Loving like God loves

Its funny that as sinful creatures we tend to love others conditionally. We love based on the things they say or do, when then show love to us first, or if they are pleasing us, we love them with conditions. If they are meeting our expectations. We love them when we are "feeling" good about them or when they have done something for us. Godly love is unconditional. Its a love that only God truly gives to us. As fallen creatures we tend to fall towards conditional love, we even withhold our love when others fail us. Gods loves us all the time, in our weakness, and our trials, in our ugliness of sin, and our triumphs. He loved us so much that he was willing to give up his own son to die on the cross for our sins. I can't say that I am willing to give up that much to show love to someone. Especially someone who is unlovable. 1John 4:11 says. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Its also says: 1John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. We are commanded to love one another. I find it difficult to love those who are hard to love. They are angry, unlovable people. Those are the type of people that we are to love even more, and yet it is so hard to love them. We consider them our enemies, those who continually hurt us, or make our lives miserable. Luke 6:27 "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. We are to do good to those who are like our enemies and to show love to them. Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. I need to learn to love like God loves. Lord Please forgive me for my conditional love towards those whom I find difficulty in showing love. Help me to learn to love the way your word tells us too. Help me to show love to my "enemies" and forgive them like you have forgiven me. AMEN!!!!

Controlled by Fear

Why are Christians controlled by fear? What things or circumstances cause us to fear? Why do we choose to not do the things that are right in Gods eyes because of fear. God's word tells us that perfect love casts out fear. 1John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. Why as Christians are we afraid to share the truth of Gods word? Or to speak the truth in love to a fellow Christian regarding a sin issue in their life. What keeps us from sharing what's really on our hearts in the midst of difficult times. Its FEAR!!! Fear of what others might think about us, or that we will be rejected by others. Fear that others will see who we truly are inside. God gave us his power and strength. 2Tim 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. He gave us the power of his love, and he teaches us self control. Often times I find myself fearful of what people might think of me if I share the truth about my struggles in life, or that they will somehow judge me. I want to be bold in my faith and speak truth to all. I don't want to be gripped by fear. Heb 13:6 So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" God is who I want to glorify in all I do and say, nothing that I do is out of God's control. Lord thank you that you are almighty, and you are all-powerful, you are in perfect control. Give me your strength to live for you each day, and to trust that you will keep your promises to your people.