"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WITH HURTING MARRIAGES"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WITH HURTING MARRIAGES"

1st John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us.

1st John 4:20 f someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

1st John 4:21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Some explanatory thoughts and application:

1. John, is of course talking about love, which is so often what we need in our marriages.

2. He is also focusing on what Christ has done for us, and how it has changed us. He (Jesus loved us first and, the result is that we love Him. It's His love, that has brought our love. (how true it is that our love for our mates, is what begins to bring the healing into the hurts in the marriage. Not just sentimental love, but true, Divine, Godly love in our hearts and then showing up in our speech, demeanor, and our actions. 

3. Now here is a very important truth to help us be authentic, and Godly in our marriages. 1st John 4:20 f someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? We cannot do the both. Say I love God and hate our brother. And, if we cannot love our brother who we can see (our mate) then how can we love God whom we cannot see. Thus the truth is, that the two in fact are supposed to go together. Love God, and love our mates. Let's start with God, let's love Him, and the rest will truly take care of itself. We all know that deep down.

4. Here's a very helpful truth. 1st John 4:21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. The word commandment means, precept, an order, charge, injunction, that which is prescribed to us by God. A prescribed rule in accordance with which a thing is being done. 

5. So often, the hurt, the tension, the lack of peace, the anxiety, and the hurtful attitudes, and the dangerous things thought and said, can be instantly removed, if we will simply, let God's Word be taken into our hearts, and taken seriously, and responded to in obedience. Amazing how God can change hurt, into healing in an instant. 

A prayer:

Father, we are thankful to You, that You have not only saved us, but given us Your Word to know how to live our lives down here on Earth, while we serve You, and wait to be with You. Your Word is eternal, it's pure, it's without error, it gives us understanding, it when received and responded to brings success into our lives, it's really quite simple. We get so wrapped up in our thoughts, that we lose sight of the simplicity of what blessings and peace You can and want to bring into our lives and marriages. 

We pray for hurting marriages today, and those that may be hurting and reading this devotional today. Lord pour Your love, grace and mercy into their souls this very moment, and bring healing to hurt. Bring a halt to hurt, and replace it with Your healing. 

We love You.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia