitment to God until a group of people consider you to be blessed or venerable until you are added to an esteemed list of saints. No! I am saying that when we are transformed by God’s love and the power of His Holy Spirit, we are set aside for holiness and are called to be saints (1 Corinthians 1:2)! All who believe in Jesus, and adhere to His teachings as we grow in Him are saints of the Most High God (blessed be His name). This is an esteemed honor for all to behold and accept.
Let me just ask you simply, do you want to be a saint of God? Do you want to experience the power of the Holy Spirit in your life? Today’s the day. Ask God to help you accept His loving Gift of Jesus into your life today. Ask Him to transform your life in such a way, that you become a new person, who now espouses the holy principle of love so much that you will have everlasting life, and welcome others to experience the same.—L. David Harris (www.LDavidHarris.com)
#theprotestisnotover