NOOMA Sunday | 004
How do I know I actually love You Jesus and not just "doing religion?"
Yet, time and time again I find myself swallowed in my sin. I trip before I can even start to run the race. I know how to look like a fig tree but do I actually grow figs? Am I just being seen by the right people and doing the right rituals? I want to live for You in secret. I want to live like no one is watching and yet my life is still for You. Every action is pleasing to You and it comes from a place in my heart of joy, delight, and satisfaction.
Wash me of yesterday's sins. Pick me up and dust me off yet again. Today is a new sun rise and today I will live for You. I have been dusted off so many times by You. I am a helpless sinner but I ask that You would find new mercy for me today. That Your patience wouldn't run out. Give me one more chance. Leave me another year. I don't want to just take up space in Your garden.
How do I know I actually love You Jesus and not just "doing religion?"
Why Does God Make Love the Priority Command?You demand love and make it the priority command because without love everything is worthless. Love is everything.
Love motivates obedience.
Love motivates perseverance.
Love provides protection.
Love for God empowers love for others.
Identifying True Love
Does God regularly circulate into my thoughts (Ps. 63:6)?
Am I often drawn to spend time with Him (Ps. 27:4)?
Does my life demonstrate a love for God (Rom. 5:8)?
Do I often enjoy God (Ps. 16:11)?
Do I ultimately find relief or satisfaction in obedience (John 14:21)?
-Breaking Free by Beth Moore - Session Nine
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.Does my life demonstrate a love for God?
-Paul
“A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’ “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”Does my life bear fruit or am I just taking up space? I want my sacrifices to mean something to You. I want my praise to mean something to You. I want my flowers to come out of the overflow of my heart not of duty.
-Jesus
Yet, time and time again I find myself swallowed in my sin. I trip before I can even start to run the race. I know how to look like a fig tree but do I actually grow figs? Am I just being seen by the right people and doing the right rituals? I want to live for You in secret. I want to live like no one is watching and yet my life is still for You. Every action is pleasing to You and it comes from a place in my heart of joy, delight, and satisfaction.
Wash me of yesterday's sins. Pick me up and dust me off yet again. Today is a new sun rise and today I will live for You. I have been dusted off so many times by You. I am a helpless sinner but I ask that You would find new mercy for me today. That Your patience wouldn't run out. Give me one more chance. Leave me another year. I don't want to just take up space in Your garden.