loveofgod – herbcotton.org

What Shall We Render to the Lord for His Lovingkindness and Tender Mercies?

God Speaks:

Romans 11:33 King James Version (KJV)

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

King James Version (KJV)

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Listen to God Speak & Obey:

O how God loves all of His people; Jews and Gentiles. Notice the conclusion of the matter in the last verse of the following quotation of the Old Testament.

Romans 9:25-29 New King James Version (NKJV)

25 As He says also in Hosea:

“I will call them My people, who were not My people,
And her beloved, who was not beloved.”

“And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them,
‘You are not My people,’
There they shall be called sons of the living God.”

27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel:

“Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea,
The remnant will be saved.

For [a]He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness,
Because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth.”

29 And as Isaiah said before:

“Unless the Lord of [b]Sabaoth had left us a seed,
We would have become like Sodom,
And we would have been made like Gomorrah.”

How will you respond to the encouragement of the Apostle Paul?

Romans 12:1 New King James Version (NKJV)

Living Sacrifices to God

12 I beseech[a] you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your [b]reasonable service.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, we are so grateful for Your unfailing love for Your people.

Father, in humble submission and obedience to Your will and Your way, we offer up to You the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

—

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What Do You Need Most?

Text:

Psalm 51:1-3 (ESV)

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

Observation:

Some people would say that our greatest need is to have justice. However, that was not the greatest need of David. He said in this Psalm that his greatest need was mercy.

Every person ever born with a human father needs mercy. This is what the bible says about the human condition.

Romans 3:22-23 (HCSB)

22 —that is, God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction.

23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Psalm 51:3-5 (ESV)

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

The Psalmist acknowledged that he was included in the all who have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

The only solution to our greatest problem is Jesus, and what He did for us on the cross at Calvary. Our greatest need is to repent; to turn from our sins, and to turn to God. We give Him our all, and He gives us His all.

Psalm 51:9-10 (ESV)

9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

The goodnews is that Jesus has already paid for our sin debt. He has already blotted out our transgressions when He died our death to enable us to live in His presence forever. Fully justified, and fully alive in Christ.

Is this your testimony?

Galatians 2:20 (ESV)

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Prayer:

Father God, I am so pleased to associate myself with the host of people who have received the gift of love, forgiveness, grace, and mercy that was provided through the gift of Your only begotten son; Jesus the Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Father, thank You for doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. Father, I pray for any who have not received this precious gift, which alone satisfies our greatest need. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

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The Power to Live the Overcoming Life

Text:

Hebrews 10:15-18 (ESV)

15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,”

17 then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Observation:

The Holy Spirit is the witness that the new covenant is better than the old covenant. He bears witness in the Word.

Jeremiah 31:33-34 (ESV)

33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

The Holy Spirit lives in the hearts of God’s people. His presence is the evidence that we are children of God.

Romans 8:9 (ESV)

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

If you have received Jesus as your Savior, Jesus also lives in your heart.

Romans 8:10 (ESV)

10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

This is what Jesus has done for those who believe in, and have received Jesus into their life.

Ephesians 2:13-16 (ESV)

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,

16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

Prayer:

Father, I thank You for all that You have done to make us acceptable in Your eyes. Father, I am so grateful that we are never alone in this present world.

Father, I am so thankful for the office work of the Holy Spirit who works in us to empower and encourage us in our walk through this world; a world that Jesus has already overcome.

Are you able to say what the Apostle Paul said?

Galatians 2:20 (ESV)

Thank You Father, Amen.

—

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Have You Been Persuaded?

Text:

Romans 8:38-39 (HCSB)

38 For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, ?hostile? powers,

39 height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!

Observation:

Are you persuaded that God is able to save and keep His people; the people who He has rescued by the precious and royal blood of His only begotten son.

1 Peter 1:5 (HCSB)

5 You are being protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

The God who provided the means for your deliverance is also able to keep you, and to keep His promises.

The Holy Spirit of God makes the love of God real because God has poured out His love into our hearts.

Romans 5:5 (HCSB)

5 This hope will not disappoint ?us?, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Lyrics – One Thing Remains

“Higher than the mountains that I face

Stronger than the power of the grave

Constant through the trial and the change

One thing… Remains, yes

One thing Remains.

Your love never fails, it never gives up

It never runs out on me.”

As our focal passages says, “Nothing can separate us from the love of God”. Let’s unite our hearts together in love, and allow the love of God that is within us to flow out of us into the lives of all that we come in contact with. God’s love is forever, and His love never fails, and never gives up on you and me.

Prayer:

Father, I lift my whole heart up to You in praise and adoration of Your most holy and righteous name.

Father, I am so grateful for Your love that has been poured out into my heart, and it is the source of my persuasion that You are real; that Your love is real, and the peace of God that rules and reigns in my heart is real. And, all who agree say, Amen.

—

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How to Open the Eyes of Our Heart?

Text:

Ephesians 1:15-19 (HCSB)

15 This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

16 I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.

17 ?I pray? that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

18 ?I pray? that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints,

19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.

Observation:

The Word of God tells us that our heart and mind can be open through the power of the prayers of God’s people.

Ephesians 1:18 (KJV)

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

The lyrics of the song by Michale W. Smith speaks into my heart as I think, and pray for this to be a reality in my life.

“Open the eyes of my heart, Lord

Open the eyes of my heart

I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up

Shinin’ in the light of Your glory

Pour out Your power and love

As we sing holy, holy, holy.”

Are you willing to pray to our heavenly Father, and ask Him to open the eyes of your heart so that you might see Jesus seated in the throne room of heaven at the Father’s right hand?

If you are, if you ask Him, He will pour out of His heart, and into your heart, an abundance of His love, forgiveness, and grace. Then, you can pour that love into the lives of the people that God brings into your space.

Prayer:

Father, I adore You, and I exalt Your name. Father, there is none like You. Father, shine upon Your people, and bless us so that we can be a blessing to others. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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Where Can I Go to Get All of My Needs Met?

Text:

Mark 10:27 (HCSB)

27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”

Observation:

I was reading my Daily Bible Reading Plan for 2016, and the focal verse leaped off the page, and into my heart.

Some people may think it strange that God speaks to His children, but I’m not one of those people. I am learning to open the eyes and ears of my heart, and when I do I am able to hear God’s voice speaking into my heart.

God speaks to us through His Word. Here is what I heard Him say to me in my daily reading.

Exodus 7:1 (HCSB)

1 The LORD answered Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother will be your prophet.

God delights to have a conversation with His children, and He has provided the vehicles of prayer, and the Word of God for His people to communicate and connect with Him.

Why not call God today? Consider this verse from God’s Word as His personal invitation to you.

Jeremiah 33:3 (HCSB)

3 Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know.

My soul is singing this hymn written by the late gospel singer and writer, Roberta Martin.

“God is still on the throne,

Within your bosom, you have a phone.

Where’er you walk,

you’re not walking alone,

For God, is still on the throne.”

Let’s talk to the Lord; He can meet all of our needs.

Prayer:

Father, I thank You that the children of God never have to walk through this world alone.

Father, I am so glad that I can call upon You anytime, anywhere, and for any need or desire I have in my heart.

Father, I can rest in and rely upon the promise that nothing is too difficult for You. Lord we need You, and thank You Father, that we have all of You living in our hearts. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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How Confident Are You About the Future?

Text:

Romans 8:35-37 (ESV)

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Observation:

The Apostle Paul tells us how confident he was, and it was because of what Jesus had done for him. Has Jesus done for you what He did for Paul?

Romans 8:38-39 (HCSB)

38 For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, [hostile] powers,

39 height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!

You can be sure of the future if you base your hope upon the finished work of Jesus.

The Gospel of Christ never gets old. Walk through 2016 with your life in the hands of Jesus, and you can be sure that His love with never let you down.

Prayer:

Father, I praise and thank You for doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.

Father, I am so glad that Your people can face this New Year with confidence because of what Jesus has done for us.

Father, I am so glad to associate myself with those who can say, “I am persuaded; I believe in Jesus”. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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Daily Bread

Title: The Wonder of God’s Love for You

Text:

Romans 8:38-39 (KJV)
³⁸For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, ³⁹Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Observation:

The pace of change in the past 30 years has been astonishing. However, there are some things that don’t grow old or ancient with the passing of time. The invention of the airplane was 111 years ago. If Jesus tarry his return for another 100 years; can you envision what transportation will be like? Have you ever felt like the Psalmist?

Psalm 55:6 (KJV)
And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.

In the midst of rapid change there is one thing that does not change, that is the blessed assurance that we find in our text for today. I may not have wings like a dove, but I have a God who loves me supremely.

God knows who you are, and yet He loves you with an everlasting love. He does not love you because you are lovely; He loves you because that is His nature. He loved you before you were lovely.

Romans 5:8 (KJV)
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 4:8 (KJV)
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1 John 4:16 (KJV)
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Notice that our text says that nothing can separate you from the love of God. If you are a child of God, then God’s has you covered by the precious blood of His Son.

Prayer:

Father God, Sovereign Lord, my dear Father, I am so thankful for the promises of God, and this assurance of Your amazing love is a blessed assurance that calms my fears, and assures me in the depths of my soul. Father, I am so glad that You belong to me, and that I belong to You. Amen.

Song:

George Beverly Shea – The Love of God is Greater Far ( 1983 ) – YouTube

Daily Bread

Title: How to Have a Glorious and Graceful Day

Text:

Psalm 31:15 (KJV)
¹⁵My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

Psalm 118:8 (KJV)
⁸It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

Observation:

The thought occurred to me this morning that the greeting, “Good Morning” is okay, but a Glorious Morning and a Graceful Morning is so much better. That is what I experienced in my quiet time with the Lord this morning before I ever turned on my computer.

I have found in my life that God is so faithful; he will meet you where you are, and He always shows up on time.

Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV)
²²It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
²³They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

I am so glad that the God who made us knows us best, and what He says we can trust. It is no wonder that the Psalmist trusted in the Lord with his whole heart.

Psalm 103:14 (KJV)
¹⁴For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

Genesis 2:7 (KJV)
⁷And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

It’s decision time. Who will you trust; God or man?

Joshua 24:15 (KJV)
¹⁵And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, Sovereign Lord, my dear Father, I stand in awe of Your amazing love. Your love is unconditional and not diminished by our unfaithfulness. Lord, I long to be a vessel that You can use to channel Your love through me to others. O, how God loves you and me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)
²⁸Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling—
Calling for you and for me;
Patiently Jesus is waiting and watching—
Watching for you and for me!

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/1027#ixzz2mbMx7O2j