Jesus, I Want to Love You Part 8Sample

Take a moment to read today's Bible references.

JESUS, I WANT TO LOVE YOU

Do you realize that believing and receiving God’s love for you is crucial? It is crucial because His love for you is the central aspect of your relationship with Him. It is crucial because it directly impacts your desire to love Him in return. It is crucial because it affects your obedience to Him because true obedience springs from a heart of love. And, when we receive Jesus' love for us we are able to love others with His love!

It may seem awkward or selfish to receive God’s unconditional love. But that is quite contrary to the truth. When we open ourselves to receive God’s unconditional love for us in Christ, when we humbly seek His mercy and gratefully receive His grace, we are much more prepared to extend that which we have received. When we look to the Lord for His love, we are humbly acknowledging our need for Him. We are vulnerably laying ourselves open before Him to receive His love. Allow yourself the freedom to trust your heart to your Lord. Pray a quiet prayer of faith asking God to work in this moment. Focus your heart and mind on God’s love for you. Ask Him for the grace to receive His immeasurable, unending, and extravagant love for you.

If we truly love Him in return for His great love for us, we will also want to express that love. He tells us the way that we should express our love for Him—by obedience to Him. So this week, we will look at the end of the Sermon on the Mount and ask what it looks like to follow Jesus and demonstrate our love for Him.

PRAISE HIM

Praise God as you pray through Isaiah 42:5-10.

ADMIT YOUR SIN

Enter into the gates of the Lord and fall down at His feet and pray. (Isa. 1:18-22)

Lord, I admit that I . . .

THANK HIM

Thank you, Lord, for your compassion. (Isa. 2:2-3)

ASK HIM

Your Word tells of Jesus and what you accomplished through Him. Lord, I ask that you would accomplish much in my heart through Him, that I may be used powerfully to bring good news to the afflicted and bind up the brokenhearted. (Isa. 61:1-3)