Gal 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
After receiving Jesus as Lord of my life, the scripture, “faith works by love” came to my attention. I knew faith was very important since “we are saved by grace through faith.” However through study and different teachings at church, I concluded that one had to do their very best to walk in love in order for their faith to work. But it wasn’t working for me and it was hard, too hard. I read where Jesus said, “Come to me all you who are burdened and I will give you rest for my burden is easy and my load is light.” Something was wrong.
After asking my helper, the Holy Spirit, for guidance, He impressed upon me that the Father’s loves is not in proportion to how much I love or serve Him. The Father loves me because I am His creation, because I am His, because of who I am. His love is not based on how much I obey Him or what I have done for Him or how much time I am in His Word or pray or my church attendance. He loves me apart from anything I have accomplished or how well I perform. Yes, even apart from the strength of my faith.
The next morning, there was more, I knew that I knew that I am Father God’s beloved son in whom He is well pleased. He directed me to 1 John 3:1, what manner of love God has bestowed on us that I am called a child of God. Wow! It became so real to me by the Spirit. There was more, He told me to say, “I am the one that you love, Lord!” After a few days, that truth just set me free. Faith began to work as never before in my life. Loving God became so easy. It was effortless. 1 John 4:19, Knowing that God loved me first, loving Him was a simple faith response. I realized faith works by knowing God’s love for us first, not by how much I am able to walk in love in my own effort.
One of my favorite verses of scripture will work for you as well. 1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love..
Brother John
Matt 11:28-30, Eph 2:8
