let love move
【Whisper of the Shepherd】7
We haven't seen each other for only a few weeks, and we already miss each other. It's a very special feeling. I asked myself: "Is this also love? Probably so?" Love is a decision, but love also has feelings. Is there such a thing as love without feelings? Even the Lord Jesus misses our first love for Him (see Revelation 2:4). How long has it been since you forgot to tell your wife that I love you?
real restoration of life
God is really working in my life. I used to think that I did not lack love and was very loving. In just a few years, during the process of participating in the "Family Walking Together" movement, I was influenced by the examples of my elders. Keep changing. The doors and windows of the closed, locked, and vine-covered ancient castle were opened, the surrounding forest was pruned, and all the stone-hearted people turned into flesh-hearted people, and the ugly people turned into princes came out! The stone pillars in the courtyard that had been stiffened by Satan's curse were injected with life, regained their color, and could move around again.
As the tide rises, the ships that have been stranded in the past are floating one by one. You touch me, I touch you, and we sail together through the river, facing the sea, setting sail, the rising sun is rising in the east,... The train also passes through the long and dark tunnel,... …After believing in the Lord for many years, the Father’s longing and longing for us has finally begun to appear in us!
Oh, let love move! Let the world no longer be disappointed in God because of the maturity of God’s children, and be able to know that He is a good God and we are His good children! My heart is filled with gratitude. His love is immeasurable, so kind, patient, and full of confidence. He once moved us prodigal sons to turn back, and now He has changed our hearts. The eldest son in Luke 15 can finally understand his father’s heart and enter the house again. You are so great! Which doctor on earth can do such a great healing? How much should I pay? We can only raise the cup of salvation and praise the Lord! …
Returning to Heavenly Father’s Arms
After decades of believing in the Lord, I finally understood: the center of salvation is not me, but the heart of Heavenly Father! When the Lord Jesus came, was born, died, and resurrected, the ultimate goal was not to save me and go to heaven. In fact, the Lord Jesus is in heaven and sees God the Father longing for me, who has fallen, to return to Him day and night.
Once upon a time, there was a cool breeze in the sky, and Father God and Adam were walking in the garden. Heavenly Father was so satisfied. However, later Adam sinned and was driven out of Eden. Adam missed Father God, and Father God missed Adam even more. The child needed to be held. , In fact, the father also wants to hug his child. God the Father’s heart is toward us and longs to be with us.
The Lord Jesus saw the desire of the Father, but knew that because of the isolation of sin, that desire could not be realized. The only way was for Him to die for us and pay the penalty for sin, not only to be justified but also to avoid the wrath of God; Paul To put it clearly, it is to be reconciled with God and enjoy God (see Romans 5:9-11), which brings us back to the embrace of our heavenly Father and then walks with God (see Genesis 5:22-24, 6:9; Micah 6:8), this is the center of salvation.
Walk with God and love others
The descendants of Cain, the Bible records that they were full of achievements. They were the ancestors of shepherding livestock, playing the harp and flute, and making all kinds of bronze and iron tools (see Genesis 4:19-21). However, the descendants of Adam no longer remember this. Hidden, only Seth is remembered (refer to Genesis 5:1-3). Seth’s genealogy does not record his achievements on earth. It only records how long he lived and who he gave birth to. The most prominent one is that Enoch walked with God (see Genesis 5:22-24) and Noah walked with God. (Refer to Genesis 6:9). That is the heart of Heavenly Father!
Then what? Having been loved enough by the love of the Heavenly Father, Dad said, "Okay, now love your brother, sister, brother, and sister, and become an ambassador of love, and ask the world to be reconciled to me." (Refer to 2 Corinthians 5. : 18-20) This is the center of salvation: the purpose is not to save me and go to heaven, but the Heavenly Father wants to gain our love, and we also gain His love, and love others!
This is the greatest commandment, love God and love others. What we preach is not religion, doctrine, or biblical knowledge, nor is it evangelicalism or charismaticism. What we preach is the Father who created us and loves us. Worship is no longer a performance, prayer is no longer a responsibility, reading the Bible is not to prove yourself, waiting on God is not even to hear His voice...it is just to love Him, be intimate with Him, and then be loved enough to be able to love others.
No more fighting, jealousy, no more judgment, no criticism, no more rush and performance, no more feeling at home in the Father's home, no fear in love... This is the church God the Father desires.
Enjoy the great joy of giving
God said: "Heaven is my seat and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? Where is my resting place? ” (Isaiah 66:1)And said:“You may also know how to conduct yourself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God.” (Refer to 1 Timothy 3:15)
And said:“For we are the temple of the living God, as God has said, ‘I will dwell among them, and I will go among them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.’… ‘I will do Your Father, you shall be my children, says the Almighty.” (Refer to 2 Corinthians 6:16-18)
The church is God’s family, and we are God’s children. We must receive love at home, give love, and then take love out and become atomic bombs of love…. As for going to heaven, it’s a no-brainer, because when we finish this life’s journey and return to our heavenly home, it’s only natural!
Heavenly Father, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, all the angels, and all the saints throughout the ages are lining up to welcome us! We will receive the award and hear Him touch our heads and say, "Good boy, come in and enjoy the joy of the Father!" We will also meet again and talk endlessly about all the things we have experienced in our life on earth...
Love with rich expression
Let us be loved enough by the love of our Heavenly Father to love others. There are five love languages:
1. Words of affirmation and encouragementWhat builds love, conversely, sarcastic words can destroy love.
2. Give the other person time and focus, he will feel valued.
3. Giving gifts is also an expression of love., knowing that you care about him and you are willing to pay the price for him.
4. Serve and help with housework, the other party will be grateful. If you are too lazy to take action and your wife has not repaired the faucet two years after she bought it, it means that you and I are not caring and loving.
5. Physical contact, handshakes, hugs, and pats on the back are all expressions of love and our basic needs. How many people are waiting for us to give them love!
The Bible also says: "We should love each other not only in words and tongues, but also in deeds and truth. ” (Refer to 1 John 3:18) He also said: “No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God lives in us.” (Refer to 1 John 4:12) “Love is patient, and Be kind;…bear all things, believe all things…” (Refer to 1 Corinthians 13:1-13)
There are baskets and baskets of love verses in the Bible. Why? Because that’s what Heavenly Father wants to see most. Unfortunately, most of us have lacked love since childhood, so we don’t know how to love. God uses several ways to help us:
1. Through the Holy Spirit, bypassing my reason and pouring God’s love into our hearts (see Romans 5:5), let me experience His nurturing embrace.
2. Use inner healing to clear up the landmines laid due to various injuries from childhood to adulthood, and then be able to receive love and give love to others.- 3. Make amends, satisfy, teach, and become a person who can love others from the love of mature parents.
Author profile:
Pastor Xu Zongshi holds a Ph.D. in microbiology and a Master of Divinity from Trinity Theological Seminary in Chicago. He is currently the senior pastor of the Evangelization Center. Author of the book "Flying Out of the Bird Cage".