Receiving God’s Love
Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.
Psalm 126:36
God is love (1 John 4:8), meaning all love originates from God, and his love is within us because we are created in his image. Are we aware of God’s love or do the difficulties in life and the tragedies in the world, override our receiving his love? There may have been times in our life that we even question God’s love.
God’s plan is to fill us with his love and he can only do this if we reflect his love to others. God first loved us by saving us through the sacrifice of Son, who took the penalty for our sins and all the sins of the world. We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19) The more we read the Word, pray, and fellowship with other Christians, the more we understand his love. This love is first in our mind, but as his love is seen in us, it changes our heart. When we minister to others our heart becomes compassionate, opening our heart to be flooded with God’s love.
How does God’s love affect our Christian life? Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40) Jesus said this is the greatest commandment because love is what changes our heart to a heart for God. All of the Law hangs on love, love for God and love for others, because if our heart is filled with love, all of God’s law becomes our character and is natural to us.
In this world we are indoctrinated into obeying the law or reap the punishment. This is not the way God works, he works with us through the law of love, giving and receiving. Serving the Lord is not about striving to obey a list of commands, but inheriting his heart of love that fulfills the commands. God is molding us to have the mind of Christ and the character of God in our heart.
Today listen intently to others and show a caring compassionate heart. Let the Spirit guide you and he will open your heart to receive God’s love. Be thankful to the Lord for eternal life and his promise to protect your soul from the evil one. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3) A heart filled with God’s love is a thankful heart, therefore today be thankful to the Lord.
Prayer: Lord thank you for your love, sacrificing your Son who took the penalty for my sins. Fill my heart with thankfulness, compassion, and your love. Guide me in the Holy Spirit to be a light in this hurting world, to bring your love and comfort others.