Drawing Near 8-4-2010

by **rmsalazar** Wed Aug 04, 2010 5:15 pm

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God . . . . We love because He first loved us" (1
John 4:7, 19).

Scripture often makes seemingly impossible demands of us. For example, Jesus said, "Love your
enemies, and pray for those who persecute you" (Matt. 5:44). That's easy to say, but how is it
possible? Our natural tendency is to love our friends and hate our enemies. But Jesus said, "If you
love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same? And if
you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the
same?" (vv. 46-47).
Israel viewed tax-gatherers as traitors, and Gentiles as spiritual outcasts. Yet even traitors and
outcasts show love and kindness to those who reciprocate. Jesus calls us to a much higher standard
of love--one that is impartial, like God demonstrates when He "causes His sun to rise on the evil and
the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (v. 45). As we see from God Himself,
it extends even to those who aren't worthy: "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8 ). Despite generations of rebellion and slander
against His holy will and name, God sacrificed His beloved Son, thereby providing the means by
which sinners can be saved. Out of love, Jesus willingly endured the pain and shame of the cross and
paid the price of our redemption. Now that's divine love in action!
God commands you to love as He loves: impartially and sacrificially. That may sound impossible on
the human level but remember that God never requires you to do anything He hasn't already enabled
you to do. At the moment of your salvation, the Holy Spirit took up residence within you and began
producing the fruit of love (Gal. 5:22). You don't have to muster it up on your own. All you have to do
is invite the Spirit to take control, allowing Him to govern your thoughts and actions. As you do, His
precious fruit will be multiplied in your life.

Suggestions for Prayer:
Thank God for the love of the Spirit He has placed within you.
Ask Him for opportunities today to learn how to love more perfectly.

For Further Study:
Memorize Galatians 5:22-23.

From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books,
a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.
Available online at: http://www.gty.org/Resources/Devotionals/drawing
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