The first thing God does is forcibly remove any insincerity, pride, and vanity from my life. And the Holy Spirit reveals to me that God loved me not because I was lovable, but because it was His nature to do so. Now He commands me to show the same love to others by saying, “…love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). He is saying, “I will bring a number of people around you whom you cannot respect, but you must exhibit My love to them, just as I have exhibited it to you.” This kind of love is not a patronizing love for the unlovable— it is His love, and it will not be evidenced in us overnight. Some of us may have tried to force it, but we were soon tired and frustrated.

“The Lord…is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish…” (2 Peter 3:9). I should look within and remember how wonderfully He has dealt with me. The knowledge that God has loved me beyond all limits will compel me to go into the world to love others in the same way. I may get irritated because I have to live with an unusually difficult person. But just think how disagreeable I have been with God! Am I prepared to be identified so closely with the Lord Jesus that His life and His sweetness will be continually poured out through Me? Neither natural love nor God’s divine love will remain and grow in me unless it is nurtured. Love is spontaneous, but it has to be maintained through discipline.

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May 11 2016

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Good morning Lord and thank You for the music and devotional…and a special thank you for the chorus of the song that is a reminder that today is the first day of the rest of our lives.

Like so many other times before, David and I took issue with Chambers, especially when he says that our love for others can only come from discipline. That sounds a lot like “gritting my teeth and forcing myself” to love difficult people. That is never the way that has worked for me in real life. I cannot turn the other cheek, give up my coat and cloak, nor have I been able to walk an extra mile for someone I do not even like. However, when I am surrendered and connected to You, allowing the Holy Spirit to live through me, everything changes. For me it is not my personal self-discipline that makes the difference in my love for others, it is my surrender to You. Am I on the right track?

And God says…”You already know the answer to your rhetorical question. Of course that is the way it works in “real life”. When you give up the right to yourself; give up the “big four”; to look good, feel good, to be right and to be in control, the Holy Spirit can live through you. When you pick up your cross, that is you sacrifice yourself, give up your right to yourself, then I can live through you. And I have the capacity to love the unlovable. You do not need the “grit your teeth” kind of personal discipline to love the unlovable; you simply give up your right to yourself, and let Me love them through you.”

“When you seek first the kingdom of God, all things become possible. When you make our relationship first, by your surrender and connection, I will make your paths straight. If you want to have your life, you must give it up. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. When you are surrendered, connected and curious you can live your life knowing that all things work together for good, and even you can love the unlovable.”