Ref. DLG 31 : Demonstration Of Love

'' But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. '' Romans 5 : 8  

God's love in us and for us is demonstrated day in and day out .The Lord shows how much he loves us , by a demonstration . The Lord is such a loving God that each day he displays to us in actions and ways that shows the degree of the love he has for us . We are also called upon to demonstrate to people how far we love them , by doing things in a way that gives glory to God .

 '' For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life '' John 3:16 The Lord Jesus was given to us as a demonstration of love . Jesus came in the flesh Although he was God ,he took upon himself humanity . This is God actually becoming flesh and blood , '' And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. '' 1 Timothy 3:16 

This is how God demonstrated the love of God towards humanity , God who became flesh so that he can reach out to sinners in need of his salvation . The incarnation is simply a demonstration of how much God loved us and wants us to know him . Another form of demonstration of love is seen in the crucifixion of Christ on the cross . Jesus assumed the nature of a lamb being slaughtered he did not defend himself in any way at his trial during the crucifixion .

'' Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken '' Isaiah 53 : 4-8 

God's love was typically demonstrated , in such a way that Jesus became the scapegoat for our sins . God wants us to also demonstrate that same love to his service . Like Job who lost everything and was later inflicted with sickness , yet he still loved God .{ Job 1:20-22 } 

Stephen also as he was being stoned to death still prayed for his enemies , who were killing him . '' And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. '' Acts 7:59-60

Prayer 

Heavenly father help me to demonstrate love to all people as well as my enemies in the name of Yeshua . 

Ref. DLG 30 : Loving God

''  If ye love me, keep my commandments.'' John 14:15 

Loving God is an art , it is something we have to do day by day , because your love for God is seen on a daily bases ,People can love God  and show it the more they walk with God .The children of God always claim to love God , but how far is that love seen or demonstrated in our daily lives . The fact is the more you ,love God the more you are tempted to show that love by the temptations that you face on a daily bases .

If you love God you will automatically keep his commands daily and you will do his will in your life all the time .'' He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. '' James 1:12 The person who loves God has to show that love in the time of temptations and these temptations are on a daily bases and they come in levels . If you are  able to overcome temptation at a certain level , you should know that another level of temptation will come , which you must also learn to overcome, with the experience of the first one .

 For the purpose of loving God , we are always faced with temptation of all kinds in our lives as the children of God . Every child of God must know this ''And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.''  Romans 5:5 It is the Holy Spirit which helps day by day to love God and obey him and even persevere in the time of crises . People without the Holy Spirit cannot really love God nor obey him when the going gets tough .

The Holy Spirit helps us to love and serve him all the time , so that we will not fall nor stumble in the time of temptations. ''Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. '' Hebrews 10:38-39  If you actually love God , it does not matter the trials , temptations , and tribulations that you face , you still continue to praise and worship him . 

Prayer 

Lord Jesus help me to love you with the love of God shed in my heart by the Holy Spirit , in the name of Yeshua . 

Ref. DLG 29 : God's Compassion

 '' For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion '' Romans 9;15 

Gods compassion is that which makes God to empathize  with our human flaws and the suffering thereof . Thus God can have sympathy for the sinner and the afflicted . The compassion of God eventually produces the mercy of God towards us . It is because of this compassion that God stretches out his hand of salvation for a dying world . The hopelessness of our salvation is the need for God to help us out of life's predicament .

God's compassion towards human beings brings the demonstration of God's love that can save a sinner . '' In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.'' Isaiah 63:9 The compassionate nature of God makes him feel our afflictions , pains , and sorrows . And that is a cause for God to stretch out his arm of salvation to the afflicted and the tormented so that he can save them .

Our God is full of compassion for the afflicted , oppressed , orphans , rejected , abused , tormented , hungry , enslaved and the sinner . God told Moses about the Israelite in slavery .'' And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; '' Exodus 3:7 The Lord knows our sorrows and pains , and he is working out something for our deliverance .

The Lord is good to all who look unto him for salvation and deliverance . God has determined to help us out of predicament , but we need to trust in his compassion that is for every body irrespective of what you have done wrong . God's compassion are for those who repent of their evil deeds and humble themselves before God for his salvation and deliverance .'' If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. '' 2 Chronicles 7:14 We are God's chosen people who are walking in his promises and he always have compassion on us . The same compassion also goes for the lost , the sinner and the needy who call upon him for help .'' 

Prayer confession

Lord Jesus Christ , thank you for saving my soul and blessing my life , let me see your compassionate love in my situation , in the name of Yeshua . 

Ref. DLG 28 : The Greatest Virtue

'' And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.'' 1 Corinthians 13:13

There are things that the word of God really admonish us to have as virtues for serving and honouring God . Some of them are faith, hope, patience, long-suffering , kindness ,love, and so forth .However , among them all the greatest virtue that God wants every child of God to possess , without which you are not qualified to be a child of God , and that is love . 

'' If there be any virtue '' { Philippians 4:8 } that describes God's nature very well , it is love and it must also describe your nature as the image of God {Genesis 1:27 } and a child of God . '' Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love '' 1 John 4:7-8

In this scripture the emphasis of the child of God is the fact that he or she  has love as a virtue  functioning in his or her life. Demonstrating the love of God in deeds to your brothers, sisters , church members , co-workers , co-tenants , neighbours , and to the world at large .

Because love is the greatest virtue , God who is the greatest deity is love ,'' For God is love '' 1 John 4:8 It does not matter what other virtues you have , if you don't possess love as a virtue in your character you are said to be a non-entity . '' Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. '' 1 Corinthians 13:1-3   

Love is the greatest virtue that upholds the word of God and the relationship between God and human beings is all sustained by love . Without love God will have hidden himself from every human being on earth and not reveal his plan of salvation to humanity , because of our sins . God who is love still loved us so much so that despite all the sins we have committed he still reached out his hands to save the world . 

God love the world { John 3:16 } so much that he released his only son in the kingdom of love to die for our sins . That is the reason we as God's children must walk , eat , talk , work , serve , pray , play , and function in this greatest virtue called love .

Prayer confession 

Lord Jesus Christ give me this greatest virtue to function with in Jesus name , let there be love shed in my heart by the Holy Ghost in Jesus name .

Ref. DLG 27 : Functions Of Love

 '' Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. '' 1 Corinthians 13:4 

The love of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer produces different functions . If you have the love of God in you it will show in diverse functions as 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 declares ;

 '' Love is patient '' 

 A person in love is always patient and ready to wait until the thing or person they love comes to pass in their life. In the same way if you love God you will wait patiently until his promise comes to pass in your life .

'' Love is kind '' 

A person in love is full of kindness for their loved ones .This means they give gifts and services in kind . Anyone who loves God will automatically give tithes and offerings to God all the time and this they do cheerfully out of love for God . 

'' Love is not  envious ''

A person in love cannot envy their loved ones even though they are making progress ahead of him in life . Instead they tend to celebrate with them and also congratulates them . On the contrary  envy is the character our enemies who do not want us to prosper . If you love God you will not envy the brethren in church who are prospering ahead of you , rather you will thank God for their life . 

'' Love is not arrogant '' 

A person in love is always humble in the presence of their loved ones .They cannot exhibit any form of pride in their presence .If you love God , you will be always humble in the house of God and in the midst of brother's and sisters in church . If you have the love of God in your heart , you will not show your arrogance at all.

'' Love is not selfish '' 

A person in love cannot be selfish in relationship ,They want to share their life , money , house, and even their possessions with their loved ones . They spend and eat with their loved ones , that person will not only insist on his own way or opinion , but will seek the opinion of the lover . In the same way if you love God you will not show any form of selfishness in your service for God in the church  or among the people of God .

'' Love is not easily provoked '' 

A person in love cannot just get angry too easily at the slightest offence . In the same vain if you love God , you will not be easily provoked at any offensive act against you for the sake  of God's kingdom .It doesn't matter the gravity of the offense , be it from your pastor ,anybody at all in  the house of God  or outside the church .

PRAYER

Lord help me to love you more , love people and also function in your love daily in the name of Yeshua .

Ref. DLG 26 : The Compelling Love

 '' For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died '' 2 Corinthians 5:14 

The compelling love is the love of God in our hearts for people and for the service to God Almighty .The child of God has love to do things the way God wants he or she to do them .This compelling love of God will automatically enable you to do things God wants you to do . I mean things that you would not do by yourself had it not been for this love .This love is prompted by the Holy Ghost who lives in you as a child of God . 

'' And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.'' Romans 5:5 The compelling love is the one that gives us the edge to do things for God or on behalf of Christ . We are able to obey the word of God because of the compelling love .

''If ye love me, keep my commandments.'' John 14:15 We are obeying God simply because the love of Christ compels us to do so . Anyone who does not love Christ enough cannot obey his commandments .The compelling love is what keeps Christians living in the will of God in the midst of trials , they still hold on to their faith in Christ and keep trusting God .

For instance Jesus told Peter , '' So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. '' John 21:15  Peter's responsibility of feeding God's flock { people of God } was assigned to him on the foundation of this compelling love .Peter is to feed the flock , not because of the flock , but simple because of the compelling love of God in his heart .

Feeding the flock of God might not be his personal choice of course , but he accepted that responsibility because he loved God { Christ } so much . That propels , controls and enforces his obedience to the command .'' feed my sheep '' Whatever we do for the Lord and his service must be prompted by the compelling love otherwise we might not be able to do it right or we may not do it altogether .

Love is God's foundation for salvation and it must be our foundation for salvation and service to God in every area of ministry and calling that God has for us all , peace !

Prayer 

Lord I love you so much , I therefore  receive your command to obey your word at all times and at all cost in the name of Yeshua .

Ref. DLG 25 : God's Love

 '' Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. '' 1 John 3:1

God's love is the radiant ,passionate,and compassionate affection God has  for the people of this world . The love That God has for his children and the people of this world .The love that God has for his creation is boundless love that supersedes all other love .God's love is totally unconditional and extremely compassionate .

This love is what makes us the children of God , although by our deeds , we might have been reprobates .This love of God is what credits the sinner with the righteous account of Christ .''For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.'' 2 Corinthians 5:21 God's love is a demonstrative love , a love that is revealed by deeds and not just words .God's love for us is practical because God does things for us to show that he loves us dearly .

''But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.'' Romans 5:8 God's love is unseen in the death of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ .The crucifixion of Christ is a strong display of God's love for humanity .Jesus suffered all our sufferings because of our sins and he died all our death , because of the same sin. The love of God is the mercies that God have toward us even though we are sinners .

'' For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. '' Romans 9:15 The love of overlooks our frailties , flaws , failures , and mistakes .The love of God helps us to understand God better and God reaches out to us more because of his love for humanity .

That love of God is also demonstrated in the way God speaks us often through his ministers . The number of sermons, messages , preaching, that we hear are all showing that God loves us so much and he wants us to know him better , so we can serve him better , It is our responsibility to also love God the same way he loved us as children of God by obeying his commandments .

God's love is for every human being on earth , that is the reason every soul is given the opportunity to hear the word of God , before the end comes . ''And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.''  Matthew 24:14

Prayer 

Lord I thank you for loving me ,and saving me I receive your word into my heart so I can obey your word in Jesus , name . Amen