Oh How I Love Thee! (#16)

God looks upon us -- “How do I love you? Let me help you count the ways.”

How does God’s love impact our lives? How do we respond to such a love?

God displayed His love not only so that we would come to know it, but also to enable us to know how to use it in our own lives. Love may be expressed and experienced on various levels or to varying degrees in this life. Therefore it is important to be expressing the right type of love.

God’s love is a very “self-less” love. It is a love which reaches out to meet the needs of others. It is a love which reveals the value seen in another’s life.

Paul wrote of his love for the Philippian brethren with these words:
“(7) It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I HOLD YOU IN MY HEART, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. (8) For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all WITH THE AFFECTION OF CHRIST JESUS.” ( Philippians 1:7-8 ESV)

What is it to long for and love with the affection of Christ? You may find it interesting to note the Greek word translated “affection” in the NIV is the word for “bowels” or “intestines”. Paul was refering to a deep longing. Jesus loved deeply enough to provide the means of our salvation. Paul loved with that same affection to bring the message of salvation to as many as he could. Though he was chained, it did not keep him from sharing his faith and encouraging those with whom He had already shared. Christ’s love compelled Him in his ministry and it was with the affection of Christ that Paul loved. Paul continually kept Christ in view as the standard for every aspect of His life.

Have a great day using CHRIST’S LOVE as our STANDARD!
Carl

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[This focus was originally sent 07/28/1999 (Edited some with passage changed to ESV)]

See other teEn-MAIL on Love