Focus on the Love of God

This morning I get back to something I truly love, sharing the Word of God with you.  It’s my birthday and sharing God’s Word with you, as the first thing I do on my birthday, is a special gift.  I thank God for the break.  I needed the rest.  But I missed “Today’s Word” and I am thankful to get back to it.  All year I have been teaching a series entitled, “Refined Focus”.  As I get back to the series, I am led to share a message about focusing in on the love of God.

During my break I was able to spend quality time in prayer.  One of the things I prayed about was the current state of our nation and the world.  While the world is facing terrorist attack after terrorist attack, the United States is facing additional turmoil.  While the election season seems to have millions on edge about a choice between Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, the barrage of shootings have raised racial tensions to levels not seen since the 1960s.  Something has to be done to bring peace and reconciliation to our nation.  This is not a time for the church to be silent.  This is not a time for the church to be divisive.  This is a time for the church to pray, to seek true and significant change, and to demand justice.  But to do so while operating in the love of God.     

Love is not something God has, love is not something God does, love is WHO God IS!  God is love.  If God lives IN you, then people should see, feel and experience the love of God through you.

So what does this mean to you today?  A couple of things.

1.  God is not a God of confusion or disorder, our God is a God of peace (1 Cor 14:33).

a)  Jesus said, “If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (Mark 3:25).  Satan thrives on disorder, chaos, division and disruption.  Sadly, this is a description of the United States right now.

b)  Satan wants to divide our nation.  Don’t fall into his trap.  You can be upset about injustice and you can demand change, without losing your focus on God.

c)  Our God is a God of justice and recompense.  Look to Him for guidance on what you should or should not do, and more importantly, look to Him to do what only He can do.

2.  Never allow anything to cause you to get OUTSIDE the love of God.

a)  The Bible says, “My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love.” (1 Jn 4:7,8 MSG).

b)  Supporting #BlackLivesMatter does not automatically mean you hate police.  It just means you acknowledge injustice.

c)  Supporting #BackTheBlue does not automatically mean you disregard Black lives.  It just means you honor and respect those in authority.

d)  If you walk in the love of God you can acknowledge #BlackLivesMatter and still honor police officers who are truly seeking to protect and serve.  Likewise, when you walk in the love of God you can #BackTheBlue and still acknowledge injustice, seeking convictions for those who have dishonored the uniform by using their badges and guns unjustly.

e)  When you walk in the love of God you can choose to vote for Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump, without hating those who choose the opposite.  Don’t allow political views or affiliations to divide you in this season.

f)  No matter what happens today, no matter what you see on the news, no matter how upset you may get with current events, don’t allow anything or anyone to cause you to get OUTSIDE the love of God.  If you keep the love of God first and foremost in your life, your focus will be clear, your perspective will be sound, and your internal peace will be intact.  Living this way you can become a conduit for divine change.

Closing Confession:  Father, this is a season of refined focus for me.  I bring my life into focus in 2016 by walking in Your love.  I keep my focus on You.  I meditate and medicate on Your Word day and night.  This causes Your love to fill my heart daily.  I refuse to be divisive.  I refuse to feed chaos.  I refuse to operate in hatred.  I focus on You.  My focus enables me to love my brothers and sisters, even when they disagree with me.  #BlackLivesMatter to me and I come against the injustice I have seen.  I can #BackTheBlue, because I honor and respect authority.  I just refuse to turn a blind eye to those who have used their authority unjustly.  I will vote as I am led, and I refuse to disrespect those who do not hold my political views.  Satan will not have the United States of America.  Believers like me — who have dual-citizenship (citizens of the United States and of the Kingdom of God) — are rising up to become conduits of Your love.  We choose love over hate, justice over injustice, peace over strife, and order over chaos.  We release Your peace Father over these United States today and every day.  And we give ourselves over to You, to become agents of divine change in this world.  We declare this by faith!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper.