We all have those issues that no matter how much we say, “God’s got this” we still have that flesh mindset that maybe we need to take care of it ourselves. And this rings true more when we are in bed trying to rest, it seems. All that worry, stress, and confusion comes pouring into our brain. But God says do not worry…
Matthew 6:34 states, “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
We may not be able to stop trouble in the world, or trouble in our lives, but one thing we do not have to do is worry about it.
He wants us to go to Him when we are in a dark place or just having a bad day, He loves us THAT much. And it’s never too late to reach out to him. No matter where you are in your life: If you are a new Christian or a seasoned one, we all face challenges.
Psalms 46:1-3 says…
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”
So unclench that jaw, drop those shoulders, relax that brow, and breathe. He’s got you!
I pray this helps someone today that might be experiencing something like this.
Always remember…never let your cup become empty. ☕️
Have a blessed day !
Lou Ann Virden is the author of the blog Farmhouse, Coffee and Jesus. She is very active in her church. She volunteers in the food pantry, usher/greeter team, and cleaning crew. She is on the prayer team, is over the sound room team, and she writes the newsletter for her church. Lou Ann and her husband Donnie will be relaunching The Refuge 180 Evangelism Ministry. They have been married for over 40 years. They live on her husband’s family farm with their dog Hunter. In the summer they are busy canning what they harvest from their garden. Her hobbies include going to the beach, reading, camping, and serving however she can. She hopes that her blogs inspires someone that might be dealing with a similar situation.
A problem without a solution is just a problem. A warning without redemption is just a warning. An opinion is just an opinion and leads to debate that is mostly unfruitful. Correction without a call to a higher standard is just correction. Everything void of love is just a noisy gong or clanging symbol.
We are called as a people who know their God. In Christ lies the solution to every problem. His heart of love and redemption will always be heard in a true warning or word of correction, leaving no room for fear or suspicion. The words of Christ can come in strong language and with intensity, but they are always purposeful, merciful, and have the power to change outcomes.
His words hit the mark and create a shift in situations, environments, and atmospheres that bring healing and restoration. They are words that create and transform. His words always accomplish that for which He sent them to accomplish. They never return void. They produce fruit in keeping with repentance, Godly sorrow and leave no regret.
His words are full of heavenly wisdom and lead us to the reverential fear of the Lord. His words produce such desire to live Holy lives that are consecrated and set apart solely unto Him. His words call us to embrace Him again as our first love… forsaking all else just to have all of Him. His words point to Him. They release His fragrance and burn away all the chaff. His words are pure. His words are life. His words are eternal.
The challenge is for us all. To speak in the name of the Lord is no small thing. Have we stood in His counsel and allowed Him to speak to the deepest places of our being? Do the words we speak mirror the heart of God or do we just have something to say? Are our words so rooted in His love and the fear of the Lord that we take great care in what we release and how? Does what we say carry the power to redeem, heal, restore, create and transform or are we just speaking leaving things unfinished and in the same condition as before?
Every time Jesus spoke into a situation, His words produced something everlasting. He waited for the opportune time to speak and often remained silent. He wasn’t a man of many words, but the words He spoke were powerful and people walked away changed.
May we be a people who lean upon Him to hear His every word. May we hunger and thirst for His truth. May we take in to account what we say and why. May we utter what is precious and not what is worthless and be as His mouth (Jer. 15:19).
May we leave His fragrance with our words and only speak in a way that builds up rather than tears down, brings change rather than just pointing out flaws, and encourages to come up higher and leave behind what is unfruitful or harmful.
Can we speak in such a way that His words pierce hearts and create a desire for a better way? Can we speak His words and cause souls to hunger and thirst for Him?
Search my heart, O God. Test me, try me. See if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. Show me your heart. Cause me to see like you see, hear what you have to say and speak only what you would have me speak. Create in me a hunger to hear your voice and learn your ways. Let me utter worth and precious words that can create or bring change all around me. Make me like you…
Deidre Gaines resides in West Virginia with her husband and best friend, Richard. She has three grown children and one granddaughter. Deidre is a Licensed Minister, Prophetic intercessor, blogger (Shamar), speaker and encourager with a heart to see the nature of Jesus put on display for the world to see. She is passionate to see His love, unity, presence, power and authority transform hearts, cities, regions and the nations through bringing glory and honor to His name. Deidre desires to see the church walk in the fullness of His Kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, Matthew 6:10. She enjoys spending time with her family, sports, crocheting and being outdoors. Especially taking rides in the side by side with her husband Richard.
Dust beef stew meat with two tablespoons cornstarch and season with salt and pepper. In a large pot over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add beef stew meat and sear until all sides are brown about 5 minutes.
Add in minced garlic, tomato paste, and cook one to two minutes until fragrant.
Pour in beef broth and Worcestershire sauce to deglaze the pan. Add red potatoes, pearl onions, carrots, and celery and season with salt, pepper, sugar, parsley, oregano, basil, and black pepper.
Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low and simmer covered for 90 minutes, stirring occasionally.
When vegetables are tender, stew is ready to eat.
From my table to your kitchen,
God bless and may God be the center of your world.
In addition to providing delicious recipes on her Faith and Food blog, Tina Rucker is a proud mom to her 18 year old son, happy wife to her husband Joel of six years, and the spearhead of the Five Loaves Food Pantry ministry in her local church, open twice a month.
Tina has worked in the food industry for over 25 years, and has a heart and a passion to serve, feed, and provide for those in need.
But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22: 34-40).
Again the Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus into saying something that would cause the people to lose faith in Him and make Him look bad. What did Jesus do? He answered by talking about love. It is awfully hard to argue with love.
Let us consider these words of Jesus. If we want to please God and be good examples for others we need to heed to one law in particular- the law of love!
In the Bible love is a really big deal. I John 4:16 says, “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” Galatians 5:22 lists love in the description of the fruit of the Spirit. Of course, God’s love is much greater than human love- it is selfless and sacrificial. Ephesians 5:2 exhorts us to “… walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
“Love God” is the first and great commandment. Our love for God is to be all-out and all-consuming. Notice the phrases- with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Exodus 20:3 lets us know that complete loyalty is required with these words: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
“Love your neighbor as yourself” is the second commandment. I John 4:8 says, “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” I John 4:20 simply states that if we say we love God and hate someone- we are liars. That is straightforward, isn’t it? In order to fulfill the law of love we have to show love- not just talk love.
Jesus said all of the law and all that the prophets had said hang on these two commandments. He did not come to destroy these laws; He came to fulfill them. He let us know that love is the key.
We live right because we love God and we don’t want to disappoint Him. We treat others right because we love them and would never want to intentionally bring them harm.
This is what the law of love is all about. It is hard to argue with love, isn’t it?
Dave Snyder is an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God – Cleveland, Tennessee. Before entering the ministry on a full-time basis, he was a school teacher. He also coached middle school basketball for eight years.
Dave and his wife, Sara, have two children — Craig and Karen. They also have one ten year old granddaughter — Breanna.
Dave and Sara pastored in West Virginia for thirty-six years. Sara is now retired from the banking industry, and Dave is retired from pastoring. However, Dave currently serves as prison Chaplain for the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Writing essays, articles, and devotionals is a real passion for Dave. He also enjoys playing musical instruments and singing.
Jesus loves us with an everlasting, unfailing love. I mean He really LOVES US. He is really FOR us. His promises are yes and amen. He cannot fail or lie. He works all things together for our good, when we surrender and obey Him. The plans and dreams you have in Jesus are great, but He has prepared so much greater than you can even imagine.
If we could just grasp our place in the Father’s eyes, we wouldn’t worry another day of our lives. If we just understood our identity in Him, nothing would sway us any longer.
He is the prize. He is the reward. This journey of getting to know Jesus is the thing we strive for. Because when we seek Him, and realize HE is the goal, everything else gets added the way it’s supposed to.
And then when things don’t look the way we expected, we can rest in Jesus, because it’s all about and for Him anyway. He never changes, He never stops being in full knowledge, so we can have full confidence and assurance in Him and His stability and security.
When Jesus is our first love, we become immovable by our circumstances that are ever-changing. You see, we can enjoy the things the Lord has given us, but only to a point. Our ministries, our possessions, even our family members…. We cannot let these things become our idols. They can change and at a moment can be taken from us. But Jesus doesn’t change. He will forever be our King and Master and that is where we find our security and confidence. It was never about the ministry, works, or goals to begin with: those are just a byproduct of our relationship with the Creator.
It’s when we seek His face that things begin to change. It’s not in seeking the things, but in the Lord himself.
Our identity is in Him and who He is, not our gifting, our works, our platforms, our friends, etc.
I saw a post recently that said our identity is in the giver of the gifts, not the gifts themselves… and when you can really grasp that, everything will change and you will truly be set free from the opinion of man.
You’ll no longer base your success on what you accomplished that day, who you got a word for, your likes on your FB post, or how much money is in your bank account… you will now find your worth in the intimacy with the Father and the secret place and your identity will be strong and secure and immovable.
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Next, I want to cast down and expose the lie of the enemy that any one of us are better than the other. I’m not more anointed than you just because I’m writing this blog. The Lord is no favor of persons. Now, I like to think of myself as His most special one, but God is big enough that we are all the most special to Him! I mean He did leave the 99 for the 1, and we were all that 1 at one point.
Think about if you had 100 sheep on your farm and 99 sheep stayed and listened to your voice and were awesome, but that 1 kept running off. Would you use all the resources you had to go and find the 1? Would you be willing to lay down your life for that 1 sheep? What if it was the most annoying 1 and it drove you the craziest and kept running away over and over again?
Well that’s what Jesus did for us. Sometimes I think He probably thinks I’m the most annoying 1, haha, but He gave everything just for me… and you. He would have went to the cross for the 1, if there was JUST 1, aka you.
Think about a fancy christian conference hosted by a famous speaker or preacher and say thousands are set to attend. So you have the main speaker right? I mean they are a big deal! They were the one chosen to speak to thousands of christians!!! I mean this is huge!! They are the VIP guest.
And then say you have a homeless addict on the street corner who’s abandoned her children, who’s lost everything, who’s hit rock bottom, but she heard about this event and Jesus began wooing her there.
Well, the only difference between the speaker of that event and the homeless person or addict who walks in from that street corner is that the speaker has truly grasped their identity of who they are in Christ and then said yes Lord I will do whatever it takes. The speaker learned the truth and it set them free. They were picked up out of the pit and set on solid rock. They now know whose they are.
But that one off the street corner is the one we are sent to bring home.
That 1 is the one we should be going out and loving on and revealing their true identity to them so they can be set free also. It’s not that the speaker is any more special to the Lord, it’s that for whatever reason, their circumstances got them up there sooner than the one still lost and broken.
It’s our job to reveal that truth to the one who is still out there lost and blind. The speaker is now the 99 and that person walking in broken is the 1 and we are to be like Jesus so we are to go and bring them home. Our ministries are all about the 1.
Now we can be in the 99 and still struggle, so I believe the 1 changes. If your friend is solid in Christ, but they are having a tough day or circumstance, then they can become the 1. To me, the 1 is whoever needs help in that moment. The one we are called to serve, pray for, and support. The one we are to go out our way & comfortability for. We can become the 1 at times, even if we have been set free already because we all go through valleys.
But may we always remember it’s about the 1. Jesus always went the extra mile for the one hurting, broken, beat down and bruised.
And I want to encourage us to find our identity in the lover of our souls so that we can adequately and effectively pour out to the 1. And also, that we may never think so highly of ourselves to not let others pour into us when we need it, OR to think we have become the VIP guest and we are too good to go to that 1 on the street corner. We are all in this together, let’s start acting like it!
Hannah Smith, author of the Moving Mountains blog, is a woman who feels she has experienced a lot of life in her 33 years.
At 19 years old, Hannah joined the Army. After moving around the country, getting a divorce and losing what seemed like everything, she landed back where God wanted her in Ohio, even though she fought the whole way. She is now a devoted follower of Christ and seeks the Lord with all she’s got.
Hannah is married and a RN, but works as a stay-at-home mom to her 3 children per instruction from the Lord.
She loves to hike, travel, drink coffee, and talk about Jesus. Hannah also has a heart to create a home and life in which she can be a safe place for the hurting and the broken. Her biggest piece of advice would be to never tell the Lord you will never do something- because He will most likely then ask you to do that very thing, LOL!
To her readers, Hannah says, “I believe that God set every single one of you reading this apart, for such a time as this. It is my hope and prayer that God would use the words I say to change your life in a way you and I never thought possible!”
Awaken out of your slumber the time is now to arise. Shake off the things that so easily beset you. I am for you, I am Your strong and mighty tower. Is there anything to hard for me? (Romans 13:11, Hebrews 12:1, Psalm18:2, & Jeremiah 32:27)
Ever second guess yourself? I know I have plenty of times, especially in the past. Now that I am more mature I realize that I fought a lot of battles that weren’t necessary. What exactly do I mean? Well, for example, trying so hard to please others and without fail I would fall short to their standards every time.
I have learned that not everyone can run this race with me and I am okay with that. I have developed into a servant of Christ, humbly serving at His feet. If you like me, good, and if you don’t, I am sorry that you are missing out. I am confident… not in who I am, but in whose I am!
I no longer have to worry if I fit in because in Christ I have an armor that was tailor made just for me. I can stand flat footed with God’s word coming out my mouth with the confidence that it shall come to pass.
The word doesn’t return void and God doesn’t just return to sender (Isaiah 55:11). He watches over His word to perform it (Jereimah 1:12). I don’t have to second guess His word because God keeps His promises (2 Corithians 1:20).
Be bold to be who God created you to be. If you are loud, then be loud. If you are picky, then be picky. We all have different styles, different personalities, and different gifts so just be you. We are to be changing into the character of Christ. We should be abiding in the vine so we will produce fruit for the Kingdom.
Honey, we don’t have the time to nit pick each other. Set your hand to the plow and don’t look back (Luke 9:62). Too many of us are defending ourselves when Christ is our defender. Just stop, look in the mirror and if you still don’t see Christ, draw closer to Him. Take the beam out of your own eye before you talk about the speck in someone else’s eye (Matthew 7:5). Fight the good fight of faith. Encourage someone! Be faithful to your own word! Stay strong in the face of adversity!
Remember we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, against rulers of the darkness in heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). Stop cutting your sister in Christ! Stop talking about your brother, instead reach out your hand and lift them up. It doesn’t matter what happened, set an example of love because love never fails! (1 Corinthians 13:8)
Tina Bassett resides in New Martinsville. She is a single mom of three beautiful daughters: Rachel, Charity, and Destiny. She is the director of the greeters/ushers, serves on the prayer team, and also participates on the praise and worship team at her local church. She loves animals and the beach. More than anything she wants her life to reflect God’s love and have an impact on those around her.
And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did castin of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living (Mark 12: 41-44).
In Mark 12, Jesus watched closely as people brought their offerings into the temple of God. No doubt many of these people attended church regularly. Similarities were obvious, but Jesus noticed an obvious difference.
Many rich people cast in much, but their offering came out of great abundance. The poor widow gave out of her need- giving it all. We need to “give it all” so that we can belong completely to Him.
The Bible describes people who gave it all to God. These people were human beings with faults, failures, doubts and fears- just like us. By giving their all they overcame the enemy and they overcame themselves. Eventually, they saw God do great things in their lives. Let us look at some of those who gave it all.
Abraham left his homeland and all that was familiar to him. He journeyed to an unknown location simply because he believed God’s promise. Scripture tells us that Abraham became a “friend of God.” Despite what he gave up, he believed there was something far better than anything on this earth. Hebrews 11 describes this clearly:
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:8-10).
Moses, raised in the residence of Pharaoh, gave up a title and position that could have been his. He considered suffering with God’s people to be greater riches than all of Egypt’s treasures. Again, Hebrews 11 gives us insight into Moses’ decision:
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward (Hebrews 11:24-26).
The Apostle Paul was a “Hebrew of the Hebrews.” He was a devout Pharisee headed for prominence in his religious circle. Once he met Jesus, he counted his ethnic and religious standing as nothing. Philippians 3:8-10 records his desire to know Jesus and all that his decision entailed:
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having my own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death (Philippians 3: 8- 10).
I have mentioned three of many who gave it all to live for God. The reality is that when we give our all for Him, we gain everything. Matthew 10:39 says,” He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” The true way to have everything that God has for us is to give all that we have for Him.
Dave Snyder is an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God – Cleveland, Tennessee. Before entering the ministry on a full-time basis, he was a school teacher. He also coached middle school basketball for eight years.
Dave and his wife, Sara, have two children — Craig and Karen. They also have one ten year old granddaughter — Breanna.
Dave and Sara pastored in West Virginia for thirty-six years. Sara is now retired from the banking industry, and Dave is retired from pastoring. However, Dave currently serves as prison Chaplain for the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Writing essays, articles, and devotionals is a real passion for Dave. He also enjoys playing musical instruments and singing.
Recently there was a discussion on pride that I was a part of.
Sometimes we have no idea we are being prideful, we are just discussing things in our lives or something we have done or maybe even purchased. You can be grateful for what God has given you, but if you are boasting while you are talking about it, that’s where pride comes in.
James 4:6 says, But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
But then there are those who want to be recognized for everything they do. They say, “Hey!! Look at me, I just did this or that, so tell me how awesome I am!”
If someone tells you that you did a good job, that doesn’t mean you go and tell the world; humbly thank them and move on.
God sees your works, he sees the big things you do for his Kingdom, but he also sees those little things too.
We must always be humble in all we do.
Psalm 25:9 says, “The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.”
How we handle or present ourselves is very important. We don’t want to come across as someone that feels that no one else can do a job better than us. We are called to do a job for our Father and of course we want to do the best we can, no matter how important or menial you might think it is. If we are serving God then that’s what counts.
Remember…. God Hates Pride.
Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
Proverbs 16:5 says, “The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.”
Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
This is just something to ponder on… we need to think before we boast about ourselves.
Hope this touches you or someone you know.
Have a blessed day and never let your cup be empty☕️
Lou Ann Virden is the author of the blog Farmhouse, Coffee and Jesus. She is very active in her church. She volunteers in the food pantry, usher/greeter team, and cleaning crew. She is on the prayer team, is over the sound room team, and she writes the newsletter for her church. Lou Ann and her husband Donnie will be relaunching The Refuge 180 Evangelism Ministry. They have been married for over 40 years. They live on her husband’s family farm with their dog Hunter. In the summer they are busy canning what they harvest from their garden. Her hobbies include going to the beach, reading, camping, and serving however she can. She hopes that her blogs inspires someone that might be dealing with a similar situation.
O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off (Psalm 139:1-2).
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight; but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do (Hebrews 4:13).
Each of us is made in the image and likeness of God. However, we are all unique in some way. We have different temperaments, aspirations and abilities. After all, it would be kind of boring if we were all exactly alike, wouldn’t it?
Interestingly, others may think they know everything about us, but they really don’t know us as well as they think they do. In fact, we don’t know everything about ourselves. Our Heavenly Father is the one who knows us completely, understands us fully and loves us deeply.
Yes, God knows us. He knows our possibilities, our limitations and our needs. Since He knows us so well, we can trust Him to bring out the best in us.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” With God directing our paths great things can happen:
The sinful person can be made clean. The timid person can become a warrior for God in advancing His kingdom. The unnoticed person can be brought to the forefront of God’s work on earth.
Often, we sell ourselves short by saying, “I have too many weaknesses for God to be able to do anything with me.” I can tell you that is what held me back for many years. Yes, God knows our weaknesses- but, we depend on His strength. Ephesians 6:10 tells us to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. We can depend on Him to help us do what we cannot do by ourselves.
Finally, when it comes to our needs, God has a clearer picture of what we need than we do. In Matthew 6:8 Jesus said, “…your Father knoweth what things you have need of before you ask Him.” Our faith should be in what God knows about us. He knows what we need and He is able to help us in every situation.
Dave Snyder is an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God – Cleveland, Tennessee. Before entering the ministry on a full-time basis, he was a school teacher. He also coached middle school basketball for eight years.
Dave and his wife, Sara, have two children — Craig and Karen. They also have one ten year old granddaughter — Breanna.
Dave and Sara pastored in West Virginia for thirty-six years. Sara is now retired from the banking industry, and Dave is retired from pastoring. However, Dave currently serves as prison Chaplain for the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Writing essays, articles, and devotionals is a real passion for Dave. He also enjoys playing musical instruments and singing.
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God (Ephesians 3:17-19).
How great is the love of our Savior? It is so great that it actually passes knowledge- we cannot fully grasp how great it is. However, we can measure it to an extent by what God has actually done for us.
John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” God’s willingness to do this speaks of a sacrificial love that simply cannot be fully understood. This is particularly true when we look at ourselves as Romans 5:6-8 describes us:
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:10 goes on to say that we were separated from God- in fact, we were His enemies. Reconciliation was needed. God gave His Son so that we could be reconciled to Him. Jesus’ death brought reconciliation; Jesus’ life brought eternal salvation.
Can we think of anyone else that would go through all this for people who had constantly treated them horribly? This is a love without bounds and without explanation in our experience as humans walking this earth. However, we can give a measure of love back to Him.
How do we do this? First, we obey Him. In John 14:15, Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Really, after all He has done for us, we should want to do this for Him.
Considering His sacrifice for us, we should be willing to commit ourselves to Him. Romans 12:1 rings loud and clear: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Notice: this is our reasonable service.
Finally, we should love God with all we have. Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” When we consider and truly discern how much love God has shown us, we cannot help but desire to give our love to Him.
Dave Snyder is an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God – Cleveland, Tennessee. Before entering the ministry on a full-time basis, he was a school teacher. He also coached middle school basketball for eight years.
Dave and his wife, Sara, have two children — Craig and Karen. They also have one ten year old granddaughter — Breanna.
Dave and Sara pastored in West Virginia for thirty-six years. Sara is now retired from the banking industry, and Dave is retired from pastoring. However, Dave currently serves as prison Chaplain for the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Writing essays, articles, and devotionals is a real passion for Dave. He also enjoys playing musical instruments and singing.
by leaps and bounds 