Romans 5:9-11 An End to the Hostilities

9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:9-11

Reconciled means "to put an end to hostility." Have you ever thought of yourself before you received Christ as being hostile toward God? That's a very strong word. Hostile means "unfriendly, antagonistic." Some synonyms for hostile are "unkind, bitter, unsympathetic, malicious, vicious, rancorous, venomous, poisonous, virulent." Wow, that escalated quickly - from unkind to virulent. 

That's how we were toward God - virulent. I think of all the hostilities occurring around the world - civil wars, terrorists, hatred between different people groups, rebellion - and that is how I was behaving toward God. That truly grieves my heart.

But through Jesus Christ, that is over. I am now in right relationship with Him. I am not working against Him but with Him. I am not His opponent, but His ally -- all because of Christ's sacrifice and my acceptance of that gift. Such a profound act on His part, such a simple one for me. Accept. If only all hostilities could end that quickly. I guess they could if someone was willing to make the sacrifice first. 

And He did -- He is the One who brought peace, eternal peace into my life.

You know what's interesting -- even when I lived in hostility toward God, He was loving me all the time. Amazing.

Father, thank you for your love. Thank you for your sacrifice. Forgive me for my hostile heart toward you. The war is over. May my life forever be a shadow of the love you showed me. So be it.

Further Thoughts:

1. Reflect on how you lived in hostility toward God and give thanks for His love through it.
2. How does being reconciled to God change how you live?
3. Who do you know who needs to hear about God's amazing love and gift of reconciliation?

It's All About Relationships

"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 Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40 NIV

The greatest relationship we will ever have is with our Father. No other relationship should ever come before the intimacy we have committed to develop between us and our Creator. We have chosen to become His follower, and our complete being needs to be focused on total surrender to a love relationship with the Father. But we do not live on an island. Every day we are developing human relationships. As we consider the relationships we build in our earthly lives, we have to begin here -- "Love your neighbor as yourself." To be a commandment second only to loving God with your entire being states that how we handle relationships is a vital aspect of our social existence designed by our Creator. We cannot dismiss them and neither can we address them half-heartedly. Both reactions negate the importance God has placed on relationships.

This is a challenge for me. As an introvert, I am drained by people. Don't get me wrong; I love being with people. It's just that I must integrate "me" time into my day to recharge. That can tend to lean me towards selfishness. I will plan out my day to balance people time and recharge time. Unfortunately, the enemy will use this to his advantage and tempt me with an abundance of alone time to the detriment of time with people.When all is said and done, I am making life about my comfort rather than meeting other's needs.

Don't get me wrong; boundaries are not a bad thing. Balance is good as well. But when it is used as an excuse, it can become a hindrance to following the Father's commands.

So relationship-building requires selfless love for others. With the same intensity that I am protecting my personal time, I must love on others for I am to love my neighbor as myself. Obviously, I am loving myself all too well. I must work on loving others better.

But what does it mean to love others and who are our neighbors? I had a wonderful step-dad. Raymond loved everyone. There wasn't a person he would meet that he did not thoroughly cherish. And since he was a man who lived in the "now" in everything he did, he would take time for anyone, anytime, anywhere. I never knew someone who could make genuine friends of their co-workers and the mailman. He simply oozed time for one-on-one conversation. I say conversation, but his "conversations" consisted of asking a question and listening to the other person's answer with complete rapt attention. And then his entire body would reflect the emotion most empathetic with the speaker. If they were recounting something joyful, Ray was joyful. If they were sad, Ray was sad with them. If angry, he provided calm. If frightened, he gave safety. His entire focus was on other people and their needs -- any person his life came in contact with.

A week after Ray passed away, there was a knock on my mom's door. There stood a twenty-something girl holding a potted flower. "I just heard that Mr. Wells passed away," she said. "I had to find out where he lived and come to tell you how sorry I am and how much I will miss him." The young woman was the check-out girl where he bought his groceries.

That must be how Jesus walked on the earth -- completely focused on others. Attentive. Sympathetic. Helpful. Listening. Responding. Empathetic. Compassionate. With a selfless love.

Further Thoughts:

1. If I am to love others as myself, in what ways do I love myself?
2. List the ways Jesus showed love to others.
3. How did Jesus find balance between his own needs and meeting the needs of others?
4. What is hindering me from loving others like Jesus did?
5. What is one change I need to make today to better love those around me?

Lord, forgive me for my selfish ways. Show me today how to love better. Open my eyes to other's needs. Open my ears to their heart's cry. Teach me to love Your kids as You love Your kids.

John 3:16 We are redeemed by Love

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ~John 3:16

Because sin had separated us from fellowship with the Father, His greatest act of love was to redeem us. He gave His only Son – sacrificed Him to a painful death – so that all sin could be atoned for and by grace we are renewed to be able to once again stand in His presence. But it doesn’t stop there.

God’s love daily permeating our lives gives us the opportunity to have communion with each other. Christ did not leave us alone when He returned to heaven. He gave us His Spirit to live in us. But He also gave us the fellowship of other believers. Living in the power of that love for one another drives us to reach out even more. We are given a support system to face the struggles and temptations that attack daily. We have loved ones around us to encourage, admonish, and guide our steps. The body is God’s love in action.

Further Thoughts:

1. How has God redeemed your life? Where were you and where are you now spiritually?
2. In what ways are you continuing to work on that love relationship that He paid such a high price for?
3. Read Acts 2:42-47 and Hebrews 10:25. How are believers to relate to one another?
4. What changes do you need to make to live a stronger love relationship with fellow believers?

Father, thank You for Your sacrifice. Help me to make the most of our relationship and my fellowship with other believers. Amen.

Psalm 101:1 "Praising God for Who He is and How He Loves Me"

I will sing of your love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will sing praise. ~Psalm 101:1

Our lives should always be lived as praise to God for who He is and how He loves me. I can praise Him by how I choose to live – by being loving, kind, and generous, a person of integrity and dependability. But I also should take time each day to simply offer up words of praise and thanksgiving to the Father.

God is not just our God, as big as that is. He is also our Lord and Master and honor is due Him. The act of offering praise to Him is a tangible way to reinforce in our own minds that He is God and we are not. He is in control; we aren’t. He is Almighty; we are His creation. Our perspective will be realigned to Truth and our hearts will be made perfect and selfless when focused on the One True God.

Further Thoughts:

1. Look up and write down as many adjectives for God as you can think of. (If you have Experiencing God, it has a wonderful listing of names for God in the back.
2. Read some Psalms out loud as praise to the Lord. Write out your favorite verses of praise.
3. Spend some time today in quiet meditation on the characteristics of God. When done, write out a prayer of thanksgiving and praise for who He is and how He loves you.

Isaiah 49:16 "Why Does God Love Me"

“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands….” ~Isaiah 49:16

Too often people feel that they don’t deserve God’s love. Their feelings may come from their present situation of life or from things they have done in their past. Maybe it’s just from a surety of never being able to do anything good enough for God. Whatever the reason, they all come from a center of lies.

Here’s the truth. First of all, we are all messed up human beings. Every single one of us. No one is exempt. Some have, by God’s grace and a lot of hard work, come to a place of being less messed up than others. But those are few. Most of us struggle every day against “the sin that so easily entangles.” (Heb. 12:1) We are all working hard to submit to the Father and live under His laws. Remember, life is a marathon, not a sprint, and the racetrack is narrow. We all must continually make adjustments to stay on the right path. And we all, at one time or another, choose to fall off the path.

That’s where the second truth comes in. God loves us unconditionally regardless of our past or present state, and His grace and mercy is plentiful and waiting. No matter how much we screw up (otherwise known as sin), He is ready and waiting to forgive us and help us get back on track. Our choices will not always be right, but His love for us will always be abundant.

Further Thoughts:

1. Do you believe you are worthy of God’s love? (It’s a trick question. None of us are worthy.) So why does God love us?
2. Read Genesis 9:6. In whose image are you made?
3. What are the qualities that God wants to fill you with through His Holy Spirit? (See Galatians 5:22-23.)
4. What truth can we rely on every day about how God feels about us? Write it out using personal pronouns.

Father, thank You for Your unconditional love. I know You love me even in all my messiness. Guide me, by Your love, to run the race with boldness and in Truth. Amen.

Genesis 2:4-7 "We Are God's Creation"

“This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens- 5 and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground, 6 but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground- the LORD God formed the from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” ~ Genesis 2:4-7 NIV

For centuries, two great questions have been 1)Where do I come from? and 2) What is my purpose here? We’ll deal with the second question later. First, we need to realize that we are God’s creation. He created everything around us – the earth, the air, the stars, the sun, trees, plants, animals, right down to single-celled creatures. But His greatest creation was man and woman.

How do we know that we are his greatest creation? Why are we not equal with baboons and other animals? There are two answers to that. First, He “… breathed into his [Adam] nostrils the breath of life….” (vs. 7) Nothing else in all creation received its life from the breath of the Almighty. His personal mark was placed upon man and literally gave him life.

Secondly, we know that we rank highest in God’s creation because we were made in His likeness. Genesis 1:26 says, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air….” You are made in the image of God – not in a physical way, but in the characteristics and very essence of God. That makes you valuable and loved by the Almighty Creator of the Universe.

Further Thoughts:

1. Do you believe you are special and loved by the Almighty? Why or why not?
2. Have there been lies spoken to you in your past that have made you believe you are unloved or unwanted? If yes, how?
   
3. What Scripture mentioned here refutes those lies?
4. How does God’s creation plan show you that you are loved?

Pray: Father, thank you for creating me with such love and care. Teach me to live in that love because I am made in Your image and You gave me life. Amen.

Hebrews 4:12-13 "Laid Bare"

Read Hebrews 4:12-13.

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight." NIV

Do you think we will ever fully understand the enormity of these verses? We are told that through obedience we enter into His rest and and then, bam, hit with these verses. God knows me inside and out. He sees every dirty crevice and grimy indentation. He knows not only my thoughts, but my intentions. No corner of my mind or heart is hidden from Him. Every action He sees me make, He also sees the purpose in my heart. I can hide from others and even try to fool myself, but my complete being in all its imperfections covered in some vaguely good deeds is an open book to my Creator.

And here lies the rub, He's also my Savior. I can't hide anything from Him, but then He still loves me. He knows exactly where I fall and where I attempt to shine. He sees ever corner of my heart, and still He loves me. My imperfect being He now views draped in His amazing grace.

Further Thoughts:

1. Are you thinking you can hide from God or are you just fooling yourself? Why?
2. If we know we need to hide from God, why don't we just confess and rid ourselves of the things that are sin to Him?
3. We are all imperfect beings -- some of us are just forgiven. What verses prove that?
4. Read the words of this amazing hymn. (suggestion: mute the sound.)

1 John 3:11-24 "Selfless Love"

Read 1 John 3:11-24.

"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." NIV

John wraps up this section with a "So what?" So love one another like Christ showed love to us. People all around us today are hurting -- physically, emotionally, and spiritually. There are so many more hurts than "Band-Aids" to fix them. Sometimes, it can seem really overwhelming. There are some people who can think globally and start organizations that help many people at one time. Not all of us are equipped to do that. But we all can love one person at a time. Today, in this moment, I can make a difference for this one.

I thought I knew how to love people and that I was actually doing it. But I was wrong. I have always been a bit of a hermit. Being an introvert, spending time with people exhausts me. I have to plan in alone time afterwards just to recharge. Therefore, I tend to limit a lot of "people" time. God is teaching me the selfishness of that thinking. He is all about people and therefore so should I.

The Lord has strongly been working on this with me over the past 6 months or so. But it really came home when my mom died. I shared back then about what it meant for me to have so many people praying for me during those last 10 days with Mom. I literally felt the prays holding me up like I have never felt others' prayers before. Then the outpouring of sympathy and love was overwhelming. It truly showed me the value of "being there" for others. Well, I couldn't walk away from being the recipient of such love and not find ways to give back.

Since then, the Lord has really opened my eyes to people and their needs. He's helped me to stop and take the time to really listen and not offer solutions, but to give empathy, a hug, a tear, and a heart melting with another's heart. Don't misunderstand; I've not got this all dialed in. I feel like I'm just taking baby steps. But I know I'm walking in the right direction.

Further Thoughts:

1. Flip through the gospels and review how Jesus saw people's needs and met them. Does this challenge your paradigm of loving others?
   
2. Read this story.
   
3. I know I posted this song recently, but it really fits here. So here it is again. Give Me Your Love by Brandon Heath.
   
4. Have you prayed for God to open your eyes to others' needs? It's an amazing step to take. Just be prepared -- the floodgates will open, and it's messy.

1 John 2:28-3:10 "A True Heart Set On Love"

Read 1 John 2:28-3:10.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" NIV

This passage is a "Therefore" section of the book up to this point. We have been taught by the Word and walk in His light. If we do not walk as Christ walked, we are not of Him and need to confess. How did Jesus walk? - in love toward all men. He did not love the world, nor the things in it, but loved people. He lived out the Truth and now that Truth lives in us and we should never listen to anyone who says otherwise.

Therefore, the Father has lavished His love on us to make us His children, and we now are to live lives of purity for Him. Do we do that through totally sinless lives? No. We will all sin, but what separates the Truth-follower from those who play church is whether you occasionally succumb to temptation or you continually seek out sin. If you are seeking it, Christ cannot be in you because He does not dwell in the hearts of those who do not desire what He desires. Living in complete 180 degree contrast to the character of Christ just displays a self-gratifying, self-loving value and does not fall in line with the "right" of Christ.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished upon us...." And I want to lavish my love on Him with my life.

Further Thoughts:

1. What is a biblical definition of love?
   
2. Do you desire sin and actively pursue it? Why? Do you truly want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?
   
3. Look up passages where Jesus addresses sin and it's desires.
   
4. Listen to this amazing song about God's lavishing love.

1 Peter 4:7-11 "The Time is Short"

Read 1 Peter 4:7-11.

"The end of all things is near." NIV

For hundreds of years these same words have been read by so many -- the end is near. And still the Lord hasn't returned. But the truth remains -- both for the world and for our individual lives. What is near for God? He is outside of time and space. So the end could be very near. "No man knows the day or time" so we should be living each day as if it is the end. But lately, the Lord has been impressing on my heart the shortness of time - time with those I love, time to do the right things, time to help someone in need, even my lifetime on this earth. (Maybe my mother passing away has something to do with this.) But parallel to the shortness of time, I am experiencing the vastness of God. He is huger than we ever think of Him. Too often we want to place Him in a little box and tie it up with a ribbon as if He is something we can know and control. But He is bigger than words or imagination can describe.

So with those two thoughts - the shortness of our time here and the vastness of our God -- look at the following verses.

"...be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray." Most of the time if I am not clear minded or self-controlled, I will try to do everything on my own OR open myself to fall into sin. But if I keep my focus - on the shortness of time and the Almighty Creator that I serve -- I will stop to pray for His guidance in every circumstance; I will recognize temptation for what it is and run from the sin to follow.

"love each other deeply...." I need to do this so much better. I am such an introvert and can be drained by being with people so much that I tend to withdraw from spending time with others and giving them the love I need to give. It's all selfishness; I know that. But I am trying to do better and continue to ask the Lord to give me the same love for others that He has. I want to see others with the heart of Christ and not as my energy drainers. I'm thankful that others have shown me love and want to give back.

"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." This one kind of hits into the introvert problem again. (I'm not bemoaning how God created me; just learning to be a better citizen of the world in the midst of it.) I'm trying to open my home up to others more. I love having people over and want to do it more. As my husband always says, "It's all about relationships."

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others...." We don't have time to dink around. God made us each unique and special, and we need to learn what those areas of specialness are that God wants to use to "administer His grace." Whether we take gifts tests or just jump into different areas of ministry to "try on," we can serve Him and others. I believe God opens doors all the time - in small ways and large - to be His servants. It's our responsibility to "faithfully" step through those doors. And if we feel inadequate to fill those positions or duties, just remember, we serve a huge God who gives generously. He will not ask us to do anything that He will not also provide the ability to do it.

All we do for the Lord, we need to do it quickly and reverently. Our time is running out. The clocks ticking. What will my contribution to the ministry of Jesus Christ and the plan of the Almighty be? 

Further Thoughts:

1. From each of the points above, match an Old Testament person to them. How did they live it out?
   
2. Which area is God calling you to work on? Or maybe surrender to Him? If you are fighting Him on that, why?
   
3. How does God make us able to accomplish what He calls us to do? What is our responsibility and what is His? Support with Scripture.
   
4. Track your day and/or week. How much time is wasted? Doing what? What could you be doing instead?
   
5. Do you see our God as too small? Spend a day this week contemplating the vastness of God. Start with observing His creation - large and small. Then move on to His demonstration of His love, grace, mercy, etc. Now how big is He?
   

1 Peter 2:4-12 "Living Stones"

Read 1 Peter 2:4-12.

"...you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." NIV

Peter has been telling us that we have received God's mercy through Jesus Christ and will receive our inheritance. Now, we need to prepare our minds for action and as purified followers, love one another deeply from the heart. As strangers in this world, we do not conform to its ways, but put off malice, envy, deceit, hypocrisy, etc. All of these actions lead us up to the fact that we are being transformed into a spiritual house for our Lord. He resides in us and we must surrender our "home" to Him as a holy residence. My acceptable sacrifice, therefore, is allowing Him full reign and use of my being. I may be dealing with the Almighty Creator of the Universe here, but He is a gentleman and will not overstep the bounds of free will. So it's my job to, through His power, overcome the enemy that battles for my soul and allow God to use me in any way He chooses. I do so not out of the law, but out of love for my Lord and Savior. I am in relationship with the Almighty and choose to do nothing less than serve Him with my entire being.

That idea and all it encompasses is overwhelming to me, yet at the same time very simple. Consider the vastness of the universe; God spoke it into existence. Then realize that He wants to use you for His honor and glory. That is so humbling. Who am I? The answer is "No one." But I was chosen by huge God who is the I AM. And that's all I need to know.

Further Thoughts:

1. How precious are you to God? Read Psalm 139 and then read Luke 23:26-46 and give thanks.
2. How big is your God? Read Psalm 33 and then watch this amazing video from Louie Giglio's tour, "How Great Is Our God."

Matthew 22:34-40 "The Greatest Commandment, Part 2"

Read Matthew 22:34-40.

"Love your neighbor as yourself." NIV

Like the "love" expressed in verse 37 that is an agape love - one of devotion that is of the will, this is the same kind of love in verse 39. It's not a phileo love that is a friendship love. But a love of the will and complete commitment. That's a tall order because when you look at who your neighbor is, it's basically anyone you come in contact with. These are the people living and breathing around you. Therefore, all men and women are my neighbors. And by choice, I am to show them not just a friendly love, but a committed love of devotion.

How do we do that? How do we give that kind of devotion to so many people? It's easy to love the believers, but all the lost as well? For a sanguine it may be possible, but for a melancholy choleric like me it does not come naturally. The only way I know how it can happen is through the eyes and heart of God.

We need to see people as God sees them -- His lost children who need a Savior. Each of us are uniquely created in His image and for the purpose of companionship with Him. Some choose to follow that path while others walk away from their Creator. In absence of receiving love and communion directly from the Lord, He wants us to become Christ-with-skin-on and take His love to them. It would be like if one of my children ran away from home, I would pray that someone would take them in and love them with a love I couldn't give them. That they would wrap their arms around my child since my arms will not reach them. And hopefully, they would lead my child back to me.

Lord, give me eyes to see those around me who have chosen to leave You. Help me to love them with Your love and guide them back to Your gentle arms.

Further Thoughts:

1. List ways we can show God's love to people we come in contact with every day. Note: How did Jesus show love?
2. When we think about our neighbors, we need to start in our own home and then work outward. Who do you need to show the love of God to? How will you do that?
3. Based on this Scripture's definition of a neighbor, does it include our enemies? If so, how do we show them God's love?

Matthew 18:12-14 "The Lost Sheep"

Read Matthew 18:12-14.

"In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost." NIV

This passage is always such a comfort to me. As I pray for family members, friends, neighbors, aquaintances that don't know Jesus, I do so with a confidence that the Holy Spirit is never going to stop drawing them to Him. I don't have any hesitation in knowing that God wants them to come to a full saving knowledge of Him. So my desire, although possibly swayed by doubt in people, meets with His desire -- that all should be saved.

There is great comfort in this. We all know someone that is very far from the Lord and our heart's cry is that they accept Jesus. We've spent countless hours in prayer for the scales to be removed from their spiritual eyes, for their heart to be softened, for other believers to come into their life to speak truth to them. And through all that time, the Lord's Spirit has been reaching out to them -- drawing them to Him. All mankind is precious to Him.

Thank You, Lord, that my heart's desire began with Your heart's cry -- that not one should be lost.

Further Thoughts:

1. What other Scriptures show that God wants no one to be lost or perish? i.e. 2 Peter 3:9.
2. Is there someone you have been praying for a long time to come to Christ? Never, never, never give up. God hasn't.

Matthew 7:7-12 "Ask...Seek...Knock...."

Read Matthew 7:7-12.

"For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." NIV

I really hate when this verse is misused to expect prosperity and riches here on this earth. I can't believe that God works that way. Money is just money and some people use it well and others do not. Riches are a temporal pleasure and sometimes a curse.

Christ always rises above the temporal to teach us a much greater truth while at the same time meeting our earthly needs. Much of this passage takes us back to 6:9-13 in Jesus' lesson on how to pray. This passage is showing the result of praying in that vein.

ASK: If we ask according to God's will with a humbled, surrendered heart to His direction, we will receive what we ask for. Now, granted, sometimes the Lord blesses us with excess, but that is a free gift. It's not something we've earned or even deserve, but receive out of His great mercy. We also must see the answers He gives to our requests through His eyes. For example, I pray that my child will recover from a serious illness. I pray believing that God can heal. But that may not be according to the Lord's plan, and we must keep in mind that this is a temporal existence. Death is not the end, but for the believer, only the beginning -- the perfect healing. Our grief here is but for a short time compared to eternity. Those answers from the Lord may seem harsh and unloving, but that is where our surrender and faith in Him must prevail -- even in the harshest circumstances.

SEEK: Recently I was having a discussion with a couple friends about the theology of a worship song that was asking God to come closer to me. The fact is, He can't be any closer to me than He is right now. He never moves. I'm the only one who walks away from Him or shuts Him out of an area of my life. If I seek Him, He is ALWAYS there. Never failing, never ignoring. Granted, we've all experienced periods of God's silence. Sometimes our prayers feel like they are hitting the ceiling and going no further. But the Lord has not left. He will reveal Himself in His own time for His own purposes and glory. Meanwhile, our faith must remain strong and sure through the waiting.

KNOCK: Christ's grace and mercy are always available to us. We will never be turned away. His love is never ending. If we refuse to live in that grace-filled life, we will suffer consequences. Some of them can last a lifetime. But when we humbling, repentantly fall on our knees at the throne of Christ, we are received with open arms every time. It doesn't matter what we've done; where we've been, He will take us as we are and show us the potential of where we can go. The door will always be opened if we simply have faith and choose to knock.

Isn't His mercy and love absolutely amazing?! Thank you, Father, that you care about the minutest part of my life, and the big life-changing moments. You amaze me, and I praise You with all my heart, soul, mind, and spirit as my Lord and Savior, Master and King. Amen.

Further Thoughts:

1. Where do our blessings come from? Read James 1:17.
2. Have you been asking for something, but not received it? Re-examine your asking. Is it in line with God's Word. Maybe it's not His will or the right timing. Sometimes, His answer is "no."
3. Are you in a place that you feel like God has left you? Turn around, He's right there. What in your life is hindering you knowing His presence? Are you spending time in His Word, solitude, prayer and meditation? Are you giving Him a chance to talk to you or do you take up all the time talking to Him? Maybe you need to give Him some conversation time and do so with an open heart to His will. Read Deuteronomy 31:6 and Luke 21:37.
4. Have you yielded to temptation and sinned against God? He's waiting at the door to extend His forgiveness through grace and mercy. He's never stopped loving you and is waiting patiently for your return. Read Romans 3:23, 6:23, 2 Peter 3:9, and 1 John 1:9.

Ephesians 5:1-2 "Monkey See, Monkey Do"

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." NIV

"Imitate" and "love" -- sounds easy enough. Since I was a little girl, I've loved to mimic. Once when I was about ten, I pretended I was Ginger Grant from Gilligan's Island. I pursed my lips like her and spoke in a sultry voice. My mom really burst my bubble when she said, "Honey, you ain't ever going to be sexy." She wasn't trying to be mean; after all, I was a freckle-faced tomboy. But I'd act in character every chance I'd get. Still love to act and pretend to be someone else. So I think I've got this imitate thing down.

And love, how hard is that? I love my husband, and my kids, and my friends. I love to read; I love dark chocolate; I love Sunday afternoon naps. That's not so tough, right?

But then this verse throws in some qualifiers that change the entire picture. First, I am to imitate God! You might as well say I should grow two heads and five feet. It just ain't gonna happen.... But wait, it didn't say that I am to be exactly like God and incorporate ALL his attributes. I am to imitate Him; not the real thing but a likeness of God. I love that it says, "as dearly loved children." Just as we hope that our children will follow the examples we are for them, so God, who loves us more than we love ourselves, wants us to follow in His "footsteps." We have a big parent to live up to, but we also can't choose any better hero to imitate. Can't get any higher than the Almighty Creator of the Universe. And the cool part is, we already have His Spirit living within us. We just have to surrender to it and "put on the new self" that is like Him.

Then that love thing. I'm guessing it's not talking about my dark chocolate. Christ's love was completely sacrificial. Not only did He provide through His love a way of salvation for me, but also demonstrated how I am to love -- with all my being. And in this way, my life can become a "fragrant offering" to my Father.

When my kids were babies, I LOVED smelling their little heads. There is just nothing sweeter than the smell of a baby's head. (In fact, I still love to smell their heads. They think I'm weird.) But I imagine that when I show love -- truly show love -- to my fellow man, it pleases my Father so much that He leans down and breathes in deeply from the top of my head, relishing the sweet fragrance of His child.

Father, teach me how to live like you, imitating your every move. And fill my entire being with Your love so I can share the love of Christ with others through my actions and words. I need more of You, Lord.

Further Thoughts:

1. How is the Jesus/Disciples' relationship an example to us as to how we are to live our lives? Give examples from Scripture.
2. Does it hurt the Father when we choose to act contrary to His character? Support your answer with Scripture.
3. What does the Old Testament say about fragrant offerings and what God thinks of them? How do they correlate to the way we live our life now?
4. Is it possible for us to love like Christ? How? Support with Scripture.
5. Spend some time looking into the "mirror" of your life. Where are you imitating God well, and where does there need to be more "putting on" happening?

Ephesians 3:16-19 (Part 2)

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power throughhis Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." NIV

When I was a child we sang a song, "Deep and wide, deep and wide, there's a fountain flowing deep and wide...." You know, I never really questioned anyone about what that song was about. I don't remember if I knew it was the love of God or if I was just singing a song with fun motions. But what I do know is that I have always had a sense of God's love, but can't imagine having it to the extent these verses speak. This passage seems to be the ultimate goal of all believers -- to know completely the love of Christ and receive the measure of all the fullness of God.

God's love surpasses all love we have ever known on this earth. It is completely selfless in its giving -- reaching every area of my need, not His. When I am confused, He is ready to clear the chaos. When I am lost, He is there. When I need comforting, His arms are around me. How do I know this love that defies all constraints? I simply turn to Him. I don't try to do everything in my own power; I rely on His. I don't try to figure out all my problems with my own reasoning; I look to Him for the answers. I don't plan my next steps; I seek His direction in my life. His love encompasses everything I need. Does He promise me perpetual happiness. No, I live in a fallen world. There will be difficulties and pain. BUT, He does promise me His love and presence. That is all I need.

Lord, thank You for Your love that goes beyond all I can ask or imagine. Thank You for guiding me, providing for me, and loving me more than I could ever love myself. I am so unworthy and You are so merciful.

Further Thoughts:

1. Can anything separate us from the love of God? (Read Romans 8:35-39)
2. What have you been trying to do lately in your own power and failing miserably? Honestly surrender those areas to Him. Trust Him. He is waiting patiently.
3. Read the words of this old hymn, "The Love of God." http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/o/loveofgo.htm