Morning by Morning, July 15 - The Power of God's Love Living in Us through Jesus Christ
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Word of God, Word Made Flesh, I welcome Your Word, Your abiding Presence, into every moment of my day and every area of my life. Be made Flesh in me today, for as You are, so are we to be in our world (1 John 4:17). ...
"If we love one another, God lives in us" (1 John 4:12).
In these days of so much vitriol and violence, where everything is so politicized and polarized, it's hard to walk in love. With so much judgment instead of mercy, so much criticism instead of compassion, so much negativity infused with toxic words and poisonous attitudes instead of patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control and all the other fruit of the Spirit and expressions of God's love, it's hard to even see what "love" looks like or even is supposed to look like in our world.
Yet, "love" is our standard, nonetheless. Love is the exact imprint and express image of who You are. "God is Love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them" (1 John 4:16).
No matter how "weak" it might sound, no matter how "naive" it may appear, no matter how "passive" it may be judged, love is our command (1 John 4:21), love is our goal (1 John 4:7), and love is the measure by which we are judged (1 John 4:20). "Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is Love" (1 John 4:18).
So how do we "love?" It's only by Your Spirit -- abiding in us, teaching us, empowering us, changing us from the inside out, putting Your thoughts in our minds and Your desires in our hearts, making us more like You every day. "By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit" (1 John 4:13).
That's not just any "spirit." That not just some kind of "love" by the world's definition of "love" or some kind of "spirit of love" like some kind of good attitude or idealistic aspiration of love. No; Love is a Person of God who must be welcomed to abide in our hearts by His Spirit. "And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent His Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us" (1 John 4:14-16).
So the bottom line is that we can only truly love and be true expressions of God's love in our world when we have Jesus Christ, "the Spirit of Christ," in our hearts (Romans 8:9). Everything less is something less than the fullness of God's Love, with the power of God's love to change our hearts and change our world through us.
Lord Jesus -- Word of God, Word Made Flesh, Living Word who manifests the Love and Heart and Mind of God -- come live in me by Your Spirit today. "God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him" (1 John 4:9). Come live through me, as I live through You today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you be filled with the Spirit of Christ, abiding in God's Love as He abides in you, changing your heart and allowing God to change your world by the power of His love through you in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Prayer for Revival in San Antonio!
Friends, I'm excited to be part of a group of prayer warriors in our community planning times of prayer for awakening and revival in our community and beyond, being led by Max Lucado in San Antonio.
We met in the parking lot where the San Antonio Spurs play basketball and they hold the San Antonio Rodeo to scope out the land and pray. Plans are coming together for a time of prayer in a Solemn Assembly of heartfelt humility and repentance through citywide prayer for ourselves and our land on Saturday, August 8th and 15th. Please keep us in prayer to follow the Holy Spirit's leading. If you would like to be involved and help spread the word when the time comes, please send me a note: tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org
New Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:
Tommy & Rocio Hays
Messiah Ministries
17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407
San Antonio, Texas 78257
Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries
Please share this word to encourage a friend!
