A Lifetime of Love.. Craig Denison Ministries

 

A Lifetime of Love

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

As children of God, we have been given a new home and a new hope. May your heart be set aflame by the joy and purpose of living out God’s command to live for heaven this week: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4

Scripture:“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” John 15:9

Devotional:

We belong to a kingdom built not by the blood, sweat, and tears of servants but by the wounds and scars of a loving and sacrificial King. As disciples of Jesus we have been granted access into a lifetime of giving and receiving unconditional love. Our Savior willingly laid down his life that we might know the love of our heavenly Father throughout this life and all eternity. John 15:9-13 says,

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.  

To live for heaven is to abide in a lifetime of constant and tangible love from the Father so that we might live healed and able to pour out genuine love to others. This life is all about love. Jesus boiled down all the commandments into loving God and loving people. If we truly desire to live in obedience to God’s commands, we must live with a heavenly perspective. 1 John 4:7 says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” To live for the world is to maintain an attitude of selfishness and pursue fleeting and insincere affections. To live for heaven is to daily say yes to being born of God and to pursue knowing the Father. To know our Creator is to know love itself. And when we experience the love of our Father, we will be transformed into instruments of his love for all those around us.

God longs to give us a heavenly perspective today that we might receive the fullness of his love and in return love him and others. 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.” Living for heaven starts with letting God love us. It starts with carving out space in our daily routine to rest in the knowledge of our Father’s love and allow it to transform, redeem, and heal us. We all carry wounds that need to be touched by the love of our Father.

It’s only after being loved by God that we can truly love others. Without encounters with the heart of the Father, we are incapable of living selflessly. Pride is the natural state of all those who aren’t consistently encountering the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. But through God’s grace and receiving a heavenly perspective, we can step outside ourselves and the fleshly desires of this world and truly love others with the heart of God.

Take time in guided prayer to let your heavenly Father love you today. Let go of any roots of pride that are keeping you from loving him and others. And ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into a lifestyle of loving others with the love you’ve been shown in Christ Jesus.

Guided Prayer:

1. Take time to receive the love of your heavenly Father. Meditate on Scripture that will fill you with the knowledge of his love. Ask him to reveal his nearness and wait on his calming and peaceful presence.

“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” John 15:9

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you anything that is keeping you from living a lifestyle of being loved and loving others.

3. How would the Holy Spirit guide you into a lifestyle of loving others today? In what ways have you been loved so that you can turn around and love others? Who needs grace and forgiveness today? Who needs a loving friend or a kind stranger? Who needs to hear the message of reconciliation and hope that you’ve found in Jesus?

“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” 1 John 4:20-21

“Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7

For the majority of my relationship with God up to this point, I didn’t know what it meant to truly experience God’s love. I didn’t know that God could tangibly affect my emotions, mood, purpose, and perspective with his presence. It was only once I began to consistently make time and space to let God love me that my life began to be transformed and healed and I began to walk in freedom. It was only once I began to consistently encounter God’s heart that I was filled with a longing to love others. There is nothing more important or foundational to this life than experiencing the love of your heavenly Father. May you discover the wealth of affections your Father has for you as you carve out space to encounter him throughout your day today.

Extended Reading: John 15

Our Needs..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Our Needs

Dr. Charles Stanley

Philippians 4:19

Jim saved for a long time to take an Alaskan cruise. At last he was on board with two carefully packed suitcases. The first evening, when he heard "Dinner is served" announced over the loudspeaker, he took peanut butter crackers from his suitcase and sat at the table in his small cabin. Every day at mealtime, he repeated the ritual. It wasn't that Jim didn't like the ship's tasty banquets. He simply didn't know that his meals were included in the price of the ticket. For two weeks he enjoyed beautiful scenery off the decks but ate dry, stale food in his cabin.

This sad story is a metaphor for how some believers live the Christian life. God has promised to meet every need of His children—His riches are included in the price Christ paid for their salvation (Eph. 1:18). Yet many folks are trying to live out of their own resources. They don't know that the wealth of God's love, power, and provision is on their menu.

A believer's relationship with the Lord is one of complete unity. Jesus is our life. His Spirit lives through us. Therefore, everything that is available to Him is also available to the brothers and sisters in Christ—all power, strength, and endurance, as well as whatever is required to fulfill physical and emotional needs.

Jim didn't know he had the right to satisfy his hunger in an extravagant way. Learn from this exaggerated example. Read your Bible to learn what riches you are entitled to through faith. God offers believers everything required for living well and wisely. Trust Him for all your needs.

When Do We Quit and When Should We Not?..Aaron D’Anthony Brown

 When Do We Quit and When Should We Not?

 By Aaron D’Anthony Brown

“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

When To Say When
A failing relationship, a difficult job, a wayward child. Any number of things can happen in life that leaves us questioning whether or not to give up. One of Paul’s most encouraging messages was, “I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

This verse speaks to our ability as Christians to not only find contentment in difficulty but overcome the impossible. We do so not by our own will, strength, or intellect but with the help of God. While we may possess one or all of those traits, we are not enough to beat every challenge. We need God.

Paul knew this all too well. Whatever was impossible for him was possible with God. His message and example are upbeat, even hopeful, but as Christians, are we meant to overcome everything that happens to us? Will prayers for our boss to stop being rude come to fruition, or should we seek new employment? How long do we wait for our girlfriend to commit before calling it quits?

Sometimes we misappropriate Paul’s words for every occasion. We say yes when God’s actually telling us no. We get wrapped up in incorrectly believing that what we want is what God wants too. And why do we think that? Because of our feelings.

Well, what if that was not the case? What if we’re better off walking away from an issue? Quitting is not always what we want or what we ought to do, but sometimes quitting is just that - the right choice. So when do we quit, and when should we not?

“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

These words were also spoken by Paul, and this wisdom is what will lead us to do what’s right and pleasing to God. 

Intersecting Faith & Life:
There are some practical steps each of us can take to help with discerning when and when not to quit.

Pray
The most obvious step to take when discerning anything is to pray. No one possesses more wisdom than God, and no one cares more for your well-being than the Lord. Ask, and you will receive. The issue we often find when praying is not understanding what God wants. We can ascertain details through Scripture, but prayer can leave the specifics a bit confusing. Being confused doesn’t mean we should stop praying, of course. Pray without ceasing, even when the confusion doesn’t cease either.

Seek Objective Counsel
While we may love the people who give us advice, not everyone gives great advice. Some people mean well, but not everyone exercises the best judgment. If you want a relative or friend to impart wisdom to you, consider whether or not they can be objective in giving counsel. Biased advice is just that, biased advice. Sometimes finding someone without an invested interest in you is the way to go.

This is especially helpful in dating relationships. One person may tell you immediately to break up, while another says to give the relationship time. The person who gives the best advice listens to the full story, not just the one you present. 

Be Honest
When you want to make a good decision, being honest with the person giving advice is crucial, but so is being honest with yourself. Not every situation deserves optimism. Sometimes we are better off with a healthy degree of skepticism. If your would-be business partner has ghosted you a few times now without a feasible excuse, should you really move forward telling yourself that this is what God wants?

Set a Timeline
Walking away is not always the right decision, and knowing when can be even trickier. When some people want to walk away but just aren’t completely sure on the timing, they set a timeline. Some people set timelines for their jobs, relationships, and more. Setting a timeline gives God time to act on your behalf and gives you time to sift through all the details.

Sometimes adversity is a divine sign that we are heading in the wrong direction. Sometimes adversity is just a part of life, and we need to learn to live with the struggle. There is no one answer for everything. Work, dating, family life. However, all of these steps will definitely help you move in the right direction.

• How long are you willing to wait?
• What are you hoping to see?
• What if what you want doesn’t happen?
• Has God already answered your prayer?

Ask yourself these questions and more. You will discover when to quit and when you shouldn’t.

Further Reading:
Philippians 4:13
Isaiah 40:31

Jesus’ Word to the Wrongly Accused..Lynette Kittle

 Jesus’ Word to the Wrongly Accused

By Lynette Kittle

Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips - Psalm 141:3

Have you ever been wrongly accused? Or had lies spoken or written about you, ones causing you to feel angry, ready to respond by verbally exploding and tearing apart the untrue words?

Social media is all about speaking our minds. It encourages us to “tell it like it is,” to “speak our minds,” to defend ourselves by “setting the record straight.”

However, Scripture gives us a better way of addressing insults and lies, urging us to, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6).

God's Word tells us Jesus' reaction to being wrongly accused: “When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly” - 1 Peter 2:23

When we are wrongly accused, we’re encouraged to ask God to, “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3).

Whereas the world tells us to “let it all out,” Scripture directs us to use self-control before speaking. Unlike quick, snappy comebacks, Proverbs 10:11 explains how the mouths of the righteous are to be a fountain of life, meaning: rather than putting people in place, our words are to speak life to those around us.

Practicing self-control doesn’t mean we won’t ever confront or address what was said about us. But implementing self-control gives us an opportunity to calm down, weigh possible long-term outcomes from our words, and decide on the most effective way to address a situation.

Self-control also offers us the option of saying nothing in response. Even though today’s culture pushes us to respond quickly, Jesus modeled another way to react. He chose to say nothing in response, and leave the situation in God’s hands. As Matthew 27:12 describes, “When He was accused by the chief priests and the elders, He gave no answer.”

Jesus said in Matthew 15:11, “What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”

So, where do we find self-control for our words? Galatians 5:22,23 tells us, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22, 23).

Galatians 5:25, assures us if we live by the Spirit, we’ll be able to keep in step with the Spirit. So like Christ displayed self-control with His words, we can apply it to our speech, too.

2 Peter 1:4 explains that we can become partakers of God’s divine nature by choosing self-control to be at work in our lives, helping to guide our responses (2 Peter 1:6)

Have you been wrongly accused? Do you feel the urge to offer a scathing comeback or set the record straight? Take time today to think through a godly response to your pain, and before you respond, pray for the one who hurt you.

A Prayer for Law Enforcement..Emma Danzey

 A Prayer for Law Enforcement

By Emma Danzey

Isaiah 1:17 says, “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”

It is a brave decision to look out for the lives of others and to protect a community. Sacrifice is truly seen in the lives of those who choose to work in law enforcement branches and their families. Today as we pray over these men and women, may we remember that they have been given a huge responsibility that should not be taken lightly, may we pray for wisdom and for those in these authoritative positions to be led by God, and may we pray for their safety as they serve.

Let's Pray:

Dear God,
You are the perfect Protector. Thank You for modeling what it means to be a selfless leader. Today, we pray over those who choose to serve in selfless ways. Be with police officers, judges, lawyers, and those trying to create safety and peace among our communities. Father, they need Your guidance. Help them to be men and women of integrity. We know that this comes from knowing You and being led by the Holy Spirit. We pray for the salvation of those in law enforcement. We pray that they would be men and women of faith, reliability, and honesty. We ask that people who already know you will use this profession as a platform for sharing the gospel to coworkers, criminals, and everyday citizens.

We pray that they would be wise, as there are sinful people everywhere, and we have heard and seen of heartbreaking situations among law enforcement making poor decisions. Would you lead them to be upright, would you make clear to those in charge anyone who is not living up to the standard of protecting life and the rights of people? God, would you give great wisdom to the leaders and the decision-makers in hard situations? Provide understanding from heaven. We pray that they would be led by the Spirit in all times and situations. Give them great peace to lead. Open their eyes to any evil that might be coming. Reveal to them Your plans and Your ways. Show them how to be united and work as a team against the attacks of the enemy. We pray for them to be reminded that You have overcome the world. You are greater than the enemy, and they do not have to be afraid.

We pray for the safety of these men and women as they do their jobs each day. As they try their best to uphold justice and peace. Lead them when to show mercy and when to act justly. You are perfectly Just and perfectly merciful. When they ever have a question or do not know how to handle a case, give them Your truth. We pray that every believer in these fields will live out Micah 6:8, “No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

We pray against future attacks from the enemy. We ask that you would give law enforcement eyes to see what is happening before it strikes. We pray for great discernment and quick thinking to know how to handle each scenario. We pray against injustices from community members and those in authority. We pray for justice. We pray for peace. We pray for safety.

We ask for You to be the families of those sacrificing their safety on behalf of others. Help the spouses and children of those serving to find great peace and rest in You each day. Strengthen their hope in You. Give them peace that transcends their understanding. Guard their hearts and minds in You. When they are tempted to worry or be afraid, remind them of Your loving hand of protection and Your good sovereignty. Help them not to be forgotten but to be encouraged and loved by others around them in their sacrifice. Show great love towards them and speak Your kindness to them daily. In Jesus’ name, Amen.