May dear friends and fellow servants,
When we know and trust the truth that we are accepted in the Beloved, it brings us peace and rest in knowing that we are truly loved unconditionally.
If we do not understand God’s amazing love, we become legalistic. When don’t understand the power of God’s grace, we assume that His grace is permissive instead of totally empowering us not to sin.
May these scriptures bless you as you meditate on them.
Ephesians 1:5-6 Phillips
He planned, in his purpose of love, that we should be adopted as his own children through Jesus Christ - that we might learn to praise that glorious generosity of his which has made us welcome in the everlasting love he bears towards the Son.
2 Corinthians 5:21Amplified Bible
21 For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].
Psalm 5:11-12 Rheims
11 And they may leap for joy in thee who are lovers of thy Name
12 For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; as with an all-covering shield--with good good pleasure wilt thou encompass him.
Note: one out of print translation, “Thou wilt throw a cloak of love and favor over your loved ones”
May we allow nothing we are facing spirit, soul or body or in ministry drive a wedge between us and the awesome amazing love of our Daddy God.
Romans 8:31-39
The Message (MSG)
31-39So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:
They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
In His amazing love,
Pastor Pat