IF

For the past week the topic in my devotions has been "IF COUNTS". The word "if" means we have a choice. It also means we can change our mind. It is up to us. Gods requirements often have the word "if" following it, leaving us with a choice.

These are just a few things that have stood out for me over the past week:

In life we have lots of vital choices to make and I know from my own experience the first thing I am bound to say is "What if" instead of just taking the challange that has been layed in front of me. We should be prepared to take up the challange of the "ifs" that arise in our spiritual journey. If we seek, we will find, if we ask for forgiveness we will receive it.If we pray and study our Bibles more and share with fellow minded believers we the will reap benefits. God doesn't force His blessings on us, it is up to us to take what is on offer from our loving and caring God.

If we pray often and sincerely we will learn to listen as well as talk; if we look into God's face we will grow to be like him;if we turn away from bad behaviour we will conquer sad habits; if we listen to God we shall surely hear his voice.

God forces nothing on us, not even gifts. He has so much he wants to give us, but we need to demonstrate to Him our willingness to accept them. If God withholds things we ask for it's because he knows it's not in our interest to have them, well at least at that time. We need to trust him to know best. If it's right for us, he will give it, and he will give it generously. There are no "ifs" about it.

If human hearts are often tender,
And human minds can pity know,
If human love is touched with splendour,
And human hands compassion show,
Then how much more shall God our Father
In love forgive, in love forgive!
Then how much more shall God our Father
Our wants supply, and none deny!

John 8 vs 1-11 tells of the story of the woman who was caught in the act of adultery.
Not an easy lesson but one that has to be done. Only sinless people have the right to condemn the guilty, even if the guilt is proven. We should drop any stones we have to hand, stop ignoring or making light of our faults and stay clear of any hint of hypocrisy. At best, we are sinners save by grace. We have to learn to forgive because we have been forgiven. We must leave it to God to decide who is punished and what it should be. A difficult one for which I am really having to pray about.

Finally, and I feel like I have done a sermon but God was telling me strongly this evening after my devotions to blog all of this:

LOVE EACH OTHER John 14 vs 15-24

We all want and need to be loved and everyone needs to express love in one way or another. Some people have little contact with people and because of this they have little experience of love received or expressed. We never have to consider in relation to Jesus is him saying one thing and doing another. Jesus preached, loved and practiced it ALWAYS. His love for the people around him knew no bounds all people, including those whom no one else loved. He died for them to and there is no greater love than that. All Jesus asks from us in return is simply that we return that love by showing it to other.