He has loved us From the Start

I drew them with gentle cords, With bands of love, And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them.
Hosea 11:4

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.
Jeremiah 31:3

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11‭-‬13

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
Isaiah 43:1‭-‬2

Because he loves us He paid the greatest price for our redemption. He paid the cost to free us from all sin. So we must live in such a way that we reflect his image in us. We must be the light and the salt of the earth.

Light is necessary. It is essential for life to engage, to function, to move. It is the Light of Christ that has come because of The gift of God.

So we move in obedience being the ambassadors of the Kingdom of God. Walking daily to shine as his light was manifested to us. So, now we go and are seen of others as the very reflection of the image of Jesus Christ.

We are to have the mind of Christ.
Renewing our understanding by looking to him day to day. His word is our bread. Communication with him is of utmost importance. Daily prayer and reading his word is the recipe for success in our faith walk. Intimacy with God, closed doors, with no one else, just time spent praising him, asking him for his direction and for his will to be done in us. This is how we develop spiritual stamina to live as light in a dark world. Our purpose and divine election is such a privilege that we seek to honor the one who gave it all for us.

The Apostle Paul says it best. This is to be our mindset and focus, our lifestyle and determination, to shine for Him. He wrote,

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:3‭-‬21

The game plan for succes in this faith walk is knowing Christ and serving him with diligence. Being dedicated to let every day count for his glory. Every action and reaction, every gift and blessing is to be recognized as his providence. We are not our own.

He has loved us with an everlasting love. So we do not want to manufacture some tradition or some predesigned fashion of repetitious prayers and sayings when we come to him. We want true relationship and true commitment. Engaging his Holy Spirit to cause us to be more like God’s Son. Jesus. Jesus, bring us closer. Allow us to diminish and your image to be clearly seen in us.

Then we will draw other to the saving knowledge of the Lord Christ, the One Messiah, the only Redeemer and Savior, the Forgiver and Sustainer, The God Incarnate. The very Lamb of God who has come to set men free. Free from sin and darkness… free from a life without purpose and confusion. We will point others to the one who alone can restore the broken hearted and those who have no hope.

We love him because he first loved us. He drew us with love and mercy and gave us the privilege to be called his own children of God.

Shine in us oh Jesus. Shine in us! Draw us to the place where we allow ourselves to be used. Create in us a clean heart. Renew our resolve. Let in decrease and your Spirit increase in us.
Be glorified in me today and in my dear brothers and sisters as well. This is pray.