Living Free - April 22, 2014
Loving God
Today's Scripture
"And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength." - (Deuteronomy 6:5 NLT)
Thoughts for Today
We are commanded to love God. Love is a choice that leads to action. So how do we do that? What actions can we take to show our love for God?
The first action is to accept the gift he has given us. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. If we believe that . . . if we want to accept his love and return it to him . . . our first step should be to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of our life.
God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love-not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. (1 John 4:9-10 NLT)
Have you returned God's great love by choosing to follow Jesus?
Consider this …
The Bible describes many ways believers can demonstrate their love to him. Here are just a few . . .
Show your love by giving him thanks. "But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me" (Psalm 50:23 NLT).
Show your love by spending time with him. Talk to him . . . he will listen. "Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!" (Psalm 116:2 NLT).
Show your love by reading the Bible. What a wonderful way to know him better! "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path" (Psalm 119:105 NLT).
Show your love by trusting him. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take" (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT).
Show your love by living to please him. "Jesus replied, 'All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them'" (John 14:23 NLT).
Father, I do love you. Help me demonstrate my love for you by the way I live my life. In Jesus' name . . .
These thoughts were drawn from …
Authentic Living in an Artificial World by Dr. Mike Chapman. This 45-minute group study gives understanding about what it means to be real. The facilitator's guide includes reproducible group member study sheets and an audio CD designed to help facilitators prepare for each session. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a study for individuals or couples.
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