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Friday, October 19, 2012 -- Looking At Addictions And Recovery -- Life Of Addiction Or Love?

Friday October 19, 2012


We often hear of the great love that God has for us.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17 NKJV)

God created us, in love, for a life that is full and good -- an abundant life.  When sin entered into the world, God did not condemn the world and just sit back and observe the self-destruction of His creation.  He cared.  God cared so much that He sent His beloved Son to die in our place that we might be free from sin and live in love, joy and peace in this age and forever with Him in the next as He originally intended.

Jesus voluntarily left a position of highest respect and endless glory because our wounded condition so impacted the heart of His Father that He was willing to pay the price, which was death, to reconcile us with His Father.  If one man's sin put crowds of people at the dead-end abyss of separation from God, just think what God's gift poured through one man, Jesus Christ, will do! There's no comparison between that death-dealing sin and this generous, life-giving gift.  If death got the upper hand through one man's wrongdoing, can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, sovereign life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grand setting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus Christ provides? (Romans 5:15-17 MSG)
 
What stands in the way of our experiencing this life of love with God -- an unwillingness to respond to God’s love and enter into relationship with God.  We can know and talk very clearly about how loving God is, but until we actually give ourselves to God and welcome God into every area of our life, we are only speaking facts and not actually experiencing life-changing relationship.  We will hope for it, but we will not know it as a sure and steady personal experience.  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22 NKJV) 

Audio for Friday, October 19, 2012 -- Looking At Addictions And Recovery -- Life Of Addiction Or Love?

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