Word for Today, Fri, 21 Feb 2003: Do You Really Love Him?

#1 · February 21, 2003, 10:19 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on February 21, 2003, 10:19 pm
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

To end this work week, I'd like to share again with you a message
from Oswald Chamber's collection, "My Utmost For His Highest".
In this week's series, Oswald has been going through a set of
messages about Taking Initiative against various things, such as
Daydreaming, Drudgery, Despair, and Depression.

In his message for today, Oswald turns to the core question,
which he's been writing about all along: Do we really love God?
At first response, most of us would instantly think, "Of course I
love God!" But probe a bit deeper. What is our response to God?
I definitely really love God. I'm not nearly as sure that my
actions and responses consistently convey that love. I wouldn't
want to die knowing that I've not given God my all.

How about you? Where do you stand in your relationship with God?
Do you have one? What's it like? How often do you converse with
the One you love? If God were to ask you how you love Him
(though He most certainly knows our true heart), how would you
respond? I sure think about such things, and I desire to remove
whatever refuse is in my life that gets in the way of my
relationship with Him. I'm glad He's so patient with me, for I'm
only a work in progress. God is not finished molding and making
me. And you?

Dear Lord,

I really love you. I agonize at times over my careless decisions
and how I have grieved You with them, perhaps even more than I've
grieved myself or others. I know that You are such a gracious
and forgiving God, but I don't take Your Grace lightly at all, I
know that my forgiveness was bought and paid for in full at a
very great price - the suffering and death of Your only Son, my
Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

----------------------------------------------

February 21

Do You Really Love Him?

She has done a good work for Me -Mark 14:6

If what we call love doesn't take us beyond ourselves, it is not
really love. If we have the idea that love is characterized as
cautious, wise, sensible, shrewd, and never taken to extremes, we
have missed the true meaning. This may describe affection and it
may bring us a warm feeling, but it is not a true and accurate
description of love.

Have you ever been driven to do something for God not because you
felt that it was useful or your duty to do so, or that there was
anything in it for you, but simply because you love Him? Have you
ever realized that you can give things to God that are of value
to Him? Or are you just sitting around daydreaming about the
greatness of His redemption, while neglecting all the things you
could be doing for Him? I'm not referring to works which could be
regarded as divine and miraculous, but ordinary, simple human
things- things which would be evidence to God that you are
totally surrendered to Him. Have you ever created what Mary of
Bethany created in the heart of the Lord Jesus? "She has done a
good work for Me."

There are times when it seems as if God watches to see if we will
give Him even small gifts of surrender, just to show how genuine
our love is for Him. To be surrendered to God is of more value
than our personal holiness. Concern over our personal holiness
causes us to focus our eyes on ourselves, and we become overly
concerned about the way we walk and talk and look, out of fear of
offending God. "... but perfect love casts out fear..." once we
are surrendered to God ( 1 John 4:18 ). We should quit asking
ourselves, "Am I of any use?" and accept the truth that we really
are not of much use to Him. The issue is never of being of use,
but of being of value to God Himself. Once we are totally
surrendered to God, He will work through us all the time.

www.gospelcom.net/rbc/utmost/
Authorized By The Oswald
Chambers Publications
Association, Ltd.

My Utmost for His Highest
Daily Devotional is provided
by RBC Ministries

=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more
taxes.yahoo.com/

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

To end this work week, I'd like to share again with you a message
from Oswald Chamber's collection, "My Utmost For His Highest".
In this week's series, Oswald has been going through a set of
messages about Taking Initiative against various things, such as
Daydreaming, Drudgery, Despair, and Depression.

In his message for today, Oswald turns to the core question,
which he's been writing about all along: Do we really love God?
At first response, most of us would instantly think, "Of course I
love God!" But probe a bit deeper. What is our response to God?
I definitely really love God. I'm not nearly as sure that my
actions and responses consistently convey that love. I wouldn't
want to die knowing that I've not given God my all.

How about you? Where do you stand in your relationship with God?
Do you have one? What's it like? How often do you converse with
the One you love? If God were to ask you how you love Him
(though He most certainly knows our true heart), how would you
respond? I sure think about such things, and I desire to remove
whatever refuse is in my life that gets in the way of my
relationship with Him. I'm glad He's so patient with me, for I'm
only a work in progress. God is not finished molding and making
me. And you?

Dear Lord,

I really love you. I agonize at times over my careless decisions
and how I have grieved You with them, perhaps even more than I've
grieved myself or others. I know that You are such a gracious
and forgiving God, but I don't take Your Grace lightly at all, I
know that my forgiveness was bought and paid for in full at a
very great price - the suffering and death of Your only Son, my
Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

----------------------------------------------

February 21

Do You Really Love Him?

She has done a good work for Me -Mark 14:6

If what we call love doesn't take us beyond ourselves, it is not
really love. If we have the idea that love is characterized as
cautious, wise, sensible, shrewd, and never taken to extremes, we
have missed the true meaning. This may describe affection and it
may bring us a warm feeling, but it is not a true and accurate
description of love.

Have you ever been driven to do something for God not because you
felt that it was useful or your duty to do so, or that there was
anything in it for you, but simply because you love Him? Have you
ever realized that you can give things to God that are of value
to Him? Or are you just sitting around daydreaming about the
greatness of His redemption, while neglecting all the things you
could be doing for Him? I'm not referring to works which could be
regarded as divine and miraculous, but ordinary, simple human
things- things which would be evidence to God that you are
totally surrendered to Him. Have you ever created what Mary of
Bethany created in the heart of the Lord Jesus? "She has done a
good work for Me."

There are times when it seems as if God watches to see if we will
give Him even small gifts of surrender, just to show how genuine
our love is for Him. To be surrendered to God is of more value
than our personal holiness. Concern over our personal holiness
causes us to focus our eyes on ourselves, and we become overly
concerned about the way we walk and talk and look, out of fear of
offending God. "... but perfect love casts out fear..." once we
are surrendered to God ( 1 John 4:18 ). We should quit asking
ourselves, "Am I of any use?" and accept the truth that we really
are not of much use to Him. The issue is never of being of use,
but of being of value to God Himself. Once we are totally
surrendered to God, He will work through us all the time.

http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/utmost/
Authorized By The Oswald
Chambers Publications
Association, Ltd.

My Utmost for His Highest
Daily Devotional is provided
by RBC Ministries

=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/

__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more
taxes.yahoo.com/