REAL LOVE AWAITS YOU AND IT WILL "NEVER" FAIL YOU!!!

                                                             

YOUR SOURCE OF "REAL" LOVE

“[God’s]…love never fails…” (1 Corinthians 13:8 NIV).  

*

 “God’s “…love is patient, [God’s]…love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. [God’s]…love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres, [God’s]…love never fails…” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV).

Love is the most essential need mankind has and it impacts the inner life more than any other human issue. Most people navigate through life secretly broken by heartache. Without real love, the human psyche is not whole nor is it healthy. The experience of “Lack of love” is entrenching and often fills the heart with sadness. Even if one is inundated with an adequate amount of fame, prestige, good looks, family, friends, notoriety, wealth, or the promised illusion of being somebody because of what you do; those things or people are NOT an adequate source of REAL love.

Without real love, you could be deceived into thinking it is your “trinkets, your posse, and your stuff” that makes you somebody, or makes you significant, or makes you whole, or makes you worthy of love. Unfortunately, when you are deceived into thinking your significance relies on your “trinkets, your posse, and your stuff”; then it will be your “trinkets, your posse and your stuff” that attracts others, not YOU; at least not the REAL, inner you.

Without realizing it, highlighting your “trinkets, your posse, and you stuff” will satisfy your ego, but NOT your heart or your need for REAL love. All your “trinkets, your posse, and your stuff” did not make you whole and inside your heart; you are begging and desperate for REAL love.

Too many people approach life broken, pursue dreams broken, become wealthy broken, enjoy fame broken, get involved with others broken, and perceived themselves as broken. The lack of REAL love is the culprit.

REAL Love places VALUE on your live. Value makes you significant. Significance means you are considered important to someone. Being considered important to someone gives your life a special meaning. That special meaning is that YOU MATTER and YOU MATTER because you are REALLY loved.

Human love has its rewards, but either it doesn’t last or it isn’t consistent. Human love can die, stop, leave, be wishy-washy, moody, or change its mind about you. Human love comes through human beings yet they are ONLY temporary RESOURCES anyway. No human being was meant to be here on earth forever.

Your husband, wife, child, family, friend, associate, or any other human acquaintance was sent into your life as a temporary RESOURCE only. You are to enjoy them, love them back, be thankful for them, and make memories with them, but NEVER forget they are a RESOURCE and not the MAIN SOURCE or REAL LOVE. God allows human RESOURCES in your life as long as you need them.

When Elijah no longer needed the brook; it dried up. It was only temporary. “…the Lord said to Elijah, “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.” So Elijah did as the Lord told him and …The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook. But after a while the brook dried up, ….” (1 KINGS 17:1-7 NLT).

 When the children of Israel no longer need the manna; it stopped. It was only temporary (40 years). ”…Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day.” That evening vast numbers of quail flew in and covered the camp. When the dew evaporated, a flaky substance as fine as frost blanketed the ground. The Israelites were puzzled when they saw it. “What is it?” they asked each other. And Moses told them, “It is the food the Lord has given you to eat...Each family had just what it needed. The Israelites called the food manna. It was white like coriander seed, and it tasted like honey wafers. So the people of Israel ate manna for forty years until they arrived at the land where they would settle. ….” (Exodus 16 NLT).

When the burning bush, the speaking donkey, the crafty serpent, or Jahaziel served their purposes; it or they were done. Their assignments were only temporary. “…And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and …the bush was not consumed….” (Exodus 3:2 KJV).

“…Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and it said...” (Numbers 22:28 NIV).

“…Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman…” (Genesis 3:1 KJV).

 “…, the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel …He said, “Listen… all This is what the Lord says…” (2 Chronicles 20:1-30 NLT).

When human love dies, stops, leaves, becomes wishy-washy, moody, or changes its mind about you - it is normal to have a human reaction about it. A human RESOURCE is always a GIFT from the MAIN SOURCE. If you knew they were a temporary RESOURCE eventually you’ll be okay, but if you thought they were a MAIN SOURCE you might not be okay. “…What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?...” (1 Corinthians 4:7 NLT).

“…. He (God) does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?” (Daniel 4 NLT). “…The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and THEY that dwell therein…” (Psalm 24:1 KJV). “…the world is mine, and the fulness thereof…(Psalm 50:12 KJV).

When temporary RESOURCES are removed from our lives whether for a little while or permanently we grieve over the lost. But remember, “…The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. …” (Job 1:20-22 NASB). “…. He (God) does as he pleases with… the PEOPLES (or resources) of the earth…” (Daniel 4 NLT).

When you KEEP FOCUS on the "MAIN" SOURCE, missing a temporary RESOURCE may be a little less bleak. “[YOUR] …Holy Spirit …is the SOURCE [of it ALL]…” (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).

When one RESOURCE stops for me, God supplies another. For that I am forever GRATEFUL. When I was recovering from brain surgery one of my RESOURCES stopped providing for me. You will be surprised, when you are down and out, who God uses to supply your need and who He doesn’t use. This particular RESOURCE stopped their love, support, and care.

They shut me out, cut me off, stop talking to me unless necessary, and acted as if they hadn’t been a vital part of my life for years and years. On top of trying to recover from my illness; it made me feel rejected, abandoned, unloved, uncared for, without grace, and without mercy.

It also made me think about the times they had wronged me; over and over, but I was led by the Holy Spirit to continue to show them grace, mercy, kindness, forgiveness, love, and faithfulness. Now, I thought, it was my turn for that kind of sacrificial love from them, but it didn’t happen. Initially it seemed unfair and it hurt terribly.

Of course, the famous question came up that we always ask when we just don’t understand something: WHY? I was called to be the mouthpiece for God’s heart and many of my experiences help me see things from God’s perspective.

I was upset because a RESOURCE, whom I had every God-given right to expect love and support from, appeared to be dried up. “…the brook dried up….” (1 KINGS 17:1-7 NLT). I was led to think about how many people did that to God ALL the time.

“…Christ died for [your] sins according to the scriptures…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV). “…Christ [first]…suffered for us in the flesh …” (1 Peter 4:1-3 KJV). “…he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed…” (Isaiah 53:5 KJV). “…his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness—“ (Isaiah 52:14 NIV). “…God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son…” (John 3:16 KJV). God, “…spared not his own Son, [from suffering,] but delivered him up for us all…” (Romans 8:32 KJV). ^“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (substitute, intervention) for our sins.” (1 John 4:10 KJV).

God’s love through Christ was full of grace, mercy, forgiveness, incredible love, longsuffering, patience, kindness, and sacrifice. It was costly for him to love YOU. “Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe. And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands….Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away…” (John 19:1-16 KJV). “…Christ died for [your] sins according to the scriptures…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV).

Many of Gods’ people, as soon as they feel they have all they need in life, they forget God; the one who blessed them with REAL LOVE and GRACE in the first place. God is often not on their priority list. Many of God's people have become selfish consumers of his blessings. They get what they want from God and then forget about him.  “…But when you had eaten and were satisfied, you became proud and FORGOT ME….” (Hosea 13:6 NLT). “… [YOU]… FORGOT all about ME,” says the Lord…” (Hosea 2:13 NLT). “…And because you have FORGOTten ME and turned your back on me, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: You must bear the consequences…” (Ezekiel 23:35 NLT).

“…Does a young woman forget her jewelry, or a bride her wedding dress? Yet for years on end my people have FORGOTten ME…” (Jeremiah 2:32 NLT).

After all of the REAL LOVE and sacrifices God has made, his people STILL forget about him and abandoned him, especially through chasing their OWN human desire. Chasing human desire results in abandonment: “…But my people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned away and ABANDONED me….” (JEREMIAH 5:23 NLT). “…They ABANDONED ME and did not obey my word….” (JEREMIAH 16:11 NLT).

 “….They ABANDONED the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods (IDOLS)…” (Judges 2:12 NLT).

“…They ABANDONED the Lord to serve Baal (THEIR HUMAN DESIRES)…” (Judges 2:13 NLT). “….They ABANDONED the Lord and no longer served him at all…” (Judges 10:6 NLT).

“…Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually ABANDONED ME and followed other gods (HUMAN DESIRE)…” (1 Samuel 8:8 NLT). “…He ABANDONED Lord, the God of his ancestors, and he refused to follow the Lord’s ways…” (2 Kings 21:22 NLT).

“…For my people have ABANDONED ME and offered sacrifices to pagan gods (HUMAN DESIRE), …” (2 Kings 22:17 NLT).“…He ABANDONED the Law of the Lord, and all Israel followed him in this sin…” (2 Chronicles 12:1 NLT).

“…They ABANDONED the Lord… they turned their backs on him….” (2 Chronicles 29:6 NLT).

How would it feel to be abandoned by your own people, who were meant to be a RESOURCE of REAL LOVE? After all, they were a gift from God and therefore BELONGED to you through a particular type of relationship? They belonged to you, especially or rightfully by blood, or by vows, or through the bond of friendship love, or by Christian love-bonds. “….You (also) belong to God…” (1 John 4:4 NLT).

When you lose a RESOURCE through death, abandonment, or because they changed their mind about you; God understands exactly how you feel.

Some of you have not called on God in so long; he is an intimate stranger. YOU have abandoned HIM in many ways; whether you are aware of it or not and don’t REALLY know him; you just know ABOUT him. You haven’t really talked to him that much privately and you have not personally sought after him in days, weeks, months, or maybe years.

However, people seek Him when they want answers after one of HIS gifted RESOURCES dies, leaves, stops, or no longer supplies THEM with what they need or desire. Suddenly it’s God’s fault. “….During that time all Israel mourned because it seemed the Lord had ABANDONED them….” (1 Samuel 7:2 NLT). The truth is; THEY had abandoned God.

 When people realized it was them that abandoned God and not the other way around: “…They cried out to the Lord for help, saying, “…We have sinned against you because we have ABANDONED you as our God...” (Judges 10:10 NLT).  “…You have ABANDONED ME and served other gods…” (Judges 10:13 NLT).

 “…The people of Judah had ABANDONED the Lord, the God of their ancestors, ….” (2 Chronicles 24:24 NL

God gets the blame for dried up RESOURCES that belong to him anyway: “…The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and THEY that dwell therein…” (Psalm 24:1 KJV). “…for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof…” (Psalm 50:12 KJV).

When RESOURCES dry up; think about the following scriptures: “For my people have done two evil things: They have ABANDONED ME— the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!”  “… "Cursed are those ….who rely on human strength….” (JEREMIAH 17:5 NLT).

 (JEREMIAH 2:13 NLT). “…Your wickedness will bring its own punishment. Your turning from me will shame you. You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is to ABANDON the Lord your God and not to fear him. I, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!” (JEREMIAH 2:19 NLT). “…Listen to the weeping of my people; it can be heard all across the land. “Has the Lord ABANDONED Jerusalem?” the people ask. “Is her King no longer there?” “Oh, why have they provoked my anger with their carved idols and their worthless foreign gods (CHOSEN HUMAN RESOURCES)?” says the Lord…” (JEREMIAH 8:19 NLT).

“…For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning…” (Romans 15:4 KJV).

It’s okay to be sad and have normal human reactions about temporary RESOURCES that are suddenly loss, have abandoned you, or have become wishy-washy. However, remember, “…Anyone who wants to be my follower must love me far more than he does his… (temporary RESOURCES) father, mother, wife, children, brothers, or sisters—yes, more than his own life—otherwise he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26 NLT).

When Job’s temporary RESOURCES died, stopped, and dried up; this is how he responded: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God …” (Job 1:20-22 NASB).

“…For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning…” (Romans 15:4 KJV).

Fortunately, “…the LORD thy God is a merciful God…” (Deutoronomy 4:31 KJV). “…mercy triumphs over judgement.” (James 2:13 NASB). “…it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it” (Romans 9:14-16 NLT).

Let’s look at how God’s mercy plays out over the abandonment of his people. “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. But the more I called to him, the farther he moved from me, offering sacrifices to the images of Baal and burning incense to idols. I myself taught Israel how to walk, leading him along by the hand. But he doesn’t know or even care that it was I who took care of him. I led Israel along with my ropes of kindness and love. I lifted the yoke from his neck, and I myself stooped to feed him. “But since my people refuse to return to me, they will return to Egypt and... They will destroy them, trapping them in their own evil plans. For my people are determined to desert me. They call me the Most High, but they don’t truly honor me. “Oh, how can I give you up, Israel? How can I let you go? How can I destroy you …My heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows. No, I will not unleash my fierce anger. I will not completely destroy Israel, for I am God and not a mere mortal. I am the Holy One living among you, and I will not come to destroy. For someday the people will follow me. I, the Lord, will roar like a lion. And when I roar, my people will return …And I will bring them home again,” says the Lord….” (HOSEA 11 NLT). MERCY!!!

“And now, O our God, what can we say after all of this? For once again we have ABANDONED your commands!” (Ezra 9:10 NLT). 

“….They refused to obey and did not remember the miracles you had done for them. Instead, they became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them…” (Nehemiah 9:17 NLT).

“…But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a gracious and merciful God you are!” (Nehemiah 9:31 NLT).

“…The Lord says, “Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my (MERCIFUL) love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever….” (HOSEA 14:4 NLT).  ^“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (substitute, intervention) for our sins.” (1 John 4:10 KJV). “…There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life…” (John 15:13 NLT).

“God’s “…love is patient, [God’s]…love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. [God’s]…love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres, [God’s]…love never fails…” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV). “…There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life…” (John 15:13 NLT).

RESOURCES are temporary whether they are used to provide something for you for a few minutes or for several years. God sent the bread from heaven, to his children, for forty years and then it stopped.

“…Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day.” That evening vast numbers of quail flew in and covered the camp. When the dew evaporated, a flaky substance as fine as frost blanketed the ground. The Israelites were puzzled when they saw it. “What is it?” they asked each other. And Moses told them, “It is the food the Lord has given you to eat. ...Each family had just what it needed. The Israelites called the food manna. It was white like coriander seed, and it tasted like honey wafers. So the people of Israel ate manna for forty years until they arrived at the land where they would settle. ….” (Exodus 16 NLT).

God is your main SOURCE  of REAL LOVE and everything ELSE. When the temporary RESOURCES dry up or stop like the manna in the wilderness: you STILL have the permanent, everlasting BREAD OF HEAVEN.  ^““…I AM THE LIVING BREAD WHICH CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN…” (JOHN 6:51 KJV). “…Man shall not live by [HUMAN] bread alone, but by every word (SPIRITUAL BREAD) that proceedeth out of the mouth of God….” (MATTHEW 4:4 KJV).  “….give me only my daily bread…” (PROVERBS 30:8 NASB). “…Give us this day our daily bread…” (MATTHEW 4:11 KJV). “…Give us day by day our daily bread….” (LUKE  11:3 KJV). “….THE BREAD OF GOD is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE: HE THAT COMETH TO ME SHALL NEVER HUNGER…” (JOHN 6:33-35 KJV). “…The Lord is my shepherd; I SHALL NOT WANT…” (Psalms 23 KJV).

“…Your unfailing [REAL] love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. YOU SATISFY ME more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy…” (Psalms 63:1-5 NLT).

“…God will supply all [your need]…” (Philippians 4:19 NASB). GOD says, “…I… satisfy  …” (Jeremiah 31:25 NASB).

ONLY GOD CAN SATISFY YOUR NEED FOR REAL, permanent and everlasting LOVE: “…YOU SATISFY ME MORE THAN THE RICHEST FEAST …” (Psalms 63:1-5 NLT). HE IS YOUR SOURCE FOR REAL and EVERLASTING LOVE AND THERE IS NO OTHER. “[YOUR] …Holy Spirit …is the SOURCE [of it ALL]…” (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).