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“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” (Ephesians 1:4-5 NLT)
A while back, a man came into my office and said, “I’m a Christian, but I don’t feel like I’m going anywhere in my spiritual growth. I’m kind of stuck in neutral.”
I said, “What do you think the problem is?”
He said, “I think my problem is I just don’t love God enough.”
I said, “That’s not your problem. Your problem is not that you don’t love God enough. Your problem is that you don’t understand how much he loves you.”
Love is always a response to love. The Bible says, “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19NIV). When you say, “I don’t love God,” it’s because you don’t understand just how much he really loves you.
To understand your life’s purpose and calling, you have to begin with God’s nature. God is love. Love is the essence of his nature. The only reason there is love in the universe is because of God. Ants and snails do not love, but you were made in God’s image, so you can love.
The reason you are alive is because God wanted to love you. The first purpose of your life is to be loved by God! Yes, it is important to serve, obey, and trust him, but your first purpose is to love him.
“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure” (Ephesians 1:4-5 NLT).
Let this sink in: Your first duty is not to do anything but just be loved by God.
Talk It Over
- What is your response to the truth that your first calling is to enjoy a relationship with God?
- Think about your current relationship with God. Has it become more about rules, regulations, and rituals than about love?
- What should be the natural effect of being loved by God? How does it affect your relationships with others?
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| Today’s Scripture |
“...Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
(Psalm 35:27, NKJV) |
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| He Delights in Your Prosperity |
In the same way that a parent loves to see their child doing well and excelling, God wants you to do well and excel in every area. He takes pleasure in prospering you. He doesn’t want you to just barely have enough to meet your own needs. God wants you to be so blessed that when other people get around you, it overflows onto them. He wants you to be so blessed in your finances that you can pay your own bills, accomplish your own dreams and also be a blessing to other people.
The key is that you have to make room for it in your thinking. You have to expect that He wants to bless you. Take a step of faith today by thanking Him for His abundance in every area of your life. Declare that because you follow His ways, His blessings are going to chase you down! Don’t just settle for a “good enough” mentality, develop an overflow mentality because God delights in the prosperity of His people!
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| A Prayer for Today |
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“Father, today I surrender every area of my life to You. Help me to understand Your goodness and grace. Develop in me an overflow mentality and show me how to be a blessing to others in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
PS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9YLoxF-ao0 |
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