Love

We all desire it... we all want it... we can’t live without it... We are ALL made to LOVE!

So why is it so hard to “find” love and keep it, at least for many? Based on the high rate of divorce, the love that a couple has for one another, dare I say, “grows cold.”

I would dare to say that because so many people don’t seem to take their commitment seriously anymore.

The word “many” seems to fit perfectly with the Bible scripture that tells us: “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12 — my emphasis in bold and underline)

So what do we take serious? Do we take love seriously at all?

Sure we do! There are many kinds of love. The love of our parents to us and ours for them! The love of children. But what about the most important love of all? 

From the Holy Bible, we learn that an expert of religious law, who also taught the law, asked Jesus: “What is the most important commandment of all?”

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” (Matthew 22:25-27, and see: Matthew 12, Luke 10)

You see, “God is love!” (1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:16)

And loving God is the most important love we can have — forever!

But how do we show God that we love Him? Or do we even love Him? Have we attempted to show God how much we love Him? Here’s a list of various ways we can show God that we love Him by:

 

— reading the Word of God, which is the Holy Bible

— praying to God

— spending quiet time with God

— listening to God

— praying with others and praying for others

— following God

— serving God and others

— seeking God

— going to church and having fellowship with other believers

— serving our church

— using the gifts God has talented us with for Him and ministries for Him

— volunteering to help others in various ways

— submitting to God’s will
— tithing money and donating time and things (such as clothing, food, etc.)
— comforting others
— encouraging others (or giving affirmations of God’s Word (The Bible)
— having hope and displaying it to others
— evangelizing to spread the Gospel
— loving our neighbors with God’s love
— receiving affirmations of God’s Word (The Bible)
— forgiving others
— praising God
— worshipping God
— staying on God’s path
— being obedient to God
— giving God our heart, mind, soul, spirit, and strength
— pleasing God
 

This list is not exhaustive. There are so many ways we can show God that we love Him! Why don’t you try adding to this list?

God explains His love for us:

“God demonstrated His great love for us by sending Jesus Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8)

“… The Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid, but will have boldness on the day of judgment, and we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love.” (1 John 4:15-18 — my emphasis in bold)

God truly loved us first. “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

The enemy (that is, satan or the devil, who is very real) has tried several times to make me doubt that God loves me. Yet, God has proven to me in so many amazing ways (beyond a shadow of a doubt) that He truly does love me.

© Photo by: Patricia Shehan

He will do this for you, too. Simply ask Him to show you, if you doubt His love for you. God will show you in many unexpected ways just how much He loves you!

I say: God, I love you! God says: I love you, too, and I loved you first!

He will say that to you, too. I pray that you will open your heart to God in love.

With my daughter, when she says: I love you! Then I'll say, I love you more! :-)

God loves us more than anyone else can possibly love us. His love is unconditional.

I pray you will open your heart today to the greatest love of all: God’s love, which is fulfilling and eternal!

Until we virtually meet again, may God call you to Himself.

God’s Word for Today: “… He [God] lavishes his unfailing love on those who love Him and obey His commands.” (Deuteronomy 7:9)

Copyright © 2013 by Patricia Shehan

All scripture is quoted from various translations of the Holy Bible (God’s Word) and is set in italics.

Sanctification

I was at a Bible study when we were reading the scriptures and came across the word “sanctification.” I had to admit that I didn’t know what the word meant.

No one could explain it clearly, so we stopped and looked up the word in one of those old, huge dictionaries. Now that’s my kind of dictionary!

Sanctification is described as follows: to grow and change by a process of holiness; the stripping of self while being filled by God with godliness; a changing process; gaining freedom from sin; being set apart, renewed, and purified; and being converted into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

Yes, this sums it all up. But how does it happen?

If we believe in Jesus Christ and what He did for us, we must ask our self if we have truly given our heart to Him. If we haven’t done so, then we are still behind the driver’s seat of our own life. We need to allow Him to steer our life’s path for our conversion (or sanctification) to take place.

This change is different than anything else you’ve ever experienced. I know because it happened to me!

I could almost feel the changes. For example, I began caring for others more than ever before! In the past, when someone would ask me to help them, I was usually reluctant and maybe even unwilling. Now, when I think there is a need, and I know that I can help, I will offer, even before being asked! Now that was a big change in me!

To be truly saved, we must surrender to God and allow Him to sanctify us by renewing our mind and changing our heart for Him. We have to be willing to follow God and allow Him to change us through the sanctification process.

This process begins with our obedience to our Heavenly Father. He changes us to grow in godliness. He shows us how to follow Him by guiding our path. As we our changed, our focus will be on God.

We will see things differently when we have God’s perspective rather than our own selfish view. I can testify to the outstanding beauty from His view! Nothing looks the same anymore. Everything is so outstanding and beautiful, and even miraculous! The details are more intense. Can you see it yet?

When we accept the grace of God through our repentance of sin, a divine growth begins to take place within us. Now we avoid sin and turn away from temptation.

We were all created in God’s image, and sanctification is what purifies us to be Christ-like.

We must read the Bible to know God. We must spend time with Him in prayer. He fills us up with His joy, His love, and His peace, and He creates in us a “newness of life” (see Romans 6:4).

I remember so many times attempting to read The Bible and so many times, I would stop. It was one excuse after another. But when I stuck with it and made it into a habit, I could understand God more and desired to serve Him.

This new way of life is satisfying, unlike the fleeting happiness we may find in things and sometimes even in people.

You will find great joy in the Lord if you simply say “yes” to him.

When we allow God to sanctify us, we let Him guide our future plans. He will work them out for His glory by setting us apart in holiness. Patience is required!

“You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for Himself…” (Psalm 4:3)

God has created us for “good works” in advance (see Ephesians 2:10). God’s sanctification process creates a desire in us to accomplish these good works.

Living life set apart from the world is still living in the world, but it’s living with Godly goals and Godly obedience. It’s living with love and peace. The life of Jesus Christ, whose life in the flesh here among mankind, is our example.

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

“Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21. — Please read more of this chapter for further understanding.)

Changes begin from the inside out. A true Christian’s life will not merely display something on the outside that does not reflect the “inner man.” Only hypocrites display an act on the outside that is not reflective of the inside. (See Matthew 23:25-28 and Matthew 7:20-23).

We must love and forgive. God opens our hearts to His love, and His sanctification process causes us to want to share the Good News of the Gospel (The Bible) and God’s love through His free gift of salvation.

The path is not always easy. Yet, God’s sanctification (change, growth, filling, renewing, and purifying) process is the only way. Only He can transform us. He imparts His strength in us to be holy, to think His way, to respect life, to desire goodness and truth to prevail, and most of all, to truly love Him and one another. God does require our willingness and our obedience.

Amazingly, from God’s sanctification process, we can, in turn, sanctify Him!

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” (1 Peter 3:15)

Once you are saved and sanctified, sharing the hope of glory (Christ in us) will become easy, and you will have the answers to be able to share God’s love for mankind!

“… God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

I realized I was being sanctified when I no longer had the same desires or thoughts for my life. Think of how most everything in life has a place, for example: first place, second place, third place, and so forth. With me, God is #1 now. He has first place in my life, and everyone and everything else is in second place, third, ... Make God #1 in your life and He will sanctify you by changing you into becoming His follower, and He will cause you to live a full and satisfying eternal life!

Until we virtually meet again, may God call you to Himself.

God’s Word for Today: “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

Copyright © 2013 by Patricia Shehan

All scripture is quoted from various translations of the Holy Bible (God’s Word).