We Love Because God Loves Us
by Rick Warren
We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (NIV)
*** *** *** ***
The reason God wants us to love is because he is love, and he created us to be like him – to love. The only reason we’re able to love is because God loves us: “Love comes from God … because God is love” (1 John 4:7-8 NIV).
We were created in God’s image to do two things on earth: Learn to love God and learn to love other people; life is all about love.
But love all started with God. He loved us first and that gives us the ability to love others (1 John 4:19). The only reason you can love God or love anybody else is because God first loved you. And he showed that love by sending Jesus Christ to earth to die for you. He showed that love by creating you. He showed that love by everything you have in life; it’s all a gift of God’s love.
In order to love others and to become great lovers, we first need to understand and feel how much God loves us. We don’t want to just talk about love, read about love, or discuss about love; our need is to experience the love of God.
We need to reach a day when we finally, fully understand how God loves us completely and unconditionally. We need to become secure in the truth that we cannot make God stop loving us.
Once we’re secure inside God’s unconditional love, we’ll start cutting people a lot of slack. We won’t be as angry as we’ve been. We’ll be more patient. We’ll be more forgiving. We’ll be more merciful. We’ll give others grace.
But you cannot give to others what you have not received yourself, and so my hope is that, as you learn how much God loves you, you’ll also let him heal your heart so that his love can flow freely through you. It’s impossible to love others until you really feel loved yourself.
© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved.
have a beautiful day,
xo
michelle
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
. what if
What if you’re right?
And he was just another nice guy
What if you’re right?
What if it’s true?
They say the cross will only make a fool of you
And what if it’s true?
What if he takes his place in history
With all the prophets and the kings
Who taught us love and came in peace
But then the story ends
What then?
But what if you’re wrong?
What if there’s more?
What if there’s hope you never dreamed of hoping for?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He’s more than enough?
What if it’s love?
What if you dig,
What if you dig way down deeper than your simple-minded friends
What if you dig?
What if you find
A thousand more unanswered questions down inside
That’s all you find
What if you pick apart the logic and begin to poke the holes
What if the crown of thorns is no more than folklore that must be told and retold
But what if you’re wrong?
What if there’s more?
What if there’s hope you never dreamed of hoping for?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He’s more than enough?
What if it’s love?
You've been running as fast as you can
You've been looking for a place you can land so long
But what if you’re wrong?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He’s more than enough?
What if it’s love?
Nichole Nordeman - What If
From the album Brave
And he was just another nice guy
What if you’re right?
What if it’s true?
They say the cross will only make a fool of you
And what if it’s true?
What if he takes his place in history
With all the prophets and the kings
Who taught us love and came in peace
But then the story ends
What then?
But what if you’re wrong?
What if there’s more?
What if there’s hope you never dreamed of hoping for?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He’s more than enough?
What if it’s love?
What if you dig,
What if you dig way down deeper than your simple-minded friends
What if you dig?
What if you find
A thousand more unanswered questions down inside
That’s all you find
What if you pick apart the logic and begin to poke the holes
What if the crown of thorns is no more than folklore that must be told and retold
But what if you’re wrong?
What if there’s more?
What if there’s hope you never dreamed of hoping for?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He’s more than enough?
What if it’s love?
You've been running as fast as you can
You've been looking for a place you can land so long
But what if you’re wrong?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He’s more than enough?
What if it’s love?
Nichole Nordeman - What If
From the album Brave
. letting the inside match the outside
your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you- matthew 6:4
. almost all of us live two lives: what people see outside and what is really going on inside. in school we learn what outward signs of attention will please the teacher. at a job we learn to put up a "good front" whenever the boss happens to stroll by. as if donning masks, we style our hair, choose clothes, and use body language to impress those around us. over time, we learn to excel at hiding problems.
chapters 5-7 in matthew announce that the time has come for us to change not just the outside, but the inside. in Jesus' day, religious people tried to impress each other with showy outwardly behavior. they wore gaunt and hungry looks during a brief fast, prayed grandiosely if people were watching, and went so far as to wear bible verses strapped to their foreheads and left arms.
in His famous sermon on the mount, Jesus blasts the hypocrisy behind such seemingly harmless practices. God is not fooled by appearances. we cannot fake behavior to impress Him. He knows that inside the best of us lurk dark thoughts of hatred, jealousy, pride and lust- internal problems only He can deal with. Jesus goes on to present a truly radical way of life, free of pretense.
the way of life described is more radical than anything before or since. Jesus' words turn many normal assumptions upside down. with statements like, "blessed are the poor in spirit...those who mourn...the meek...the peacemakers...those who are persecuted," Jesus attacks those who strive to build a good image by appearing powerful, successful and assertive.
perhaps the most radical of all, the sermon on the mounts introduces the possibility of living solely for God and not for appearances. at last we can bring our inner and outer together.
have a beautiful day,
xo michelle
. almost all of us live two lives: what people see outside and what is really going on inside. in school we learn what outward signs of attention will please the teacher. at a job we learn to put up a "good front" whenever the boss happens to stroll by. as if donning masks, we style our hair, choose clothes, and use body language to impress those around us. over time, we learn to excel at hiding problems.
chapters 5-7 in matthew announce that the time has come for us to change not just the outside, but the inside. in Jesus' day, religious people tried to impress each other with showy outwardly behavior. they wore gaunt and hungry looks during a brief fast, prayed grandiosely if people were watching, and went so far as to wear bible verses strapped to their foreheads and left arms.
in His famous sermon on the mount, Jesus blasts the hypocrisy behind such seemingly harmless practices. God is not fooled by appearances. we cannot fake behavior to impress Him. He knows that inside the best of us lurk dark thoughts of hatred, jealousy, pride and lust- internal problems only He can deal with. Jesus goes on to present a truly radical way of life, free of pretense.
the way of life described is more radical than anything before or since. Jesus' words turn many normal assumptions upside down. with statements like, "blessed are the poor in spirit...those who mourn...the meek...the peacemakers...those who are persecuted," Jesus attacks those who strive to build a good image by appearing powerful, successful and assertive.
perhaps the most radical of all, the sermon on the mounts introduces the possibility of living solely for God and not for appearances. at last we can bring our inner and outer together.
have a beautiful day,
xo michelle
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