God loves us – Page 58 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

God’s Love for Humanity is a 3 part series.

Every recipe has the main ingredient. It is the dominant item, and the rest of the things contribute to its flavor, appearance, and combined, they form the recipe’s unique characteristics.

Yesterday, I conducted some research on the central themes of the Bible. I follow one criterion from my academic background; make sure that the source is credible. I could not believe that not one theologian mentioned “love.” The most crucial foundation for having faith, trust, obedience, and hope is believing that God, our Creator and Heavenly Father is love.

So, I will proclaim: God is love! He is the originator of Unconditional Love, and from His love flows abundant rivers of grace and mercy.

I have a friend who has two adult sons that refuse to fly away and leave the home nest. Although she is ready for them to go, they cannot detach themselves emotionally from Momma’s love. In fact, they are hanging on as if their wings are broken. The only way for these mature birds to leave the nest is for Momma to call the locksmith and to place their suitcases on the porch, and that’s something that Momma is not going to do.

Let us take a journey through the Bible where God openly reveals that He is love and His unconditional love for humanity.

Morning Prayer: God, we thank you for another day of life, complete with your grace and mercy. We pray for forgiveness of our sins. Thank you for your love. Please help us recognize that we were created from your love and that you gave us the innate ability to love you, love others, and love ourselves.

Innate: existing in, belonging to, or determined by factors present in an individual from birth: NATIVE, INBORN. Innate behavior. originating in or derived from the mind or the constitution of the intellect rather than from experience. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/innate

Although we will focus on the biblical proof of God’s love directed toward humanity, we must acknowledge that God first created the world, and our world will always belong to Him because of His love. The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. Psalm 24:1

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:26-28 NKJV

Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Genesis 1:31 NKJV. Yes, God made us on a Friday.

God’s Love: The Creation of Human Beings

And on that beautiful Friday, humanity was lovingly created from the hands of God: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7. Never forget that we were not spoken into existence, we are God-designed; it was from the hands and breath of God that we were given life. Now that is LOVE!

According to Genesis 1, God said:

1. “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;”
2. “let them have dominion over…”
3. “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.”

God’s Love for Humanity: The Gifts of Food and Shelter

And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.” Genesis 1:29

The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground, the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:8-9

God’s Love for Humanity: Not created to be Alone!

18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. Genesis 2:18, 20-22

God’s Love for Humanity: The Ability to Love a Soul-Mate, Marry, and Reproduce

And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. Genesis 2:23-24

Even the Apostle Paul says that marriage is a mystery:

As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” 32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. Ephesians 5:31-32

God is love! And from God flows unconditional love, and from his love flows never-ending grace and mercy.

While reading Genesis chapters 1-2, I performed a spiritual self-evaluation and asked myself, what is wrong with me? God has given me the innate ability to love Him, love others, and love myself. I am created in God’s image, and He has faithfully supplied all of my necessities, so why do I succumb to the “Diseases of the D’s?”: Times when Doubt, Disbelief, Discouragement, Depressing thoughts, Despondency, or feeling Downtrodden enter my mind, and I act as if I can’t move forward. Certainly, the D’s demonstrate my lack of faith in God.

King David also reflected and asked himself: Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God! Psalm 43:5 NLT

We belong to God!

We are not a label, a race, nationality, or ethnicity, nor are we lower, middle, or upper class. We are not defined by the clothing we wear, the car we drive, or the neighborhood that we live in. Financial wealth is insignificant in the sight of God. We must disregard all of the categories that the world attempts to place us in. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:9

Never lose sight of who you belong to, and that is God, our Heavenly Father. The only status that we need to be concerned about is being part of the righteous who are faithfully awaiting the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Every time you begin to feel yourself slipping downward, memorize and repeat King David’s validation of who you are:

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:14

Again, the Apostle Paul validates who we are according to God:

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:27-29

Redirect your focus: Yes, we better know that we are somebody! We are children of the Most-High God, created in the image of our One and Only Creator, our Heavenly Father, the Alpha, and the Omega who is the beginning and the end.

Many individuals are raising their arms with a clenched fist to signify or indicate power. But, I am here to say that when the Children of God, we raise our arms, it is with open hands to acknowledge the Deity and the Power of God and we are asking God to reign down His love and blessings upon us. Glory to God! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! Psalm 150:4

God, we praise you and worship your Holy Name. We ask you to forgive us for failing to recognize who you really are. God, please help our minds. We keep losing focus and forget that you have given us the innate ability to love. Our implanted seed of faith has not grown like it should because the cares of our earthly journey crush us. God, we pray that every stronghold of defeat is removed from our minds and that we never fail to give you the praise, the honor, and the glory. We humbly ask this prayer in the Wonderful Name of Jesus. Amen.

Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourself from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. 2 Corinthians 6:17

Growing up in a home with a Mother who was an Ordained Minister included strict guidelines and mandated obedience. We were not allowed to watch many television programs or cartoons, wear seductive clothing, or have friends who were unbelievers. It was not her intent for our family to blend in by adapting to the world’s ungodly standards. Although my father was not as strict as my Mother, he respected that she was a “Woman of God.”

Once I became “grown” and desired to explore the world, the first thing that I did was to pierce my ears, four piercings in each ear. In today’s standards, that wouldn’t even cause a reaction. But then the domino effect started. The love for expensive jewelry caused me to stop giving tithes and offerings. “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. Malachi 3:8. The transition to becoming a worldling was easy because I stopped studying the Bible and no longer attended church.

I never stopped believing in God. But serving God and living righteously were not my priorities any longer. Satan allowed me to meet a good man who was faithful, did not party, drink, smoke, or use profanity. But remember that there is always a gimmick when the gift is from Satan. Yes, my “good man” did not believe in marriage and was a self-proclaimed agnostic.

There are many whose hearts are aching under a load of care because they seek to reach the world’s standard. They have chosen its service, accepted its perplexities, adopted its customs. Thus their character is marred, and their life made a weariness. In order to gratify ambition and worldly desires, they wound the conscience and bring upon themselves an additional burden of remorse.

The continual worry is wearing out the life forces. Our Lord desires them to lay aside this yoke of bondage. . . . He bids them seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and His promise is that all things needful to them for this life shall be added.”-Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 330.

Long ago, the LORD said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love, I have drawn you to myself. Jeremiah 31:3

Although I had given up on God by being enticed by the things of the world, God did not give up on me. One day, I was driving and saw a store, “One Dollar or More,” that caused me to stop. As I was browsing, an older woman approached me and started a conversation about the unique items that were in the store. Then she said, “God misses you.” I can tell you that was a “Jesus is LORD!” experience. She invited me to her church. I turned to resume shopping but then realized that I did not thank her. From where I was standing, I could easily see throughout the store. She was not in the store, so I went outside, but she was not there. Since this store was in New Jersey, the only parking available was metered parking. I do know this, that as old as the woman was, there is no way she could have disappeared in a moment.

I started attending church and was rebaptized. It was then the “Satan vs God” battle started. I ended the relationship with the good man before my rebaptism, but he wanted to remain just friends. Soon, I realized that he was a distraction. I had to make a choice, and that choice was painfully difficult. Even so, when God says that He always makes a way out from temptation and that he will never leave you or forsake you, He stands by His promises. As a newly baptized member, the church assigned a spiritual mentor who was a prayer warrior. God made sure that I did not have to fight alone.

As for the older woman, when I described her to the church members, I was told that no one fitting that description had ever attended their church. I believe that God sent one of His messenger angels to approach me as a kind, and soft-spoken godly woman to let me know that He still loved me, and He wanted me to return to Him.

For most of my life, I have traveled on a path of suffering. Nevertheless, God has always placed His loving arms around me. I encourage each of you to give up all worldly desires by following the will of God which places us in harmony with God. Yes, we will continue to struggle in our walk with God. Even so, when we live by faith and obedience, we will reap the benefits of having complete peace in our stormy trials and sorrows. And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28. Amen!

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him, we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5 ESV

God, we thank you for never giving up on us. We ask for forgiveness of our sins. We need your strength to overcome all worldly temptations. Thank you for being our Heavenly Father and loving us unconditionally. We pray this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Tag: God loves us

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