Daily Devotions – Loving God

Daily Devotions – Loving God

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Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:

 

1 John 5 NIV
Faith in the Incarnate Son of God
5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Concluding Affirmations
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 16 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. 18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. 19 We know that we are children of God and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

 

How are you doing at loving God?

 

Father, thank you that you love me and keep me safe in Jesus’ arms of love. Help me to show my love for You through my obedience and love for You by putting you first. Let me demonstrate my love for You by loving others. To love all others in Your family is not limited to my own denomination or group, to my own social or financial status, to my own race, to my own political perspective, or to my own exact theological persuasion. Please bring it to my attention if any of these things mean more to me than our common salvation, and the common Lordship of Jesus Christ so that I can be forgiven. Let my motives be pure. Please help me to not take You for advantage and slack off in my pursuit of loving You.  When my love and obedience for You grow cold, I not only harm myself, but I also harm those that I interact with and I can be a drag on the spiritual progress of Your people. Instead, give me a passion to continue to grow in my love for You and show Your love to everyone. I want to be on fire for You! Help me to show Your love by listening to others and encouraging them. Let me show Your love with acts of kindness and with generosity. Let me show Your love by praying for others. Lord, let me do the things that please You and use me to build Your kingdom. Lord, help me to love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love my neighbor as myself. Amen