Words of Encouragement

Love is what motivates a father to love a child or a grandchild.  Love is what motivates a mother to care for a child. If we being human, how much more does the love of God care for us?  How much more is the Heavenly Father willing to give for his children?

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. - 1 John 3:16

God's Way. We will Reflect Love. Last week we talked about God's way and I felt compelled to continue this week with the same lesson. People are often heard talking about themselves and their great ability to love.  However, I would like to interject here that we really have no idea about the depth of love until we understand something about God's love.

God loved us so much that he gave his son for us. Not when we were cleaned up and receptive, but when we were filthy and unappreciative of the gift he was giving.  His love did not depend on us.  His love did not change because of our foolishness or lack or ability to show love in return.  As humans we love those that love us, but given time those that treat us bad we can release that love for them.

Something changes however when you accept the love of God through Christ.  What changes is your ability to love because of your relationship with God.  Where you once would only love the lovely, you learn to love the unlovable.  This is because you were loved when you were still unlovable.

God's love as it grows within us changes us so that we can now lay down our own lives (our ideas, our agendas, our ways and our rights) so that someone else may live.  We can do it even if they do not return our love.  We can do it because we are no longer motivated by what we receive in return, but by what we have already gotten from God.

Today, Lord I pray that you would help us to show more of your love to others.  Help us to obey you by how we love even those that do not love us in return.