You Shall…

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You Shall…

Some things should be  so easy — and yet,  we can have a way  of making them  so hard.      How do we make things hard  for ourselves?      With our self-centered,  selfishness.      Everything is about  “I”,  “me”,  “my”,  “mine”.      When we don’t get our way — when things don’t center  on satisfying our desires — we feel  so put-down  and abused.      We might even feel  God does not love us.

That’s when  we need to hold on  and look  at the reality  of our situation.      We are the sinners — not God Almighty.

With that in mind,  we need to remember  the Pharisee’s question  and Jesus’ answer  in Matthew 22:36-37,

“Teacher,  which is the great commandment  in the Law?”

And He  said to him,  “You shall love  the LORD  your God  with all your heart,  and with  all your soul,  and with  all your mind.”

But,  if we feel  that God has slighted us,  it’s pretty hard  to honestly  “love”  Him.      How can we love  the God  who  “never”  lets us have  what we want?      ( That’s our sinful nature pouting. )

We need to take a look  at the God  who  “never”  does anything for us.      He created  all that there is.      There is more wisdom  in one little thought of His  than we’ll ever have  in a lifetime.      He holds  all the universe together  by His power.      He balances  all of life  on this earth  so that every kind of atom  serves a vital purpose — for us.

He cares  for the procreation  of all things  so that there is food  for all living creatures.      He gives us breath,  so that we cannot live  one moment  without His almighty power  providing us  with air.      His wisdom  created sight,  hearing,  sensations,  digestive systems,  skeletal and muscular systems — and more than can be mentioned.      God cares  that our beings  can enjoy  majestic mountains,  sunshine,  delicate flowers,  and everything  in creation  that bespeaks  of His power  and wisdom.      All that — because He wants us  to be assured  of His ongoing care.

This is the kind of love  and wisdom  that knows how  to do all things well.

But,  we all fell into sin anyway  and denied  the love of God Almighty.     Such ingratitude  deserves eternal destruction.      But,  God’s love  found a way  to right our wrong.      His only begotten Son  became the perfect  Lamb of God  by suffering and dying  on the cross  to pay for our sin.      So now  we are forgiven  and justified  through faith  in Christ Jesus.

But,  we still want to claim  we are unloved???!!!      Really?

That means  we don’t have a clue  about what love is.      Love does not  allow a small child  to play  with fire.      Love disciplines,  assists,  and cares  about teaching us  what is right and good  for our eternal benefit.      When we care  to think about  our Lord’s patience,  grace,  and lovingkindness  in every aspect  of our daily lives,  then He will teach us  more  about His love,  so that  we can better appreciate  His love  and learn to  “Love the LORD  your God  with  all your heart,  and with  all your soul,  and with  all your mind.”

Then  it can be said of us,  “We love,  because He first  loved us.”    (1 John 4:19)

Thankful for God’s love  in the midst  of our trials,  we say,  “Hallelujah!      Lord,  Your love is wise.      Thank You  for giving us  what we need,  instead of  what we unwisely want.”

Love,
Margaret

 

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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