meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Is God nearby?

John 14:14-18 “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth, whom the world is unable to receive because it doesn't see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.” the voice God gave me

There are those times for each of us when we wonder where God went; we wonder why we feel so alone in our faith. The answer is this: God is always close in the person of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is Jesus left behind with us in a spiritual form to comfort and guide us. We are never alone even if we cannot see Him.

Since we are not gods, and our faith is not perfect, we have doubts and fears. But know this … we are children of the One Living God. We are not orphans.

How can we love our enemies?

Luke 6:27-30 "But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don't hold back your shirt either. Give to everyone who asks from you, and from one who takes away your things, don't ask for them back.”

We can only love our enemies if we have Jesus “in us” as our personal Lord and Savior. No one can love themselves into a relationship with Him by loving others. We do not have the capacity to do that without His capacity. We call it grace.

This is not an ordinary love. It is “agape love” a Greek term which is best defined as a selfless love of one person for another without sexual implications; especially love of a spiritual nature

Be loved and love without condition. Forgive seven times seventy.