Feb 13 2022

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

This morning's verse reminds us that we are supposed to love one another because the Lord loves us. So let's look at both sides of the equation: the love God has shown us, and what our response to that love should be.

When you think about ways the Lord has shown love to you, what comes to mind? He shows us His love in many different ways, and people are receptive to love in different ways as well. One universal and powerful demonstration of His love is Jesus' life and death. Because we could not save ourselves, Jesus came to Earth and then submitted Himself to death on a cross. He took on our sin even though He was perfect, and He was the perfect sacrifice that we could never be. If we ever have doubts about the love God has for us, we need only look to the Cross, which confirms the reality that He loves us deeply.

Yet it can be easy to forget that we are so loved by the Lord, such as when we get caught up in the world. Sometimes things hit us from out of the blue. When this happens, we should pause as soon as we can and remember what we already know about God—that He is always good. It is also important to stay consistently in the Bible and cultivate a prayer life. In this way, we'll be reminded of the Lord's love for us on a consistent basis.

When we're full of the love God has given us, we will be able to share that love with other people. We will naturally show mercy and kindness when we know that we have been the recipients of God's mercy and kindness. When we share love with other people, we're also reminding ourselves of the love that God has shown us. In this way, we get to live in a true cycle of love sharing it with others and receiving it from the Lord, which is exactly where the Lord wants us to be.

Dear Lord, I thank you for your love. I do not deserve it, and I never will deserve it. At the same time, I long to share it with other people. Put someone across my path today or tomorrow to whom I can show your love in a special way. Help me to build a discipline of dwelling in your love in all circumstances. In Jesus' name, amen.

Feb 12 2022

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. :

At the end of Habakkuk, the prophet writes that even if Israel is overtaken by the Babylonians, he will continue to rejoice in the Lord. Think about this: Habakkuk knew that he would likely lose everything of value to him, but he remained joyful. How is this possible?

It was possible for Habakkuk because he delighted in God above all other things. He knew the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord did not change based on circumstances, but instead was grounded in something eternal and everlasting. Habakkuk's primary joy was in God. Although this sounds great to me, I'm not sure how to get there. I'm left with the same question: How is this possible?

Habakkuk's delight in God was rooted in knowing that the Lord had saved him. Habakkuk's future was secure. He knew the Lord as the God of his salvation. Habakkuk delighted in God because he focused on the life to come, rather than on this world. He had been given eternal life in Jesus, and, because of this, he could rejoice in even the most dire circumstances.

Throughout the book of Habakkuk, which is only three chapters long, we see how God became his primary joy. Habakkuk did not start out with a rejoicing heart, but instead, with a questioning and fearful one. As he wrestled through his questions, fears, and doubts with the Lord, Habakkuk grew in confidence in his savior. In the end, as we see in this verse, this confidence was more important and valuable to him than any earthly circumstances.

Habakkuk's journey reminds us that if we're struggling with something, we can take it to Jesus. He will help us get on the right track if we are committed to taking a proper view of our circumstances and of Him. He will fill us with joy and help us get a true perspective on this world and the next as we follow Him.

Dear Lord, I thank you that I can rest in you in all circumstances. I thank you that you are truly the God of my salvation. Help me to focus on you, Lord, and all the things you have done for me, instead of getting tangled up with fear in this world. I love you, and I thank you for your goodness to me. In Jesus' name, amen.


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