TEXT:
‘Building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life’ (Jude v20-21)
THOUGHT:
Part 1 focussed on “Building”. Jesus said He would build His church and nothing can stop Him from doing that. Part 2 was on “Praying in the Holy Spirit”. When we pray under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we are praying according to the will of God. That can mean only one thing, prayers that will be answered!
Part 3 is about God’s love. We will study this under three main headings.
- Our Responsibility – ‘keep yourselves’
God will do His part and keep us. Jesus prayed, ‘Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are’ (John 17:11)
The Father has answered Jesus’ prayer for Peter made this clear in his epistle, ‘You who are kept by the power of God’ (1Peter 1:5). God will do for us what He promised Jacob, ’I am with you and will keep you wherever you go’ (Genesis 28:15).
Now we have to do our part. No one can do this for us. We have to do it ourselves!
The Bible stresses this point in several places.
‘Timothy, keep safe what has been entrusted to your care’ (1 Timothy 6:20 GNT)
‘If you love Me, keep My commandments’ (John 14:15)
‘Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit’ (Ephesians 4:4 NLT)
If we are unwilling to do our part, God cannot do it for us.
- Our Receptivity – ‘in the love of God’
Some find it much easier to say, “For God so loved the world” rather than, “For God so loves me!” ‘God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners’ (Romans 5:8 TLB). Constantly remind yourself, “God loves me” especially when you feel unloved and unlovely. This helps to prevent us falling from grace into works, trying to earn God’s favour. Everything we receive from God comes as a gift, never wages for good behaviour!
Jesus said, ‘The Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me’ (John 16:27). Our opinion of and love for Jesus, determines how God’s love will be able to influence our lives. The more we appreciate Jesus, the more of God’s love we will experience. Jesus taught that the one who is forgiven much, loves much. 1 Jesus prayed, ‘That the love with which You loved Me may be in them’ (John 17:26). God’s love in us will have a powerful effect, ‘That the world may know You sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me’ (John 17:23).
- Our Reflectivity
‘God is love’ (1 John 4:8). How do we mirror that love to others? We keep listening to the love of God on the inside when we react to what others say and do. The Lockdown has certainly challenged the love of God in us concerning our relationships. The danger is when we forget how much God loves and has forgiven us and we see what others are doing or have done that is wrong and hurtful. God’s love is so powerful in us we can even, ‘love our enemies, bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who spitefully use us and persecute us’ (Matthew 5:44).
Jesus taught the parable about the Unforgiving Servant. His master forgave him a huge debt which was impossible to repay, despite his assurances he would do so. Once forgiven, he went out and badly treated a fellow-servant who only owed him a few pounds. Such unforgiveness caused him to be back before his master and thrown into prison. Jesus ended the parable with these words, ’That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart’ (Matthew 18:35 NLT).
It’s all too easy to feel we are the victim and blame others instead of taking responsibility for our own actions. We want God to excuse us but judge others. Watch out if you feel your heart is becoming cold and indifferent. When we feel our love cannot forgive, God’s love in us can. Let the following scriptures remind us of the right way to live.
‘The fruit of the Spirit is love’ (Galatians 5:22)
‘Pursue love’ (1 Corinthians 14:1)
‘Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “Me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies’ (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 MSG)
Reading these verses, it can look like an impossible task to keep. Do not put your confidence in you, but in God’s love in you. Then you will be able to radiate it out to others.
Endnotes
1 Luke 7:47
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