Read It, Learn It,
Live It, Share It
“Does the Lord take delight in thousands of rams, in ten thousand rivers
of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for
my rebellious acts, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” – Micah 6:7
Many will
try, but most will end up with the same rejection they have always had. You can’t buy someone’s love, despite how desperately
we often try. Gifts, trips, dinner or a
luxurious life style will only satisfy one’s desires temporarily. Most of you have likely experienced this at
one point or another in your life. You
have shopped for that perfect gift at Christmas. The gift that you are sure will change the
way someone else feels about you, and perhaps even cause their love for you to
become stronger. After opening the gift,
their expression is one of wonder, amazement and joy. Their face beams with happiness and often
times their excitement leads to an embrace and the words, “It’s perfect. Thank
you, thank you.” You have brought them
happiness for a period of time, but what happens 3 weeks later or 3 months
later? Has the shine worn off, and life
ended up right back where it was prior to the gift giving? Do they love the thing you bought, yet their
feelings remain static towards you? Within
each of us is this belief that in giving we can alter one’s feelings, and in the
big picture it doesn’t.
How is it with God? Can you give to Him and gain more love from Him? Is His love measurable and driven by your offering to Him? Does He need anything that you can bring to Him as a gift? Think about that for a few moments. What could you possibly have that the Creator of the Universe might need or be impressed by? Is God impressed by your actions or is it expected?
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37 were Jesus’ words to the Pharisees. This is the greatest commandment and what God expects from His children. You cannot increase the amount of love God has for you, nor can you decrease it. You cannot increase the amount of salvation you will obtain, for Christ has already purchased that, and it can only be bought once. Prior to his death and resurrection, mankind was held accountable to bring a sacrifice to the alter of the Lord for the redemption of the sins of their family. This practice was abolished by God himself though, in the birth, life, death and resurrection of His only Son; the perfect Lamb of God. He took all of the sins of mankind upon Himself and was slaughtered as a sacrifice, so that we in turn can walk in the love and mercy of God Almighty.
If by chance there are those who believe that they must “do” certain things to “earn” God’s love, they are sorely mistaken. The sacrifice on the cross that day was sufficient for all of your sins and mine. God’s did this as a free gift to you, with no expectation in return other than your acceptance of it. There is nothing you can do to bring more to the Father in redemption of your sin, than Christ has already done. You simply must accept that His death and resurrection are sufficient. This is the ultimate act of grace from God the Father. In your sinful nature, your unrighteousness and filth, He still loved you enough to provide a way for you to be renewed and made righteous. You don’t deserve it, let’s face it, we are a pretty sorry lot when it comes to living the perfect, holy life. His grace not only covers our sins but gives us eternity with Him as well. So quit trying to earn His love or demonstrate to Him how righteous and holy you can be. In His eyes, I believe, we are all equally loved and justified through Christ our Savior and there is nothing we can do to increase or decrease that sacrifice. We must simply accept it.
©
Sondove Enterprises, 2012How is it with God? Can you give to Him and gain more love from Him? Is His love measurable and driven by your offering to Him? Does He need anything that you can bring to Him as a gift? Think about that for a few moments. What could you possibly have that the Creator of the Universe might need or be impressed by? Is God impressed by your actions or is it expected?
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37 were Jesus’ words to the Pharisees. This is the greatest commandment and what God expects from His children. You cannot increase the amount of love God has for you, nor can you decrease it. You cannot increase the amount of salvation you will obtain, for Christ has already purchased that, and it can only be bought once. Prior to his death and resurrection, mankind was held accountable to bring a sacrifice to the alter of the Lord for the redemption of the sins of their family. This practice was abolished by God himself though, in the birth, life, death and resurrection of His only Son; the perfect Lamb of God. He took all of the sins of mankind upon Himself and was slaughtered as a sacrifice, so that we in turn can walk in the love and mercy of God Almighty.
If by chance there are those who believe that they must “do” certain things to “earn” God’s love, they are sorely mistaken. The sacrifice on the cross that day was sufficient for all of your sins and mine. God’s did this as a free gift to you, with no expectation in return other than your acceptance of it. There is nothing you can do to bring more to the Father in redemption of your sin, than Christ has already done. You simply must accept that His death and resurrection are sufficient. This is the ultimate act of grace from God the Father. In your sinful nature, your unrighteousness and filth, He still loved you enough to provide a way for you to be renewed and made righteous. You don’t deserve it, let’s face it, we are a pretty sorry lot when it comes to living the perfect, holy life. His grace not only covers our sins but gives us eternity with Him as well. So quit trying to earn His love or demonstrate to Him how righteous and holy you can be. In His eyes, I believe, we are all equally loved and justified through Christ our Savior and there is nothing we can do to increase or decrease that sacrifice. We must simply accept it.
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment