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Pastor Beal

IF YOU ONLY KNEW!

"We love him, because he first
loved us." I Jn. 4:19

I ask you to think with me for a moment about the love of God. Do you realize that God has never had anyone love Him first? God has never had anyone make the first move in friendship! God has never had a friend that he never had to die for! Do you realize that all of the time that you have been leaving God out of your life, cursing Him, fighting Him, and rebelling against Him, He has been loving on you? Do you realize that God has made provisions and commandments to those around you to treat you with love and kindness? It's no wonder that once a person experiences the love of Christ in a personal way that he feels ashamed at how they have behaved toward Him. I want to just list a few of God's teachings to let you see that God's plan includes you, even though your plan excludes Him.

ENEMIES -- "But LOVE ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing:" Lk. 6:35

NEIGHBOR -- "Thou shalt LOVE thy neighbor as thyself." Matt. 19:19

PARENTS -- "Children obey your parents in all things." "Honor thy father and thy mother." Col. 3:20

GOVERNMENT -- "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake." I Pet. 2:13

HUSBANDS -- "Wives submit your selves unto your own husbands." Eph. 5:22

WIVES -- "Husbands, LOVE your wives, and be not bitter against them." Col. 3:19

AUTHORITY -- "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers." Rom. 13:1

As we can see, that when we love God with all our heart and soul and mind, He has made a provision for ALL. Has your plan left out God? Jn. 3:16 tells it so well, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, ..." I read once that, GOD DOESN'T ACCEPT A LOVE THAT INCLUDES HIM, BUT EXCLUDES OTHERS!

Thanks! Pastor Earl Beal