Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – August 15, 2014
Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. John 13:1
Jesus finished well because He loved well to the end. Instead of demanding to be loved at His time of death, He loved. In place of looking to the disciples to wash His feet, He lovingly washed their feet. In contrast to fighting the one who would betray Him, He loved him. He could have condoned Peter’s violent reaction at His arrest, but He condemned it by healing the servant’s severed ear in love. Jesus ended how He began: unselfishly, loving unconditionally.
Indeed, we finish well when we love well to the end. In the beginning of our walk with Christ we loved with our limited understanding of God and His love. Out of our joy filled salvation flows a gratitude that grows in grace and urges others to know the Lord’s amazing love. Like hot lava streaming from an active volcano, our heart of love erupted with eternal effectiveness. But life has a way of cooling our compassion and we become lukewarm in our love. Only by faith in the One who loves us to the uttermost can we keep the intensity of our love. Love finishes well!
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16).
Where do we have opportunities to finish well, by loving well? It may be our last year of high school or college. We have influence we only dreamed of as freshmen, so we use our respect to love the unlovely. Our season of service in our current job may be winding down, so we reflect the attention back on loving those left behind. Our time with a child is closing out, so we use this window of influence to love them intentionally. Our health may have slowed us down, but our soul has sped up in anticipation of opportunities to love more. We finish well when we love well!
Therefore, as we grow to know Christ’s love, our capacity to love well grows. As we approach different finish lines in life and ultimately death, we leverage these transitions to love well. People may approach us to be a blessing (in so blessing us), but they walk away being loved to the uttermost. The secret to loving well is releasing the Lord’s love we have already received. Finish well by doing vital things from a heart of love so another’s heart will be drawn to God.
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, use me to finish well where I am, by loving well where I am.
Related Readings: Deuteronomy 4:37; Hosea 11:4; Romans 12:11; 2 Peter 3:14
Post/Tweet today: Out of our joy filled salvation flows a gratitude that grows in grace and urges others to know God’s amazing love. #wisdomhunters
Additional Resource: Mercy Me, 4 minute song, Mr. Lovewell- http://bit.ly/1tCo2kT
Free eBook when you invite 5 friends to the free email devotional…https://www.wisdomhunters.com/invite-your-friends/
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I am not sure what you meant by website. I would like to ask if you can help me understand just what grace is; not just GOD’s unmerited favor. There has to be more to it than that. I just can’t get a handle around it. Will you please help me?
Dear Margaret~
Thank you so much for reaching out to us with your question. What a great question, too, and one that perhaps some of your fellow wisdom hunters are wondering.
What exactly is God’s grace? It’s a gift. It is an amazing gift from our Heavenly Father to us that He gives to us because He loves us so much! It is totally free and totally undeserved~ we did nothing to earn it. He gives it us to out of love.
“But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.”
Ephesians 2:4-5
Sometimes, I think, it is hard to grasp because we, as humans, like to make explainations harder and more complicated than they are. We have been given a gift by God. Certainly, too, it is hard to understand that we would be given this wonderful gift, without having to do something to earn it! But it is true, Margaret! Thank you God!!!!!!!!
Have wonderful day and soak up the wonders of our Heaven Father as you go about your day. We are so thankful for you and we would love to hear from you again.
Blessings,
Gwynne
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.”
Psalm 118:1
P.S. Margaret, I remembered seeing this and wanted to share it with you:
G- God’s
R- Riches
A- at
C- Christ’s
E- Expense