For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening…nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
—Romans 8:38-39
To fully understand all the different facets of love, we must talk about the two kinds of love: the God-kind of love and man's love. Man's love fails, gives up; but God's love does not. Man's love is finite, comes to an end; but God's love is infinite and eternal. Man's love is dependent on favorable behavior and circumstances; God's love is not. People place conditions on their love, but God's love is unconditional.
According to God's Word, He loved us before the world was formed, before we loved Him or believed in Him, or had ever done anything either good or evil. God does not require us to earn His love, and we must not require others to earn ours. As believers in Jesus Christ, the love we are to manifest to the world is the unconditional love of God flowing through us to them.
Loving people unconditionally is a very big challenge. I would be tempted to say it's impossible, but since God tells us to do it, surely He must have a way for us to do it. Sometimes we pray to be able to love the unlovely and then do our best to avoid every unlovely person God sends our way. Learning to walk in love with unlovely people and learning to be patient in trials are probably the two most important tools God uses to develop our spiritual maturity. Believe it or not, difficult people in our lives help us. They sharpen and refine us for God's use.
Love Others Today: "Lord, help me to love others today without imposing 'ifs' or conditions. Let me remember that as I do it, I'm being refined by You."
The Strength to Overcome
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.”
Luke 11:20-23
Satan defeated man, starting in the Garden of Eden and continuing throughout all of human history. He rules over the world with a power that the greatest dictators of history have never come close to attaining. Yet for all of his strength, his power and authority were destroyed by the Saviour who was even stronger. And that destruction was brought about by the very thing that appeared to be Satan’s moment of greatest triumph—the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Jesus was not overcome by Satan. He willingly laid down His life as part of God’s plan for victory. And He forever defeated sin and the grave.
All of Satan’s power was nothing compared to that of Jesus. He is the complete sum of power, and His appearance as the Lamb of God was only a facet of His nature. He is also the conquering Lion of Judah.
“And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.”-Revelation 5:5-6
Luke 11:20-23
Satan defeated man, starting in the Garden of Eden and continuing throughout all of human history. He rules over the world with a power that the greatest dictators of history have never come close to attaining. Yet for all of his strength, his power and authority were destroyed by the Saviour who was even stronger. And that destruction was brought about by the very thing that appeared to be Satan’s moment of greatest triumph—the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Jesus was not overcome by Satan. He willingly laid down His life as part of God’s plan for victory. And He forever defeated sin and the grave.
All of Satan’s power was nothing compared to that of Jesus. He is the complete sum of power, and His appearance as the Lamb of God was only a facet of His nature. He is also the conquering Lion of Judah.
“And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.”-Revelation 5:5-6
Today’s Growth Principle:
Though we cannot defeat Satan in our strength, we have the strength of the Lion of Judah on our side.
No “Ifs”
by Joyce Meyer - posted May 07, 2016For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening…nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
—Romans 8:38-39
To fully understand all the different facets of love, we must talk about the two kinds of love: the God-kind of love and man's love. Man's love fails, gives up; but God's love does not. Man's love is finite, comes to an end; but God's love is infinite and eternal. Man's love is dependent on favorable behavior and circumstances; God's love is not. People place conditions on their love, but God's love is unconditional.
According to God's Word, He loved us before the world was formed, before we loved Him or believed in Him, or had ever done anything either good or evil. God does not require us to earn His love, and we must not require others to earn ours. As believers in Jesus Christ, the love we are to manifest to the world is the unconditional love of God flowing through us to them.
Loving people unconditionally is a very big challenge. I would be tempted to say it's impossible, but since God tells us to do it, surely He must have a way for us to do it. Sometimes we pray to be able to love the unlovely and then do our best to avoid every unlovely person God sends our way. Learning to walk in love with unlovely people and learning to be patient in trials are probably the two most important tools God uses to develop our spiritual maturity. Believe it or not, difficult people in our lives help us. They sharpen and refine us for God's use.
Love Others Today: "Lord, help me to love others today without imposing 'ifs' or conditions. Let me remember that as I do it, I'm being refined by You."
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