Pastor Buddy’s Blog

Trust in God’s unfailing love…

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Journal,

Today is a day of sadness for our family. At 2 p.m.? we have a? memorial service at Christian Challenge for? Chase Devin Murphy. He went to be with the Lord,? Sunday, April 29, 2007. Chase is a member of my family. His grandfather, Gus Fletcher,? now deceased, was my first cousin.? Our family is one of those very close families.

Chase recently began attending Christian Challenge after surrendering his life to the Lord. His mother and step-father, Martha and Mike Duncan are members of Christian Challenge, along with his grandmother, Bernette Fletcher, and his uncle, Lane Fletcher, and cousins A.J. and Ashley Richard.?

But it should be said that this day of sadness also carries a peace that? can only come from the Lord. Chase belongs to the Lord eternally. We as Christians know this. The apostle Paul said for a believer to be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord.

When Jesus prayed, He said, “Father, I desire that they? also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” (Jn17:24 nasb)

Though Chase departed this world at a young age, at this very moment he is? beholding the glory of Jesus Christ.? John said that one day we would be able to? see Jesus? just as He is. That day has come for one of God’s precious children. Welcome home Chase. Welcome home dear child.

On a personal note –? I am in that seven day period following a? chemo treatment where I have to? avoid? public contact and visitors. Due to this? I am unable to attend the funeral but I will be? there in heart and in love.

Trust in God’s unfailing Love – Here is a Bible devotion that I wish to share concerning the love of God.

Some believers have an unhealthy fear of losing their salvation. There is nothing more important than for believers to understand their love relationship to God in Christ.

As a place of beginning, let’s review one Scripture; “Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” (Jn 13:1)

This statement is a summary of the gospel. The very foundation of our faith links to God’s love for us. Is it any wonder that we sing so many songs about the love of God; such songs as, “Love Lifted Me.” “I Don’t Know Why Jesus Loved Me.” “Jesus Loves Me This I know.” “Jesus Loves the Little Children.” “Love, Wonderful Love.”

We were saved because of love. We are being saved because of God’s love. We will be saved because of God’s love. The apostle said, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38,39)

The apostle John says, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1Jn4:10) — Jesus suffered for all our sins. He exchanged His life for our life. God finished His business at the cross. It was the business of love.

It says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (Jn3:16)

The story of redemption is the story of God’s love. Not just that God loved us. But God is loving us.? God’s love is with us every moment of the day. His love is eternal.

David described this aspect of God’s love when he said, “O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar.”

He went on to say, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it.” And then, “If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.” And, “Even there Your hand will lead me.”

Psalm 139 is a Psalm of God’s redeeming love, and yet it never uses the word ‘love’ not even one time. It doesn’t have to. God shows His redeeming love in how He helps us, in how He surrounds our lives with goodness, and in how He makes us? aware
of His presence, especially in our moments of duress.

Whether we realize it or not, the Lord is always with us even in the dark shadows of life.

When David said that God’s ways were too ‘wonderful’ for him, the Hebrew word for wonderful, is ‘pali.’ Pali speaks of something that is incomprehensible.

The love of God is not something we can ever fully understand. This is because we are dealing with something that belongs to God’s character and nature. It is this same nature that is given to each person born again. We cannot help but love. The Lord said, “By this all men will know you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)

How much does God love us? Listen to what He said through the prophet — “Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.” (Isaiah 49:15)

In another place the Lord says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

The love of God is the very essence of God’s nature, driving away our fears.?

So, should a believer live in fear of losing his salvation? Never. What was said of the early disciples is also said of us. — “He loved them to the end.”

Yes indeed. We are? secure in God’s love.

Just something to think about.

Much love coming your way.

Buddy

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