John 8:41-42, Jesus said to them, “You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.”
How could they be so deceived? They were born into religious families. Have and know the Scriptures. Try not to break God’s laws. Think of themselves as better than worldly people. Pray daily. Offer sacrifices. Pay tithes. Zealous to expose hypocrites and false teachers. They think God is their father, yet they have no place in their hearts for Jesus’ words and want to kill Him. They don’t love Him. That’s sobering and convicting. How could they be so deceived? Easily. And so can anyone who has such a pedigree, thinks they know better than Jesus and can live without Him. These people were living for God. They weren’t living with Him. Our churches are filled with people living for God, but who don’t love Him or love with Him. Hopefully that’s not true of you. May we be stunned and humbled by God’s grace and love that keeps our hearts dependent on Him.
The Father loves the Son, so everyone born of the Father loves the Son. In fact, it also makes sense that they also love everyone else born of the Father. It’s the way they honor their Father in heaven—love their fellow brothers and sisters. If the Father loves them, we love them with Him. If Jesus loves them, we love them with Him. If someone separates from/rejects one who is born of God, he dishonors the Father and might as well kill Jesus.
What Jesus said about Himself is also true of us who believe in Him. We are in this world because God sent us to live to love in His name. We did not choose Him, (did not come on our own initiative) but He chose us. Faith came to us as evidence that we have proceeded forth from God—born of God. As John wrote in his letter, "as He is, so also are we in this world" (1 John 4:17). Jesus came into this world to glorify His Father by loving with Him. We are in this world to glorify the Father by living to love with Jesus.
I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.
