Thursday 29 November, 2018

11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

This passage is about the love of God and how His nature should be evident in us.

The past few weeks, I have been listening to “How He Loves” by Jesus Culture on repeat.  One line that has prompted a lot of consideration says “when I think about how He loves me”. So I have been trying to do that – to pause and consciously think about how the Father loves me personally. I have found it challenging because again I am coming face to face with what I actually believe about the Father’s love towards me.

I find that when I doubt His love, I die on the inside – I get anxious and uncertain. When I doubt, I become like Cain – I try to earn my Heavenly Father’s love. But Father, You know this about me already. You know that I have moments of doubt and yet You continue loving me. When I think about this I realise that You love me with understanding …. and in this, I find my heart at peace and settled.

Father, I thank you for Your unfailing love for me and that it never runs out. I am so glad that You love me personally as who I am. As Your love fills my heart, may it overflow to those around me and bless them.

Written by Gab Martin