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There are many scriptures that talk about God's love and how that impacts a Christian. I have selected only a few to illustrate the milestones on this journey.
I needed to know where God is coming from with this mercy and grace that he gives us even though we do not deserve it. I needed to know why he would do this for us. The answer is God's intense love for us. This is the source of his mercy and grace and, in His love, He chose us before creation. This is a powerful love, I can accept this!
God's love for us:
Ephesians 1: 3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has crowned us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ; even as, in His love, He chose us as His own in Christ before the creation of the world, that we might be holy and without blemish in His presence.
Ephesians 2: 4-5 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the intense love which He bestowed on us, caused us, dead though we were through our offences, to live with Christ--it is by grace that you have been saved--
The next question is what does God expect from me? The answer is very clear, to fear, walk in His ways, love and serve God with all we have! This is the foremost and greatest commandment from God. This is where it all starts. Returning God's love. I stand convicted in this!
Our love for God:
Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
Matthew 22: 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest Commandment in the Law?" 37 "`Thou shalt love the Lord thy God,'" He answered, "`with thy whole heart, thy whole soul, thy whole mind.' 38 This is the greatest and foremost Commandment.
1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If any one loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.
What comes next, Lord? Where do we go from here? The answer is easily found, to love others.
Love for Others:
John 13:34 A new commandment I give you, to love one another; that as I have loved you, you also may love one another. 35 It is by this that every one (Continued on page 3)
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