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“I love you.” Those three words are spoken millions of times every day, but we all know that it is much easier to say those words than it is to actually live them out. Yet the Bible calls us to extend ourselves in love to others the way Christ extended Himself in love to us. He poured Himself out, holding nothing back. That seems like an awful lot to ask! Is that even possible, and if so how are we supposed do it?
Our salvation is worth far more than silver and gold. In fact, all the riches in the world would never be enough to buy it. So how can we possibly repay the One who came and died in our place to save us? There is one way. We can live for Him. So, are we living our lives in a way that reflects our gratitude to the One who gave His life for us?
In the deepest part of our hearts, we all long to find endless love. Songs and books have been written about it, movies have been made about it, and yet none of us have ever known a perfect, unbroken endless love from another person. But the Bible tells us about a love that will never come to an end, not even when we die. Have you ever received this gift of everlasting love?
Humans are forgetful by nature. We forget where we put our car keys, we forget birthdays, appointments, people’s names… but far too often we also forget God’s blessings to us. We either complain about what we don’t have or we become complacent with what we do have. The Bible instructs us to always remember God’s blessings and goodness to us, and to give Him thanks, regardless of our circumstances. How often do you remember?
How many blessings have you been given? Our first reaction to that question might be to think, “Compared to whom?” But regardless of our circumstances, we are the recipients of more blessings than we could possibly imagine. God’s goodness to us never ends. He continuously blesses us with countless physical and spiritual blessings in every area of our lives. If we would just open our eyes, we would see that we truly are blessed beyond belief!
We close this series by hearing testimonies from people in our church family who have encountered Jesus in various struggles and trials. It is encouraging to see how Jesus is still touching lives and setting people free!
Have you ever looked down on someone because of their sinful lifestyle? What that actually reveals is that we do not understand what awful sinners we ourselves are. Today we look at a man who didn’t think he was a sinner, and a woman who knew she was, and how her awareness of her great sin caused her to express extravagant thankfulness to Jesus.
When a person is saved, how long should it take for the evidence of that to show up in their life? How about the same day! Regardless of how sinful our past may be or how little we know about the Bible, the moment we are saved, we become a new creation, and the evidence will be visible in us. Today we witness the life-changing encounter one man had with Jesus, and we see how his life was instantly made new! Have you had this encounter with Jesus?
C.S Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity; “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world”. We have hopes, dreams, and expectations in life. But what happens when those dreams, hopes, and expectations aren’t fulfilled. Do we react like a 3 year old whose balloon just popped, or is there something better to ground us as we experience the ebbs and flows of life?
Jesus Christ is a great man. He is wise, compassionate, gentle, approachable, loving, caring. As a man he is top of the charts for a potential husband. He is the Son of God and is one with his Father. His bride, the church, is made up of people, but what kind of people? And how does Jesus show his love for his bride?
The first marriage we see appearing on the pages of scripture is that of Adam and Eve. Why does God give careful attention to how Eve came from Adam? And what is God telling us about marriage through the beginning of Adam and Eve’s relationship?
God showed us what love looks like by sending His Son into the world to save us while we were still in our sin. He took the initiative and came to us without waiting for us to come to Him. And now we have been called to take His love and truth into the world to those who do not know Him. Are we taking the initiative to love others the way He loved us?
