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Friday, February 23, 2018

(Have A Heart) - Free Indeed - Abundant Living After Abuse



This whole month I have been focusing on the matters of the heart. So, it is very important that this week I target the love relationship between the Father and the Son. As I have mentioned before, God sent his Son to die for us, but his Son willingly gave his life for us out of love, the Bible states “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” John 15:9 We are His branches and we must bear fruits, the bible states “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” John 15:1-2

Without a heart, it is impossible to live. Sure there are mechanical hearts and heart transplants but they are nevertheless hearts that are used to live. When we have suffered any type of abuse while in the care of someone we loved or trusted it is hard to love them. In the healing process, it is important to know that we are loved and also we are to love. It would be unwise of me to believe that there are no parents out there that do not love their kids, but the reality of the matter is that there are parents who could care less about their children.

Jesus wants us to abide in His love and the reason we love him is “because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19. If we are to reflect the character of Jesus Christ on earth we will need the workings of the Holy Spirit to mold us and guide us so that we may be able to love others and ourselves. It is through the Holy Spirit that we get closer to the heart of Jesus and learn from Him. God loved us so much the Bible says “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

The healing journey begins with allowing the Holy Spirit work in our hearts. Once our hearts are softened we will be able to hear the soft and gentle knock on the door to our hearts. After, Jesus will ask us to be invited into our hearts. This invitation is for everyone including our abusers. Yes! You read correctly, even for our abusers. No one will enter Heaven with hatred toward one another regardless of what they have gone through. Even Peter in the Bible acknowledged that “God is no respecter of persons.” Acts 10:34

When the Bible says A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another John 13:34-35 it means everyone one not just those who we select to love.

If we are the branches and He is the vine, then we are grafted to bear the same fruit as our Creator. The fruit is not only love but it is a commandment that He gave unto us which is to love one another. This is much easier said than done and we cannot do this in our own strength but through the mighty power of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that we did not choose God but rather He chose us “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another. John 15:16-17

Have a heart like Jesus and bear His fruit today. It is not easy to forgive and love those who have hurt you, but think of it this way. While Christ was hanging on the Cross and before he died his last words were “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Luke 23:34

The next time someone hurt you by what they said or something that they have done a long time ago, have a heart of Jesus and forgive. Invite the Holy Spirit today and ask Him to help you to love others including those who have hurt you.

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