Tag: <span>proof</span>

Proof of Love
Published April 2, 2023

Proof of Love

“This is how God showed His love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:9-11

They say, “Talk is cheap.” It is easier to say you will do something than to actually do it.

We say we love someone, but when we express love through sacrifice and proven actions, we communicate something truly beautiful.

A prison ministry team was walking into the prison when they met with a woman who was in obvious distress. They didn’t ignore her, but instead listened to her story, shared a meal with her, gave her a ride home, and prayed and cared for her. Upon reflection, the leader said, “Love happens when we leave our comfort zone, when we ignore what is unlovable and actually see a person who is loved and precious — even if only God loves her.”

In 1 John, John explains that God loved us before we paid any attention to Him — in fact, we didn’t love God. God proved His love for us — he displayed and expressed His love in the ultimate sacrifice. God sent his Son to live and die as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. We didn’t realize we needed His love or His sacrifice.

John continues to explain — God showed His love to us through the sacrifice of His Son; therefore, we should go forth and love others. Just like we didn’t know that we needed God’s love or His sacrifice, likewise, there are others all around us that need authentic sacrificial love expressed to them and proven through our words and our actions.

Father God, thank you for loving all of us, even when we are unlovable. Thank you that you love people so much that you send those who know your love to share it with those who don’t yet know you. Help us to love others sacrificially, remembering that you proved your love for us through the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus. In His name we pray, Amen!

By Donna Mitchell
Used by permission

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thoughts by Donna Mitchell Thoughts by Women

Published March 14, 2009

Messages from Above

by John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
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“Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see.� Hebrews 11:1

When I purchased the car last year, I didn’t pay a lot of attention to reading the manual….. nobody does. In fact they say that the automobile handbook is the most unread book. I did notice some reference to “Engine Diagnostics Notification,� but thought nothing of it.

Then last week, on a Sunday afternoon, I got an e-mail telling me that all four of my tires were below acceptable pressure and it told me the pressure in each tire. I sort of sat there and stared at the monitor trying to figure it all out. How could my tire pressure be beamed up so a satellite high above that would in turn send me this e-mail? I got another e-mail telling me that I needed an oil change.

I was perplexed, as it was beyond my ability to understand, but I have learned over the years that I don’t necessarily have to understand how something works in order to participate in its value. I still don’t understand how the Internet works when I communicate almost instantly with someone on the other side of the world, but that doesn’t stop me from sending and receiving dozens of e-mails each day.

Faith in God is like that. I don’t have all the answers and I don’t understand everything, but I have faith in God as much as I have faith that while the dawn is still dark, the sun will rise at precisely the right time.

Having faith is not like having a wish list of things we would like to see happen. No, faith, as used in the Biblical sense is the assurance that what we hope for will come about and the certainty that what we cannot see exists. Faith is an unquestioning belief that does not require proof or evidence.

We drive our cars, purchase our food and do all sorts of things on the faith that they will work and not be harmful to us. Yet, why is it that many people use the excuse that they do not have proof of Christianity and therefore cannot embrace it? Through Jesus, we have assurance, guarantee and confidence.

How much of what we do is really motivated by an implicit trust in God’s Word? This is how we can tell whether we are living in faith. God tells to walk by faith and not by sight and have faith in Him…. Have faith in Him.
(a thought on life from John Grant )

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/03/14/jg_messages/

Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men