Journal Entry ~ 04/30/18

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. - 1 John 4:7-8

According to this verse, our lack of love demonstrates that we do not have intimate fellowship with God. We may consider ourselves Christians because we have surrendered our lives, but we are not filled with His Spirit if we cannot show love in difficult circumstances. If it’s hard for us, we need to pause and be still - there is something that is blocking God’s filling. In that quiet, we need to ask God to reveal to us what is the sin issue that is blocking our filling. Uncovering the sin, and confessing and repenting of that sin is that to be filled with the Spirit. If we are struggling to love a difficult person or in a difficult situation, we can be sure there is some unrepentant sin issue in our hearts. 

God is love. The very nature of God is love. All that He does is love. When He provides for us, it is because of love. When He judges, it is done in love. It is inherent in all He does. God has many other attributes, but at the core, they all revolve around love. This is the center of who He is - God is love. 

So many people misunderstand this truth about God. Many have asked through the ages, if God is love, why would He have allowed *this* to happen?  His love never compromises His truth or His absolute righteousness, so He can never compromise with sin. This world is full of it. The challenges and trials we face in this world are the result of sin - not God. Any pain we feel is because there is sin buried deep in our hearts and the hearts of others. Any belief other than that is the work of the enemy. 

God wants you to see your sin because He wants to rid you of it, so He will allow you to walk through some pretty painful experiences just to get you there.  But make no mistake about it - He does it because He loves you. It may not feel like it in the moment, but if you take the time to be still and seek Him, He will reveal that sin issue that is blocking your ability to love as He does. And when He does, there will be an overwhelming sense of love in your life. 


Press on ~ you are loved 💗

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