From Believing it to Living it

To read the Bible in one year, to pray daily, to be kind, more patient. To serve well, to rise early, get enough sleep, eat well, exercise effectively. To do the right thing.

Even. To follow Christ. To believe God is enough, that His sacrifice paid the penalty, and it is only by faith that one is saved. To believe Jesus is the only way.

It all amounts to nothing, means nothing, and does nothing, for you.

Apart from love (1 Corinthians 13:2).

Because until you experience the tender love of Christ and know Him as Love. Until the Holy Spirit reveals Christ in you as the One who loved first, you will not see His glory and His majesty.

No, you will not. Because you will not draw close to Him.

Apart from love.

But, when you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is for you, and all glory and majesty and power and dominion are His. That this Almighty God is the One Who came down, for you. That He lay His power and authority down in humility, to save you. Until you see that His love is for you. That He conquered death for you. That His life was given for you. That He came solely for you.

Only then will you live as He intended it. Your life, that is. As He intended your life to be lived. With Him.

It’s the only way to go from believing it to living it. It’s where the love of Christ controls you (2 Corinthians 5:14), and you are filled with the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19).

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“But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:8 (NLT)

“and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” - Ephesians 3:19 ESV

“For the love of Christ controls us…” - 2 Corinthians 5:14 ESV