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Encouragement for the Month |
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Love and Faith—The Doorway to Deeper
Knowledge of God Francis Boafo
Lesson: The love of God that passes our understanding. We
understand a measure of God’s love when we learn to ground ourselves in faith
and love for others. Apostle
Paul wrote to the Ephesus believers, “For
this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your
love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the
knowledge of him”—Ephesians 1:15-17. Paul heard two things about the believers in
Apostle Paul knew that these two elements in a
believer’s life is the door to a greater revelation of God. He therefore prayed
fervently that God will give them two things. These two will help them know
other things that they have in Christ. The two things are:
These two gifts will enlighten the eye of their
hearts to know these other realities of what they have in Christ. Note that
blindness to the things of God is in the heart. When the eye of the heart is
enlightened, they will know,
The knowledge of good things we have from God in
Christ must motivate more love for Him. Apostle Paul went on in chapter three
of Ephesians, Ephesians 3:14-19, “For
this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in
heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he
may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner
being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being
rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the
saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the
love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness
of God.” Apostle Paul also asked God to grant them other
gifts. These include the following: 1.
That they will
be strengthened with God’s power through His Spirit in their inner being.
Strength in our inner being helps us to endure life challenges and
temptations without compromising our faithfulness to the Lord. 2.
That Christ
will dwell in their hearts through their life of faith. 3.
If they ground
themselves in love, they will receive strength through the power of the Holy Spirit
to understand the true love of God which passes understanding. Knowledge of the love of
God motivates our love for Him. Love for God is the door way to His abiding
presence in our lives—the fullness of God in our earthen vessels. Due to the importance of
love in the Christian life, let us learn to learn to love God. Then let us
allow our love for Him flow to other. God love people so our love for people
is an indication that we know Him. According to His glory
in Christ Jesus, I pray that God will grant you the ability to live a life of
love—not only for God but also for people. Pray this Prayer with me: Dear Lord, forgive me
for my failure to love the way you want me to. Because you have loved my when
I did not deserve your love, help me to love other people as you will love
them. Help me to live a faith life so Christ will continually dwell in my
heart. Let your fullness grow daily in me so I can do all that you have
appointed me to do. I ask all these in Jesus name, Amen. Links to other Resources: Love that Passes Understanding by Francis Boafo Become a Part of God’s
Solution by Francis Boafo Aspects of Walking in
Faith by Francis Boafo Meditation: Evaluate
your love life. Find where you fall short. Ask God to strengthen you in those
areas of failures. Acknowledge some of the areas of your life and life
situations where God had shown you His mercy and love. Thank Him for His love
and praise Him for them all. Ask
yourself, “Is there anything in my life preventing me from loving others
people?” What can I do to grow in these areas? Memory Verses: Psalm 25:10,
"All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for
those who keep his covenant and his testimonies." Psalm 63:4, "The LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” © 2009 by Francis
Boafo. All rights reserved. WorthyLamb Ministries
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