PROOF OF LOVE – Wednesday December 14th
2016
Memorise: Greater love hath no
man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
Read: John 21:15-19 (KJV)
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter,
Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea,
Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of
Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love
thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas,
lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time,
Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou
knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young,
thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt
be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and
carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify
God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
Bible in one year: Leviticus
1-3, Psalms 119:113-128
MESSAGE
The
Bible teaches Christians to love God. The Bible also teaches that such love
should be expressed in worship and practical service. One of the most important
lessons that the Bible teaches on love is that love is unconditional, and that
the ultimate test of love is sacrifice. Therefore, any declaration of love that
is devoid of sacrifice is questionable. The Bible is strongly in agreement with
the fact that love is sacrificial. Open Heavens Wednesday 14 December 2016:-
Proof of love
“For God so loved the world, that
he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16
When
you are genuinely in love, making sacrifices for the one you love will be a
thing of pleasure and not a burden. Jacob was in love with Rachel and asked her
father what he must do to marry her. Rachel’s father told him to serve for
seven years and he willingly did so. Because of his love, seven years were like
seven days to him. When he was deceived, he yet agreed to serve another seven
years for his heartthrob (Genesis 29:18-28). No price is too much to pay
for the one you love. If you truly love your wife, you will pay the price of
faithfulness in the midst of pressure to be unfaithful to her in your workplace,
or even in the ministry. Some husbands are yet to demonstrate their love for
their wives by sacrificially giving to her. If your relationship with your wife
is all about convenience – you do things for her only when it is convenient,
then you owe your wife big time. Wives of such husbands should demand of their
husbands the debt of sacrifice. Open heavens devotional 2016.
Sacrifice
help to gauge your love for God. We can say God loves us exceedingly because He
was prepared to part with His only begotten Son. If you say you love God, you
will be ready, like Paul was, to spend and be spent for Him. Some questions I
often ask people are; can you serve the Lord for 14 years without pay? Can you
serve the Lord in the rural areas with no social amenities? Can you serve under
an uneducated man of God when you are well educated? Can you leave certainty
for uncertainty in the name of vision and revelation? What do you have to show
for your love for God? Where is the sacrifice in your relationship with the
Lord?
Prayer Point
Father, please help me to
fully appreciate Your sacrificial love for me.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional, written by Pastor E.A
Adeboye
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