Archive for October 2014
Let The Father Love You
In a family, the parents don’t say to their children, “We want you to show your love to us as a sign of your obedience!” How ridiculous and unnatural that would be; Rather, as the parents show love to their children, the children naturally return that love. They love because they have first been loved! (1 Jn 4:19)
This is the unnatural message that we have drummed into the Church for decades and it has left many condemned and guilt ridden striving to prove their love for God.
If this applies to you, the Father says to you today, “Stop striving and trying to prove your love for me. I repeat, stop trying to prove your love for me! Allow me to first love you! Rest in me. Ask me to teach you how to receive my love! You have nothing to prove to me, rather, I want to prove my love for you!”
Meditate in the verses below until you come into a revelation of God’s love for you!
1 Jn 4:10 This is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be a sacrifice for our sins.
Gal 2:20 I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Jn 3:16 God so loved the world, He sent His Son.
Jesus and Peter — Read Jn 21:15-19
When the disciples were having breakfast with Jesus, Jesus asked Simon-Peter 3 times if he loved Him. The first 2 times, Jesus used the word ‘Agape’ which is a sacrificial, unconditional love. Simon responded by saying he loved Jesus, but he used the word ‘Phileo’ which is a friendly, fondness for, type of love.
The 3rd time Jesus asked him, He used the same word Peter had used ‘Phileo’! Peter was grieved by this and said, “Lord, you know i only phileo love you!”
What was Jesus doing? Knowing that Peter had previously denied knowing Him 3 times when he had said he would die rather than deny Him, Jesus was forcing Peter to be honest with himself. He wanted him to admit that his love for Jesus was only phileo (fondness) not agape (sacrificial) love.
Friend, you may have realised that like Peter, your love for Jesus is only shallow and superficial. Do not be despondent but rejoice! You have now become a candidate for the New Covenant love of Jesus! Today is the day for you to realise it’s not your love for Him that counts, but His love for you!
A mature believer is the one who boasts of Jesus love for them! (Jn 19:26, 20:2)
Jn 13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
Jn 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!”
Jn 20:2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
Jn 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.
Jn 21:20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following.
As Joseph Prince rightly points out, John the disciple (who is called the Apostle of Love) is seen here in his gospel, practising the principle that Jesus loves him.
Why did John practise Jesus love for him? He knew that Jesus loving him came first, and it was only out of His love could he love others.
to the degree we have received Jesus love for us, to that degree can we love others!
1 Jn 4:19 We love because He first loved us!
If John, the Apostle of Love felt the need to keep reminding himself of Jesus’ love for him, it is an encouragement for us to practise this also.
Meditation Point: Stop striving to love God, instead, ask Him to teach you how to receive His love!
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