Today's Scripture
"God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." - 1 John 4:9-10 NLT
Thoughts for Today
God's passion? For you. And me. And every person.
God is passionate about His relationship with us. He desires us with such unquenchable desire that He became a seed in a woman's womb, the smallest entity of life, to rescue us from our sin! Jesus loves us so much that He suffered and died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. He is God—and yet He did that for us. That is love! That is passion!
Worship is not a one-sided relationship. Even as we seek more of God, He seeks more of us. As we long for, thirst for, a more intimate relationship with Him, He promises to draw near to us. James 4:8 says this: "Come close to God, and God will come close to you."
Consider this …
God is all-powerful. He is holy. He is our Creator. Our Deliverer. Our Savior. He is mightier than we can even begin to imagine. And yet He loves us. Passionately. He wants a personal relationship with each of us.
If you are already a follower of Christ, take time to meditate on His unconditional love for you. Long for more of Him. Draw close to Him—and He will draw close to you.
If you are not a follower of Christ, consider opening your heart to His love. We have all sinned and deserve punishment—but He loves us so much He took that punishment for us. He loves you. He desires a relationship with you. Will you receive Him as your Savior and make Him Lord of your life?
Prayer
Dear God, I know I have sinned. I believe Jesus died on the cross for my sins. I believe that you know everything about me but that you love me unconditionally. Please forgive me for everything I've done wrong. I want to follow Jesus. Amen.
These thoughts were drawn from …
A Passionate Pursuit of God: Drawing Nearer to Him by Dr. Mike Chapman. This study teaches participant how to move into God's inner circle, how to listen for the voice of God, how to enjoy the freedom of worship, and how to embrace the mission of worship. This 45-minute format will accommodate groups with limited meeting times. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.
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