Was thinking about this over the weekend. We had some time with our grand-daughter one evening and wanted to encourage her that when God speaks through her to another, is to raise her chin high, look right into those people's eyes and keep a voice that is not child-like but one that is bold and confident in what they speak. And the last thing the Lord had me say was: " of all this, tell about how they are loved by God". "Tell them that God loves them!" Amen.
1 John 4:15-17
15 Anyone who believes and says that Jesus is the Son of God has God living in him, and he is living with God.
16 We know how much God loves us because we have felt his love and because we believe him when he tells us that he loves us dearly. God is love, and anyone who lives in love is living with God and God is living in him. 17 And as we live with Christ, our love grows more perfect and complete; so we will not be ashamed and embarrassed at the day of judgment, but can face him with confidence and joy because he loves us and we love him too.
TLB
Our living with Christ causes our love to grow more perfectly and complete. We are not to be the ashamed and embarrassed...........not today or at the day of judgment!
Reflecting on our grand-daughter and her response was at first almost like she was wanting to cry.....then it was apparent that she acted like she was being scolded, but in giving her truth about relaying God's Word and love to others, it is of importance of giving that timely word from God to others at the moment it is needed, and she certainly lightened, and gave a smile at :" tell them that God loves them!"
She sat up in her chair. Not slouching down, but became upright, turn to place her feet on the floor and the preaching began!
Why? because she knows the love she has for her parents and they for her. She knows what that daily walk is like with them. She is told daily how they love her and how God loves her, too! She knows it is a give and take relationship, not just a taking relationship. She is reflecting what her life is composed of right now. She emanates love for others.
Mark 12:28-34
28 One of the teachers of religion who was standing there listening to the discussion realized that Jesus had answered well. So he asked, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
29 Jesus replied, "The one that says, 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only God. 30 And you must love him with all your heart and soul and mind and strength.'
31 "The second is: 'You must love others as much as yourself.' No other commandments are greater than these."
32 The teacher of religion replied, "Sir, you have spoken a true word in saying that there is only one God and no other. 33 And I know it is far more important to love him with all my heart and understanding and strength, and to love others as myself, than to offer all kinds of sacrifices on the altar of the Temple."
34 Realizing this man's understanding, Jesus said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." And after that, no one dared ask him any more questions.
TLB
No, we are not far from the kingdom when one understands the love of God and to carry that same love to the world. Jesus did indeed carry it and so much of God, who can fathom it all?
Proverbs 21:21
21 He who pursues righteousness and love
finds life, prosperity and honor.
NIV
The man, woman or child who pursues God and His righteousness will find His love a part of the package. When we truly know that God loved us first and gave His best for us.........then we will start that walk into a love that never fails, is always kind, is always forgiving. Love will always rejoice in truth as our grand-daughter did that evening. That love will always protect her, always help her to trust in God alone, and will cause her to persevere into the thing God has planned for her.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
NIV
She might have thought she was being scolded, rebuked, or even criticized, but when she allowed herself to hear every word...........she bumped into God and His love that enveloped her for she recognized His safety and protection.
No, this would certainly be a better place to be in this day and time, if people knew that God loved them more than their own biological parents do or did. Truly if people could be introduced into God's love, they would never want to leave His presence ever. They would not be out trying to get that 15-minutes of fame, but actually be giving God's love to others each and every day.
Lamentations 3:22-24
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassion 's never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."
NIV
In closing:
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
NIV
What if any us could speak with God's love, not as a clanging cymbal, but true love that emanates from the Father? Yes, that evening I saw our grand-daughter emanate His love in such a precise manner that only her face could have shone. It was one full of light, full of love and full of joy. Let us continue to join in that walk with God our Father. May His will be done in our lives as it is in heaven. And may we have the Manna from heaven that will come to expand our knowledge of how truly wonderful that love really is. Amen!
You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV
Awesome message! Thoroughly enjoyed it!
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