The Refuge
BY Rodney Nantz
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
John 13:34 NASBS
Dear Christian, what a great lesson we can learn if we do not resist the teaching of the Holy Spirit as He seeks to make deep impressions upon our hearts the love for which God loves us. So, each morning, as the beauty of the sunlight begins the dawn of a new day, we must be intentional with our time and our thoughts. That is, we must allow our meditations to direct our thoughts to the substitutionary death of Jesus and His sacrificial love, which was demonstrated upon the cross for each of us. I am convinced that to destroy the pride that is hidden inside our hearts, we must see the Lord Jesus dying the death we so deserved, and being raised for our justification. This will humble our hearts in such a way that we can strive to remove the selfishness that was birthed within us because of sin and love those whom the Lord has brought into our lives unselfishly. May grace be granted to us from above that we will learn from the words which Jesus spoke to His disciples moments before His death, “Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this, all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
It is love that we have and display to one another that defines the beauty of God’s saving work upon our soul, and it is this love that will reach a lost generation of people. So let us see to it that we wrestle with God in prayer, studying the precious word of His grace, and be diligent to maintain our hearts in holiness. Fight, though the fiery darts shot from the burning malice of hell are flying all around you. Fight, though strong temptations assail you like a mighty tempest on the sea. Fight, though horrid thoughts of not being loved by God invade the frailty of your mind. Fight, though debasing notions of losing a secured salvation seek to lay siege to your heart. Christian, fight and be not moved, for the scripture says, “Even as I have loved you.” Understand, nothing can keep you from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus. So then, may songs of grace rise within your soul, “I have journeyed through the long dark night out on the open sea, By faith alone, Sight unknown And yet, His eyes were watching me.” May God give us the desire to live in a sense of God’s pardoning, justifying, and sanctifying grace in Christ upon our hearts. May we cautiously avoid all people, places, and things, which tend to grieve the Spirit and quench His lively influence upon our soul, so we can love one another with an everlasting love, proving to the world around us that we are children of the living God.