The Answer

We’re all looking for something. At some point in our lives, we all realize that we’re missing something. But what?

We’re looking for something to give our life a purpose. Something to fill us. Something to answer the questions.

Someone who cares.

Who loves us.

Who understand how we feel and what we’re going through.

Jesus is the answer. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He wants to give you life! His love for you is unfathomable.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

-christrocks

You are, You are the answer
The hope and the end to the searching
You are, You are the portrait of grace
You’re the one steady thing in a world that aches
In a world that breaks
-Britt Nicole (World That Breaks)

God Is Love

Heart-shaped cloud (Photo credit: aivas14)

I was going to write a post today based on my notes from the conference, but when I saw today’s Daily Prompt, I knew that I would have to write about that.

The question: Is there a single idea or definition that runs through all the varieties of love?

Yes. And no. Because all love comes from one thing, but that thing isn’t just an idea or a definition. He’s not even a thing. He’s God.

God is love.

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:8)

The True Meaning of Love

English: Two candles in love. The flame is inverted heart shape. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Last night I finished reading When Heaven Weeps by Ted Dekker. Not a recent one of his, but amazing nonetheless. Maybe I should have known from the title that it was going to make me cry; to my surprise, I found that I wasn’t crying because the book was sad, but for the opposite reason.

To be brief and without actually getting into the book’s plot, it’s about love. Indescribable, unfathomable love. A love and a joy that seeps inside your bones, that overflows into those around you, that can make you laugh in the face of death.

Wow. What a book! If only I could write like that….

Open Hearts and Doors

Cross & Clouds (Photo credit: John H Wright Photo)

I got the title for today’s post from Casting Crowns‘ song Jesus, Friend of Sinners. The words of this song speak directly to something we Christians do every day: judge. But the Bible clearly says not to judge others (Matthew 7:1).

You see, Jesus didn’t come to judge and condemn. And he didn’t come for the righteous. He didn’t die on the cross for people who didn’t need Him in order to get into heaven (of which there are none!) He came for sinners, people who were in need of a Savior.

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17, NIV)

God: Past, Present, Future

A lot of times, we tend to think of God as a God of the past. We say things like, “Sure, He did some amazing stuff 2000+ years ago, but this is the 21st century. Is He really still around?”

The answer is yes. Our God is a God of the past, present, and future. Let’s take a look at Habakkuk 1:5.

A Brotherly Love

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34-35, NLT)

Love is something that defines us Christians. We love our brothers and sisters in Christ and those who aren’t saved, but the Bible also says to love our enemies (Matt. 5:44). Love is a huge part of being a Christian, and yet sometimes, it simply isn’t evident in our daily lives.

Let’s start by looking at how the Bible defines love:

I Love You More

When I was younger, I would say to my mom, “I love you 99.9%, and I love God 100%.”

She would smile and reply, “And how much do you love Daddy?”

After pretending to be deep in thought, I would say, “I love him 99.9% too.”

Little could my six-year-old mind comprehend that, mathematically, this didn’t add up. Still, you get the point. Even though I love my parents a lot, I love God much more. And that’s the way it should be. But unfortunately, sometimes, as you know, we make mistakes, and God slips to the back of our mind.

To Be Merciful

We’ve gone through four of the Beatitudes so far. Today we are focusing on mercy. Being merciful may not be the easiest thing in the world, but let me tell you: it’s well worth it.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. (Matthew 5:7)