| Love is mentioned well over 350 times in the Bible. | | | | gone too far...I don't know what I'm talking about. |
| I'm sure God must be trying to tell us something. We | | | | Yes, I do. I know because the Word tells me so.In I |
| will start our study with Matthew 22:37-38; And He | | | | John 2:15 it says, Do not love or cherish the world or |
| replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with | | | | the things that are in the world. if anyone loves the |
| all your heart and with all your soul and with all your | | | | world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is |
| mind. This is the most important and first | | | | in the world - the lust of the flesh and the lust of the |
| commandment.I am sure that we have all heard this | | | | eyes and the pride of life or stability of earthly things |
| verse many times in our Christian lives. But, do we | | | | - these do not come from the Father, but are from |
| really get it? How do we love God? Why should we | | | | the world itself. And the world passes away and |
| love God? Let's explore How to love God today, and | | | | disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings of it; |
| tomorrow we'll get into why.How Do We Love | | | | but he who does the will of God and carries out His |
| Him?It is very simply stated by Jesus in John 14:15, If | | | | purposes in his life abides forever.Why Should We |
| you really love me, you will keep (obey) my | | | | Love Him?I'm sure this would seem like an obvious |
| commands. As simple as it sounds....it seems to be a | | | | answer. Yet, I think it is important that we really |
| very difficult task....or is it? Well, yes and no. If we | | | | understand the depth of the answer. Why do we or |
| study the Word, get it into our hearts and minds; it is | | | | why should we love God? Well, there are more |
| easier to submit to the Holy Spirit...However, when | | | | answers to this question then could be answered in a |
| we fill our minds with the world, i.e.,Soap Operas - | | | | lifetime. But, I will give the best answer I can...- HE IS |
| which encourage adultery, lust, impurity, fornication, | | | | INCOMPARABLE. THERE IS NONE LIKE HIM : II |
| lies, deceit, and many other sinful desires.I struggled | | | | Samuel 7:22 says; Therefore You are great, O Lord |
| with these for years. I didn't just watch one...not | | | | God; for none is like You, nor is there any God |
| even just one channel. I would watch one channel | | | | besides You... No other religion has a God like ours. HE |
| and tape another. I was watching six different | | | | IS!- HIS WAYS ARE PERFECT. HE IS PERFECT: Psalm |
| daytime dramas and several evening ones. I | | | | 18:30 says; As for God, His way is perfect!- HE IS |
| eventually cut back and convinced myself that was | | | | OUR ROCK AND SHIELD: Psalm 18:30-31 says; ...He is |
| good enough. But, no, God wanted me to lay them all | | | | a shield to all those who take refuge and put their |
| down. My mind had become so absorbed with this | | | | trust in Him. For who is God except the Lord? Or |
| unrealistic, ungodly world. I didn't want to let go. Of | | | | who is the Rock save our God? It says it right |
| course I eventually did...not without a fight though. | | | | there...if we will take refuge...He will shield us. How |
| The enemy was on full attack mode when I decided | | | | many of us actually take refuge in Him?- HE IS THE |
| to submit to the Lord (obey His commands). I kid | | | | CREATOR OF ALL THINGS: This is covered in |
| you not my TV would just turn on at the precise | | | | Genesis 1. Isaiah 40:12, 22 & 26 as well as countless |
| moment, my VCR would start taping when I didn't | | | | other verses. What other God created the |
| set it to, and the grocery store checkout...It was | | | | Universe?- HE IS EVERLASTING: Habakkuk 3:6 says; |
| ugly. I didn't give up...and now I am | | | | He stood and measured the earth; He looked and |
| FREE!Entertainment Magazines - which are filled with | | | | shook the nations, and the eternal mountains were |
| gossip, wrong information, slander, hurtful situations in | | | | scattered and the perpetual hills bowed low. His ways |
| human lives, and really none of our business anyway. | | | | are everlasting and His goings are of old.- HE IS JUST, |
| These were another stronghold in my life. My | | | | TRUE, MIGHTY AND SOVEREIGN: Revelation 15:3 |
| favorite was In Touch...or like my husband used to | | | | says; ...Mighty and marvelous are Your works, O Lord |
| call it, "in touch with the devil." LOL. Let me tell you, I | | | | God the Omnipotent! Just and true are Your ways, O |
| loved these things. I had to know who was cheating | | | | Sovereign of the ages. Sing that for a while and you'll |
| on whom, and what this one said about that one....I'm | | | | feel His presence all around you.- HE IS MY |
| sure there are some of you who know exactly what | | | | STRENGTH AND MY SONG: When I am weak I |
| I am talking about.Guess what? God wanted these | | | | know I can count on Him to be my Strength. Exodus |
| put down too. My flesh fought hard. Honestly, I still | | | | 15:2 says; The Lord is my Strength and my |
| have to catch myself. Those grocery store checkout | | | | Song....Keep reading that chapter alone for many |
| lines are filled with them...I try hard not to even look | | | | reasons to love Him.- HE LOVED US FIRST: I John |
| at them. I am happy to say that I no longer buy | | | | 4:19 says; We love Him, because He first loved us.- |
| them...or even touch them.Secular music - which is | | | | HE IS OMNIPOTENT (ALL-POWERFUL): Jeremiah |
| mostly provocative lyrics, self, and worldly | | | | 32:17 says; Alas, Lord God! Behold, You have made |
| principals.Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that | | | | the heavens and the earth by your great power and |
| every non-Christian song is sinful. I'm saying be | | | | by Your outstretched arm! There is nothing too hard |
| careful what goes in. It will come out. The Bible says | | | | for you.- HE IS OMNIPRESENT (EVER-PRESENT): |
| in Galatians 6:7 that we reap what we sow. If we | | | | Read Psalm 139:7-12. He is always here...He is always |
| sow junk into our minds we will reap junk. If your | | | | there. You are never alone. What other "god" can |
| searching through the stations looking for a good | | | | say that?- HE IS OMNISCIENCE (ALL-KNOWING): I |
| song to listen to...make sure it is good for your spirit | | | | John 3:20 says; ...For He is above and greater than |
| not your flesh.These examples are ones many | | | | our consciences (our hearts), and He knows and |
| Christian women face. You may be thinking I have | | | | understands everything, nothing is hidden from Him. |