His Love Never Fails

                I have said it before and I will say it again: The more we know how much God loves us, the more we will begin to see our lives changing. So often, it is easy for us to assume that God doesn't truly love us because of circumstances. We are placed into a bad position at work, or a friend dies, or money is getting tighter, or family is getting harder to deal with, or we just aren't believing that God truly loves us. It is so easy to say, "God, if You love me, You would..." and then insert the desires of our hearts. It could be "make the pain go away," "get me a new car," "bless me more," "make my life better," etc.

                The truth is, those are lies from the enemy. God's love is so much greater than that. Romans 5:8 says. "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." He died for you while you were rebelling against Him. You had no desire for Him at all, and He came to Earth and died on the cross for you. Imagine the one person who just grinds your gears. Imagine them doing something horrible to you. Now, you knew that they were going to get exactly what they deserve for whatever they did to you. Would you love them enough to go die one of the most torturous deaths imaginable as well as take on their punishment for them so they could avoid it? I doubt it, but God did that for us. While we were doing everything that we could to rebel against Him, He still came and loved us through the cross.

                We are so quick to hold God to conditional human standards. We assume that, if we are not "rewarded" for our good deeds, God does not love us. He gave you eternal life! He justified you and blessed you with every blessing in the Heavens. There is nothing that He owes you. You owe Him your life for what He has done for you. Romans 8:32 says, "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all - how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" God has already done more than enough to show His love, and He is still providing for you daily. To say that God doesn't love you is a lie. He will never stop loving you, and anyone who says otherwise is a liar straight from the Devil.

                The next time you start to feel that God doesn't love you, stop looking at conditional human things. Look to the cross and try to tell me that God doesn't love you. You may not think that He came for you; but trust me, He was thinking of you while He was on the cross. He laid it all down for YOU.


                                                                                                                                         -D

Identity In Love

                John, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, was nicknamed the "son of thunder" when him and his brother, James, asked Jesus if they could call down fire from Heaven to destroy a city that did not accept their good news. This nickname was given to them by Jesus Christ Himself. The "sons of thunder" does not sound like the name given to someone who shows constant love, now does it? In fact, the nickname was far from a compliment or a reflection of love at all. Here is the crazy thing, though. After Jesus ascended, John became known as the "Disciple of Love." That sounds like a radical identity change, doesn't it?

                Well, it is; but what else can be expected when you have an encounter with the living God? Nothing short of radical should be expected. In fact, anything short of radical should be questioned. Now, here is the key to it all. John found his identity in the love that Jesus Christ has for him. He was transformed from a man of anger and worldliness into a man of love and compassion for others. It was by the love of Jesus Christ that this transformation was able to happen. This transformation happens today still.

                I am coming to realize more and more that the deeper we understand the love of Christ, the more radically our lives will become transformed. We all know John 3:16, and knowing that God loves the world is one thing. That's great. Christianity preaches love. Many can agree and like that idea. That's great and all; but when you realize that Jesus Christ came and died on the cross because He loves YOU, whoever you are, that is when your life changes. Until you realize the love that God has for you specifically, no matter what your past is like or what you're into, you will not be able to experience the radical life change that God has in store for you.

                A few weeks ago, February 13th, I posted "Sin And Sinners" to show us the depth of our sins. I give you this challenge: read that over, meditate on your own sinful nature, and then read Romans 5:8 ("But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were STILL SINNERS, Christ died for us."). Just meditate on this, and if you feel as if you have come to understand what it means to be a Christian and desire to follow Jesus Christ, just open up the book of John and start reading. God will guide you if you follow Him.

                May God bless you out of His deep love for you.


                                                                                                                                         -D

Praise Him In Advance

                There is a song by the artist Marvin Sapp that is titled "Praise Him in Advance." All in all, it is a song that reminded me of the goodness of God, because it reminds us that even as we go through hard times, God will get us through them and He is still good no matter how the situation looks. I challenge you today to think of this: How many of us PRAISE God during our trials and difficulties?

                It is easy to praise God when we first accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. It is easy to praise God when we get a huge promotion or check at work. It is easy to praise God when things are starting to go our way. Is it just as easy to praise God when your ends and means didn't meet?  it just as easy to praise God when your family is rejecting Him? Is it just as easy to praise God when you're struggling with depression, identity issues, anger, etc.? Maybe not, but is God any less good during those times? No.

                Now, I am not saying to not pray or to praise God instead of feel hurt or anything like that. I simply desire to challenge your mindset. Are there still things to be thankful for even now, in your trial or in your peace? The fact that you can read this is proof enough to me that you are blessed. You have a way to read, you have a source for the internet, you have clothes on your back and working eyes. You have a right mind and resources that majority of the world does not. That does not mean that our trials will not be tough, it just means that even in those trials there is a reason to praise the Lord.

                Psalm 150:1-2 "Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in Him mighty Heavens! Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness!"


                                                                                                                                         -D

Growing Up Spiritually

                As we grow up, we begin to learn new things and develop in new ways. As an infant, we are only able to understand the world in the way that we interact with it. As we grow up, we are able to understand and remember concepts, but not more complex things like two containers holding the same amount of liquid, even if one contained is a taller size than the other. Eventually, we grow to even understand these thoughts, and will begin to understand the idea of possibilities and thinking in every field of life. We grow up, and as we grow up we can see the world more clearly. The same thing should be happening to us spiritually.

                Think of yourself from before you were saved. Go on. Take two minutes to think of what you were like before you met Christ. Now think of yourself when you first accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. No, I'm serious. Remember what you were like. Now think of yourself now. What has changed between now and when you were first saved? I guarantee you something has changed. Just think about it.

                We cannot have an experience with the living God and not be changed, just like we cannot drink a bottle of water and not be hydrates, or get hit by a truck and not look different. God is big, and He works in our lives if we see Him do it or not. I guarantee you that you have grown. Give glory to God for it! But, when an infant learns to walk, do they stop there? No! They learn to run and talk and play!

                God has done so much in your life already, but are you ready to grow some more? We are like children. We cannot stay two years old forever. Eventually, we need to grow. If we are not growing, we are like a dead plant. Even if we are not getting taller, are we producing fruit? Now, I'm not saying do something radical, unless God calls you to do so. I'm just saying, what's the next baby step? For those of you who do not know what to do, here is a list of a few things:

                - Attending church regularly
                - Getting involved with serving your church/community
                - Intentionally spread the love of Christ
                - Make prayer a daily part of life
                - Fast more regularly
                - Read your Bible daily
                - Memorize scripture weekly
                - Share your faith with someone this week
                - Share your faith more regularly
                - Be more open about your faith
                - Learn to filter your language
                - Work on replacing a current sin with something to glorify God
                - Pray for someone other than yourself
                - Pray for yourself more
                - Fine fellowship
                - Find a mentor
                - Begin to disciple someone

                The list can go on and on, but this is not a "good person test" list. Do what God has put on your heart to do because we should always be growing, but grow at your own pace. There is no point in taking on too much and falling or growing bitter when you could master an discipline one step at a time. Let this be personal between you and God, not a new goal that you will flaunt to make yourself holier than thou. Let God do His work in you, His beloved child. Just be patient. It takes years to grow: just remember that you are growing, and that you can keep growing. God will make all things happen for you. Just pray and persevere.

                                                                                                                                         -D