NOW THAT LOVE’S FOUND US, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WITH IT?
SCRIPTURE: “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial; for once he has passed the test, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12
So, Debora and I were putting in the paces around the track at the Liberty Resources Community Center when a recognizable old song done by the O’Jays came up, offering a really good question [and a thoroughly relatable beat], Now That We’ve Found Love What Are We Gonna Do With It? Well, you know me, I’m hearing a GBFC devotional topic straightaway, sooo...with the love of God, we love God back, while loving others with the love of God! Such a one is ‘blessed,’ is being blessed “blessed is the man who perseveres” and shall be blessed “he will receive the crown of life”...” he will receive...the...promise,” with all the blessing realized within our personal space having trials and testing and the equipping of love. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another... We love, because He first loved us." [1John 4:11,19]
Knowing “Love never fails” [1 Corinthians 13:8a] we persevere with it, through it, upon it, and by it, knowing “God is love,” and being filled with His Spirit. “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him.” [John 14:23] What are we gonna do with it? Obey. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” [John 14:15] “And such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate of ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.” [2 Corinthians 3:4, 5]
Let our meditation rest upon the loving proclamation of David, anticipating Solomon’s assumption of kingship, it being our example, as we tarry as disciples of Christ, and as disciple-makers. Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary: “So David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, ‘Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of Israel our Father, forever and ever. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Thine is the dominion O Lord, and Thou dost exalt Thyself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from Thee, and Thou dost rule over all, and in Thy hand is power and might; and it lies in Thy hand to make great, and to strengthen everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name. But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from Thee, and from Thy hand, we have given Thee." [1 Chronicles 29: 10-14]. Be holy. Persevere in love. “Let all that you do be done in love.” [1 Corinthians 16:14].
When doing so, it is of God, being done. For most of its measure, the impact of our faithfulness may be invisible, being wholly evidenced only at the end, which is as a dawn for all who believe. So have as your own flourishing, a repentant heart, rooted and anchored within the soil of God’s grace! Take heed to blossom upon His word. Yea, and let your light shine brightly [which is the love of God, in Christ Jesus, and the Spirit of Christ in you]!
PRAYER: Dearest Jesus, with all thanksgiving, I rejoice for the love letter of Your gospel, for the inclination of my heart and the legacy of love it may offer in time, and in eternity. You have loved this sinner to life, and to enliven. With hope and faith, with this privilege and duty, I pray this soul shares from a rich inclination of the spirit, humble before You. Use me. Here I am. Send me. This I ask in Your name. Amen.
By Bro. Brockington
Knowing “Love never fails” [1 Corinthians 13:8a] we persevere with it, through it, upon it, and by it, knowing “God is love,” and being filled with His Spirit. “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him.” [John 14:23] What are we gonna do with it? Obey. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” [John 14:15] “And such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate of ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.” [2 Corinthians 3:4, 5]
Let our meditation rest upon the loving proclamation of David, anticipating Solomon’s assumption of kingship, it being our example, as we tarry as disciples of Christ, and as disciple-makers. Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary: “So David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, ‘Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of Israel our Father, forever and ever. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Thine is the dominion O Lord, and Thou dost exalt Thyself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from Thee, and Thou dost rule over all, and in Thy hand is power and might; and it lies in Thy hand to make great, and to strengthen everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name. But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from Thee, and from Thy hand, we have given Thee." [1 Chronicles 29: 10-14]. Be holy. Persevere in love. “Let all that you do be done in love.” [1 Corinthians 16:14].
When doing so, it is of God, being done. For most of its measure, the impact of our faithfulness may be invisible, being wholly evidenced only at the end, which is as a dawn for all who believe. So have as your own flourishing, a repentant heart, rooted and anchored within the soil of God’s grace! Take heed to blossom upon His word. Yea, and let your light shine brightly [which is the love of God, in Christ Jesus, and the Spirit of Christ in you]!
PRAYER: Dearest Jesus, with all thanksgiving, I rejoice for the love letter of Your gospel, for the inclination of my heart and the legacy of love it may offer in time, and in eternity. You have loved this sinner to life, and to enliven. With hope and faith, with this privilege and duty, I pray this soul shares from a rich inclination of the spirit, humble before You. Use me. Here I am. Send me. This I ask in Your name. Amen.
By Bro. Brockington
Archive
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
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March
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Praise the Lord and AmenðŸ™ðŸ½