Love is a decision that we make every day. It is not always an easy choice because we live in a world where the majority of people will turn their backs on love. When I was a small child, I believed that everyone loved God and was a good person, but like the Apostle Paul, when I grew up, I put away childish things. In John 15:19 (NLT), Jesus Christ warned the disciples, “The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.” He tells us the truth, and the truth is not always comfortable to hear, but we must know it if our goal is to love in the way he does.
As I grew older, and as a neophyte in God’s Word, I didn’t fully understand the distinction of being worldly. I understood there were people that didn’t believe in God, but I thought that everyone would ultimately make the decision to know, love, and connect with Him once they understood how much He loves us all. It was inconceivable to me that anyone would not want to have a relationship with the Creator of the universe through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As I have grown in spiritual maturity, I have come to know that there are far more who turn their backs on Him than those of us who can’t get enough of Him.
He’s good to the last drop, and fills our cups to overflowing continually. But we can’t get it twisted. Jesus Christ tells us in Matthew 7:13 (NLT), “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.” It’s a narrow gate to heaven, and the devil has blinded the minds and hearts of many people so that they will not enter it. They are worldly—of the world, because they have denied their Creator’s love by denying His only begotten Son; therefore, they are still under the rulership of satan; for the world is his domain. Understand that satan, the devil, is not so much interested in them, because he’s pretty much got them in the bag. They’ve fallen for his tricks, and he doesn’t need to do much to keep them hell-bound. The true disciples though, those are the ones the enemy tries to come against.
Some people are fearful about the spiritual truths of good and evil, but no person will ever be free by a lie. To deny the truth is to walk in darkness, and to fear it is to turn our backs on God’s love; for His love is truth. 1 John 4:17-18 (MSG) tells us, “God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.”
We should not be afraid of the reality that people are used by the devil to come against us, so that we will not rise to the level of love that God has called us to. Ephesians 6:12 tells us that we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, although it can seem that way. People are not our enemies. Our enemy is the one who uses them because they are ignorant of his devices and allow themselves to be used. This verse also informs us that the enemy works through institutions, powers, and wickedness in high places; these include his dark angels and world rulers. God doesn’t want us walking around with our eyes closed. He wants us to know the difference between light and darkness, and good and evil. He wants us to know the difference between the truth and a lie.
Heavenly Father also wants you to know that you’ve been called with a holy calling. You might look at yourself and not realize how valuable and special you are to Him, and how your gifts and calling will influence others; but it will. You are destined for wonderful things, and the testament of it is the degree to which the enemy has tried to steal them from you. Life can be so incredibly challenging, and we can’t understand why anyone would want to injure or hurt us, but the truth is that the enemy tries to use people, and the circumstances they create, against us. The good news is that we are not defenseless.
God would not have us to be ignorant of evil’s devices. One of the most important aspects to living the abundant life that Christ made available is to know God’s Word. He tells us in John 8:32(NLT), “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, God has equipped us to be more than conquerors! We are in the world, but we are not of it. The more we know the truth, the more we can walk as children of God’s light, liberty, and love. We are not weak, because through Him we are strong. As we grow in the knowledge of who we are through Christ, God will continually elevate us and bring us to a place of confidence and joy.
Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
“Know the Truth!” written for Overcomingdomesticviolenceorg.wordpress.com. Copyright ©2020. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!
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