Month: November 2023

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:12‭-‬18‬ ‭KJV‬‬
[12] No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. [13] Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. [14] And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. [15] Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. [16] And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. [17] Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. [18] There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

What is being made perfect in love?

Is it that we will be perfect as God is perfect when we love like Him? Does it mean that we become like Him as we live in the love that He is? What does being made perfect in love really mean?

Well God is love, and the fruit of love is selflessness. When we live in love we become bolder because love knows no end, it covers a multitude, it reaches the deepest parts of the hidden valleys, it outstretched It’s arms, it is slow to anger, it is full of joy and compassion, it is healing, it is giving it is perfect. As we live in love we live in perfection of who God is. We have a skewed idea of love based on what we see around us, on television and the twisted mindsets the world shares with us about what love really is. I encourage you to read in the Word what love really is, it isn’t half-hearted, it is fully committed, fully devoted surrender. Love is full

God is love

So when we dwell in that all encompassing, never ending love we dwell in God and it is there where all of our flaws are dealt with and made new and perfect, we dwell in the perfection of his love that covers a multitude of wrongs.

Choose love, choose to live in the freedom of what love really is, not what you’ve been fed.

Let love lead you and do not be afraid because there is no fear in love.

Dear Heavenly Father you are calling me to love. You are calling me to be made perfect in your love. Help me not to be afraid to receive your love and to pour out the love you have given me, help me to be bold in spirit and in mind and to confess that you are Lord. Therefore, as my Lord you lead me to be like you, love. May I love the way you do and may I be made whole in love, take all of my flaws and made me new in Jesus’s name, amen.

https://bible.com/bible/1/1jn.4.12.KJV

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:12‭-‬17‬ ‭KJV‬‬
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

So the theme highlighted for this week seems to be forgiveness. I love this scripture because it reminds us how to ask for the qualities of God that will build Godly character to help us withstand trying seasons. Whatever season you are facing today, we are asked to put on bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; to forbear with one another, and forgive one another.

Forgive

Lately, I’ve been finding a challenge with forgiveness especially as it relates to my personal and work life. It’s hard forgiving someone who doesn’t understand how they’ve hurt or offended you. It’s hard knowing that this person does not have the slightest care about what you may be experiencing and seem to treat you without understanding your value. It is also hard when the people you are called to forgive do not necessarily have a personal relationship with God and will not fully understand the measure of forgiveness. Forgiveness is hard especially if you think they don’t deserve it.

What I have come to do, instead of thinking of what they do or don’t deserve, is to think of my own actions. What have I been doing to add more fuel to the fire? How have I helped by adjusting my attitude? Am I worth forgiving also?

None of us are.

Which is why today we will choose to forgive because we were forgiven. Truly, we have NO IDEA the measure of Jesus Christ’s forgiveness to us, we don’t understand how our sinful nature hurts Him. We don’t have a clue the measure at which we dance with sin in the face of God and yet he loves us and has extended unmeritied favour – grace

That’s the word of the week – Grace. Let grace be your portion, receive His and extend it to others.

Forgive and release because God instructed you to,

Because it will rid you of all bitterness

And most importantly, because Christ forgave you.

Dear God,

Give us grace to forgive those who have offended us, may we be bold in our forgiveness, bold in our approach to others in kindness, humility and love which binds us together. May we let the word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever we do in word or deed, may we do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Release our unforgiving hearts, In Jesus name, amen.