Tag: #love

The Heartbeat of the Bible: Love

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Have you ever loved someone so deeply that you would do anything for them? I’m not talking about a controlling, manipulative kind of love that demands an action to prove it, as I and so many others experienced from an abuser. Instead, I mean an unconditional, everlasting love that only God can fill our hearts with. God is love (I John 4:8, ESV).

The motivation behind God’s actions toward us and for us drives His desires for a relationship with us, His promises, and the provisions that bring it to completion. God’s promises are everlasting. They align with His desires; so, we can trust He will make provisions to fulfill every one of them.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, emphasis added). Don’t overlook that just because you’ve heard it before. Pause for a moment to reflect on its magnification; gently let its simplicity enter your heart and mind.

One of my favorite phrases in the Bible is God’s declaration, “I will be their God” and “They will be my people,” known as the Covenant Formula. According to Biblehub.com, “it represents the ultimate goal of God’s relationship with humanity.” He desires to be with His people. He created us to have a relationship with Him.

Echoed throughout both the Old and New Testaments – it isn’t just a repetitive phrase – it’s the backbone of the entire biblical narrative. In Jeremiah 31:33, we see a significant shift as God promises to move this relationship from external rules to the heart.

Basically, God is telling us that He will be our God for the long term through a dependable covenant sealed by His promise. God will provide all that is needed to uphold the covenant and will rejoice in doing good. In other words, God keeps His promises not reluctantly but with great joy (Jer. 32:40-41, ESV).

This love isn’t just for individuals; it’s designed to give us ‘one heart,’ uniting us to serve Him with a reverence that protects our children and us from harm.

His promises cannot fail because they are as firm as the earth He created (Jer. 33:2). Just as God tells Jeremiah, all he needs to do is ask, and He will reveal hidden things—this has a broader application for all of God’s people. Because of His great love and grace, He will give us understanding of His Word and His purposes in our lives (Jer. 33:3).

What an incredible assurance we can depend on to get us through. God’s character is good, reliable, and trustworthy because His love for us never ends: “Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his steadfast love endures forever” (Jer. 33:11, emphasis added)! This is also repeated many times throughout the OT, but is most closely associated with Ps. 136, where it appears in every verse. No matter what happens, we can remember that God’s covenant love never quits.

God says He will send a righteous Branch who shall execute justice and righteousness in the land, fulfill the promises, and serve as priest and king (Jer. 33:18; 2 Sam. 7:16; I Chron. 17:11-12). This explicitly points to the coming of Christ, bridging the gap between the Old and New Testaments. It is like an architect’s plan for restoration.

In Jeremiah’s time, the Davidic monarchy resembled a felled tree—the kings were corrupt, and the nation was on the verge of exile. By promising a “Branch” (or “Shoot”) emerging from a stump, God was assuring that even though the tree seemed dead, new life would grow from the same royal “root.”

The Old Testament provides a blueprint for the life and mission of Jesus. Just as we see Jeremiah pointing to the coming of Christ, one can also observe this foreshadowing in the other Old Testament books.

God is revealing His ultimate plan for restoration: the prophecies demonstrate God’s restoration of a broken lineage and a failed priesthood, perfectly fulfilled through Christ. We see references to the Branch in the Old Testament throughout the Gospels, and we recognize that Jesus fulfilled every role and detail, all carefully aligned with the ancient blueprint of the Branch.

The Provisions, Promises, and Desires of God are the heartbeat of the Bible. Stemming from His love, these truths establish the foundation, the framing, and the finished work of Jesus Christ.

God Provides (Jehovah Jireh)

This is the “materials” phase. God doesn’t just give us a task; He provides what is needed to complete it.

  • The Ultimate Provision: Just as He provided the ram for Abraham on the mountain (Genesis 22:14), He provided Christ as the ultimate “resource” for our restoration.
  • Daily Provision: Matthew 6:33 promises that when we seek His kingdom first, “all these things” (our basic needs) will be provided.

God Keeps His Promises

This is the “contract.” Unlike humans, who might overpromise and underdeliver, the Bible states that God is not a man who would lie (Numbers 23:19).

  • The Track Record: Joshua 21:45 says, “Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.” * The “Branch”: As we discussed, even when the Davidic line looked like a dead stump, God kept His 400-year-old promise to bring a King who would rule forever.

God Desires to Be with Us

This is the “occupancy.” A house isn’t a home until the owner moves in.

  • The Tabernacle: God told Moses, “Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst” (Exodus 25:8).
  • Immanuel: The name literally means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).
  • The Holy Spirit: Jesus promised He wouldn’t leave us as orphans but would send His Spirit to live in us (John 14:16-18).

It’s incredible to realize that the Creator of the universe wants to dwell in our lives and hearts. He is the ultimate Project Manager, making sure that what He started in us, He will finish (Philippians 1:6).

“…so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17–19, emphasis added)

Reflection: From the Stump to the Spring

Take a moment to quiet your heart and consider how God’s “blueprint” is unfolding in your own life today.

  • The “Dead Stump”: Is there an area of your life—a dream, a relationship, or a sense of hope—that feels like a felled tree? How does the promise of the “Branch” (the new life growing from the stump) change how you see that situation?
  • The Contract vs. The Heart: Are you currently relating to God through “external rules” (the hustle to be “good enough”), or are you resting in the “Cistern of Grace” where He has written His love directly on your heart?
  • The Project Manager: If you viewed your current struggle not as a “failure” but as a “construction zone,” how would that change your level of peace? Do you trust that the One who laid the foundation will also complete the finished work?
  • A Simple Prayer: “Lord, thank You for being the God who provides the materials, keeps the promises, and desires to move in. Today, I stop trying to be the architect, and I trust Your blueprint instead.”

I’d love to hear from you! Which verse or image from this post resonated most with your heart today?

Gratitude and Love = Obedience

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Basic obedience to God’s Word provides access to the armor of God, which protects us from spiritual warfare. Paul metaphorically describes believers as soldiers in battle, wearing armor. The Lord does not leave us defenseless. In Christ, God gives us the spiritual resources to stand firm; precisely, truth, righteousness, gospel, faith, salvation, and the Word of God (Eph. 6:14-17, ESV) are all represented with each piece. Another vital part of the armor is prayer (Eph. 6:19).

The term obedient may seem harsh or turn some people off. However, according to The Holman Bible Dictionary, ‘obey’ is translated as ‘to hear’ in the Old Testament. The NT translation has several words to describe it: to hear or listen in a state of submission and to trust are among them. “A person’s obedient response to God’s Word is a response of trust or faith” (Brand, 1176).

Jesus taught that our love for God motivates us to obey Him (John 14:21, 23-24; 15:10). Our obedience springs from gratitude for grace (Rom. 12:2, Brand 1176). Obedience comes from a heart that trusts God and produces blessings that God yearns to give us (Brand, 1177). We obey when we listen to God’s Word and respond appropriately. This is why Jesus says anyone with ears should listen (Matt. 11:15).

The Holy Spirit gives our prayers power (Rom. 8:26-27; Gal. 4:6). Praying in Jesus’ name shows we seek God’s will (Brand, 1292). The indwelling Spirit enables a believer to call God Abba – prompting the believer to address God with a child’s confidence (Rom 8:14). This indicates an intimate relationship with God, our Father. It is a natural response when we ardently pursue communion with God through His Word, conversation (prayer), and listening (obedience).

Through the Holy Spirit, believers can access powerful weapons, protection, discernment, and a greater understanding of God’s will. The Holy Spirit within us is greater than the one who is in the world (I John 4:14). This refers to Satan (Brand, 1502).

 Satan would like to keep unbelievers in the dark by veiling their eyes and ears from hearing the gospel. Through faith in God, the veil is removed, and believers enjoy free access to God, who transforms their lives (Brand, 1627; 2 Cor. 3:15-18). This is a stunning process that saves us from the bondage of sin.

One of my favorite verses tells us that there is freedom where the Spirit of the Lord is (2 Cor. 3:17). When the Holy Spirit enters our hearts, we are free from our chains and our blindness to the gospel. Our minds, hearts, and ears are open to God. Our gratitude for His grace and forgiveness produces a deep love that we want to listen to and respond appropriately to God’s Word (obey), which leads to many blessings.  

I am grateful for my freedom in Christ and God’s many blessings. My love for God makes me want to be a better human, more like Jesus, with kindness and humility. Sometimes, that means I must use my weapons as protection against the enemy who wants the opposite. The power of the Holy Spirit and Jesus’ mighty name make the devil run every time, especially when you proclaim it out loud. Amen.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor. 3:17, Emphasis added).

Steeped in Grace

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Just as a teabag releases its flavor into the water, God’s grace permeates our lives when we spend time with Him. The more we immerse ourselves in His Word and prayer, the more we experience the fullness of His grace. However, it’s essential to balance our time with God. Overemphasis on one aspect of spiritual life, such as prayer or Bible study, can lead to spiritual burnout or a distorted understanding of God’s grace.

Ultimately, the goal is to cultivate a deep and abiding relationship with God, allowing His grace to transform us into the people He intends us to be.

Because God desires an intimate relationship with us, He extends His mercy daily and provides a way for us to be close to Him through Christ.

God’s mercy refreshes every morning and never ceases all day (Lamentations 3:22, ESV).

According to the Firm Learning Center, the Hebrew word for mercy, hesed, means unconditional love and demonstrates God’s faithful, unfailing love toward us. It is a multifaceted, precious word that goes beyond a simple definition to the core and lovingkindess of God’s character.

Mercy is not just an emotion of showing compassion but an act of undeserved kindness and withholding warranted punishment. In comparison, grace grants unmerited favor – a gift from God (Rom. 3:24, ESV).

Mercy is part of God’s Holy character – a defining quality – of His passionate and undeserved loyalty to a disobedient people (New Living Translation Study Bible).

We see an example of God’s magnificent mercy on display as He patiently extends His hands to all people. In Romans, Paul quotes Isaiah to show that the Gospel message is for everyone. Even though Israel rebelled against God, He still extended His hands to them, inviting them to be saved. The prophecy in Isaiah has been fulfilled, to say that Gentiles who did not seek after God have experienced His saving promises (Rom. 10:20-21; Is. 65-1-2, ESV).

The people of Israel, who had lost their spiritual and moral bearings, sought answers for ways to please God. They were given a concrete answer through Micah. As God had already made known to so many before them, humility, faith, and obedience are the things that please Him.

In addition, God wants His children to walk humbly in faith before Him. Walking with God demonstrates an intimate relationship that transforms how we relate to others. This was exemplified by Moses (Numbers 12:3; Habakkuk (Hab. 3:17-19), Daniel (Dan.9:1-19), and Ezra (9:5-15 NLT). The NLT Study Bible explains that genuine spirituality and devotion to God involve doing good, seeking justice, relieving oppression, defending orphans, and aiding widows—the marks of God’s character that we are called to imitate.

This leads me to the well-known verse that answers the Israelites’ question of what the Lord requires: “To do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, ESV, Emphasis added).

The NLT Translation:

“To do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, NLT, Emphasis added).  

In other words, God does not require ritualistic worship but a genuine regard for Him and others, demonstrated by doing good (what is right), being kind, and walking with Him. When we walk with God, our relationships with others improve organically (NLT Study Bible).

“May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ” (2 Thes. 3:5, ESV, Emphasis added).

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me” (John 15:4, ESV, Emphasis added).

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Cor. 13:14, ESV, Emphasis added).

The Inner Circle

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Do you have an inner circle of friends you completely trust and confide in? Perhaps you hold each other accountable. These are rare jewels in today’s world.

Jesus had an inner circle of friends whom he trusted. He included them in the centric workings of His ministry and invited them to understand who He was to prepare them for His death, burial, and resurrection.  

In reading about the transfiguration, in Matthew 17:1-3, Jesus’ physical image was changed to show His glory before becoming a man. It was also a preview of His future exaltation (2 Peter 1:16-18; Rev. 1:16, English Standard Version). Peter was an eyewitness and equates Jesus’ glory with the transfiguration.

The appearance of Moses, who stands for the law, and Elijah, who represents the prophets, are both prophetic forerunners to the Messiah (Mal. 4:5-6). The Messiah, Jesus Christ, fulfilled the law of Moses and the prophetic messages that foretold His coming.

God’s voice proclaimed Jesus as the Son of God – which echoes His baptism (Matt. 3:17). God spoke to the disciples and told them to listen to Jesus so they would understand the purpose of His coming and impending death. The transfiguration and God telling them to listen to Him stood out to me as something they (Peter, James, and John) needed to see and hear. This was done for their benefit to help them understand and prepare for Jesus’ death. It also instilled hope for His return.

His story wasn’t over then, and it’s not over now. We are assured of this in the Gospels. Each book is a witness to the fact that the story goes on. Jesus came to save the lost – because of God’s inexhaustible love for us and the unbridled joy He gets when one of His lost sheep is found. We see this in Jesus’ parables of the lost sheep, coin, and son (Luke 15:3-32).

The Holman Bible Dictionary confirms that Jesus’ story isn’t over. His mission will continue to be fulfilled wherever His name is confessed and His teachings obeyed, until He comes again.

Mark supplies a promise that Jesus will bring His scattered flock back together and lead them into Galilee (16:7). Matthew provides Jesus’ promise to always be with us (28:20). Through the book of Acts, Luke traces the spread of the Gospel message, the Kingdom of God, and the risen Jesus from Jerusalem to Rome. John gives a vibrant picture of the Holy Spirit given directly to the disciples by Jesus (20:21-22). Each makes the same point differently (Brand 2015, 894).

Jesus came to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. There is hope, and God’s love is still inexhaustible. I hope you find an inner circle to share life with, hold each other accountable, and do community as you seek more of Jesus daily.