What If We Did?

Guest author and my friend, Ralinda Fenton. 
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This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
John 15:12-14 NKJV

This is part of my devotion this morning. It reminded me how I need to love regardless of the response. I want to give love, whether it’s deserved or not. After all, look what Christ did for me - a broken mistake-making woman.

But what if we made it our mission? Instead of getting even, we could commit our hearts to forgiveness and offering a true clean slate to another? What if, when we feel slighted or excluded from a situation, we do not hold tight to bitterness or fear and still offer our love freely?

What if it stopped being about everything we receive and became about what we can give - regardless of the response, the rejection, the lack of reciprocation, or reassurance? It would confuse others and lead them right to this thought: “Why do they give love that I have not deserved?” Herein lies the perfect opportunity for our hearts to exclaim, “Jesus!” His eternal hope is the reason we can love so freely in return, knowing that He will work as He sees fit.

Wouldn’t that be incredible? To not be scared to be the people who love more, forgive freely, give grace abundantly, and walk in a confidence that stems from the ever-flowing love of Jesus? That would be the Gospel.

Our hearts are fragile. We take things personally. We are scared to let in others once we’ve been wronged. We have been taught by the world to only give what we receive—they must be worthy.

But Jesus calls us to love others out of a heart that is fully and recklessly loved by Him. This does not mean our emotions become absent and our pain won’t be felt; it just means that when those things do happen, we can remind ourselves we’re already accepted and abundantly loved by our Creator. It is in this truth that we no longer crave and depend on the reassurance of this world, and we begin to look like people of hope.

Your Inheritance or Whose?

And it is impossible to please God without faith.
Hebrews 11:6a

I've been reading the account of Moses leading the children of Israel out of Egypt. It is an amazing story. One of the aspects that keeps leaping out is how many times God instructed Joshua and the people to be strong and of good courage; each time, assuring them that HE would go with them. 

However, the people let their eyes dictate their future. They let the tangible define the intangible. They didn't believe God. They didn't use the measure of faith that God gives to each of us. As a result, their fear - their lack of faith - disqualified them from receiving their inheritance. It didn't change the promise God made to take the descendants into the Promised Land and give it to them, but it did change which generation inherited it.

In Deuteronomy 31:7, we read, Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. Joshua, whose faith never wavered. Joshua who came back from the first trip and reported that they were well able. Joshua who continued to believe in the face of great adversity beyond what we have ever faced. He and Caleb - Elders of the faith in more ways than one.

The odds you're facing today may be overwhelming. The circumstances may be more than you can bear...but you are not alone. Go back one verse and read Deuteronomy 31: verse 6... Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. 

What will you give for your inheritance?

Prayer:

Father,
We are so grateful for Your promise to go with us, to never leave us or forsake us. Thank You for the measure of faith You have provided. Help us to walk upright in it, strong and courageous. We want to please You in all things. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen