BY DORAL PULLEY, Today’s Church Tampa Bay
Scripture – “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor 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.” Romans 8:38-39
Denial – God’s love for me will never increase or decrease.
Affirmation – God’s love for me is perfect.
You are loved. God’s love for you is perfect. There is nothing that you can do to increase it or decrease it. God’s love for you is unconditional. It is not based on your thoughts, words, or actions. It just is. God’s love for you is everlasting. It always has been and always will be. There is nothing that can change God’s love for you.
Jesus, the Wayshower, established a kingdom of love. When the Jewish leaders brought to him the woman who was caught in the act of adultery, he refused to operate according to the old Law of Moses which required her to be stoned to death (John 8:1-11). He operated according to a higher law, the law of love. Jesus was a physical demonstration of the love of God by being a judgment free zone for the woman who was in a challenging position. He was only interested in her learning and growing from the experience. His love reigned supreme so much so that the woman’s accusers had no choice but to love her or leave the situation.
The same love of God that was inside of Jesus Christ is inside of you. In every situation, you have a choice to manifest love or to be judgmental. Give love and compassion to yourself when you think a thought that is not the highest and the best or say something that is hurtful or do something with an impure motive. As you give love and compassion to yourself, you will discover more opportunities to give love and compassion to others.
Reflection Question – How can you be more of a physical demonstration of God’s love to yourself and to others?
Forgiveness Activity – Read Paul’s perfect definition of love found in 1st Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV version preferable). How can you reign with that definition of love in every situation and with every person in your life, including God and yourself?
Rev. Doral Pulley is the senior pastor of Today’s Church Tampa Bay, 940 5th Ave. S, St. Petersburg (Staybridge Suites) and 5107 North Central Ave., Tampa.
