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Sunday, March 19, 2017

3rd Sunday in Lent - Oneness with Christ - Christ Living Through Us

Deus caritas est! “…God is love.” 1 John 4:16
As we enter this season of reflection and renewal, let’s rediscover God calling to His children, revealing His goodness, and transforming each one with Perfect Love. "This is real love – not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins" (1 John 4:10) ~ Donna Oswalt

The fruit of righteousness is that fruit that is exercised in us by the Holy Spirit. RC Sproul from The Holiness of God

Without God, we do not have faith; we cannot love. God IS love, and because He loves us, we can know love. Christians are to demonstrate the fruit of God's love to others. When we call ourselves His children but do not love, we deceive each other.

We love because He first loved us... Whoever loves God must also love his brother.                  1John 4:19, 21 

Commentaries say John uses the word love "35 times" in this letter. The love John uses is the Greek word agape to describe a self-less, undeserving, pure love. This agape begins with God and flows into us. In acknowledging God as the Source of love, our help and security, our comfort and rest can be traced to God. No longer are we self-reliant; rather, we become Spirit-dependent as the Holy Spirit dwells in us, growing the fruit of righteousness. In Galatians 5:22-23, we find the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. God is love and through us He shows His love to others.

READ 1 John 4:19-21

consider this!

- Can the law make us love?

- What fruit of the Spirit is missing from my life?

Love Most High - Such generous love and mercy flows from You. You are the Source of goodness and grace, love and power, life and death. In You I can find all things good. You are holy and righteous. Teach me how to grow my life to be more like Yours. Amen. -dho

All rights reserved; copyright 2017 by Donna Oswalt/Co-Founder of Mangrove Ministries/Christian blogger and author;  Breathing Room For My Soul (blog)~ Follow on Twitter @soulchat

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