Maneuvers - No. 43
My Love
for You
The world tells us it knows what love is. We see it every day in movies, TV shows, and advertisements.
But the world’s version of love isn’t quite the same as what Jesus calls love.
The world teaches us that love is about us, what we get out of it, and giving according to what we receive in return.
Not Jesus. His love is free of selfishness, pride, deceit, abuse, secrets, and chaos.
His love is peace, kindness, generosity, and mercy. It’s not transactional. It gives and gives and gives without expecting anything in return.
What would it be like to walk in Jesus’ love without interruption? What would it feel like to fully receive his love and, in the same way, pour it back out to him and to others?
We (Jennifer & Justin) long for that kind of love to define us. And the more we surrender and simply allow Jesus to lead us, teach us, and empower us, the more we taste that abundant life of love.
And what’s even more amazing is that this abundant life isn’t reserved for a select few. It’s free and available for each one of us who belongs to Jesus!
Today, Holy Spirit is inviting us to experience his love in a deeper way. To taste and see his heart for us and for those around us. So let’s listen…
01.
The Message
“How much do you want my closeness? Is it only so much that I don’t get in your way? Is it only enough for me to bless you? Is it only enough for me to protect you from harm, from danger, from sadness? Our relationship is not a transactional one, is it? For it is a shallow kind of love that only gives what it expects in return. And my love is not shallow. It does not expect from you what you can’t give in order to give to you everything I have. I want to give you everything I have. Do you want to receive it? Do you want to receive Him? I give you all of me, everything. It is what I love to do most. And my joy comes from you receiving all the good I have for you.
“I have so much goodness to give you now.
“In the night, when you are weary, let me comfort you like only I can. In the morning, when you rise, let me fill your heart with gladness and expectation. Let me show you what I see, fill you with what I know. In the day as you work and serve and rest and play, let me guide you and equip you. There is nothing you need to do alone. I am with you always. Forever, in each moment, I have chosen to be with you; and because of my love there is nothing that can tear me away.
“You will receive much joy in being with me. You will receive peace. You will receive friendship—and the comfort of being known just as you are. There is nothing you need to change about yourself to be in relationship with me—the kind of relationship where there is no separation, no secrets, no hiding, no striving, no restlessness. For I settle you. I quiet you. I help you discern your troubled thoughts and sort through what is causing you distress.
“I bring clarity to confusion. I bring wisdom to disorder. Let me help you find your way to me. Let me help you settle your heart. Let me show you what love is—and how it gives and gives and receives and receives. Love never runs out. Love never disappoints. Love never leaves you. Love never plays games and hurts you. Love is what gives you strength and capacity to be one with me, one with love. It is your greatest gift. It is what you are designed to receive and live. It is the foundation of life with me.”
02.
Listen
Love over fear. Love over confusion. Love over striving. Love over secrets. What’s your prayer to God in response to today’s message? Let’s write it down in our journals.
03.
Think
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:4-6, ESV).
1. What did Holy Spirit teach you about his love through this week’s message? How is it different from the world’s love? Let’s write down each comparison.
2. In what ways have you walked in the world’s version of love? What causes you to slip into those habits?
3. Is there anything about God’s love that you’re struggling to accept or believe?
04.
Trust
As we approach the new year, many of us are writing down goals related to our health, professional development, or spiritual growth. And perhaps one of the most common spiritual goals is to love God and others better.
But love isn’t something we can conjure up on our own, is it? It’s a supernatural choice that flows directly from our friendship with Jesus.
One of Jesus’ final commands to his disciples was:
“Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12, ESV).
But just a few verses earlier, he told the disciples how to do that:
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love” (John 15:9, ESV).
So how do we abide in Jesus’ love?
We find it interesting that the word for “abide” in this passage is menó, which means to stay, to remain, and to await. It paints an image of living in a home, staying as a guest, or enjoying unbroken fellowship with someone.
But how do we apply that idea to our relationship with Jesus? Scripture tells us abiding in Christ looks like…
• Trusting in God’s protection (Psalm 91:1-2)
• Believing in Jesus wholeheartedly (John 6:56–Jesus uses the very interesting metaphor of “feeding on his flesh and drinking his blood” to drive this point home.)
• Confessing that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 4:15)
• Meditating on and trusting his Word (John 8:31)
• Keeping his commands through Holy Spirit’s power (John 15:10, 1 John 2:6, 1 John 3:24)
• Loving our brothers and sisters in Christ selflessly (1 John 2:10, 1 John 4:12)
• Relying on the gospel for salvation and daily living (1 John 2:24)
• Letting Holy Spirit teach us (1 John 2:27, 1 John 3:6)
• Allowing Holy Spirit to set us free from sin (1 John 3:6, 9)
• Enjoying fellowship with Holy Spirit (1 John 4:13)
• Letting love consume our lives (1 John 4:16)
Which of these are we struggling to accept or obey? Let’s look up the verses related to those specific points and allow them to speak to us.
As we read those verses, let’s write down anything Holy Spirit reveals to us. He loves to make Scripture personal and active in our lives.
And now, let’s respond in prayer…
05.
Pray
Father, when I’m weary, you comfort me like no one else. When I’m confused, you speak peace and order to my heart. I’m not alone. You’re always with me, always loving me, always showing me grace.
Help me abide in you and in your love. Fill me with your joy and courage so I can love others the way you love me.
With you, I can give without expecting anything back. With you, I can experience the abundant life you created me to live.
I love you, Lord. And I’m committed to following you–no looking back.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Waving the banner with you,
