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The Gift That Money Can't Buy -- Love
Author : Ann Doupont
This past Saturday, I preached a salvation message for the local rescue mission’s Christmas banquet and about 10 people made commitments to the Lord. Using 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a as my text, I explained to them what God’s love is. Its first quality is that of long-suffering, also known as patience. He is so patient, not willing that any should perish.
Using the natural to show them the spiritual, I brought a wrapped gift with me which my sister had sent and I showed it to them. Telling them that I didn’t have to pay for it, but someone else had, all I had to do was to receive it. It was free to me. Love is just to be received.
God is love (1 John 4:8) and His perfect love (verse 18) casts out all fear. Freely I’ve received it, freely I give it. I further told them that many are looking for love in all the wrong places - that I used to do that, looking for it in bars and in relationships, but that it cannot be found there - only in God.
Sometimes Christians make these same mistakes, trying to fill the void that’s in their hearts. They try and fill it with people, places, and/or things (including the doing of more ministry). Only God’s love can fill the empty places in our hearts.
As we invite Him into every area of our hearts and lives, He will come in. As we come to Jesus, and rest from our heavy burdens, He will give us the true rest we so desire (Matthew 11:28-30).
As we delight ourselves in Him, He said that it is then that our heart’s desires would be provided for us. This verse in Psalm 37:4 is referring to the secret petitions of our heart - not those that are verbalized.
Let’s accept His love, allowing it to penetrate deeply into those secret, hidden crevices of our hearts, making us more like the One who loves us, changing every one of our desires to be what He desires. It is that love that we need.
Knowing that we’re loved, we can do anything that we’re called to do. In this holiday season, let’s let Him fill us with His love and overwhelm us with it. Then, let’s allow the overflow to go freely through us to others.
There need not be any deficit of God’s love to those who have His Kingdom inside of them (John 3:3, 5). Freely receive it from Him, and then freely give it to others. (See Matthew 10:8.)
(More writings available through www.anndoupont.org)
Author's Resource Box
Ann Doupont is the author of 4 books and 6 booklets. Please visit her website at www.anndoupont.org.
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