Dear Precious Friends,
On this beautiful new day and reminder we have been given a new day because our Lord has a purpose for us... we are humbled and grateful, and we are reminded of the amazing love our Lord has for us.
We are preparing our hearts for Easter Sunday with Ash Wednesday being tomorrow... 46 days before Easter Sunday and marking the beginning of the Lenten season. As we embrace these 40 days and reminder— a reference to the time Jesus spent being tempted in the desert — that seeks to prepare the heart of the believer ( that is us) for the solemn remembrance of what Jesus did for us on the cross... It concludes and is followed by a joyous Easter Sunday celebration of the resurrection of Christ.
God’s love for us is the most powerful reality we can ever discover.
How can we know for sure that God is always with us and willing to help? Because of God’s love for us! The love of God is the sure foundation of our faith in Him. His love gives us the absolute assurance that we are never alone or without help. God’s love for us is unfailing, it never stops, it is eternal. God’s love is the reason we are alive.
THE MORE WE BECOME ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN GOD'S LOVE, THE MORE WE WILL BECOME HAPPY, FRUITFUL AND FULFILLED.
‘I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.’ (Ephesians 3:18)
I am always inspired when I study the disciples and I am especially inspired when I remember all that Paul went through knowing the love of Jesus.
Paul suffered severe persecution, everywhere he went, because he preached the life saving gospel of Jesus Christ, while facing the hatred of the religious leaders. In the midst of all the pain and warfare he experienced, Paul wrote these incredible words:
‘I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ (Romans 8:39)
And it was the compassionate love of God that motivated him to keep fighting the good fight of faith, to reveal Jesus Christ to the world. God had poured out His own mercy in the heart of Paul.
‘For Christ’s love compels us….’ (2 Cor. 5:14)
Because of God’s love, Paul was willing to face the hatred, rejection, offense, betrayal and even torture from his enemies. He had only one desire: reveal to people that God loves them with a love that goes beyond their wildest dreams.
what is God's love compelling us to do?
‘But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ, even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.’ (Ephesians 2:5)
Because of God’s love for us…
Why did Jesus Christ die such a horrible, torturing death on the cross? Why did the merciful Father in heaven allow sinners to beat up his beloved Son? Why did the Almighty allow sinners to humiliate his perfect servant with their dirty hands, while He had NEVER EVER committed one single sin?
God’s love for us. That’s the only explanation.
Angels were watching in a state of shock when they saw how their great and glorious Master, the Creator of heaven and earth, the Lord of hosts, was humiliated and taunted by demons and sinners. The powers of the universe shuddered and trembled when Jesus died. Even Satan couldn’t believe his own obscured eyes when he saw how this mighty Son of God, who was so full of the amazing power of God, could be killed so easily. He could hardly believe it. This same Jesus Christ cast out thousands of his demons, and healed tens of thousands people who had been overcome by the devil… And now… he was defenseless, powerless, a willing lamb… Why? Satan had no clue what was behind it, he didn’t understand.
God’s love for us caused the greatest mystery and most incredible miracle of all time to happen: Christ died for us.
‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ (John 3:16)
‘God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Romans 5:8)
God loves us so much more, than we will ever be able to understand. No matter what’s going on in our life. No matter what challenges will come to us. No matter how much pain may burn in our heart. No matter how many treasures of love, luck, hope or blessings may be taken away from us…
No matter what’s going on: God cares for us with a deep, passionate and everlasting love.
As His Beloved children we must always remember this... God is on our side. He’s not against us. He is our helper. He’s our friend. Our healer. Our rescuer. Whatever happens. Whatever will come upon our path of life. He can and will turn it to the good. Why? Because we are so holy and perfect? No. Because of God’s love for us.
‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.’ (Jeremiah 31:3)
His love is the core foundation of our relationship with Him. Let God’s love fill our hearts as we go out and serve Him and share that love with all. It’s the reason of our existence.
AMEN!!
