Scripture for the Day
(December 18, 2020)
Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him. (John 14:23, AMPC)
As I sit here this morning in Albany, GA, my heart hurts for what I see happening in our country. There is just so much anger, hate, and division from every direction. This should not be! I bet if you interviewed most of the people that are exhibiting such feelings, most would tell you that they are Christians. That should not be!
If you asked them why they are so bitter and angry they would probably tell you that it’s because of current or past offenses where they have been, or felt, mistreated or marginalized. That should not be! Jesus told us that we would face tribulations and offenses in this world. There is just no way around it. However, He also told us if we would follow His example we would have victory over whatever tribulation or offense came our way. The problem is that His answers are Spirit answers and we want fleshly answers. We want a pound of flesh, which just makes the problem worse.
Jesus told us in John 14:23 if we really loved Him we would keep His Words. That is the key to overcoming this type atmosphere. That is the key to victory. His Words have to be such a part of us that they become like a skin graft. Therefore lay apart all filthiness and the superfluity of wickedness, and receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21, KJV)
So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls. (James 1:21, AMPC) Your soul consists of your mind, will, and emotions. That is where the war is waged by the enemy of your soul. If he can infect your thoughts and emotions with anger, hate, bitterness, and unforgiveness, then he has won the war. However, if you on the other hand fill your mind with the Word of God; if your every action and reaction is based on the Word of God; and if you put away all the anger, hate and unforgiveness and replace it with the fruits of the Spirit; then you will have the victory. To me, it boils down to this, “Do we really love God?” You can read John 14:23 in two different ways. You can read, “If a person loves me, he will keep my Word” in a legalistic way to mean you have to keep my Word to prove that you love Me. Or, I think the better and more accurate way to read it is, if you really love me you will automatically desire to, want to, and actually keep my Words. That is why Jesus told us that the most important thing we could do was to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. If we do that, then keeping His Word is not hard. It’s just automatic because we love Him more than we love our flesh!
Pray for Revival!!!
