"rules"

Wednesday, April 8, 2020 (6:36 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You!

You give us words to express ourselves. Opportunities to enjoy ourselves. Rules to protect ourselves.

(7:35 a.m.)

Rules. Hmm… Yes. Rules.

Oh most dear and blessed Father, how I thank You for the rules You have set before us. Rules that when all is said and done come back to loving You with all of our hearts, souls, minds and strength (Mark 12:30). Oh, and our neighbor as ourselves (v. 31).

Father, thank You for providing us with Your written Word of Truth and promises. Your “rules” for how we are to live each and every day.

(8:26 a.m.)

Most Blessed God, I continue pouring over Your Word and Your “rules” concerning love. What it is (1 Corinthians 13:4a; 6b; 7; 8a) and all it is not (1 Corinthians 13:4:b; 5; 6a). How I thank You Lord.

Looking over to what the apostle John had to say about the importance of love and forgiveness, I land on and embrace 1 John 5:21. “Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.”

Yes Father. Yes!

The Life Recovery Bible comment explains. “5:20-21 John concludes his letter by reminding us who the true God is and warning us not to let anything take God’s place in our heart. He cautions against entertaining any false ideas about God. We can know the true God through His Son, Jesus Christ.”

How blessed we are Dearest Lord to have these opportunities.

“Recovery involves eliminating wrong ideas about God, any material substitutes for Him, and all controlling sins. Recovery means putting God in His rightful place as the absolute Lord of our life.”

Yes Father! You ARE our Absolute Lord! 

“Someone has said, ‘Only Jesus Christ is able to control a person’s life without destroying it.’ In a restored relationship with God, the submission of our life and will to His control is the way back to sanity.” Mm…

Illustrated Bible Handbook tells us, “Freedom from sin’s power comes to us through Jesus, who has come into the world that we might know Him, the true God and the source of eternal life (20).”

Then this from The Passion Translation. “And we know that the Son of God has made our understanding come alive so that we can know by experience the One who is true. And we are in Him who is true, God’s Son, Jesus Christ -the true God and eternal life! So, little children, guard yourselves from worshiping anything but Him” (20-21).

Yes, Father. Yes!

Teach us to guard ourselves. And glorify You in the process.

We love You, Lord. And we long to serve You with all of our hearts, souls, minds and strength. Loving You and others as Your “rules” command.

Use us as You know is best. We love You. Thank You. Amen.

(489 words ~ 9:26 a.m.)