Photo: Had a great morning alone with Annabeth yesterday getting her a new bike for her 9th birthday. She is an awesome daughter!Also had a great week speaking at Trinity Youth Camp. It is great to see the Lord at work in the hearts of young people. So good to see many friends as well.
Thought for the Day
John 14:20, 21 (20) At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. (21) He that hath my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
I read this excellent devotional thought by Ray Steadman today~
"If it takes love to obey, what produces love? That is the issue. If you see a Christian disobey Christ or you are tempted to disobey, what is it that will turn you around and make you obey? It is love. How do you produce love? What will make you love Him? This is what ties together verses 20 and 21. It is that basic secret of our identity that creates love-- the Spirit in us, releasing to us the love of Jesus, awakens love from us in return.
Remember how John puts it in his first letter: We love Him because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). Remembering this awakens love. Or, as Paul puts it in Romans 5, God has shed abroad his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, which is given to us (Romans 5:5). Therefore, the way to produce love is to remember who you are, to whom you belong, and who He is--His death, His resurrection, and His unity with you, His present indwelling life. You cannot remind yourself of that without experiencing a renewed sense of His love and feeling gratitude to Him for who He is and what He has done in your life. When that love begins to flow, then you are being motivated to obey."
Application
Outward obedience proceeds from inward satisfaction. Are you satisfied with Christ today? If not, this indicates a lack of reflection and meditation on who He is and all He has done for your good. Take some time to "think on these things".
