This is love in the making. The love of God is not created— it is His nature. When we receive the life of Christ through the Holy Spirit, He unites us with God so that His love is demonstrated in us. The goal of the indwelling Holy Spirit is not just to unite us with God, but to do it in such a way that we will be one with the Father in exactly the same way Jesus was. And what kind of oneness did Jesus Christ have with the Father? He had such a oneness with the Father that He was obedient when His Father sent Him down here to be poured out for us. And He says to us, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21).

Peter now realizes that he does love Him, due to the revelation that came with the Lord’s piercing question. The Lord’s next point is— “Pour yourself out. Don’t testify about how much you love Me and don’t talk about the wonderful revelation you have had, just ’Feed My sheep.’ ” Jesus has some extraordinarily peculiar sheep: some that are unkempt and dirty, some that are awkward or pushy, and some that have gone astray! But it is impossible to exhaust God’s love, and it is impossible to exhaust my love if it flows from the Spirit of God within me. The love of God pays no attention to my prejudices caused by my natural individuality. If I love my Lord, I have no business being guided by natural emotions— I have to feed His sheep. We will not be delivered or released from His commission to us. Beware of counterfeiting the love of God by following your own natural human emotions, sympathies, or understandings. That will only serve to revile and abuse the true love of God.

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March 3, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, I have a very important meeting today. Can You and will You help me with it?

And God says…”Of course I can and will help You. However, you should always understand that that I have the very best in mind for you. Your notion of what is good for you and My notion of what is the very best for you may be different.  Today you believe your future will be better if the outcome of your meeting goes a particular way. However, what if you went into your meeting knowing that I have already secured the very best future for you and all you need do is to rest and trust in Me?  You can go into your meeting free and unencumbered by expectations. You can go into your meeting trusting Me and have all your facilities available to You for honest and open communication. Trust in Me with all your heart and do not rely on your own devices and I will make your paths straight.

Isaiah 40:31 (New International Version, ©2011)

³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint.