Love… Is God!
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another… if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
1 John 4:7-12 (ESV)
Surely GOD IS LOVE!
Every sunrise, moonbeam, mountain, valley, river, ocean, flower, creature, talent, fruit tree, wheat field, small child, soft heart, sweet face, bright smile, kind word, faith step, hand out, leg up… and act of unconditional mercy and forgiveness declares God's gracious love.
But…
Consider 3 obvious challenges to our Lord’s utmost commandment to love!
Hateful Christians who don't display God's love: when they condemn the world that ‘God so loved…’ (John 3:16).
Honest skeptics who can fathom God's love: when they see suffering and wonder why…
New age faiths that edit and twist God's love: when they try to redefine the Bible.
Therefore,
TRUE ambassadors for Christ must model what love REALLY is... and really isn’t:(
Because Satan, the master deceiver, 'The prince of the power of the air' (Ephesians 2:2), has engaged in a monstrously massive propaganda campaign of confusion.
One of his most diabolical cons is spinning love upside down and backwards…
Wherein L-O-V-E… E-V-O-L(ves) into a deadly dance with the devil.
Another con is prompting saints to walk… through dark, sticky webs of conspiracies:
‘Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it’ (Isaiah 8:12).
Actors, models, and talent for Christ:
I believe you’ve been called to realign and straighten out this misunderstanding… by the greatest performance of your lives (which is not in front of a camera).
Your glowing talent is a bait and switch that prompts fans to learn who you really are and what you most value: God and His love!
Love… Is God! (Part 2)
NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re all called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re all called to models of Jesus, and we all have gifts, talents, and a commission to multiply them in the world for His glory.
P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend DAILY BIBLE READING.
WARNING: Don’t focus on your favorite verses, because taken out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!