“For Love"

"For Love"

     

    We undoubtably, undeniably, and unequivocally owe to God the "reasonable service" of trusting, obeying, and sacrificing for Him everything we are, and everything we have (Romans 12:1).

    That being said, the Bible teaches that we relate to our Heavenly Father and serve Him in the relationship and fellowship of grace.  This constitutes a freely given gift that both birthed and maintains our bond with God.

    "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:1-2).

   By definition, a life lived in context of a free gift cannot be viewed in terms of mere servile obligation.  "Ought to" must be transcended by "Want to" in the hearts of those genuinely led by the Spirit of God.  Only the grace and truth of the Lord Jesus creates this determination of devotion whereby the love of God for us ignites genuine love for Him and others.  "We love Him because He first loved us… The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us" (I John  4:19; Romans 5:5).  Love, God's love, begets love, our love.  We must maintain this conviction and understanding if we are to flourish in a life lived in the "want to" of devotion rather than the "ought to" of obligation.

   Ongoing focus on the person and work of the Lord Jesus keeps our hearts fresh in the love of God whereby we experience real desire and devotion.  "Consider Him… lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" (Hebrews 12:3).  Spiritual tiredness results by our being distracted from "Christ, the power of God" (I Corinthians 1:24).  Growth in the grace and knowledge of our Savior keeps the fire burning in the hearth of our hearts.  In God's mind, we owe Him nothing (nor could we begin to repay Him if we did).  He rather desires that we respond to Him by ongoing reception of the eternal benefits freely provided to us by the grace of the Lord Jesus.  No trusting heart consistently blessed by such Divine generosity can fail to desire and express the loving response of grace-begotten love.

What I did for you, I did for love.

What I've given you came from

a Father's heart.

You don't owe Me, there is nothing to repay,

for what I did for you,

I did for love.

It has been My joy to be the Life of your life.

And I still rejoice that forever I'll supply

for your every need,

and there'll be nothing to repay.

For what I do for you,

I do for love.

As the days go by, and your heart grows 

close to Mine,

you will understand the glory of a life

in which you do for love,

and there is nothing to repay,

for what I do and what you do,

we do for love.

"For what saith the Scripture?  Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.  Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." 

(Romans 4:3-5)

Weekly Memory Verse

    Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

(Galatians 5:16)