Love’s Rescue

Colossians 1:13-14 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. (NLT)

I was once rescued from a terrible habit: biting my fingernails. My grandmother performed the feat by promising me the sum of two dollars for every fingernail I let grow. This, by the way, came after a painful trip to the emergency room to remove an infected fingernail I had pulled into the quick. The pain and money were enough to spark my interest in the rescue. Trouble was, as soon as I received the money, I returned to the habit. God’s rescue is permanent. Once I choose to let him rescue me from the penalty of my sins, I don’t have to worry about them taking me into the quick anymore.
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Love’s Limit

Mark 12:30 And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. (NLT)

Love.  Frequently misunderstood and often misconstrued. Spoken by teenagers who are experiencing their first bout of puppy love. Or by the couple involved in an extramarital affair. By one spouse to another and by a parent to their child. There’s friendship love and sexual love, but the most admirable is agape’. The type that gives unconditionally and doesn’t require a response to keep giving. The kind that can only exist when we’ve experienced God’s love. When we love God with all our being, we can learn to love ourselves and others. And this makes the world a better place.

Love Produces

Galatians 5:22-23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (NLT)

I once worked on a production line, and it was probably the most boring and taxing position I ever held. Same motions over and over for eight hours which caused the bursitis in my shoulder to intensify until it felt as if someone was jabbing me with a knife. And efficiency was of the utmost importance if we wanted to get off on time. We had a quota to meet and we stayed until we did. Working for God is similar yet very different. He wants and expects us to produce the above fruit, but he’s not out to make money from our labor. He simply wants others to experience his love as we have. What draws others to God is determined in large part by how we present him. When the above fruit is consistently displayed through our actions, attitudes and words, they will see an accurate caricature of God.

Powerful Love

1 John 4:4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. (NLT)

You’ve seen if before. An individual or team of individuals who can break a stack of boards or cement blocks with their bare hands. Or the wrestler who can pick up his opponent who weighs as much or more than he does. Or the person whose adrenalin rush allows them to pick up a vehicle to rescue the person underneath. But no physical muscles we may develop can match the spiritual muscle we possess because of the indwelling presence of God’s Spirit. No matter what comes at us, and no matter the force of the confrontation, it cannot overcome or overwhelm us. We have God on our side and inside, and greater is He in us than anything that is in the world. God’s love is powerful and always leads him to act in our best interest.
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Love Challenges

1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (NLT)

“Be All You Can Be.” It was the recruiting slogan for the Army for over twenty years. God’s challenge is the same just stated differently. For recruits, the Army became their Momma and Daddy. Whatever a superior officer said was law and must be obeyed. God’s Army is no different. He is the Commander and his followers the recruits. Whatever he says goes, but the commands he gives always proceed from love and are for our good. Yet at the same time they challenge us to be all we can be for God. We don’t serve for pay or medals but to place the spotlight on him. In our words, actions and attitudes, we want to reflect our Commander’s standards because we’re in the Lord’s Army.

Love Shines

Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (NLT)

Good batteries are essential; especially when they’re in a flashlight needed in emergencies. Such as if your car breaks down while you are driving at night and you need to look under the hood. Or a tire goes flat. Even when the electricity goes off in the middle of the night and you need to see how to get to the bathroom or use the phone to report the outage. A flashlight with dead batteries or even weak batteries is of no use. Flashlights are made to shine and shine brightly. So are our good works. They have nothing to do with God accepting us but they have everything to do with showing God’s goodness to others. We perform our good works because God has been merciful to us, and when we do others can see how bright life with God really is.
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Desire Run Amuck

Proverbs 27:20 Just as Death and Destruction are never satisfied, so human desire is never satisfied. (NLT)

I’ve been controlled by mine for as long as I can remember. It doesn’t matter how much I imbibe, it’s never enough. So every few hours I do it again.

My addiction? Food coupled with a seemingly insatiable appetite. And not normally for healthy things such as fruit, whole grain, pasta, skim milk, and baked goods. Although I do enjoy vegetables. I’d rather have fried food (my cooking bible strictly forbids baked or broiled chicken). Little Debbies were manufactured to savor not avoid and salt and vinegar chips were designed to eat by the bagful not handful. Pies, cakes and brownies are all God’s gifts to enjoy.

Considering my position, you might assume I’m grossly overweight. Actually just a few pounds, but I could be. When I reached midlife, my metabolism suddenly slowed but my desire didn’t which caused a previously unknown condition-a bulging stomach. 

A voracious appetite joined with changing metabolism resulted in an altered lifestyle and one I’m not overly fond of. Now I drink diet drinks (they’re actually good after the second day), eat more baked foods and have a bagel and banana for breakfast (instead of a chocolate pop tart). And I stopped buying Little Debbies (although I occasionally indulge in salt and vinegar chips followed by a Reese’s Cup).

Most desires are never satisfied. Death and destruction being prime examples. Everyone dies regardless of our best efforts to avoid it. Our play toys deteriorate, or we tire of them. I possess nothing that was mine when I entered this world and very little I’ve accumulated along the way.

Desires leading to enslavement should be adamantly avoided. What I don’t control controls me. But there is one form of appetite we shouldn’t feel guilty about. Never having enough of God is permissible (Matthew 5:6).

When unhealthy and inappropriate desires vie for your attention, satisfy them with healthy portions of God’s Word topped off with thick layers of prayer. I personally never get enough of these two. And they don’t impact my stomach.

Prayer: Heavenly Lord, may our desire continually be to know you better and understand more clearly your plan for our life.
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Love Rescues

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (NIV)

I’m afraid of water and have been since I was eight years old. I was with friends at a neighbor’s pool floating on an inner tube. They wanted to go to the deep end and I didn’t so I held tightly to the pool’s edge. As the inner tube moved farther away I slid off into the water. I knew I was a goner, so I just waited for death to arrive. Fortunately one of my friends jumped in and rescued me. I’ve had no use for water since then, and I never learned to swim. God is in the rescue business too, and his is life saving as well. Sin kills us spiritually but through the grace of his forgiveness, he saves us from eternal separation from him. God reaches down. All that he requires of us is to reach up.
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Enduring Love

Lamentations 3:22-23 The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. (NLT)

Morning. I awaken to the early rays of light entering the bedroom window. My brain and body have worked through the cleansing process that occurs during sleep. The worries of yesterday are viewed in a new light, and I have another opportunity not to repeat my former regrets. I’m beginning again; and so are the mercies of God. God’s faithful love never ends but is experienced afresh each day. Nothing I do, say or think can separate me from his love. He will not love me more or less but perfectly. God’s forgiveness is complete, and in him, so am I. With God in our corner, we can face each day with confidence.

Love’s Light

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. (NKJV)

With modern electricity there’s not much call for lamps anymore. But they are nostalgic and we have quite a few hanging around our house. I look at my grandfather’s old barn lantern and wonder how it was depending on a small flame to guide his way. When the electricity goes out and we use an oil lamp, I can imagine. It’s better than no light at all but not as useful as four 60 watt bulbs dangling from the ceiling fan. Whether from a lamp, flashlight or bulb, light helps us see. God’s Word is the brightest lamp. It will guide us through discouragement and temptation. It will lift our spirits when we’re disappointed. And it will provide the wisdom we need for daily decisions. Follow the light.

Love Hides

Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. (NKJV)

What child doesn’t enjoy playing Hide and Seek? I played it as a child and played it with my children. And nothing is more comical than watching a small child stand in an open area, cover their eyes with their hands and think they are hidden? When God’s Word is hidden in our heart through memorization and meditation, we can never hide from God. Every time a word, attitude or action erupts that doesn’t fit who we are, God’s Spirit will take God’s Word and remind us of his standards. Our lives are an open book before God. So why try and hide what God already knows? God seeks because he loves and because we are prone to hide. And he’s never satisfied to leave us where we don’t need to be.
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Love Satisfies

Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (KJV)

But I often do. Want that is. Wants and needs are funny things, and I often confuse the two. I’m familiar with a need-something I must have to live; like food, shelter, water and clothing. And God has promised to supply these for his children. A want on the other hand is something I don’t have to have to live but think I do. A better car. A larger house. A higher paying job. Someone other than my spouse. A substance to help me get by. A position at church. God has never obligated himself to give me any wants though he often does if they don’t violate his nature or plan for me. The good news is that since he’s my shepherd, I don’t have to want and I will not lack. His love will give me everything I need to live and serve him.
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Love Waits

Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD. (NASB)

True Love Waits is a campaign that encourages teens particularly to wait until after marriage for sexual relationships. And such programs are needed because statistics continue to show that high percentages of teens-and even younger children, are sexually active before marriage. But waiting is not only related to the right marriage partner. It is a significant part of the Christian life. God doesn’t operate on our timetable. Fortunately, he sees our past, present and future in one connected whole. He knows the plans he has for us even when we don’t. Our responsibility is to wait and trust by faith that his plans and the timing thereof are always best. Love leads us to trust God enough to wait, and he loves us enough to make us wait. Nothing good ever emerges from running ahead of God.