A Weekly Inspiration
I Corinthians 13:13: And so faith, hope, love abide; these three; but the greatest of these is love.
I Corinthians 14:1: Eagerly pursue and seek to acquire (this) love (make it your aim, your great quest).
The Message Bible says it like this: Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it – because it does!
Your very breath depends on God’s love. The fact that you are alive is a sign that God cares! Everything you need for life and godliness has been given to you by the work of Christ on the cross.
My favourite definition of agape (unconditional) love is that in my weakest, worst moment (and we all know our moments), God sees me as valuable, precious and something to be held in high regard or esteem. That can feel like a tall order to believe! I know what I am like at times. I know what I do, what I believe, what I say that makes me a miserable and sometimes horrible person. Yet agape love doesn’t look at that at all. It makes no difference to agape love (God’s love). He has placed all His love and acceptance on you through the finished work of the cross.
Don’t pursue vain and unimportant things to try and find life. The people around you and the things that we “think” we need for life in this world cannot give us true life. Only the awesome, perfect love of God can give life. Pursue (go after understanding this love) or becoming persuaded of it’s perfection and you will be a whole person. It’s when you find out that someone (God) believes in you that you realize your potential and value. And my friend, God believes in you with all of His heart. I Corinthians 13:7 says love (God is love) is ever ready to believe the best of every person.
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News from Kingdom Life Ministry
God's Never-Ending Mercy
Simply put, God's mercy is His willingness, power, desire and passion to treat you better than you deserve. And God is full of mercy. The psalm says: “Surely goodness, mercy and loving-kindness will follow me all the days of my life.” It is because of the mercy of God that Jesus paid the price for our freedom. God continually has mercy on you.
This mercy has the power to endure, or take prolonged use or strain. It is designed to be leaned upon. You should live our lives to the full every day. You can live your life knowing that you can lean on and put trust in the mercy of God. This doesn't mean stretch the limits and live as close to sin as possible. No, it simply means that as you go about your daily living, and things happen, you can lean your entire being on this mercy that God offers, regardless of circumstances. Spend each day enjoying the blessings that have been showered on you. God is not waiting to hit you over the head with a big bat, but ever ready to bless and show mercy.
And this mercy is not just for a day or a week or a month or a year, but FOREVER. There has never been, nor be a time when God does not want to treat you better than you deserve. Now you might say, "But you don't know my past life, you don't know the things I have done and still do." My friend, His mercy is FOREVER and FOREVER. That includes past, present and future. There will never come a time that God will not be willing, able and powerful to treat you better than you deserve. Even in eternity to come, in the presence of God, He will be treating you better than you deserve.
So when does the mercy of God end? NEVER! As the Psalmist himself puts is: "But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear (reverence) Him, and His righteousness unto children's children." (Ps 103.17) KJV
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