The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"Shed Abroad"
Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, the love of God for us, that came to us, now dwells within us.
"The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which is given unto us" (Romans 5:5).
Hereby, the mode and measure of life to which God calls us can be fulfilled, namely…
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the first commandment. And… thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Mark 12:30; 31).
Of course, we presently live in a process rather than perfection regarding our response to the enabling presence of God and His love. Our spiritual enemies still tempt us to self-centeredness, and we can still fall in thought, attitude, word, and deed. Believers can live as if the love of God is far abroad rather than "shed abroad" (gushing forth) in our hearts. We can "neglect so great salvation" by ignoring or disregarding the most wondrous gift imaginable, the bestowal of God's own character and nature revealed in us through the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 12:3).
Conversely, we can avail ourselves of a salvation that not only rescues us from condemnation, but also redeems us to serving as the living and loving temple of God. We do not innately possess this quality of heart required for the life and eternity of self sacrifice to which God calls us. We do possess such quality of heart through indwelling, however. The Spirit of the One who sacrificed Himself for us lives within us (Galatians 4:6). This includes every believer, in every moment, beginning with our new birth through faith in the Lord Jesus, and abiding forevermore. We may or may not live accordingly, but our Lord's life and love resides within us at all times, making possible the wonder that we can "walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us" (Ephesians 5:2).
If we have never considered this clearly stated truth of Scripture, our first response should be, "What??? How can this be??? And doesn't it mean something other than what the Bible seems to plainly declare???" Indeed, that God's love dwells within us should initially drive us to our faces in bewilderment, before raising us up in grateful wonder, hope, and expectation. Our calling involves the faith that believes such grace to be true, and the submission to God whereby we acknowledge and anticipate He will orchestrate the matters of our life to provide opportunity for the love of Christ to be revealed in us. "And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus" (I Timothy 1:14).
To love God and others as our Savior loves? Impossible - unless His "shed abroad" love dwells within us. It does, and we must not neglect this most wondrous of gifts whereby a life and a love far beyond our human means can - and must - be known in us. Yes, the process that will perfected when face to face with our Lord began when we believed and a gift beyond compare entered our hearts. It continues in this moment, calling us to wonder, and then to walk in love as Christ loved us, and as His love now dwells "shed abroad" in us.
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God… God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."
(I John 3:1; 4:16)
"I will dwell in them and walk in them."
(II Corinthians 6:16)
Weekly Memory Verse
When Thou saidst, Seek ye My face; my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
(Psalm 27:8)
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