Tag: faith works by love
Day 2–The Greatest Lover
Scripture reading for February 3: John 10:11 “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” John 15:12-13 “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
Scripture reveals through the words of Jesus that He is the greatest Lover of all mankind. Our faith works by love. (Galatians 5:6) Jesus did not just tell us about love and then command us to love one another, He demonstrated that love;“. . but God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) He acted for the highest good of all people by providing for them a full payment for their own sins. He willingly took our sins, personally and corporately, in His own body on the cross and gave His life blood as a payment sufficient for all. Our response is to willingly accept His payment and Him as Lord through confession and forsaking of our sins. This is how we are born again.
When we choose to believe in Christ, God saves us from the penalty and eternal punishment for our sins. We can only say ‘thank You’ to the Lord Jesus. Jesus had the power to willingly lay down His life for all sinners and because He was Himself, sinless, He had the power to take up His life again, defeating death, hell and the grave. (John 10:17-18) He demonstrated God’s love by His faithful sacrifice.
The very nature of our emergency response network and those who work in it is our willingness to lay our lives down for the sake of those in danger or trouble. Behind this response is human compassion–love coming from God towards the hurting and wounded. This love takes on a new dimension when we receive Jesus Christ’s love and allow Him to dwell in us.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Your Love to us in Your Beloved Son, Jesus Christ! That You would lay down Your life for me, a sinner, is amazing and humbling. Thank You for cleansing me through Your shed blood and for praying for me now and always. Teach me today how to love You and allow Your love to flow in me. Amen.
Access to Grace by faith
Scripture reading for June 19: Romans 5
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.” Romans 5:1-5
Faith works by love. God’s love poured into those who believe through the Holy Spirit provides a powerful rejoicing of faith. This faith knows and trusts that God is able to do what He has promised. This faith sees the ultimate goal of our soul enjoying God’s glory in eternal life. Faith enables believers to rejoice in sufferings for the cause of Christ. As we rejoice in sufferings, we gain endurance and this produces a strong character of righteousness and hope. Hope is the constant expectation of good coming from God’s hand to those who walk by faith, even in their suffering. We have peace with God!
This is the new world view of those who repent of trusting in man and self and begin to trust in God and His promises. Our vision expands our world from physical reality to see the King of Heaven and His glorious kingdom that has already broken into our world in Jesus Christ. Our vision gives us hope of a glorious future kingdom and the defeat of all our enemies and relief from the suffering. Our faith enlarges our heart’s capacity to love others and share the Good News of the King and His kingdom here and now available to all who will believe.
Are you currently standing in God’s amazing grace? What are some changes in your life since you have entered God’s kingdom by faith? Have you shared the gift of eternal life and peace with God with your own friends and relatives?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for giving me peace with You and pouring Your love into my heart by the Holy Spirit. I want my family and friends to know this peace and rejoice in the hope of eternal life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit today that I might love each person You place in my path with Christ’s love. Amen.