Love

I write about this subject often because I see it happen often, plus writing about it brings it back to mind and the responsibility I have because I am far from perfect in this area.  There is much talk about love today but, in all reality, true love is very hard to find.  Think about how many people you have told that you love them, did you say it because you felt compelled to or were you trying to encourage them or were you trying to take advantage of them or did you really mean it?  On the other hand, how many have said that they loved you, did they say it out of sincerity or just trying to take advantage of you or did they really mean it?  Flattery, at times, can go a long way but can also be very deceiving and many people use it as a way of getting what they want from others or to get out of a jam they have gotten themselves into or possibly other motives.

Love is a word thrown around very freely and has been used for most everything that you can think of.  For instance, I love the beach or I love that TV show or that movie or that food or that movie star or that football team or baseball team and on and on it goes, but do we really love these things or are we just attracted to them.  Most of the time when we use the word love we use it as just a way of speaking, but in all reality does this fall in the category of lying?  I will let you be the judge of that.  When you say such things, what is really your intention, is it to deceive or is it truly sincere?  Only you and God know!  I truly believe God knows the thoughts and intents of the heart and we will have to give an account for our actions, our words and our intentions.  I think we are all guilty of this at times and we need to ask the Lord to forgive us and try to think more carefully before we speak.

It says this in Psalms 139:1-4, “O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.”

Then read verses 23- 24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

One thing we can count on is that God loves us and always wants the best for us, His love is unconditional and His intentions are always good and that is the way He wants us to live.

Now read Ephesians 3:14-19, “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

I know there are times when we want to make someone feel good so sometimes we stretch the truth to accomplish that goal.  Other times, when we are angry we also say things that are not true about a person.  I just want to remind all of us, that to be an example of Christ we need to follow His example and He never told a lie for any reason, plus, I am not just talking to the reader but I am also talking to me because I am also guilty of these things.  Some people may think that God will overlook these things because He loves us, but that is the reason He won’t overlook them.  We need to be honest with ourselves and with God and call sin what it is, sin, and confess it and turn away from it.

Years ago people had to sacrifice animals for their sins, then the day came for the ultimate sacrifice and Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, became that sacrifice; the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world through His crucifixion, death and resurrection.  When that took place the veil was rent in the Temple and now there is no separation between God and man, we can go straight through Jesus to God and have our sins forgiven, when we repent and ask Him.

Read what John 3:17 says, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

Then read what 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Praise the good Lord for His sacrifice and forgiveness!  We don’t have to bring sacrifices any more, just confession with a humble and contrite heart that He will not despise.  Something to think about!  Have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours!!  PS don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord, He loves it when we do that from a heart of gratitude and He is so worthy!!  I just want to say halleluiah, amen!!