How Deep is Your Love?

How Deep is Your Love?

by David Brenneman 

Waking up to a chorus of a song that points my first thoughts to Jesus is a fantastic thing. 

"And all my life You have been faithful

And all my life You have been so, so good

With every breath that I am able

Oh, I'm gonna sing of the goodness of God

I'm gonna sing, I'm gonna sing

'Cause all my life You have been faithful

And all my life You have been so, so good

With every breath that I am able

Oh, I'm gonna sing of the goodness of God

Oh, I'm gonna sing of the goodness of God"

When we walk with the, in the light of his word, what a glory he sheds on our way. While we do his good will, he abides with us still. Never fear only trust and obey. Trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey"

We aren't to dictate the course of our lives.  Was listening to a clip from Dr. Charles Stanley.  The point of it was to listen to God when we are at peace, not just to seek to listen when we are not at peace. 

We live in a world that says that if you want something you must go after it.

God's Word says if you desire something, check with Him first.  See if it aligns with His will for you.  

If you listen to Dr. Charles Stanley's 30 Life Principles video's you will hear much about how important listening to God is over listening to yourself or to others. 

If our decisions initiate strife and angered division then we need to stop and ask questions.  Would Jesus react this way? Would He approve of my behavior? Would this direction in life honor Him or merely give me what I want?  

How can we sing of the goodness of God when disobedience litters our lives?  How can we talk to others about their need for Jesus when our lives display a selfish life?

When busyness defines our lives and we aren't living a life devoted to Jesus then we aren't living for Jesus in all that we do. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.  

I learned this last week from Dr. David Jeremiah, something very profound.  The word for wisdom is skill.  Proverbs takes on an interesting new feeling when you switch that word.  

We who are in Christ Jesus are being taught of God by the Spirit of God.  We are to apply those things to our lives so that others may see the work of God in us and desire the same for themselves.  

When selfishness defines our lives, when we are self-serving, people are not seeing Jesus in us.

Personally, I don't believe it's in God's will for me to spend thousands of dollars on a piece of paper that tells the world what I have learned at His hand in my life. Especially when it would push me into a death spiral of debt.  

Personally, embracing a desire for something in this world, be it a place to live or a possession or even a status that others see...is a sin when Jesus isn't the true reason for those things in my life. 

Love not the world nor the things of this world.  Love your neighbor as yourself. Love the Lord your God with all your heart  , mind, soul and spirit.  Beloved let us love one another. For love is from God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God for God is love. 

To be consumed with self means we aren't being consumed by the love of Christ. 

Where are your thoughts today? 

Are they polluted with the world?  

Are you so wrapped up in self that you are not loving those whom He joined you with in this life?   

Where is your Shepherd?  Do you know?  

Are you at all listening for His voice or have you already decided what you are going to do and have chosen not to listen to Him?  

If your decisions bring strife between you and other Believers due to your selfish desires to not let go of the path you are on...beware.  It has not escaped notice by God and you will find the downward slide of the Prodigal Son coming. 

If you're not intentionally spending time with Jesus you're neglecting the most important person in your life. The One who took your place on the cross should always be first place in your heart. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Seek first what He wants for you. 

All our lives He has been faithful. 

All our lives He has been so, so good. 

With every breath that we are able,  we should be singing of the goodness of God. 

Our image, our status, our desires, our wants, our life should be at the feet of Jesus.  A life defined as Him having worked in us. 

"We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.  And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also." 1 John 4:19-21 NASB95