Love Is Now - Today Is All You Have

☀️📖👉 There was a time when I hoped to grow up and be older than my big brother. 
Oh, how disappointing, to finally realize it would never happen. No matter how many birthdays I reached my brother would always be older than me. 

I was waiting for something that would never happen. We tend to do the same thing in life. We look ahead and set our minds on something that will never happen. 

I’ll make time for my family when life slows down. 

I’ll forgive that person once they apologize. 

I’ll start serving when I’m not so tired. 

I’ll be more generous when I have more money to spare. 

Year after year we wait to take love-based actions until it’s easier, more comfortable, and less stressful. The problem is each new day brings its own troubles. 
Jesus faced many challenges in His life. Every day people were pressing Him for help. They wanted Him to teach them, heal them, and even feed them. He was mocked, questioned, and accused. He had no place to call home and depended on the generosity of others to survive. And those are only the things we can see. No doubt, He was in a constant spiritual battle against the devil and his demons. 

Praise God, Jesus didn’t wait for an imaginary future where life would calm down and it would be easier to show His love to others. Had Jesus waited for a better day to actively love others, the only account of His life would have been the crucifixion. 

Every day that passes is a page in the story of our lives that cannot be rewritten. Our life is literally a livestream. Heaven is watching us live out the mission of loving others and we don’t get to rewind and do things over. 

I for one, don’t want angels throwing their popcorn at the TV begging me to do something with the grace God has given me. I want to put on a show, give them something to cheer about, and maybe even see a few of them wearing my jersey when I get to Heaven. 

Reflect on your life as you read these scriptures. Are you living a life worthy of your calling? Are you paying the grace of God forward or are you waiting for an imaginary future where it will be easier to live like Jesus? 

📖 Psalms 90:12
So teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom. 

📖 Matthew 6:33-34
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.

📖 Ephesians 4:1-6
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

📖 2 Corinthians 6:1-2
As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For He says: “In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!

📖 Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

🙏🏼 Pause and pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to give you the urgency of the gospel. There will be people in your path today who need the love of Jesus. They may have been praying for a sign to give them hope and your act of kindness and compassion may be God’s answer to their prayer. 
With the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through your life, you can be the difference maker in someone’s life today. You can be the reason they know God sees them. 

At the Beat Church we are on mission to love God, love people, and live like we mean it. The time to love is now, because today is all you have. Answer God’s call and give Heaven something to cheer about!

Encourage someone else today, by dropping a comment below and sharing what God is stirring in your heart from today’s devotional. ✝️❤️💬👇👇

---