God Love.

God Love.

Psalm 103:8-13

The reason I named this, God love, is because you have to know God love, before you can love God and others appropriately. If you’re ‘one’ that says, “I know God loves me but….” Until you truly understand that nothing can separate you from Gods love, confusion dominates. His love is deeper, wider, and longer than any other verb.

Love is a verb, it’s a word of action. Therefore, love is the most powerful emotions we have. The actress Joan Crawford once said “Love is a fire but whether it warms your heart or burns your house down, you can never tell!”

“Love can motivate, give pleasure, hurt even destroy. It can make us do bold, even stupid things.” P.H

During the 17th century, Oliver Cromwell, sentenced a soldier to be shot for his crimes. The execution was to take place at the ringing of the evening curfew bell. However, the bell did not sound. The soldier’s fiancé had climbed into the belfry and clung to the great clapper of the bell to prevent it from striking. When she was summoned by Cromwell to account for her actions, she wept as she showed him her bruised and bleeding hands. Cromwell’s heart was touched and he said, "Your lover shall live because of your sacrifice. Curfew shall not ring tonight!”

Psalm 103:8-13NIV ”The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. 9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;“

Which of the following statements from each pair are you more easily able to identify with?

God is distant and angry.

God is close and kind

God is impatient and frustrated with me, wishing that I would get my life together already.

God is patiently cheering me on and is eager to celebrate every small victory with me.

I have messed up too many times for God to care about me anymore.

My past mistakes have not disqualified me from being fully loved and accepted by God. (In fact, my shortcomings are the very thing that qualified me for salvation and adoption into the family of God).

God is withholding good things from me as punishment for my mistakes.

God‘s goodness is evident in every area of my life, even in times when I have failed.

Maybe you say I don’t really fit into A or B, but somewhere in between… -Become a doer of God’s word.

According to Paul and Jesus, Satan is the god of this world. 2 Corinthians 4:4 Satan wants you to live in limbo. -He comes to steal, kill and destroy. John 10:10.

If you had one word to describe God it would have to be, love.

Ask yourself this question, “Am I willing to freely love those around me, or do I first require that people earn my love?”

You really can’t identify with God‘s love until you begin to love. No exceptions. Love is the key, love opens spiritual and physical doors.

Romans 5:8TPT ”But Christ proved God’s passionate love for us by dying in our place while we were still lost and ungodly!“

While being lost and ungodly, Jesus stepped up and died. Here’s the key,

Matthew 26:39TPT ”Then he walked a short distance away, and overcome with grief, he threw himself facedown on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if there is any way you can deliver me from this suffering, please take it from me. Yet what I want is not important, for I only desire to fulfill your plan for me.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to strengthen him.“

Jesus fulfilled His Fathers will so we might know His love, and in return, love like He loved!?

Love is, Slow to suspect- quick to trust. Slow to reprimand- quick to forbear. Slow to belittle- quick to appreciate. Slow to condemn- quick to justify. Slow to offend- quick to defend. Slow to demand- quick to give. Slow to provoke- quick to conciliate (stop someone from being angry or discontented). Slow to hinder -- quick to help. Slow to resent- quick to forgive. -The Challenge.

Titus 3:4-7ESV ”But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.“