Daily Bread – July 16, 2022 (The Seventh Day – Genesis 2:1-3) 1 John 4:7-8 – Beloved, let us love one another; because he that loves is from God; and everyone that loves is begotten of God and knows God. He that does not love, does not know God – for God is love. Love Is Our Highest Priority The love of God is not expressed to a selective group of people, but to the whole world (John 3:16; Titus 3:4; 1 Peter 2:17; 1 John 2:2, 4:10). The love of God causes the sun to shine upon the evil and the good, and sends rain for the righteous and the unrighteous (Matthew 5:45; Luke 6:35). From the wellspring of love comes mercy and forgiveness. God’s nature is to bless those who are offenders and persecutors, and those of us who have been born of Him are called to do the same (Luke 6:28; Romans 12:14). All of God’s children are marked with the expression of God’s divine love and holy nature. Unfortunately, there is probably not a more neglected subject among His people. Above all other things, the expression of this unfailing love must be manifested among us if the world is to know we have been begotten of Him (John 13:35; 1 John 2:5, 10, 3:11, 4:21). Above all other things, our responsibility is to show this love one for another – among ourselves first, and also to the whole world. If we fail to walk in love one for another, then we have failed at the most fundamental and essential attribute of our calling (John 13:34, 15:12, 17; Romans 12:10, 13:8; and Galatians 5:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22; and 1 John 3:11, 23, 4:11-12; 2 John 1:5). Love describes the chief characteristic of God – it is central to everything God has willed for men, and its constant expression through our lives is the fulfillment of His will. The subject of love is central to the Bible, the Gospel, the character of God, and the character of those who are led by the Holy Spirit. God, Who is holy, and Who is love, has set us apart from the world, separating us unto His Love. We should be totally separated to the purpose of God’s love being revealed through us in every dimension of our lives. All fear, suspicion, division, envy, strife, and every aspect of discord are the enemies of love, and must be treated as the enemies of God (Proverbs 6:16-19; Romans 16:17; James 3:16). Do not be ignorant of satan’s devices: he does not attack us head-on, but works to divide and separate us, and then destroys each person individually. Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Daily Bread 7/16/2022
