January 22nd, 2022 – Our Motivation of Love
Experiencing God Devotional
John 17:26 -“I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
You do not “organize” the kingdom of God; you “agonize” the kingdom of God. You cannot be close to God without being affected by His love. The heavenly Father loved His Son with an eternal love. Everything in the heart and life of the Father was released to His Son. As the Father expressed His love for a broken and sinful world, this passion was manifested through the life of His Son. The Father initiated His plan to save mankind, and out of a heart of devotion, the Son accepted the assignment that took Him to the cross.
As Jesus walked among people, the Father’s love filled His Son. Jesus recognized that no ordinary love could motivate Him to go to the cross. No human love could keep Him perfectly obedient to His Father throughout His life. Only His Father’s love was powerful enough to compel Him to commit His life to the saving purpose of His Father.
Jesus prayed that God would place this same love in His disciples. He knew that no other motivation would be sufficient for the assignments God had for them. God’s answer was to place His Son in them. It is impossible for a Christian to be filled with this measure of love and not to be on mission with God.
You will be incapable of ministering to everyone God sends you unless you have His love. You cannot forgive others or go the extra mile with others or sacrifice for others unless you have first been filled with the boundless love of God. Seek to know the Father and His immeasurable love; then allow His Son to love others through you!
Blackaby, Richard. Experiencing God Day By Day (p. 23). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Pastor’s Thoughts
“You cannot forgive others or go the extra mile with others or sacrifice for others unless you have first been filled with the boundless love of God.”
This is so very true. If you have not acknowledged what a gift God’s love is and how you could never have earned said gift you will make the grave mistake in thinking your relationship with Jesus is all about you instead of Him.
When we think that way then we become arrogant and ignorant in how to show God’s love to others.
We are not to love like our parents love, or are friends love, not even how our pastor loves… We are to love like Jesus loves. This is a sacrificial God centered kind of love. That is the kind of love that can lead people to surrendering their lives to Jesus Christ.
How are you when it comes to loving like Jesus?
Have a blessed Saturday everyone! Make time to be with a church family tomorrow.
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