LET GOD'S LOVE BUST OUT

Got Any Problems, Pains, Impossible Situations?

It does seem they are common to everyone.  And if we don’t have one right now all we have to do is wait a few days and something will come up. 

So how do we as children of God, Christ’s own followers face those things? 

Here is something to consider.  It is from the book of Romans. 

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.  Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)

We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials.  That seems, well, a bit crazy, but then he goes on to explain.  It is those tough things that helps us develop the way we should.  We can, of course, fight and fume and force things to go our way and miss what God has in mind with this.  Oh, but when we develop endurance there is more to follow.  Strength of character.  A habit of life that is good and honorable and pleasing to God.  And we can begin to flow in a new way.  Our defaults get reset God’s way.  That leads to confident hope of salvation.  An assurance of deliverance from the storms that may have torn us apart before but cannot any longer.  Salvation from the life we once lived with all our problems and pains and impossible situations.  Those storms smashed against us and tossed into the rocks and threatened to pull us down, but no more.  Jesus saves.  We can enter the storms confident in Him of making it through and of developing more character as He is at work in and through us. 

This hope will not lead to disappointment.  Not at all.  He has changed everything.  He will not fail.  He has already achieved the impossible.  The problems, pains and impossible situations are opportunities for Him to prove Himself again and again and for us to get better at trusting Him time after time.  So, rejoice when you run into problems and trials. 

And know this…really deep down know this…God loves you so much.   He places in you in each of us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.  It runs from the unlimited source of love into our hearts filling us with love.  Not love of our own making or relying on our own ability or our own idea of love, but God’s love.  From head to toe and from fingertip to fingertip He fills us with His love.  He wants us to know we belong, that we are important to Him, that He has better in mind for us than we could possibly imagine. 

Sound good?  What if a person kept shutting down God’s love in their heart?  What would result from running into problems and getting upset and blaming and getting more and more angry instead of rejoicing?  No endurance, a failing character, and a lack of confidence in what Christ has done which leads to disappointment in God.  You have probably seen it around.  It isn’t a pretty sight. 

Let God’s love bust out.  Allow Him access to your heart.  Let Him fill you with His love.  Trust Him to do what is right for you regardless of the problems, pains and impossible situations that come.  He will not disappoint. 

More of Jesus

The week has started and the flood of activities, work, projects, doctor's visits, laundry, world news and global problems has begun.  Sunday there was a little time to focus on the Lord.  A break away from the mainstream of other things.  Have you ever wondered if you could have more of Jesus even after Sunday?  Maybe discover more about Him?  Maybe even have Him reveal Himself more to you?  What a jolt that would be, huh?  Well, take a look at this verse that tells you how it's done.  Really.  

Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them. John 14:21 (NLT) 

How about those words from Jesus?   This is saying Jesus will reveal Himself to me and to you and to each of us.  That will charge up the week.  How does that happen?  By being tuned in to Him.  By loving Him.  It shows up in getting to know Him and His commandments.  Yeah, got to be in the Bible.  Hearing it, reading it, studying it and really thinking on it.  This can't be a little touch and go, but a get down and get in it.  And there has to be an acceptance of what Jesus says as true and valuable and so important that you and I put what He says into action in our lives.   It has to be obeyed.  That is an indication to Him and to us that we love Him.  If we love Jesus we will be doing what we can to get into the Scriptures and to do what He has to say we should do.  And then God the Father embraces us with love.  The love relationship with the Lord opens up even more and Jesus reveals Himself to us.   This is great.  

Check out this chart of what this looks like.  

There are 3 different approaches on the chart: 1) a person who studies the Bible for information, 2) a person who knows and applies the Bible in life, and 3) someone who reads the Bible some.  Which one receives more of Jesus?

If you know someone who gets bored easily with the Bible or the things of God you might suggest there is a lot more out there than they might think.  Perhaps you have a friend who will do some Bible study for curiosity sake, but has little interest in actually doing what Jesus says, then some encouragement might help.  Let them know there is more of Jesus to know and He will reveal Himself to those who accept and obey His commandments.  

How Jesus reveals Himself to each of us may be unique, but He says He will and I am sure He will do what He says.  Let's go do what Jesus said do and let's enjoy even more of Jesus.