Word for Today, Mon, Feb 2005: God's Love, Our Relationship with Him
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Today's devotional message comes from Phil Ware's collection of
Weekly Verses. This collection is about the love of God.
I believe that God wants to work through each of us in the lives
of those in our midst and also in the lives of people all over
the world. But even more importantly, I believe that God first
wants to work in US - that's you and me. Because of God's great
love for us, He wants us to have a personal relationship with
Him. Once we know at least something about the nature and the
heart of God, we can readily see where He wants us to serve.
Without realizing that all that we have comes from God and that
we owe everything to Him, the things we do have little eternal
meaning and purpose. When we admit that we need Him, though,
that opens the doors of a relationship that God has desired from
the very beginning.
Yours in Christ,
Brian
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Weekly Verses
from Crosswalk.com
http://www.crosswalkmail.com/otpapn_nndhoh.html
February 7, 2005
These verses are taken from Heartlight Daily Verse, by Phil Ware
http://www.crosswalkmail.com/eemwmh_nndhoh.html
~~~~~~~~~
MONDAY
He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever
repeats the matter separates close friends.
--Proverbs 17:9
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
"It's just a little harmless gossip." The Wise Teacher
reminds us that gossip is neither little nor harmless. Its
consequences are huge and its damage horrible. Instead, it is
much better to be a peacemaker and an offense-mender.
MY PRAYER...
Father of Glory, I confess that I am often more a peace
lover than a peacemaker. Give me the character not to repeat
gossip, but instead have the wisdom and strength to be an
offense-mender. Through the Prince of Peace I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
TUESDAY
The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder,"
"Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment
there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your
neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor.
Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
--Romans 13:9-10
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have to have laws to keep
people in line! That's the point behind Paul's message here.
Treat our neighbors as we would like to be treated. Love them
as we like to be loved. If we do that, then we're not going to
do anything that would hurt them, much less violate a command
of law!
MY PRAYER...
God, who gave Moses the Law on tablets of stone, please
write your character and will on my heart so I might be a
living stone, testifying to your righteousness and grace. Help
me to think more carefully about how my neighbors feel before I
act or react to them today! Through your Son I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
WEDNESDAY
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,
because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is
not made perfect in love.
--1 John 4:18
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
What is there to fear if God sent his Son to die to redeem
us? What is there to fear if we cannot be separated from the
love God has for us in Christ Jesus? What is there to fear
except ourselves? As we love God and his children, we are
reminded by his love for us, which is far better than our
meager love for others. Rather than run from him in fear, we
bow before him in thanks, knowing that he who hears our prayers
is also he who loves us and stops our fears.
MY PRAYER...
Loving Father, thank you that I can revere you without
fearing your wrath. Thank you that I can revere your word and
yet not be terrified by my inadequacies. May your love in me
produce a closer likeness to your holiness, righteousness,
justice, and mercy than all the laws, threats, and judges
combined. Through Jesus, who ransomed me from sin, I pray.
Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
THURSDAY
Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our
transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved.
--Ephesians 2:4-5
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
I cannot think of anything I'd prefer the Holy God to be
rich in than mercy. I know my failures, shortcomings, sins,
and transgressions. Without his mercy to pardon, and without
his grace to send Jesus to pardon at first, I would be lost and
without God. Now, because of his rich mercy, my life is tied
to Jesus' future and not the one I earned for myself.
MY PRAYER...
Father of all grace and mercy, thank you. Thank you for
being God like you are God. Thank you for extending grace when
I have not deserved it. Thank you for giving mercy when I most
needed it. Thank you for giving life when I thought my life
was doomed and hopeless. May my wealth be found in mercy and
grace much more than money and gold. Help me be more like you.
Through my older brother, Jesus, I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
FRIDAY
We love because [God] first loved us.
--1 John 4:19
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
It's all very simple. God is love. He is its origin,
example, and architect. I love because he loved me first. I
know how to love because he has demonstrated it. I can love
because he made me to have his likeness. He is the fountain,
the motivation, and the pinnacle of love. I love because he
does, first, last, and always.
MY PRAYER...
God of comfort, thank you for comforting me with your love.
Just as a child learns from parents how to do so many things, I
want to learn to love as you do: sacrificially, selflessly,
and submissively, so that others may know that they do not have
to earn your love, only receive it. In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
SATURDAY
Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest
commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as
yourself.
--Matthew 22:37-39
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Some things are just not very complicated. Living for Jesus
can be boiled down to two principles: love God with everything
I am and have, and love others and treat them as I would like
to be treated. Not too hard to understand. I guess it's
living it that is the challenge!
MY PRAYER...
O Living and only True God. Please accept the work of my
hands, the words of my mouth, the moments of my rest, and the
love of my heart as my worship to you this day. I pray that it
is pleasing and refreshing to you. Through your only Son I
pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
SUNDAY
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and
only Son into the world that we might live through him.
--1 John 4:9
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Love is a verb. We can't say it enough. Love must not only
be spoken, but must also be shown. The beginning of love is
God. He showed his love in the most sacrificial of ways so we
could know our incredible value to him. The price of our
adoption was the emptying of heaven of its greatest treasure,
God the Son, who is our Savior.
MY PRAYER...
Loving Father, thank you for adopting me into your family.
I can never thank you enough or ever repay you for your
kindness, but please receive the service of my life today as
thanksgiving for your grace and my small way of trying to share
the love you have given me. Through my Brother and my Ransom I
pray. Amen.
=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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