The Daily Dose

He loved first

“We love Him because He first loved us.”  1 John 4:19

This is one of the first verses I learned as a small child. Of course, I couldn’t begin to understand it.  Since then, my understanding has been opened some and I’d like to share that with you.  I will start by reversing the two thoughts so I can focus on the “He loved me” part first.  He loved me first, that’s why I love Him.  Here’s the thing . . . God made creation (heaven and earth), then He made people.  As beautiful as all of creation was, He didn’t “love” it.  Even though creation came out of the heart of God the only part of it that He loves is people.  It is a connection that could only be experienced with someone created in His own image.  He loved people from the very beginning.  They are His greatest creation.  Every time He looks at one of us, He remembers the love He had when He first created people and that continues to flow down through the generations until it reaches to me and you. 

That is why He made a way for us to get back to Him after the first people (Adam and Eve) became separated from Him.  He wanted to get us all back but couldn’t just rush in and take us because He created us to be free.  It had to be our choice, otherwise He would be taking many prisoners.

The first part of the verse says, “We love Him”.  It really seems to fall short.  Yes, we love Him, but do we really know what it means and how to let Him know?  Of course, when we accept Jesus and give our life to Him, we make ourselves available to connect heaven to earth in our prayers.  However, do we really love, worship and adore Him?  Do we spend time pressing in and letting Him know He is the most important part of our lives?  Do we give Him a special place in each day?  Are we willing to surrender every area of our heart completely to give Him top priority?  Because He is God and we are not, our love will always pale compared to His, but we still have the ability to love Him with everything within us.  That’s where we need to start!

Today I want to encourage you to meditate on the thought of “Do I really love God?”  Then continue by asking the question, “How do I show Him I love Him?”  Then after a brief examination of your heart toward God, just start by telling Him.  “I love you, my Father in heaven, because you loved me first with such a great and wonderful love!  You are such a good God and Father!”  Today, allow your heart to become filled up with all the fullness of His goodness! (Eph. 3:19)

Today’s scripture reading: 1 John 4:17-21

God’s perfect love

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect (complete) in love.”  1 John 4:18

Here is where we need to focus in these times of uncertainty.  The unchanging love of God! This scripture in 1 John says that God’s perfect love casts out or chases fear away. Glory to God!  Yesterday we talked about verse 17 that says when God’s love has been perfected or made complete in us, we will have boldness in the day of crisis.  The rest of this chapter goes on to say that we are to imitate His love in this world with that boldness, so those around us can be made complete by His love also. 

Below is the passage in 1 Corinthians 13 that shows us just what the God kind of love looks like.  I want to take that scripture now and replace the word love with God your Heavenly Father instead, because 1 John 4:8 says God is (=) love. By changing the word love into God, we can see how to imitate/show this great love to others.

God, my Father (love) is long-suffering and He is kind.

God, my Father (love) does not envy and He does not parade Himself around in pride

God, my Father (love) is not puffed up and does not behave rudely.

God, my Father (love) does not seek His own (glory) and is not provoked to do evil.

God, my Father (love) thinks no evil.

God, my Father (love) does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth of His Word.

God, my Father (love) bears all things and believes all things.

God, my Father (love) hopes all things and endures all things.

God, my Father (love) never fails

Today I want to encourage you to cast out fear by turning all your heart toward God’s unconditional love.  Get to know Him more personally by spending time with Him and filling your life up with the knowledge of His great love for you. Get rid of every “weight” that tries to hold you back from receiving all the love He has for you. Know that God has a purpose for your life in this time.  Then reach out to others and help them get rid of their fear, too.  Become more patient and kind, don’t be envious and boastful or prideful.  Get rid of rude behavior and stop seeking your own glory.  Don’t be provoked or stirred up by evil thinking.  Quit rejoicing in iniquity (the world’s view) and start rejoicing in the truth of God’s Word.  Be strengthened to bear, believe, hope and endure all things and take on a love for others that never fails.  Lastly, make an impact in the lives of those around you by loving them with this great love that God has given you to share!

Today’s Scripture reading:  1 Corinthians 13:4-8

In this world?

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.  1 John 4:17

I struggle with this verse.  We have boldness on judgement day because as He is, so are we.  I’m ok with that.  One day when I stand before God, Jesus will step in and be my advocate/representative.  Wait a minute.  He’s my advocate now, right?  We read back in 1 John 2:1 that Jesus is our advocate before the Father right now.  So again, I can totally believe this.  My issue comes with the last part that says. . . so are we in this world.  I’m not like Him in this world.  I’m not perfect, I’m not sinless and I’m not glorified.  Yet, His love was perfected in me at the point of my salvation.  Also, according to Ephesians 5:5 & 6 I was raised up together with Him and sit together with Him in heavenly places.  So, why is it so hard for me to grasp that I am like Him in this world?  I have the same Holy Spirit living on the inside of me.  I have the same Heavenly Father that He has.

I guess it comes down to the fact that I still don’t see me the way He sees me.  I still look at all my inadequacies.  I still see all my imperfections and I still know all my selfish ways.  But that’s not what my Father sees.  He sees me redeemed, He sees me loved and He sees me made new.  If one of us has the wrong view, I’m pretty sure it’s me. 

Here’s my solution.  I am learning to look at myself from my Heavenly Father’s perspective.  First of all, when my Heavenly Father looks at me, He sees someone that He gave His only Son to die for.  That makes me precious in His eyes.  Next, He sees me as someone raised up with Christ Jesus as a brand new creation. That means I’m seated next to Him in heavenly places. Then He sees me as His own dear child that He protects and nurtures.  Therefore, He doesn’t let anyone say or think anything evil of me.  The bottom line?  I guess it is true, as Jesus is a precious, raised up and sitting in heavenly places child of God, so am I.  Even in this world!

Today I want to encourage you to take time to look at yourself the way God does.  Begin to renew your mind to who you have become now that you are in Christ Jesus.  Look for scriptures on who you are now that you are in the body of Christ and ask your Heavenly Father to show you something new each day about who you are to Him personally.  He is not some far away Father that has gone off on a long business trip.  He is here every day with you, and He wants you to know just how precious you really are to Him.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 John 4:17-19

Abide in His love

God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16

God = love.  The complete and perfect expression of God’s love was displayed in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.  God loved people to the extent that He came and paid the price to get them back as sons and daughters.  Now, He wants us to live in that same kind of love for those around us.  He says anyone who abides, lives or dwells continually in the action of loving others, displays the same love that God has for all people.  Not only that, but God lives in the person that stays continually in the action of loving others.  What does that even look like?

Staying continually in the action of loving others can be defined by looking at the fruit that the Spirit of God produces inside of a child of God.  The fruit is: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, humility and patience.  (listed in Galatians 5:22 & 23).  There is no way to continually dwell in the Spirit of God while displaying fruit opposite of these.  That would be: Hate, misery, anxiety, complaining, harshness, evil, fear, pride, demanding.  The fruit is the gauge you use for testing your love walk.

Jesus is our ultimate example and at His most critical moment in time, He displayed the fruit of the Holy Spirit perfectly.  His desire is for us to do the same.  Not only that, He has empowered us to do it by purposefully filling ourselves up with His Spirit.  We are continuously feeding and filling our spirit with something. Whether its media, news or information, our spirit is always grow in some capacity.  It is our responsibility as a child of God to fill up and grow the Spirit of God inside of us.

All the way to the cross Jesus never hated anyone, He never wallowed in self-pity, He never became anxious, He didn’t complain, He wasn’t harsh in His responses to those who beat Him. He didn’t speak, think or do any evil against those who sent Him there.  He was not afraid and didn’t allow pride to get in the way.  He was patient through the entire process never demanding anyone to recognize that He was the Son of God.  Why would we think that it is acceptable for us to act in any emotion contrary to the Holy Spirits fruit.

This is love.  God loves us so He sent His Son for us.  Jesus walked in perfect love to the point of giving His life for us.  We love others so we give our all for others.  We demonstrate our love for God in our sacrificially loving all people the way He does.

Today I want to encourage you to first of all examine your fruit.  Is it the pure fruit of God’s Spirit grounded in His love?  Secondly, fill up your heart and life with the Spirit of God’s love.  Spend time purposefully putting in God’s word.  Listen to sermons and audio books to grow your spiritual fruit.  Split in half your media, news and binge-viewing hours and offer God the same amount of time you give to the world’s input. Become full of His Spirit today and let the love of God show up where ever you go.

Today’s scripture reading:  1 John 4:12-16

Love through Him

In this the love of God was made known toward us, that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we would live through Him. 1 John 4:9

Throughout the book of 1 John, the Apostle John focuses on love and chapter 4 is no exception.   The elder John continues his encouragement to love others in verse 7.  He says, Beloved, let’s love each other.  (He was speaking to people in the church and how they are to serve one another)  He goes on to say, love is from God and those who love give evidence that they are not only born from God, but that they in fact know Him personally.  Wow!  Our love for other believers shows that we have a personal relationship with God our Heavenly Father.  Then he says, anyone that doesn’t love their brothers and sisters in the LORD does not know God, (it is as simple as that) because God is love and cannot be separated from it.

The next verse talks about how God demonstrated His love to us by giving His son to pay our debt.  It wasn’t out of an obligation or pity; it was totally love and that we are to love others in the same sacrificial way the best that we can.  He did this so we could live through Him.

So, what does it mean to “live through Him”?  2 Corinthians 5:21 says, He was made to be our sin and take the punishment for it so that we could become His righteousness, in right standing with God.  Living through Jesus means we come back into a right relationship with God our Heavenly Father.  Through Jesus and because of the price He paid, we now live a life in right fellowship with God our Heavenly Father.  We have access to our Heavenly Father and can come into His presence at any time.  However, this great gift of having a personal relationship with God the Father can only be through Christ Jesus, not through a pastor, a priest or any other person.  Jesus is the only way in fact, He told us that in John 14:6.  He said I am the (one and only) way.   If you have never received Jesus as your Savior, pray this simple prayer today from your heart.  Jesus will come into your heart and into your life and save you from an eternity of punishment and take you into the very presence of God Almighty.

Pray:  God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior.  I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me.  Please forgive my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new.  I know your Son, Jesus died for me.  I believe in my heart that You raised Him form the dead.  At this very moment, I accept, confess and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward.  Thank you, Jesus for Your grace that has saved me from my sin and has given me eternal life.  I now have a right relationship with God my Father. I also ask for Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to do the things that You have planned for my life in Jesus name, Amen

Today I want to encourage you to let Christ live through you and let the evidence of His life in you be in loving others.  People can sometimes be difficult and unlovable, but if you make the decision that you are going to love others no matter what, that will be the evidence that you truly are a child of the one true God.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 John 4:7-11

You are of God

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  1 John 4:4

This verse is very familiar to me and many believers.  In fact, I even know some songs with these words.  As often as I have heard, said and sang this scripture, there was still a part of it that I didn’t fully grasp.  It starts out with you are of God.  I was good with that.  I could believe that as a born-again believer, I have been born into a new family…God’s family.  So, believing and comprehending that now I am of God or part of Him and His family was attainable to me.  You have overcome them?  I had a fairly good handle on that.  I know that in Christ Jesus, I was able to overcome the things that tried to trip me up in life.  Because He who is in you is greater?  Still no problem with that.  Of course, He is greater, He is God.  Here is where my problem came. . . he who is in the world.

Whenever I heard or said that part, I wasn’t sure who I was talking about.  Was it people in the world?  Was it demons and devils or was it some guy? He?  Of course, the answer is yes, all of these!  Now I understand that, but something happened not long ago that really brought this phrase home to me.  It was while singing a popular song with these words that I finally had to ask the question.  Who is “he” that is in the world?  I began to look at this scripture in other translation to try to get some clarity.  Finally, I found one that made sense to me. It read: My dear children, you come from God and belong to God. You have already won a big victory over those false teachers, for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world.  Yes!  That was it!  Anything!  Greater is the Holy Spirit of God living on the inside of me than anything in this world.

So now, that’s how I say this verse and I say it often.  It helps me when I wonder how things are going to turn out.  It helps me when I feel evil coming against me and it helps me to stir up the Spirit within me when I am feeling down.  This passage covers all bases.  If I am afraid, He’s greater!  If I’m lost?  He’s greater!  If I’m sad, He’s greater and if I’m hurt, He is greater.  He is greater than anything in this world and He is in me!

Today I want to encourage you to take hold of this promise by speaking it over your circumstances often.  Whatever you are up against or what ever is dragging you down, stir yourself up with these words:  You are born/created of God, you came from Him you have already overcome these things because greater is the Holy Spirit of God living on the inside of you, that goes with you wherever you go, and He is greater than anything! Anything in this world and beyond!

Today’s scripture reading: 1 John 4:1-6

God’s order

My little children let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.  1 John 3:18

Have you ever heard that actions speak louder than words?  It means that your message, whatever it may be, is heard through how you live your life and not merely by the words you speak.  You can talk about something all day long, but in the end if the things you do don’t line up with the words you speak, the message that others are getting is what they see you doing.  In other words, the evidence of what you actually believe in your heart about everything, shows up in the way you live your life.

Today’s verse is talking about love.  It says let your love for others shows up in the way you treat them.  If you say you love others, but then you ignore and walk by those in need, the truth of what is really in your heart showed up in your behavior.  In the previous chapter of 1 John, chapter 2 in verse 9 it says, if someone says they walk in the light, but hates his “brother” they are actually in the darkness.  Your words are overshadowed or covered up by your actions.

The rest of the passage here in 1 John 3 talks about when your heart condemns you.  He says when we walk in love, that shuts down the debilitating thoughts of self-criticism.  Walking in love is also the proof that we are walking in the things God has for us and it brings confidence in our relationship with the LORD.

Lastly, it says that when we are walking in love, we can be assured that the things we need in life will be received from Him because we are doing things in God’s order, this is why it pleases Him.  God set things up in order at the point of creation.  We can see the evidence of His order in the universe, solar system and planets all the way down to the seed time and harvest on earth.  It should be no surprise to us that God has designed people to have an order also.  God’s order for our lives is that we walk in love, seek Him first and then all these things are added to us. (Matt. 6:33)  Our lives are ordered to orbit around the things God created it for and if we are out of alignment, it can be a bumpy ride.

Today I want to encourage you to love others in deed and truth.  Let the love of God show up in your life by helping others around you.  Let God’s love come out of your heart and show up in every step you take.  If you are not sure of God’s love in you, ask the LORD to lead you in that direction and to increase your compassion for others.  Then let God’s order for the things of your life fall into place and watch as the ride of your life becomes much smoother and enjoyable.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 John 3:18-24

Let God’s love take over

But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?  1 John 3:17

How does the love of God show up in your life?  What truly blesses you?  Is it when someone comes to you with all the answers you have been looking for?  Is it in being left alone and not being bothered by anyone?  Is it in having many things given to you, such as cars and homes?  What about those around you?  Can you look at others and see exactly what they need?  Do you think you know the answers they are looking for?  Do you think they just want to be left alone and not bothered by anyone?  Do you imagine that you can meet the needs of those beyond you?

Today’s scripture says the God’s love is evident by how we interact with others…Those beyond our family and friends.  It says that if we are able to help someone who is in need, we should do it.  Not judgingly, not grudgingly but willingly and lovingly.  In doing this, we are showing that the love of God lives on the inside of us.

This verse reminds me of something that happened to Jesus as He was walking one day.  He came across a blind man begging.  He didn’t just give some money to him. He actually talked and spent some time with him.  It is what He did with all those that came to Him.  Mark 10:19-51 says, So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.  Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.”  And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.  So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”  The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”

The interesting part is that Jesus didn’t assume He knew what the man needed.  He didn’t say, you need to get up from here and go get a job, and He didn’t tell Him He needed to get his sins forgiven.  He actually asked the man “What can I do for you?”  I’m sure it was obvious that the man was looking for food or money.  He probably needed a bath, maybe even a home.  However, Jesus asked a question that looked for the deeper need of the man on the inside.  What was the true need?  The man knew that Jesus had healing in Him and asked for his greatest need, that he could have his sight restored.  If you are like me, I have always considered that this question didn’t need to be asked.  Surely Jesus knew the man was blind and that he needed to see?  Yet, how many times in life do we look at people and think we know exactly what their problem is and we know exactly how to fix it?  Instead maybe it would be better to consider if that is the greatest problem they are facing and ask “What can I do for you?”

Today I want to encourage you to let the evidence of God’s love on the inside of you show up in reaching out to those beyond you.  Make a plan to get involved with people that come into your life that may be hurting and needing God’s love.  However, don’t assume you know what their need is, ask the deeper question.  You may be surprised to find out that what they really need you could not see on the surface.  Don’t give others what you think they need, ask them the question you don’t know.  Yes, this takes a little more effort than just giving them a few dollars to get them through the day, but in the long run, you will draw out the true need and let God’s love take over instead. 

Today’s scripture reading: 1 John 3:10 – 17

God’s life in me

Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So, they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. 1 John 3:9

God’s life in me.  I would think that would look greater than it does on the outside.  However, God’s life is on the inside of me.  God’s life is what empowers me to do all that He has planned for me to accomplish.  So why does it seem stronger on some days than others.  Why is the power of God in my life more evident on some days over others?  What about other people who only see the outside of me?  How would they know that God’s life is on the inside of me?  Well, one way is because I don’t make a practice of sinning willfully.  According to this passage I can’t make “sinning” a practice because I am a child of God.

That is good news, but how do I keep the life of God strong on the inside of me? Not only to keep me from sin, but to keep me motivated and empowered?  The answer is in the question, what is God’s life in me for?  Is it so that I can have a relationship with Him?  Is it so that I can do His wonders and become well known?  Is it because I need salvation so I don’t spend an eternity separated from my Heavenly Father?  Well certainly, I cannot be a child of God without His life (the life of my Father) being on the inside of me, but the real reason God’s life lives in me is to share it with others around me.  The empowerment He has put on the inside of me is to empower me to share His love for all people, with all people.

So why do I find myself struggling with sharing the love of God with others?  This passage not only reveals the reason for the struggle, it also reveals how to overcome the struggle.  The struggle is in knowing and wanting to share God’s love with all people but having the message rejected in the process.  As I write this message today, I realize the reason for this struggle is that I have tried to do this in my own ability instead of His.  When I sense the Holy Spirit leading me to share God’s love with others, that is the time to look to the life of God that lives on the inside of me for the strength and empowerment to do it.  In that way, I will no longer wrestle with feelings of inadequacy or inability, but be empower by that life inside of me. He never intended for me to do this mission on my own, He intended to equip me!

Today I want to encourage you if you have been like me in the past and wanted to reach others, but tried to do it in your own strength, ask your Heavenly Father today to stir up that supernatural life inside you to empower and embolden you to share His love.  Reach out to the need of others, whatever it may be, and let God’s power flow through you to make the connection that draws others to Him.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 John 3:4-9

We are His children

Look at what kind of love the Father has placed on us, that we should be named the children of God! Therefore, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.     1 John 3:1

What kind of love is this?  The Father kind of love and not just any father, our Heavenly Father.  Do you have children?  If you do, then you know how much you love them.  You know that you would do anything to help them be successful in all they attempt to do.  You don’t ever want to see them hurting, sick or defeated.  If they do go through hard times you will do anything possible to help them get back up again.  Not only that, if they need anything, you go out of your way to help them as much as you are physically able to do.  You are their greatest encourager and even when the mess up, you are the first person to forgive them.  If they behave badly, that can never change how much you love them.  It doesn’t matter what they do, you will always love them even if they try to push you away. 

My point?  That’s how God loves His children, except He is actually able to help with the impossible things and He is always ready to.  Some where along the line we got the idea that it hard to receive from God.  That we have to first prove our self or come groveling and begging to get Him to help us out.  But that’s just not the case.  He is always ready and willing. We can be as close to Him or as far away as we want.  Just like our own children can.  They can choose to be close and in a right relationship with us or they can choose to be not so close.

Today’s verse tells us that God’s love is a gift.  He has named us His children.  Romans 8:15 actually says God adopted us into His family.  He chose us and He chooses to love us.  Even when we were deep in sin, He brought us to Himself.  This is a great gift and one we should be so thankful for each day!  We know our Father watches over and is ever ready to come to our rescue, but we also know that He wants to commune and walk with us continually.  His desire is for us and He has set it up so that He is available to us all day long. 

Today I want to encourage you to stay close to your heavenly Father.  Talk to Him about all the things going on in your life.  Not in a complaining way but in a way that you believe He can and will do something to help.  He wants to help, but we have to be willing to ask for His help.  He will bail us out of any situation and if we look to Him ahead of time, we can avoid a lot of traps and falls along the way.

Today’s scripture reading; 1 John 3:1-3