How to Love like God Does

In Romans 15:7, I read, “Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory." (NLT)

Every time I show love, I give glory to God. Here’s how it works. Every time I show what God is like, I give him glory. And God is love. So when I love, I show God’s glory.

God says, “I am loving. I am compassionate. And I want you to be like me. I want you to develop my character.”

I’ll never be God. But God wants me to become godly. He wants me to develop his character, like father like son, like father like daughter. He wants me to learn to love people the way he loves people.

There are many ways to love like God does. One way to love other people is by accepting them.

Romans 15:7 says, “Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory” (NLT).

God wants me to accept everyone, no matter what. This doesn’t mean I have to approve of everything they do.

There’s a difference between acceptance and approval. While God loves and accepts me unconditionally, he doesn’t approve of everything I do. It should be the same for me. I can accept everyone without approving of everything they do.

Love is not saying, “I approve of everything you do.” Love is saying, “I accept you in spite of what you do.”

With every person I encounter today, take the opportunity to give God glory by loving as he loves, with unconditional acceptance.

In summary, I’m to accept others just as Christ has accepted me so that God will be given glory. Every time I show love, I give glory to God. Here’s how it works. Every time I show what God is like, I give him glory. And God is love. So when I love, I show God’s glory. God says, “I am loving. I am compassionate. And I want you to be like me. I want you to develop my character.” God wants me to become godly. He wants me to develop his character. He wants me to learn to love people the way he loves people. One way to love other people is by accepting them. God wants me to accept everyone, no matter what. This doesn’t mean I have to approve of everything they do. There’s a difference between acceptance and approval. While God loves and accepts me unconditionally, he doesn’t approve of everything I do. It should be the same for me. I can accept everyone without approving of everything they do. Love is saying, “I accept you in spite of what you do.” With every person I encounter today, take the opportunity to give God glory by loving as he loves, with unconditional acceptance.

The Roman church was a diverse community, made up of Jews, Gentiles, slaves, free people, rich and poor, strong and weak. It was difficult for them to accept one another. Accepting means taking people into my home as well as into my heart, sharing meals and activities, and avoiding racial and economic discrimination. I need to go out of my way to avoid favoritism. I need to consciously spend time greeting those I don't normally talk to, minimize differences, and seek common ground for fellowship. In this way I am accepting others as Christ has accepted me, and God is given the glory.

I'm to accept others just as Christ has accepted me. Accepting means taking people into my home and my heart, sharing with them and avoiding any racial or economic discrimination. I need to go out of my way to avoid favoritism. God accepts me, despite my messy life, impure motives and irritating attitudes. One of the ways I reflect God's love and bring him glory is to accept one another just as he accepted me.  

Surrender to Live in God’s Power

In 1 Corinthians 4:20, I read, “For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power." (NLT)

To live a fulfilled life, I must live by God’s power.

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 4:20, “For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power” (NLT).

God doesn’t bless self-reliant people, He blesses people who depend on him and surrender to him.

God wants to use me, but he insists that I live by his power. Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (NLT).

Through his power, God is able to do more in and through me than I can ever imagine. So how do I get God’s power in my life? There are three ways:

I get God’s power by praying.

If I don’t have any power in my life, that could mean I’m not praying. Prayer and power go together.

I get God’s power by taking risks to obey God.

When I take a risk to do what God tells me to do, even when it’s hard or unpopular, even when it may cost me, even when it doesn’t make sense, even when nobody else is doing it, God will pour out his power in my life.

I get God’s power by not giving up.

For God to grow my faith, he will test it. When I’m going through difficulties, delays, despair, or discouragement, God is teaching me to trust him. Hang on, and God will bless me. Don’t give up!

I need to start living in God’s power by surrendering my life to him today.

In summary, the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. To live a fulfilled life, I must live by God’s power. God doesn’t bless self-reliant people, He blesses people who depend on him and surrender to him. God wants to use me, but he insists that I live by his power and not my own. Through his power, God is able to do more in and through me than I can ever imagine. So how do I get God’s power in my life? I get God’s power by praying. If I don’t have any power in my life, that could mean I’m not praying. I get God’s power by taking risks to obey God. When I take a risk to do what God tells me to do, God will pour out his power in my life. I get God’s power by not giving up. For God to grow my faith, he will test it. God is teaching me to trust him. I need to start living in God’s power by surrendering my life to him today.

Some people talk a lot about faith, but that's all it is, talk. They may know all the right words to say, but their lives don't reflect God's power. Paul says that the Kingdom of God is to be lived, not just discussed. There is a big difference between knowing the right words and living them out. Don't be content to have the right answers about Christ. I need to let my life show that God's power is really working within me.

Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 

Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen. 

For God’s Blessing, Put Him First

In 1 Thessalonians 2:12 I read, “You should live in a way that proves you belong to the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory." (GW)

At times I know I have so much, and yet feel unfulfilled. I’ve got a good family, and a good job, and I’m part of a great church. Then why do I feel so unfulfilled?” It’s because I was made for more than this! I was made for more than survival.

Until I begin to live in God’s Kingdom, by God’s power, and for God’s glory, I will never find fulfillment in life.

So how do I live a fulfilled life, the kind of life I was designed by God to live?

The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 2:12, “You should live in a way that proves you belong to the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory” (GW).

What does it mean to live in God’s Kingdom? It means I make God’s agenda my agenda. I make God’s will my will. I care about what God cares about. I put God first in whatever area I want him to bless.

What does it mean to put God first in my life? Here are five areas, called “FIRST”:

Finances. If I want God to bless my finances, even during hard times, start tithing.

Interests. Put him first in my hobbies, career, and my recreation. Give God first consideration in every decision.

Relationships. Put him first in my family, marriage, and friendships.

Schedule. Give him the first part of every day. When I wake up, sit on the side of your bed and say, “God, if I don’t get anything else done today, I just want to love you a little bit more and know you a little bit better.”

Troubles. Turn to God first when I have a problem. Prayer should never be my last resort. It should be my first choice.

Put God first in everything. Then watch how much God blesses me.

In summary, I need to live in a way that proves you belong to the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory. I have so much, and yet feel unfulfilled. Why, because I was made for more than this! I was made for more than survival. Until I begin to live in God’s Kingdom, by God’s power, and for God’s glory, I will never find fulfillment in life. How do I live a fulfilled life, the kind of life I was designed by God to live? I need to live in a way that proves you belong to the God who calls me into his kingdom and glory”. To live in God’s Kingdom? It means I make God’s agenda my agenda. I make God’s will my will. I care about what God cares about. I put God first in whatever area I want him to bless. Five areas to put God first in my life, “FIRST”: Finances. If I want God to bless my finances, even during hard times, start tithing. Interests. Put him first in my hobbies, career, and my recreation. Give God first consideration in every decision. Relationships. Put him first in my family, marriage, and friendships. Schedule. Give him the first part of every day. When I wake up, sit on the side of your bed and say, “God, if I don’t get anything else done today, I just want to love you a little bit more and know you a little bit better.” Troubles. Turn to God first when I have a problem. Prayer should never be my last resort. It should be my first choice. I need to put God first in everything. Then watch how much he will bless me.

By His words and example, Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to live in a way God would consider worthy. Is there anything about my daily life that would embarrass God? What do people think of God from watching me?

Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 

Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Choose Grace, Not Bitterness

In Hebrews 12:15 I read, “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." (NIV)

If I’m still holding on to resentment, then I’m allowing someone to control me.

At times I’ve said, “You make me so mad”? That’s an admission that the other person is controlling me. The only way to get this person out of my mind and heart is to heal the hurt with God’s grace.

Hebrews 12:15 says, “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many” (NIV).

Bitterness is contagious, and it can actually become generational. Someone needs to break the chain, and if bitterness has taken root, that someone can be me.

The only way to break it: is with grace.

If I don’t get God’s grace in my life, life will make me bitter. Why? Because there is sin in the world. I live on a broken planet. This is not heaven. Evil people get away with evil things all the time. Life is not fair.

Is forgiveness fair? Absolutely not.

Forgiveness is not about fairness. It’s not about getting even. It’s about grace.

I don’t forgive a person because it’s the fair thing to do. I forgive a person because it’s the right thing to do, and I don’t want my own heart full of poison. I don’t want to hold on to the hurt and the hate.

Forgiveness is free, but it is not cheap. It cost Jesus his life. It cost God his Son.

As Jesus was dying on the cross, with his arms outstretched, he said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 NIV). It’s like he was saying, “I love you, I love you, I love you.” In effect, he said, “They don’t deserve it. They don’t even know what they’re doing. But, Father, forgive them anyway.”

Follow Jesus’ example and offer forgiveness today. Heal any of my bitterness with his grace.

In summary, see to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. If I’m still holding on to resentment, then I’m allowing someone to control me. The only way to get this person out of my mind and heart is to heal the hurt with God’s grace. Bitterness is contagious. Someone needs to break the chain, and if bitterness has taken root, that someone can be me. The only way to break it: is with grace. If I don’t get God’s grace in my life, life will make me bitter. Evil people get away with evil things all the time. Life is not fair. Forgiveness is not about fairness. It’s not about getting even. It’s about grace. I don’t forgive a person because it’s the fair thing to do. I forgive a person because it’s the right thing to do, and I don’t want my own heart full of poison. I don’t want to hold on to the hurt and the hate. Forgiveness is free, but it is not cheap. It cost Jesus his life. As Jesus was dying on the cross, essentially he said they don’t deserve it. They don’t even know what they’re doing. But, Father, forgive them anyway.” I need to follow Jesus’ example and offer forgiveness today. Heal any of my bitterness with his grace.

Like a small root that grows into a great tree, bitterness springs up in my heart and overshadows even my deepest relationships. A "poisonous root of bitterness" comes when I allow disappointment to grow into resentment, or when I nurse grudges over past hurts. Bitterness brings with it jealousy, dissension and immortality. When the Holy Spirit fills me, however, he can heal the hurt that causes bitterness.

Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 

Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.