When Love Changes Everything
We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. — 1 Thessalonians 1:3
Your work for God will not be sustained unless it's produced by your love for Christ.
If your work is not produced by love, coercion and expectations cannot underwrite a life that completes the race. If you are in love with Christ, He will sustain you. He will give you ability to keep on keeping on even when you have nothing left to give.
This is why many people start the journey with Christ but do not complete it. They veer off course. Do you know why? They were doing the work because they needed the applause and affirmation of other people.
When I was dating Ginger, she said, "I don't really like polyester." I asked, "What do you like?" She said, "I like cotton and linen."
Do you know what I did? I stopped buying polyester. I began to look for cotton and linen. I changed my fashion choices because I loved her and wanted to please her.
When you are in love with someone, you go out of your way to do whatever they love. Then you begin to love what they love because you love them.
This is how God wants you to serve Him. What you do does not flow out of guilt, shame, or expectation, but because you are in love with Jesus.
Billy Graham said that one of the times when God used him the most was when he had to hold on to the pulpit because he was so sick physically. In his lack of physical strength, the Spirit of God poured through him to share a simple Gospel message that shook the lives of hundreds of people for Christ.
Sometimes, God must empty us before He is ready to use us. If our labor comes from anything other than being in love with Him, it will not take us very far.
The greatest thing that could happen to you is that you fall in love with Jesus. When you're in love with Jesus, you'll naturally want to serve Him. You'll look for ways to please Him. You'll change your priorities because you love Him.
Is your service flowing from love or obligation? That makes all the difference.
Your work for God will not be sustained unless it's produced by your love for Christ.
If your work is not produced by love, coercion and expectations cannot underwrite a life that completes the race. If you are in love with Christ, He will sustain you. He will give you ability to keep on keeping on even when you have nothing left to give.
This is why many people start the journey with Christ but do not complete it. They veer off course. Do you know why? They were doing the work because they needed the applause and affirmation of other people.
When I was dating Ginger, she said, "I don't really like polyester." I asked, "What do you like?" She said, "I like cotton and linen."
Do you know what I did? I stopped buying polyester. I began to look for cotton and linen. I changed my fashion choices because I loved her and wanted to please her.
When you are in love with someone, you go out of your way to do whatever they love. Then you begin to love what they love because you love them.
This is how God wants you to serve Him. What you do does not flow out of guilt, shame, or expectation, but because you are in love with Jesus.
Billy Graham said that one of the times when God used him the most was when he had to hold on to the pulpit because he was so sick physically. In his lack of physical strength, the Spirit of God poured through him to share a simple Gospel message that shook the lives of hundreds of people for Christ.
Sometimes, God must empty us before He is ready to use us. If our labor comes from anything other than being in love with Him, it will not take us very far.
The greatest thing that could happen to you is that you fall in love with Jesus. When you're in love with Jesus, you'll naturally want to serve Him. You'll look for ways to please Him. You'll change your priorities because you love Him.
Is your service flowing from love or obligation? That makes all the difference.
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4 Comments
yes it does it does make all the difference in the world
I FIND MYSELF SAYING, "I LOVE YOU LORD." I NEVER USED TO SAY THAT, BUT AS I DRAW CLOSER TO GOD, I WANT HIM TO KNOW THAT I LOVE HIM AND IT FEELS SO GOOD AS I GET CLOSER TO HIM. I SAY, "I LOVE YOU LORD "MORE OFTEN. IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE. YOU WANT TO PLEASE HIM. YOU WANT GOD TO LOOK DOWN AT YOU AND SAY, WELL DONE.YOU WANT TO WIN SOULS FOR THE LORD. IT'S A SPECIAL KIND OF LOVE, AND I REALLY FEEL HIS CLOSENESS. FALLING IN LOVE WITH JESUS. THANK YOU FOR THE WORD TODAY. DEFINITELY CHRIST INSPIRED.
Well said, Dr. Dodd!
.I serve out of love for Jesus.