Wow how God has comforted me and provided guidance for me through His word lately. Last week I found myself struggling, with homework to do, trying to decide whether or not to quit my job, missing my family, everything seemed to pile on as a burden. But as He promises God always brings us out of the darkness and into the light. He will provide for us no matter where we are or what we're going through because He is the author of our storybook.
This morning I woke up and read Romans 12:9-21. The focus is love, my favorite subject. I love to be in love and I don't mean like in the movies. I mean honest love. The love God has for us and gives to us. Love that never fails. Romans 12:9 (NIV) says "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." It just so happens that this verse is also the KLove verse of the day provided in the New Living Translation says "Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good." I love the simplicity of the NLT verse, it is straight forward and real, something that is easy for me to understand and apply to how I live and love.
"Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them." To me this means not just saying you love someone but really loving them with the love you receive from our Father. This love is unconditional and honest, without hesitation. How many times to do overuse love in the day? It's become normal to say "I love that song," "I love that class," "I love the cake I made." Is this true love? Do you really love it or do you just like it? Same goes for relationships. Guard your hearts. Professing you love someone means you really love them. Once again I think back to 1 Corinthians 13, all the guidelines of what love is. To be honest, I don't trust myself in saying that I have loved unconditionally in past relationships. But now that I am living a life with Jesus in my heart I trust that God will provide for me a spouse that I can love unconditionally. I'm simply waiting on Him to correct my heart so that I can love my beloved in the way that He does.
"Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good." There are so many things that are wrong in this world. Things that push us away from God and His plan for us and lead us into sin. We are to hate these things and in doing so run away from them. We all know what is right and wrong, we all have a conscience and have been taught what is ethical. So why would you stay in a situation that leads you to sin, that separates you from God? Instead of sticking with the things that lead you to sin, hold tightly to what is good. Currently, I am holding onto my friends from Chi Alpha and my Rivercity church families that are continuing to grow each day. I hold tight to my Bible, sometimes literally in this Fargo wind! I hold tight to my purity and the new life I have in Jesus. I never want to be who I've been but instead continue to grow in faith and be an example of Christ's love.
God's love is unconditional, limitless, and the best promise we've been given. He will love us no matter where we've been or where we are. He will lift us out of our pit and will bring us into the light as we learn to live out His will for us.
Thank you Jesus for your life and for the perfect example you are of God's love. Give me your heart, help me to love like you. Because I want to be completely in love with you. Amen.
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