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Transcript

Love-Based Simplicity · First15 Devotional

• 0:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: As we wrap up our week on the simplicity of love, today we'll look at the concept of simplicity itself, and what it means to have a solitary pursuit.
• 0:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: As you fix your eyes on Jesus today, may you find that the weight of the world falls away, and may you choose the path of simplicity and love going forward, living out in joy and peace.
• 0:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from Colossians 3, verse 14, Scripture says,
• 1:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: and above all these, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
• 1:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: God's command to love affords us a life of simplicity that can only be found in His kingdom come to earth.
• 1:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: Colossians 314 says, and above all these, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
• 1:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: Christianity is a simple religion.
• 1:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus said that all of God's commandments can be summed up with one word.
• 1:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: Love.
• 1:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: Galatians 514 says, for the whole law is fulfilled in one word, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
• 2:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: How is it then that our spirituality often feels so complex and difficult?
• 2:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: How is it that we have a hard time experiencing the simplicity our faith affords us?
• 2:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: Complexity and Christianity finds its root in the attempt to live for both the world and God.
• 2:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus makes it clear in Matthew 624, no one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
• 2:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: You cannot serve God and money.
• 2:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: Loving God in people is simple.
• 2:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: There is only one right choice before us in all that we do.
• 3:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: complexity enters into our lives as soon as we try and juggle living for the world and living for God.
• 3:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: There is a fence between this world and God's kingdom too high to straddle.
• 3:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: It is impossible to put one foot in God's kingdom while keeping a foot in the world.
• 3:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: God longs for you and me to make our first action every day to serve and love him alone.
• 3:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: He longs to guide us into the incredible abundant life that comes from seeking His kingdom above all else.
• 3:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: First John II versus 15 through 17 tells us, do not love the world or the things in the world.
• 3:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in Him.
• 3:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: For all that is in the world, the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life is not from the Father, but is from the world.
• 4:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: In the world is passing away, along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
• 4:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: You cannot have both love for the world and love for your Heavenly Father.
• 4:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: This world is that enmity with God.
• 4:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: It is set against Him in His ways, but you and I have been given a choice by the powerful sacrifice of Jesus.
• 4:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: We've been given a real, available option to serve and love the eternal Almighty God.
• 4:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's time for the bride of Christ to end its affair with the world.
• 4:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's time for us to let God love us and in response live for Him alone.
• 5:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's time for us to lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance, the race that is set before us.
• 5:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's from Hebrews 12.1.
• 5:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: Choose today the simplicity of love.
• 5:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: Serve God alone.
• 5:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: And discover a life far greater than anything you could experience outside of living for God above all else.
• 5:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: Draw near to God as you enter a guided prayer.
• 5:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, meditate on the impossibility of loving God and the world, allow Scripture to fill you with a desire to seek God first today in all that you do.
• 6:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: Matthew 6th 24 says, no one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.
• 6:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: You cannot serve God and money.
• 7:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: And next, how have you been in friendship with the world?
• 7:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: In what ways are you trying to serve two masters?
• 7:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: Romans 12 too says, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
• 8:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: and last.
• 8:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: Confess any sin of pursuing the world to God and receive His forgiveness and love.
• 8:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: God has total grace for us in our sin.
• 8:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: All He wants is to guide us to a life more filled with His presence, love, and purpose.
• 8:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: Don't wallow in your sin.
• 8:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: Receive God's gift of forgiveness and
• 9:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: first John one nine says, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
• 9:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's incredibly important as believers to acknowledge both our sin and the powerful transformation through God's love that's available to us.
• 10:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: So often we allow our past sins and present failures to define us.
• 10:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: In reality, we're given an opportunity every day to receive God's transformation and healing that we might live more like Jesus.
• 10:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: Lamentations 323 tells us that his mercies are new every morning.
• 10:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: If you will receive the mercies available to you today, you can choose to live your life differently.
• 10:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: Half faith in the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within you to help you.
• 10:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: Ask him to show you the root of your sin that you might receive healing and transformation.
• 10:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: May you discover today a wonderful life rooted in the simplicity of love.
• 11:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for listening to today's podcast.
• 11:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with First 15.
• 11:25
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• 11:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: Sharing how God is impacting your life through First 15 is one of the most effective ways of helping more people connect with our ministry.
• 11:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: If you'd rather just send us a note, you can also do that at podcast at First15.org.
• 11:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you see Kim.