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| A Greater Love In one of the last messages Moses gave to the people of Israel, he told them to obey all the commands of God and to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength" (Deuteronomy 6:5). About fifteen hundred years later, Jesus referred to this as the greatest of all commandments and then added: "And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commands" (Matthew 22:39-40). The commands to love God and love others summarize how God desires us to live. On the evening before He was crucified, Jesus gave His disciples a final command. John 15:12-13 "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." In this command, we're not all being called to physically die for one another. This one time action would actually be relatively easy compared with the true meaning of His command. The general call from Christ is for us to daily "lay down" our lives by dying to our self gratification and considering the needs of others more important than our own (Philippians 2:3-4). And as opposed to a one time event for a select individual, we are being called to daily lay ourselves down for ALL - even when others are not deserving...even when they have not earned our love. We are commanded to love as God first loved us. His love was with total commitment and sacrifice; "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son" (John 3:16). His love was with absolute compassion and forgiveness; "God demonstrated His love in this! While we were still sinners Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). The Apostle John spent almost 60 years pondering the words of his Savior and then concluded that love was the one characteristic which identifies us as a true believer; "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death" (1 John 3:14). Yes, we are to love as Jesus loved. This means we should love without consideration of economic, social, or ethnic class. We should love cross gender, cross race, cross culture, and EVEN cross religion! Without ever compromising the message of Truth, we must begin to view others through the eyes of Jesus and remove the barriers of our love. Let's begin to truly love! Let's begin to open our heart, lay down our life, and love with a greater love. Have a Christ Centered Day! Steve Troxel God's Daily Word Ministries ***************************************************** Archive of previous devotions : http://www.gdwm.org/archive08.htm Subscribe/Unsubscribe by email to closerwalk@gdwm.org Subscribe via web: http://www.gdwm.org/subscribe.htm Feedback and Prayer: http://gdwmboard.org/6/ubb.x Send Invitation: http://www.gdwm.org/invite.htm Verses and Psalms: http://www.gdwm.org/verses Spanish Devotions: http://www.gdwm.org/spanish Mail from GDWM is only sent to those who subscribe (free of cost) or by invitation from friends. Please unsubscribe if these messages are no longer desired. We absolutely do not support unsolicited E-mail. Scripture references: The Holy Bible: New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. God's Daily Word Ministries P.O. Box 190 Lorena, TX 76655 ***************************************************** In Spite of Our Weaknesses In the message "At The Lord's Command" we saw how, for forty years in the desert, the Israelites moved or stayed based on the movement of God's cloud. Being able to recognize God's "cloud" and sense its movement is one of our greatest challenges. For this, there is no answer but to draw closer to God through prayer, study, and worship. He will reveal Himself if we will wait and place all our hope and trust in Him. But when we hear Him call, we must be prepared to look beyond our ability and trust He knows our strengths...and weaknesses. After His death and resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples and many others. He called them to believe and tell the world of the truth. But with Peter, Jesus took time to speak directly and personally. John 21:15a "When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you truly love Me more than these?'" Jesus used a word meaning absolute, unconditional love (agape). With one simple question, Jesus was forcing Peter to analyze his faith. Peter had previously stated: "Even if all fall away, I will not" (Mark 14:29), and even more boldly, "Even if I have to die with You, I will never disown You" (Mark 14:31). And yet, Peter failed Jesus in the garden: "Are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?" (Mark 14:37). Peter failed again when he denied Jesus three times - the third denial being violent: "Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, 'I don't know the man!'" (Matthew 26:74). Peter knew how his actions had fallen tragically short, so he now said he had a deep affection for Jesus - a brotherly love (fileo). Jesus continued His questioning until Peter finally replied; "You know all things, You know that I love You" (John 21:17b). In this statement, Peter was humbly saying that Jesus knew from experience his level of love...or his lack! But even with a complete understanding of Peter's weaknesses, Jesus still called: "Follow Me!" (John 21:19). Jesus had a plan for Peter that would not be hindered by Peter's failures. As we grow to a better understanding of God's love, we will ultimately face how small our love is by comparison. But let's take comfort that God knew our weaknesses when He called us into His Kingdom. He has a wonderful plan and will always provide what we lack in order to accomplish all He desires. There is nothing hidden from God. He knows everyone He calls; so let's boldly follow, in spite of our weaknesses! Have a Christ Centered Day! Steve Troxel God's Daily Word Ministries ***************************************************** Archive of previous devotions : http://www.gdwm.org/archive07.htm Subscribe/Unsubscribe by email to closerwalk@gdwm.org Subscribe via web: http://www.gdwm.org/subscribe.htm Feedback and Prayer: http://gdwmboard.org/6/ubb.x Send Invitation: http://www.gdwm.org/invite.htm Verses and Psalms: http://www.gdwm.org/verses Spanish Devotions: http://www.gdwm.org/spanish Mail from GDWM is only sent to those who subscribe (free of cost) or by invitation from friends. Please unsubscribe if these messages are no longer desired. We absolutely do not support unsolicited E-mail. Scripture references: The Holy Bible: New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. God's Daily Word Ministries P.O. Box 190 Lorena, TX 76655 ***************************************************** |
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