Marshall Mabry - Undignified Worshiper of Jesus Christ

The greatest commandment is to love God with all you heart, soul, mind and strength. That’s pretty much everything that makes you — you! Of all the desires you have in this world, is Jesus the first and foremost. Do you love Him more than your spouse, your children, your friends, your home, your hobbies, your job? Do you talk to Him as much as you do with your family, friends or co-workers? Do you spend as much intentional time working with Him, fishing with Him, watching the game with Him, shopping with Him, eating, dancing, playing — living with Him as you do yourself? Do you sing to yourself more than you do to Him? Is He just the prayer before a meal, at bedtime, or in the morning? Do you only meet with Him on Sunday?

His love is endless, everlasting, and it never fails. He is faithful, good, and patient. He will never leave or forsake us. In this world, our love compared to His tends to be lop-sided, but may our intentions never be less than complete surrender to His will. We were His in the beginning, we are His now, and we will be His forevermore. This journey of life through His story is our lesson in love. It will be a lesson that takes an eternity to perfect. Only Jesus Christ is worthy of all praise!

When Peter asked Christ about forgiving an offender, Jesus increased Peter’s quantifier for forgiving. 7 x 70 seems like a huge or an impossible number. However, every time we bring up a past offense our bitterness calculator adds up.

Remember the worldly adage, “Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.” As Christ followers, we do not adhere to the foolishness of the world’s wisdom. Revenge or avenging is not our responsibility. We are called to be examples of God’s grace, His love, and forgiveness. When we are offended, no matter how hurtful, how painful, we call upon the Holy Spirit sealed within us to give us the serenity to respond as Christ.

The greatest thing in life is to know you are in the center of God’s will. God gives life to every child. He knows us in our mother’s womb. He knits us together, perfectly, marvelously — we are wonderfully made. No one living is a mistake!

Too many times we stop our growth in love within the boundaries of family. We prefer to love only our children and close relatives in the way Jesus describe to love everyone — even our enemies.

Love was never meant to be restrained or defined by the frailty of men and women. It is a supernatural gift that propels us from ordinary to extraordinary. It gives and never takes. It is sacrificial. It surrenders pride and arrogance and seeks humility and opportunities for charity.

It is always amazing to me that God initiates and completes the work of righteousness for those who love Him. He does it all! We sit back as reluctant participants in His work and are left in awe and amazement at His blessing.

Maylei is the living testimony of God working in my family’s life. In my own strength, I would have preferred living selfishly chasing after my own dreams and goals. But God loved and trusted me enough to be Maylei’s father in this world. I can not describe the honor and privilege it has been to be entrusted with that responsibility. He has blessed me beyond my imagination with the gift of her.

All of our children are gifts. They are not ours to keep as our own. They are our responsibility to be directed, instructed, and mentored in the way of the Lord. In return, God blesses us with their love and the sharing of their life. In Christ, it is a profound, divine love that only increases.

Maylei is the daughter of my dreams. She fills a place in my heart that no one or nothing else could. My life and world shines brighter because she is in it. I am and will always be eternally grateful to Christ for the love that I have experienced through her. My prayer will always be for her continued faithful service to Him and others through power of the Holy Spirit.

Taken from earlier devotion October 17, 2006

What attracts believers and non-believers? What is admired and envied by both sinner and saint? What is so contagious its commands and directs focused attention?

Passion!

Jesus said “to love God with all our heart, mind, and strength.” That is the ultimate definition of passion.

If you look at anyone who is remembered in history, it was their passion that left their mark. Passion does not take the world’s view. Passion distinguishes itself from the constraints of culture. Passion drives the heart to beat in the morning and the lungs to breathe throughout the day. It is the loud voice of strength that say’s “continue” in the drunkenness of exhaustion. Passion focuses the mind on a single objective and blocks out all distraction. Passion is not persuaded, compromised, or bargained.

As a Christian, our greatest commandment calls for it. May our lives be filled with passion for Christ and to declare His gospel.

1 John 4:8 says “But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” From the beginning God loved us. He loved us through the display of His generous provision. He gave us life. He gave us companionship. He gave us work. He gave us a wondrous garden to sustain us. He satisfied our every need through His provisional love. “He spent our best time in close fellowship with us.” He gave us one rule for our protection, so that we could live free and abundant lives in the splendor of His love. He truly loves us.

How can a Holy, Righteous God continue to love a rebellious, sinful child? There is another disposition of God’s love. His word says that “He disciplines those He loves.” (Proverbs 3:12, Hebrews 12:6) His discipline for our rebellion came in the form of temporal lifespans lived out in hard labor, strife, and pain. As much as it grieved our Holy God to display His love to us through discipline, He knew we needed His rod and staff. Still, His compassion does not fail the ones He loves.

Eventually His rod and staff in the hands of prideful men, gave way to the Law. The Law became too rigid for anyone to obey without personal pride robbing God of His glory. To answer this impossible “man-made way” to God, He displayed the greatest measure of His love through His “amazing” Grace. He sent His Son, Jesus to come to us – while we were still sinners – live a life worthy of the sacrifice necessary to pay for “all” sin. Jesus lived a sinless life of a servant, suffered an unjust trial and an unimaginably cruel punishment to pay the ransom for our rebellion against God. He was made nothing. He walked a path none of us would dare walk, so God could once again spend “our best time in close fellowship with Him.” What greater love is there?

Sinner, you will either die in God’s unrequited love, or by faith through Christ — live out His blessing of eternity. He has — and will never stop loving you. He has given you timeless opportunities to recognize, accept and return it. He proves His love everyday you have breath. But His grace is conditional! Repentance is required to begin this journey and His faithful love receives every truly penitent person.

Jesus said “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” Self-denial and repentance are synonymous. They say “God! I can’t, but You can.” Their actions start us on the journey of humility — and humility is the only way to walk in God’s love.

Our everyday walk should be overwhelmed with thoughts of Christ. He is the lover of our soul. He is our endless provider. He is holy, gracious, merciful, faithful, abounding in love, every good and perfect thing comes from Him. We should praise Him and speak to Him without ceasing.

Satan, the world, and our flesh are our enemies. They want to interrupt our constant devotion to our Savior. Their distractions take us from worship and bring us into selfishness and pride. Thoughts of heaven and eternity should excite and encourage us. Paul spoke about dwelling on these thoughts in Philippians.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things — Philippians 4:8

I can only think of one thing that qualifies for this verse — Christ!

Holiness, Righteousness, and Faithfulness are evident virtues that evolve from a heart, mind, and soul that dwells on Christ.

(taken from a devotional April 30, 2007)