This morning, I was so deeply moved by I John 3:1, even though I have read it so many tines - "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"
As I read on, it says in verse 3 - "Everyone who has this hope [that we will be like Him] in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." And the following verses speak about what that means and how we purify ourselves.
It is hard to read the verses where we are told that if we are in Him we will not continue to sin. I don't know about you, but I sin way more often that I would like to admit. So does that mean I am not in Christ? No - John also goes on to explain that we know we are His by the Spirit He gave us. Even though we still sin, and even though we may have a habitual sin we are trying to overcome, God's love and His Holy Spirit are at work in us to help us become mighty overcomers! When we focus on Christ and seek Him for help in our deepest needs, fears and sins, He opens his arms wide and surrounds us with His amazing love and grace.
We can only overcome sin by the strength He gives us and by receiving the grace and love that is unconditional. When we continue to sin and try to find ways to justify that sin - that is when we enter the danger zone where we harden our hearts toward God and slip further away from Him. But if we come to Him with true repentance, He surrounds us with forgiveness and healing for the damage caused by the sin.
When we understand that He truly is a LOVING Father, we can begin to see that he does not command us to keep from sinning because he is mean and does not want us to have fun. He commands us to repent and keep ourselves pure, because when we sin, the chasm that is created separates us just a bit more from the closeness we could have with Him. True repentance closes that chasm, because He is there waiting for us to let him wipe it away with His love and grace.
Christ loves to have us abide in Him and He loves to abide in us. Oh, sisters and brothers how he longs to draw you close and speak loving words of forgiveness when you have been separated from Him by sin. His love has made the way for us to repent and truly receive His grace. If you are struggling with guilt, hurt, shame, fear, or anything that has blocked the Holy Spirit's work in your life, look at the Father of Light. Look at the beautiful hands and feet of Jesus, where the nail scars prove to us that we are everything to Him.
Lately, when I have been striving to do the right thing, feeling guilty and beating myself up for not reading His word enough or not witnessing enough, He has told me to just rest in His arms and let Him give me what I need to persevere and overcome. He is saying to His children, "Come and sit at my feet." When I do that, I pour out words of praise and worship to Him, or just quietly soak in His presence. That is what He wants most from me. I think it is what He wants most from all of His children. As you continue to practice that, I think you will be amazed at what He completes in your heart.
The only way to be His warriors is for us to be as close in spirit as possible to our King. He has battles for us to fight in His name and work to be done. Our flesh cannot prepare for what is coming. Our minds and our intestinal fortitude cannot prepare us. Only His amazing, abundant love, lavished on us, can make us ready for whatever comes our way!! Against this love there is no law!
Have a beautiful Valentine’s Day with your Savior - today and every day!!
Patti
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