3rd Sunday in Lent ~ Fruitful Living

The fruit of righteousness is that fruit that is exercised in us by the Holy Spirit.
R.C. Sproul from The Holiness of God

Without God, we do not have faith; we cannot love. God IS love, and because He loves us, we can know love. Christians are to demonstrate the fruit of His love to others. When we call ourselves His children but do not love, we deceive each other.

Read 1 John 4:19-21

We love because He first loved us . . . Whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:19,21 NIV

The commentary in the Student Bible says John "uses the word love 35 times" in this letter. His themes are "simple themes - light, truth, life, love" and "[i]n every case, he shows God as the source of power in the Christian life." When we justify our broken relationships ~ our selfishness, our self-reliance, our self-righteousness ~ we are attempting to be our own source of power. Every time, we will fail. Our lives can only be fruitful because the Holy Spirit dwells in us. This is the evidence of righteousness. This is holiness. This is the Living Word evidenced through us. This is the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

consider this!

• Can the law make us love?
• What fruits of the Spirit are missing from my life?

Love Most High ~ Such generous Love and Mercy flows from You. You are the Source of goodness and grace, love and power, life and death. In You I can find all things good. You are Holy and Righteous. Teach me how to grow my life more like yours. Amen. ~dho

Lent ~ Fearless Love

What Jesus do you serve? Todd Agnew

In Agnew's song, he asks us What Jesus do you serve? Do we serve the Jesus of the stained glass church or the One that walks among the broken? It's a good question. More often than not, most of us find our comfort zone of service safe within the walls of the church. Jesus, however, almost always was found outside the Temple, among the sick, the needing ones.

Read 1 John 4:17-18

. . . in this world we are like Him. There is no fear in love. . . 1 John 4:17-18 NIV

Christians are called to step out into the world, be the Christ-light for others. We are called to stand among the broken, be as Christ to others. We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, be a witness for Christ to the lost. Yes, there are hurting, wounded and lost people within the walls of the church; however, the Spirt leads us outside to spead His Light and Love to many more. Many times it is fear that holds us back, gives us pause. These verses tell us that God's Love gives us confindence on the day of judgement. Have you demonstrated that confidence to anyone lately? Have you offered the same Assurance to someone broken?

consider this!

• What does "love is made complete" mean?
• When is this "day of judgement"?
• Does your "fear" clash with "perfect love"?

Jesus ~ You are the Lover of my soul. When the time comes that I stand before you face-to-face, I will find amazing grace. In these days before that time, my heart searches for new ways to reach out ~ in the name of Jesus ~ the way You love. Amen. ~ dho

Lent ~ Trust the Love

Trust God for the unexpected, and let him surprise you by doing the unexplainable.
Unknown

No matter the length of study time or depth of study, our human minds cannot grasp the greatness of God. Scripture tells us He is greater than anything in this world. The prophet Jeremiah records God's message to him: Call to Me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wonderful things that you could never figure out on your own (Jeremiah 33:3 The Message). Even though we seek Him ~ in all ways ~ we can never fully understand God.

Read 1 John 4:13-16

. . . Jesus is God's Son . . . we've embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God. 1 John 4:15-16 The Message

Reading these verses reminds us of just how loved we are. John's words to believers gives us a way to evaluate our behavior, to help us identify how closely we walk with God. We are to believe, to confess, to live steadily and deeply in Him and to tell others that Jesus has redeemed us, giving us eternal life. We should embrace Jesus ~ heart and soul.

consider this!

• What is the proof God gives believers of His Presence?
• When life is uncertain, what is the believer's certainty?
• Do I fully embrace God's generous Love?

Jesus ~ You lived God's Love when You allowed the world to hammer the nails! You live God's Love now as our Eternal Intercessor. You will live God's Love when You return for His children. I want to wholeheartedly embrace this Divine Love and share You with others. Amen. ~dho

Lent ~ Too Full

Your emptiness accepted creates a space for God in your life. When you embrace that emptiness, God can begin to fill you. God has a plan for you.
Macrina Wiederkehr from A Tree Full of Angels

We live life so fully, always busy, that we often find ourselves too full ~ with no room left for God. Busyness can keep us from developing an intimate relationship with the Lord. To lay down the world ~ television, newspapers, work, activities ~ and sometimes even church activities is necessary to create time and space for God. Sadly, that is the way we usually go about it - an after thought.

Read 1 John 4:11-12

. . . if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and His love becomes complete in us - perfect love! 1 John 4:12 The Message

What a beautiful thought ~ Perfect Love is complete in us! The Holy Spirit needs a place to work and when our lives are too full, there is little room for His Presence.

consider this!

• How does God reveal His Love to me?
• Can God offer Perfect Love to others through me?
• How much space does my life create for God?

Father ~ Come and dwell in me. It is time to clean house, throw out unnecessary clutter that robs my soul of time with You. Open hands and open ears, I ask You to fill me with holiness, speak to me with wisdom. Make me complete in You. Amen. ~ dho

Lent ~ Live Eternally Grateful

. . . [God] makes us passionately and spiritually unbalanced. God steers us in the direction of His kingdom, His purpose, His passions. His desire it not to conform us but to transform us. Not to make us compliant, but to make us creative. His intent is never to domesticate us, but to liberate us.
Erwin Raphael McManus from The Barbarian Way (pg.64)

God's plan for redemption was created long before time. God's redemption transforms us, gives us new life, grants us new freedom. We glimpse eternity now and find the longing for a more intimate relationship with God.

Read 1 John 4:9-10

This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that He loved us . . . 1 John 4:10

God sent His only Son to earth ~ Jesus was betrayed, beaten and buried for our sins. Yet, it is God's Purpose ~ salvation for the sinners ~ that had the last word. Christ lives! And all this for my sins and for your sins, for all sinners.

consider this!

• Define 'real love'.
• What did Jesus have to sacrifice to come into the world?
• What does 'real love' offer that the world cannot?

God of Mercy ~ I are not worthy of such love, such sacrifice. You love best of all. At best, my days are filled with token deeds and worthy gestures but none come near to Your sacrifice. I kneel at Your altar with praises for freedom through Christ. Transform me! Amen. ~dho

Lent ~ God Is Love

Open your hearts to the love God instills . . . God loves you tenderly. What He gives you is not to be kept under lock and key, but to be shared. Mother Teresa

Love is an action, one a person chooses to receive and chooses to give. Because the Spirit lives inside the believer, we are empowered to love, to love like Christ. Commentary in the Life Application Bible says it this way: God's love always involves a choice and an action.

Read 1 John 4:7-8

. . . God is love. 1 John 4:8 NCV

God's love is higher and deeper and wider and grander than we can begin to imagine. He loves us, calls us, draws near to us. God chooses us! When our response is to choose God, we discover more than enough. When we choose God, His love overflows into us. Loving each other is the action that demonstrates His amazing grace.

consider this!

• What is the source of all love?
• Is real love a feeling?
• How well do I really love?

Love Most High ~ You can only love one way ~ Completely, Generously, Perfectly. Kindle my heart with that tender Love. My heart weeps at such an offering. Forgive me when I hold tightly to Your love, when my selfish soul stops the flow of Perfect Love. Amen. ~dho