Devo July 10: Put on God's Love

Last week's critical habit was a tough one to get rid of for a couple of reasons. I already mentioned the fact that it comes naturally to our human nature, but there is another one we really don't like to talk about- if you are in any area of ministry, you will face criticism on a regular basis. If you don't believe me, just ask ANYONE who works or volunteers in ministry. Remember how Moses worked so hard to get the people out of Egypt and to the promised land yet all he heard was complaining?!? It shouldn't be this way and that is why it is SO IMPORTANT that we all replace bad habits with good ones. I say "replace" because humans don't simply walk away from things; humans replace. Someone who worked for 40 years doesn't simply retire and stay home, they usually travel or spend all their time with their grandkids or volunteer. Why? We replace habits, we don't abandon them. So, knowing this, let's replace our critical habit!

We are replacing our habit of criticism and all things included (bitterness, resentment, unforgiveness) with God love. We cannot live like Jesus if we cannot love like Jesus. We cannot love like Jesus if we find only faults in others. We cannot be light if we harbor only dark. We must replace our negative spirit with His love and we do that by going back to some Sunday school basics but for real this time.

     1. Do you truly believe that God loves YOU? In order for you to grow in His love, you have to grow in your relationship with Him. This cannot happen if somewhere deep inside you still believe His love just isn't big enough or isn't meant for YOU or that you just aren't good enough to receive it. You may say you love Him, but if you are not accepting His love in return then the relationship is flawed. I spent the majority of my life saying "God is good and He loves others so much, but after what I've done in my life there is just no way He can love me. There is just no way He will ever want me at His table. I have done so many things wrong. His Grace was not meant for someone like me. I'm scarred. I'm broken. I'm damaged goods". Think the prostitute who washed Jesus' feet felt the same way? When I say amazing grace, I don't mean the cliche, I mean AMAZING GRACE! So, sit down with Him TODAY. Let Him probe the deepest recesses of your heart and see if you hide any part from Him. Accept fully His grace, His salvation, His redemption, His love. Yes, Jesus really does love you. Do not forget who YOUR Maker is and who's love for you brought the ultimate sacrifice to earth spoke of in John 3:16!  Look at Isaiah 51:12-13a

I, I am he who comforts you;
    who are you that you are afraid of man who dies,
    of the son of man who is made like grass,
and have forgotten the Lord, your Maker,
    who stretched out the heavens
    and laid the foundations of the earth,

     2. We rid ourselves of these unhealthy habits because we are compelled to love others the way Christ has loved us! It all circles back to Christ. He loves us so much and fills us so much that we cannot help but love others in the same way. If you are not at this point, refer to point number 1. Now look at our memory verse of 1 John 4:10-11(emphasis mine)

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

 If God loves us this way, why are we NOT loving others this way??? We didn't deserve it. We didn't earn it. We were His enemies at the time. WHAT IS OUR EXCUSE? We have none, there is none, you can look but you will find none (trust me my children have tried).

     We clear away the critical spirit when we replace it with the Spirit of God which is love. First, we have to accept that the love was given for us too and allow it into the deep, secret places and then we are so filled with that we take it out to the farthest corners of the earth! You can't skip steps and you can't fake it. Here's the thing about non-Christians, they know when you fake it. Why? Because without God's love and God's Spirit working your words will fall flat and will sound like nonsense. And the number one reason of all to not just fake it? God already knows what's inside you. So just don't. Get it right and get it right, right now! If you're still stuck in last week's devo of digging up that critical spirit, get to the root of the issue. You're thirsty and parched. It's been too long since you sat with Christ and drank in forgiveness, grace, and unconditional love. Give it up and let it in. No matter what has happened in your past. No matter which personal issues you struggle with that cause you to mistrust others or keep love at arm's length, it's time to bring all of those to the feet of Christ and pour them out. Be done with them. Haven't your hurt enough? Hurt people, hurt people and it's time to change that to "Loved people, love people". As always, if you need prayer or help with these steps, I'm here. Have a blessed day.
Memory Verse this week:
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:10-11