by Greg Laurie

Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. - (Psalm 37:24)

If you are walking with Jesus as you ought to and have a great passion for Him, what kind of reaction should you expect from the world? Answer: persecution. That is because when you love someone, you will suffer as a result. When you love someone, if any harm comes to them, you hurt badly. When you love someone and they are taken from you, you mourn deeply. It is the result of love. Love will cost you.

C. S. Lewis wrote, "To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken."

If you love God, you also will suffer as a result, because people will attack you for your love for Him. That is what happened with the church of Smyrna in the book of Revelation. Here is what Jesus’ had to say to this suffering church:

I know about your suffering and your poverty - but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan. Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.

Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death. (Revelation 2:9–11)

This is the shortest of the seven messages Jesus gave to these churches, and it is interesting to note there are no critical words. Jesus simply commended and encouraged this church. And instead of destroying the church, persecution actually strengthened it.

by Lysa TerKeurst

"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."
Galatians 5:6b (NIV)

My daughter Hope is one of those people who knows how to dress.

She'll put on a blue and white striped shirt, throw on an army jacket and black pants, finish the look with brown ankle boots and look like a fashionista.

Me on the other hand, I get all stuck in a "Garanimals" state of mind. Did you ever wear Garanimals, the pants and shirts that match perfectly? It made me resistant to the delight of the unexpected.

Matchy-matchy became the curse of my closet.

Until Hope set me straight one day. "Mom, your outfits need a little pop!"

Pop?

She started whipping my outfits together in a way I'd never dreamed.

An orange necklace with an outfit that had not a stitch of orange.

Huh?

Leopard flats with a dark blue shirt, teal necklace, and black skinny jeans.

Are you sure?

She was more than sure. With great confidence she introduced me to the world of adding a pop-a little something unexpected. A new way of expressing myself. And it has been delightful.

So, I started thinking, what if I did this with other areas of my life? Other places where I've slipped into the "same old, same old" ruts.

Might the delight of the unexpected make other aspects of my life more fun?

Our key verse Galatians 5:6b says, "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."

Might this be an invitation to discover another new way to express myself? Express my faith? Through acts of love?

Yes. I think so.

So, I did a little experiment. I started reading Bible verses by adding on a little question/challenge to myself at the end: "... so that I can love who?"

For example, Romans 12:2a, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (NIV) ... so that I can love who?

There is someone in my life who needs my love but I'll only be able to do it if I let God change my mindset. I need to add this little pop - a new expression of my faith through love.

Philippians 4:19, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus" (NIV) ... so that I can love who?

There is someone in my life who needs something that I don't think I can give. My time. An emotional investment. A financial gift. Things I sometimes feel are in limited supply. But I can freely give those things when I realize God supplies all of my needs. I just have to open my hand and send some of my blessing in this person's direction. I need to add this little pop - a new expression of my faith through love.

Why not try this yourself? No, not the leopard flats and teal necklace ... although that is quite the charming combination. But rather adding the question, "... so that I can love who?" to the end of the verses you read today.

It will certainly give you a new way to express your faith. A way that God says is the only thing that counts.

Dear Lord, thank You for showing me how to express my faith in a fresh way. Help me to love others with the same love and compassion You so freely lavish upon me. You are my rock and my redeemer. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Reflect and Respond:

Who can you love today?

Choose someone to really bless. Commit to pray for and reach out to that person often. Do things that will make them feel loved. For example, surprise a friend with her favorite coffee drink one morning.

Power Verses:

Ephesians 5:1-2, "Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (NIV)

1 John 4:7-8, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." (NIV)

As I watched, I praised God for His beautiful work. As I sat there, I felt the Lord's presence with me. He asked me, "Do you love me?"�

I answered, "Of course, God! You are my Lord and Savior!�"

Then He asked, "If you were physically handicapped, would you still love me?"

I was perplexed. I looked down upon my arms, legs and the rest of my body and wondered how many things I wouldn't be able to do, the things that I took for granted. And I answered, "It would be tough Lord, but I would still love You."

Then the Lord said, "If you were blind, would you still love my creation?"

How could I love something without being able to see it? Then I thought of all the blind people in the world and how many of them still loved God and His creation. So I answered, "Its hard to think of it, but I would still love you.�"

The Lord then asked me, "If you were deaf, would you still listen to my word?�"

How could I listen to anything being deaf? Then I understood. Listening to Gods Word is not merely using our ears, but our hearts. I answered, "It would be tough, but I would still listen to Your word.�"

The Lord then asked, "If you were mute, would you still praise My Name?"

How could I praise without a voice? Then it occurred to me: God wants us to sing from our very heart and soul. It never matters what we sound like. And praising God is not always with a song, but when we are persecuted, we give God praise with our words of thanks. So I answered, "Though I could not physically sing, I would still praise Your Name."

And the Lord asked, "Do you really love Me?"�

With courage and a strong conviction, I answered boldly, "Yes Lord! I love You because You are the one and true God!"�

I thought I had answered well, but God asked, "THEN WHY DO YOU SIN?"�

I answered, "Because I am only human. I am not perfect.�"

"THEN, WHY IN TIMES OF PEACE DO YOU STRAY THE FURTHEST? WHY ONLY IN TIMES OF TROUBLE DO YOU PRAY THE EARNEST?"�

No answers. Only tears.

The Lord continued: "Why only sing at fellowships and retreats? Why seek Me only in times of worship? Why ask things so selfishly? Why ask things so unfaithfully?"�

The tears continued to roll down my cheeks.

"Why are you ashamed of Me? Why are you not spreading the good news? Why in times of persecution, you cry to others when I offer My shoulder to cry on? Why make excuses when I give you opportunities to serve in My Name?�"

I tried to answer, but there was no answer to give.

"You are blessed with life. I made you not to throw this gift away. I have blessed you with talents to serve Me, but you continue to turn away. I have revealed My Word to you, but you do not gain in knowledge. I have spoken to you but your ears were closed. I have shown My blessings to you, but your eyes were turned away. I have sent you servants, but you sat idly by as they were pushed away. I have heard your prayers and I have answered them all.� DO YOU TRULY LOVE ME?"�

I could not answer. How could I? I was embarrassed beyond belief. I had no excuse. What could I say to this?

When the tears had flowed, I said, "Please forgive me Lord. I am unworthy to be Your child."�

The Lord answered, "That is My Grace, My child."

I asked, "Then why do you continue to forgive me? Why do You love me so?"

The Lord answered, "Because you are My creation. You are my child. I will never abandon you. When you cry, I will have compassion and cry with you. When you shout with joy, I will laugh with you. When you are down, I will encourage you. When you fall, I will raise you up. When you are tired, I will carry you. I will be with you till the end of days, and I will love you forever."�

Never had I cried so hard before. How could I have been so cold? How could I have hurt God as I had done?

I asked God, "How much do You love me?"�

The Lord stretched out His arms, and I saw His nail-pierced hands. I bowed down at the feet of Christ, my Savior. And for the first time, I truly prayed.

by Ralph Bouma

"...according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine,"
HOS 3:1.

Believers look back through all their experience, and see the love of God in sparing them in spite of all their ugly sins-but also in humbling them in their life's journey to teach them to reverence His holy will.

The Lord told His people in DEU 8:2, "And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no."

Our Saviour "...needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man," JOH 2:25. This humbling, proving, and knowing refers to you and I! In His love to us as dear children our Lord humbles us, proves our first love is to Him, by seeing if we will have respect unto His law of love under all circumstances.

By this means we learn the meaning of DEU 8:3. "And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live."

Have you ever looked back on you life to marvel at the love of your Lord in how He has led you in your wilderness journey through this world. Think of how He has fed and clothed you every day. Think of how He has borne with your ill manners; how He hath put up with all your murmuring, and all thy longings after the things of the flesh.

Think of the love of the Father in giving the unspeakable gift of His Son as that heavenly manna for your soul! In JOH 6:35 we read, "Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."

Has He opened this Rock to supply your thirst, and satisfied your hungry soul with this Manna that came down from heaven? How often have you found that His grace has been sufficient for you in all your troubles? Have you found His blood applied to your soul to pardon all your sins?

When you look back upon the love of the Lord in His leadings for all these years, then let faith survey His love in the future. LAM 3:32 says, "But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies."

When we struggle against the power of temptation and sin we must look by faith unto our blessed forerunner of whom we read in, HEB 4:14. "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

As we look unto such a loving High Priest-who can relate to the power and nature of every temptation so intimately, we can take courage in such a loving Saviour from HEB 4:16. "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
Amen.

by Chris and Michelle Groff

One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him (NIV).
- John 13:23

John refers to himself as the one whom Jesus loved at least five times in his gospel. While that may seem a little prideful at first, it may just be John's way of expressing his identity. Notice he does not say he was the "only" disciple Jesus loved.

John could have identified himself as an apostle, a member of Jesus' inner circle, the writer of a gospel, or many other titles that would have brought him more acclaim, but he chose instead to label himself the "one whom Jesus loved." Is it possible he chose that label because it was most precious to him?

Like John, if you are a follower of Jesus, you are "the one whom Jesus loves." That is your identity, too. When you are worried that the people in your life do not appreciate or recognize all the things you do, remember that your ultimate identity rests in the love of the Savior who gave His life as an act of love for you.

Be secure in the truth that you are also "the one Jesus loves."