Tag: God's love

The Vantage Point of God: the Key to Operating from the Heart of God

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“God looks at us differently than when we look at us. His love isn’t just what saves us; it’s how God sees us. We see what we are and what we’ve done. He sees what He intended and what we can become if we’ll surrender to Him.” 

—Zack Hensley from his sermon notes, “Rediscovering Abiding Love,” (forerunnerchurch.com)

So I give you a new commandment: Love each other just as much as I have loved you. For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you are My true followers. (John 13:34-35 TPT)

It’s noteworthy that Brian Simmons in his Passion Translation uses the phrase “my old identity” when writing of what was co-crucified on the cross with Jesus such that we can live as new moral creatures in Christ. The verse reads, “My old identity has been crucified with Christ and no longer lives. And now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives his life through me—we live in union as one! My new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God who loves me so much that he gave himself for me, dispensing His life into mine!” (Galatians 2:20 TPT) Right identity or thinking of ourselves and others in terms of God’s whole new creation reality is key to flowing in an unrestricted way from the loving heart of God. Holding to God’s vantage point is vital to experiencing the freedom to love with agape or charity as the King James words it. 

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The Throne of Grace

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1 Corinthians 1:3 (TPT) May joyous grace(c) and endless peace be yours continually 

from our Father God and from our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One!

c 1:3 The Greek word charis, in its original sense, is descriptive of that which brings pleasure and joy to the human heart, implying a strong emotional element. God’s grace includes favor and supernatural potency, and it is meant to leave us both charming and beautiful. In classical Greek it was meant to convey the attitude of favor shown by royalty. See Torrance, The Doctrine of Grace in the Apostolic Fathers, pp. 1-5.

2 Peter 3:18 (TPT) But continue to grow and increase in God’s grace and intimacy with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (b) May He receive all the glory both now and until the day eternity begins. Amen!

b 3:18 The Aramaic does not use the imperative but makes it more of a decree: “You continue to be nourished in grace and in the intimate knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Messiah, and of God the Father.” Spiritual growth is yielding to the grace of God and having passion to know Jesus Christ intimately. In time, we grow into His beautiful image.

What great wisdom it is to understand that our Creator desires to supply us with everything we need to function such that we love Him and we love others with His selfless love thus fulfilling all the Law and the Prophets. What a great thing to understand that His will is a walk of union with God’s heart and mind and God is love. To reach higher levels of obeying “Not my will, but Thine, be done” is to reach deeper levels of knowing the Lord’s love. (Luke 22:42 KJV) Love equates to obedience, and obedience yields intimacy with the Lord. He becomes more real; His presence weightier. Jesus said in John 14:21, “The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.]” (AMPC) And to be close to Him like John was is the ultimate fulfillment.

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