“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.”(1 John 4:11-12)

An article from “Senior Living” says:

Space shuttles are propelled out of the earth’s atmosphere by a fuel mixture producing millions of pounds of thrust and exertion. Indianapolis race cars travel at speeds averaging more than 200 mph, and they are powered by a highly volatile fuel concoction. So, what fuels you as a believer in Jesus Christ?

 

The indwelling Holy Spirit motivates you to perform Christ-like deeds of compassion, forgiveness, mercy, and self-sacrifice. The apostle John wrote, “If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.” (1 John 4:12-13).

 

It’s like the mother who asked her young son to clean her shoes. He worked on them diligently until they were spotless, shiny, and scuff-free. To show her appreciation for his hard work, she gave him a dollar. As she went to put her shoes on, she felt something wadded up in the toe of one. It was her dollar and attached to it was a note that read, “Here’s yur doller, mom. I done it fer luv.”

 

Fueled and motivated by the Holy Spirit living in you, you too can serve others in the love of Christ. The Scripture says, “We love him because he first loved us. …And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God loveth his brother also.” (1 John 4:19, 21). This coming year, be motivated to serve others and give of yourself to them as Christ did for you on the cross so long ago.

 

 Ask the Lord to move your heart and feet in service for Him. Pray that He would empower you with the sacrificial love of Christ, so that you may bless someone’s life by your service to them.

(Edited to conform to the KJV)

As you reflect on your problems it would do you good to spend some time considering the plight of Job, a man who suffered horriblely for no apparent reason. For now I would encourage you to read Job 42:1-6 where Job finally and fully resigns himself to the will of God. This was the turning point, for good, in his life. Charles Swindoll makes the following observations on that moment in Job’s life:

“I’ve come to the end of my understanding, and I leave it at that. My very existence is Yours, O God. It’s Yours to unravel the mystery, to track the labyrinthine ways, to handle the profound, to know the reasons behind the inexplicable events of my life.” In full surrender Job backs off and bows down.

This is Job’s way of acknowledging his inability to understand why, with no further argument, harboring no bitterness. There is no thought of How dare you do this to me? What do we see in Job instead? A broken and contrite spirit. Do you know what Job finally realized? It’s all about God, not me. Job got it! And what does that mean?

God’s purpose is unfolding, and I cannot hinder it.
God’s plan is incredible, and I will not comprehend it.
God’s reproof is reliable, and I dare not ignore it.
God’s way is best, and I must not resist it.

Have you learned those things yet? Have you come to realize that your business is about your God? Your family is about your God. Everything you claim to possess, He owns. Every privilege you enjoy is granted by His grace. None of it is deserved. Job got all that. The question is, have you? Tragically, many don’t get it until faced with impossible moments. God has ways of leveling His own.

How satisfying a submissive life can be. The blend is beautiful: a strong-hearted person, surrendered and humbled with a “broken and contrite spirit”—entertaining no grudges, making no demands, having no expectations, offering no conditions, anticipating no favors, fully repentant before the Lord God. And the marvelous result? The Lord begins to use us in amazing ways. Why? Because the world doesn’t see that unique combination very often.

Job finally sees God for who He really is, and he fully repents. The result is one blessing after another. In fact, double blessing upon double blessing comes his way. Once God placed His mighty hands on the man’s shoulders, Job finally got it. Have you?

As I think about the Christmas story, I just can’t get those words out of my mind. Mary was willing to risk her reputation, give up her comfort and subject herself to great difficulties for the sake of pleasing the Lord. God wanted her to make her humanity available so He could manifest Himself to others and she was willing for it to be so. She was willing to endure hardships for the sake of doing God’s will.

Perhaps you’ve never thought about it, but in a sense that is exactly what God wants from all of us. He wants us to “present” our “bodies a living sacrifice”(Romans 12:1) so He can make Himself known to others. As someone said, “You are the only Bible some people will ever read.” Scary thought, but it is true! Some people will make judgments concerning Christ based on what they see in you, as a professing Christian. God forbid that we give the wrong impression!

Many folks have great talent and treasures that could be used for God, but they refuse to use them. They waste their lives away in the pursuit of selfish pleasures. How foolish. How sinful! God is still looking for people like Mary who will make themselves available for His purpose. Don’t worry about your lack of ability. Make yourself available without hesitation, question, or reservation and you will never regret it. Serving God isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it.Will you say this day,”be it unto me according to thy word”? I pray that you will respond as Isaiah did when he said, “Here am I; send me.”(Isaiah 6:8).

Dear friend, God has given you the wonderful gift of His Son to save you–please don’t refuse Him! Trust Him today and this will be the greatest day of your life.

If you have already received God’s gift of salvation, rejoice that He is forever with you and able to supply every need. That makes every day Christmas! (HDS)