June 5, 2008
It’s All About Love
Today’s Truth
“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17, NIV).
Friend to Friend
Before God spoke the heavens and earth into existence - before His voice lit the sun, causing darkness to separate from light - before He decorated the sky with stars and called them each by name - before He commanded the waters to divide from land and established living creatures to inhabit the earth - before He breathed the first breath of life over the dust of the ground and into the lungs of Adam, the mysterious and mighty God of the universe loved you. Try to fathom that for a few minutes.
The mystery of God’s love cannot be solved. The magnitude of God’s love cannot be grasped. The measure of God’s love cannot be comprehended. He loves you perfectly and eternally.
“But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him” (Psalm 103:17a).
His love is unavoidable for His children. If you are His through the blood of Jesus Christ, nothing can separate you from the love of God! The apostle Paul spoke emphatically about this to the Roman believers: “I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39, NLT).
- God loves you.
- God knows you.
- God wants you.
- God chose you.
How in the world can that be true? It’s a mystery. God said through the prophet Isaiah, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9).
I don’t even pretend to understand it. I just accept it.
God is truth. His Word is truth. His Word says He loves you and He loves me. We need to take Him at His word and trust His heart. That’s faith, my friend. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). In order to believe that God, whom we’ve never seen, loves us, faith is essential and takes us right back to the basics, doesn’t it?
Jesus loves me, this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak but He is strong
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so.
That song tells a simple truth. God loves you…because He said so. Believe it. Accept it. His love can’t be earned. His love can’t be bought. It can only be accepted or rejected. It’s a choice. Do you accept His love?
Let’s Pray
Praying Scripture is a powerful spiritual weapon. Join me in praying Ephesians 3:16-21.
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!” In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
This one is easy! Print or write out one of the verses featured in the devotion that you want to permeate your heart today. Carry it with you wherever you go, reading it as many times as you can.
More from the Girlfriends
Trying to understand the love of God is like trying to capture the full force of the Niagara Falls with a teaspoon…you just can’t do it. But though we can’t grasp it fully, we can embrace the mystery of our amazing God who bids us to come to Himself through Jesus Christ, so His love can transform us into a work of His beauty. Turn up your speakers and CLICK HERE to hear Gwen’s song “Broken Into Beautiful.”
Gwen Smith is a worship artist, songwriter, speaker, and author. Her first book, Broken Into Beautiful, is being released on July 1, 2008. For more information, visit her website at: www.GwenSmith.net, and while you are there, stop by her e-store to grab a few of her worship CDs.
Seeking God? Click here to find out more about
how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Girlfriends in God
Matthews, NC 28106
info@girlfriendsingod.com
www.girlfriendsingod.com