The heart of God

Father, we glorify Your name this moment, this week, this month, this day and this year - thank you! May Your love radiate in our hearts as we read and share Your Word In the Name of Jesus.

Today's lead Scripture is from 1 John 4:17-18 NKJV

17.Love had been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

18.There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

AMEN.

The above verse shows us the heart of God which is love. Love has a name and His name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is the epitome of love. 1 John 4:10 reminds us, "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

That is, because of Christ, He bore our sins when He died on the cross and now we are reconciled to the Father, God through our faith in His Son. When the fall of man happened in the garden of Eden, it introduced sin into the lives of men and women which separated us from God (Isaiah 59:2). Sin separated us from God because He is a holy God who greatly desires purity from His children. Romans 8:14-15 introduces us to 'who' the children of God are and it reads, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba Father."

When Adam and Eve ate from the tree of good and evil due to the serpent's cunning ways, they became afraid and fearful of God. Suddenly they were no longer comfortable in God's presence and in God's image that He had created them with. In fact when He came searching for them, Adam and Eve run away from God's presence (Genesis 3:8). Genesis 3:9-10 tells us; "Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."

Fear, shame and every other sin that involves torment separates us from God, the Father by magnifying itself above God's never ending love for His children.

Thankfully because of our faith in Jesus Christ, we now have a new identity as sons and daughters of God which gives us the boldness to confidently approach God without fear because we are now holy and accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 1:6). We see that God's heart to restore relationship with mankind was rekindled through Christ because of His great love for us and this is the perfect love that casts out fear.

It's important to remember that as much as sin separated us from God, it did not mean that God stopped loving mankind after Adam and Eve's disobedience of eating the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. Rather I believe because of sin, it is mankind that fell out of their awareness of God's presence and His love for them. This is the reason Jesus Christ came to save everyone who calls on His name by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:5). A believer's new mind in Christ through salvation positions them to receive God's perfect love in Christ.

God's heart of love is also seen with Christ's free gift of eternal life. Jesus told His disciples in Luke 9:56 that,"For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." God's heart is not to condemn mankind of their sin but rather to love them, wash them clean and save them from every wicked plans of the enemy through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ. God's heart is not for mankind to be destroyed but rather for them to have eternal life through His One and Only Son Jesus Christ. God's heart is not for mankind to hide in the darkness lest their evil acts be exposed but His heart is for mankind to be comfortable by confidently embracing their deeds because they walk in the light and truth of Jesus Christ (John 3:20-21).

I'll end with the LORD's promise in Psalm 91:14-16

"14.Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

15.He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will deliver him and honor him.

16. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."

AMEN.

Invitation to salvation or to re commit your life to Christ: If you would like to know this God who from the beginning of creation has always wanted you to be reunited and restored in relationship with who empowers you with the strength by the Holy Spirit to rejoice through all seasons, who loves you with an everlasting love before you ever loved Him and has given you eternal life through the faith of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ - whose faithful promises are yes and amen, I invite you to make this confession, "I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour today and forever."

Congratulations, by grace you are saved and are now a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old life has passed away and you have received the free gift of salvation into your life (2 Corinthians 5:17). To the glory of the Almighty God. Amen.

As a new believer, I urge you to let your Pastor know that you took the confession of faith or if you don't have one, become a part of a church. I also encourage you to get water baptised as soon as possible and get yourself a physical copy of the Bible or download the Bible app on your mobile in case you don't already own one! If you have taken the confession of faith and would also like a physical copy of the Bible, please send us an email at info@bibleversionoflife.com with your address. We would love to hear your story. GOD BLESS.