Sunday 12 Aug 2012

Sunday Reading: John 12:42-50

Key Verse: John 12:47
47  And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

Devotion:
If you were asked “who do you love?”, what would you honestly answer? It may be a difficult question to answer for you if you are someone who seeks praise from others – and who doesn’t! But it is something that we do need to ask ourselves now and again to make sure that we are keeping God in His rightful place in our lives. God is GOD! No matter what you think of others and no matter how much you want to love others, or for them to love you, God must be first in our lives.

I know that is going to cause all manner of people to say things like “what about your family/wife/husband/children?” Well, my answer to that is that we need to study what God’s love entails and what our love for God entails… The love that God has for us is absolute; that means that there is no greater love that can be displayed. He commands us to love Him above all else. Should we not obey that commandment? Yes! Jesus quite clearly says that He has come, not to judge us, but to save us. If He were to judge us, it would be perfect judgement; but He says that He has come to give us the truth and allow us to make our minds up. Could you love anyone enough to always give them the truth and never judge them for anything they do?

Another point I would raise is that if we do love God as much as we should, He will give us a love for others that goes a whole lot further than anything we could imagine. I know that sounds like a clique but it is only after you give your love to God that you too will be able to understand how much He can change your own heart to love others. That to me shows just how much He loves me; that He allows me to love others so much more just because of my love for Him – and the more I show my love for Him the more I am able to love others instead of judging them or seeking praise from them instead. And I am still learning!

If we ignore God’s Word then it is going to be that very Word that will judge us in the end. If we ignore the speed limit then it is that speed limit that makes us guilty when we break it. Saying that God’s Word does not apply to you is just as stupid as saying that speed limits do not apply to you. Jesus came to give us that Word and to make sure we understand it so that we will not ignore it. He loves you enough to warn you of the truth; will you love Him enough to not try to hide things from Him?

Points to Ponder:
Who do you love?

Is God’s love important to you?