Do You Desire a
Love that Lasts?
Good Morning Friends,
Speaking of God’s presence and power can be such an act of love, especially when it brings strength and determination to those struggling in life. There is great encouragement in the love of Jesus as we witness His hope in the act of sharing a word of scripture we remember.
With that in mind today we explore the dynamics of how we become acceptable to others and acceptable to God, not just for today, but also for tomorrow. In that spirit we rejoice in the experience of the love of Christ, for it truly is at the heart of the human dilemma regarding the future. Do You Desire a
Love that Lasts?
Scripture: What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:31-39 (NRSV)
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV)
“Where have you laid him?” [Jesus] asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept.
John 11:34-35 (NIV)
Message: Paul raises an interesting question in today’s scripture that touches on those things that last and will always be relevant for any future. Paul asks if anything can ever separate us from Christ’s love. And the answer he gives should rock our reality for he makes it clear that nothing can separate us. Paul shares the encouraging truth that God’s power is able to bring good out of whatever we encounter in life. And the amazing thing is that Paul saw beyond the gift of love to who is giving that gift. He discovers a love that is a gift of regeneration in Jesus Christ. Friends, God has chosen us and filled us with the Holy Spirit because He loves us. He is our hope and salvation. In the truth of Christ we are more than conquerors. In Christ we can learn to love and to live right now. In Christ we can experience the power of the Word made flesh in us. In Christ we can experience a love that can never be taken from us. When we realize that God is really on our side, the fears that sometimes fill our lives will melt away. God is bigger than the battle lines. So rejoice this day, it is the best day ever…it is today and you are hearing the Good News about being a Christian. Choose this day whom you will serve. Embrace God’s unconditional love. Follow the Lord’s command that we not be anxious about anything. Allow the Lord’s peace to guard your hearts and minds. Know that obedience leads to peace. Know a love that is the selfless service of brothers and sisters fulfilling of the law of Christ. Believe in a love that knows that God is for us. Be a witness to that love and the unity it brings. Friends, all of us want to be accepted by others…even God wants love. That is how friendships are formed. So we get together in groups that agree to accept us in their life as we accept them into ours. We become teams, choirs, families, businesses, friends, organizations and churches. We want a love that is fresh and lasting. We want a reality that counters the reality that so much of this life rots and dies away. So today we contemplate our own insecurities and the experience of rejection in our lives and come to realize that God will not reject anyone who passionately seeks the love of the Lord. You need not be separated. For if God has chosen us, all we need do is to choose Jesus. Then we have something that lasts.
Pray that Christ knows and calls out our names. Pray Jesus calls out the names of those who need comfort. Pray that we realize that God loves us as we are now and loves us enough to love us into something better tomorrow. Pray we realize that God’s love is unconditional. Pray that God loves us too much to leave us. Pray that God gives us a reason and purpose to live a life of love. Pray we accept God’s free gift of love. Pray we live a life of confidence in the love of our Lord. Pray the love we have received spills over into the lives of others around us. Pray we realize that Jesus weeps for us because he loves us. Pray we have a love that lasts.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 