DRAWING NEAR
August 4
The Source of True Love
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God . . . .
We love because He first loved us" (1 John 4:7, 19).
True love cannot be generated on the human level. It's a gift from
God.
Scripture often makes seemingly impossible demands of us. For
example, Jesus said, "Love your enemies, and pray for those who
persecute you" (Matt. 5:44). That's easy to say, but how is it
possible? Our natural tendency is to love our friends and hate our
enemies. But Jesus said, "If you love those who love you, what reward
have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same? And if you greet
your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the
Gentiles do the same?" (vv. 46-47).
Israel viewed tax-gatherers as traitors, and Gentiles as spiritual
outcasts. Yet even traitors and outcasts show love and kindness to
those who reciprocate. Jesus calls us to a much higher standard of
love--one that is impartial, like God demonstrates when He "causes
His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the
righteous and the unrighteous" (v. 45). As we see from God Himself,
it extends even to those who aren't worthy: "God demonstrates His own
love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for
us" (Rom. 5:8).
Despite generations of rebellion and slander against His holy will
and name, God sacrificed His beloved Son, thereby providing the means
by which sinners can be saved. Out of love, Jesus willingly endured
the pain and shame of the cross and paid the price of our redemption.
Now that's divine love in action!
God commands you to love as He loves: impartially and sacrificially.
That may sound impossible on the human level but remember that God
never requires you to do anything He hasn't already enabled you to
do. At the moment of your salvation, the Holy Spirit took up
residence within you and began producing the fruit of love (Gal.
5:22). You don't have to muster it up on your own. All you have to do
is invite the Spirit to take control, allowing Him to govern your
thoughts and actions. As you do, His precious fruit will be
multiplied in your life.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Thank God for the love of the Spirit He has placed within you.
Ask Him for opportunities today to learn how to love more
perfectly.
For Further Study:
Memorize Galatians 5:22-23.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus Is?
http://www.gty.org/Gospel
http://www.gty.org/
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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