Love's Affectionate Devotion
by
Kraig Josiah Rice

Here is a tract that I wrote encouraging others to love God:

Do you know that it is possible for you to love God? As a matter of fact the Bible says that the person who does not love God shall be accursed!
(1 Corinthians 16:22). How does one come to love God?

First of all, you must realize that you have committed sin and are in a lost condition apart from God and that in this condition you can never know or experience God's love
(Romans 3:23; John 3:18).

Secondly, the avenue to God and His love is through repentance. One has to accept the mercy of God and be washed clean by the shed blood of Jesus through repentance in His name
(1 John 1:7).

Upon this sincere repentance Christ will come into your heart and you will be a new creature (spiritual creation) in Christ Jesus and you will have fellowship with God and know His abounding love
(2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 3:16-19).

God loving us gives us the capacity to love others because "...the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us," and "we love him (God), because He first loved us"
(Romans 5:5; 1 John 4:19).

Jesus said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment"
(Matthew 22: 37, 38)

Also Jesus said, "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings and the word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father's which sent me"
(John 14:23).

Jesus also said, "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love
(John 15:9 & 10).

The Bible says, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God: and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God: for God is love
(I John 4:7,8).

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved)"
(Ephesians 2:4 & 5).

"Ye that love the Lord, hate evil".
(Psalms 97:10).

Won't you accept Jesus Christ as God the loving Son into your heart now and experience His great love?

"Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; and repayeth them that hate Him to their face, to destroy them; he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face"
(Deuteronomy 7: 9, 10).

Love should not be confused with lust also. Living a lifestyle of having sex outside of marriage and the other damning works of the flesh are mentioned in
Galatians 5:19-21, in the Bible, and a whole chapter is devoted to the essence of love in
I Corinthians chapter 13.

Here is a tract that David Buttram wrote encouraging others to love God:

A Love Letter From Jesus To You

Dear Friend (you),
"How are you? I just had to send a note to tell you how much I love you and care about you.

I saw you yesterday as you were talking with your friends. I waited all day hoping you would want to talk with me also. As evening drew near, I gave you a sunset to close your day and cool breeze to rest you- and I waited. You never came. Oh yes, it hurts me- but I still love you because I am your friend.

I saw you fall asleep last night and longed to touch your brow, so I spilled moonlight upon your pillow and face. Again I waited, wanting to rush down so we could talk, I have so many gifts for you! You awakened late and rushed off to work. My tears were in the rain.

Today you looked so sad- so all alone. It makes my heart ache because I understand. My friends let me down and hurt me many times, too, but I love you.

Oh, if you would only listen to me. I love you! I try to tell you in the blue sky and in the quiet green grass. I whisper it in the leaves on the trees and breathe in the colors of flowers. I shout it to you in mountain streams and give the birds love songs to sing. I clothe you with warm sunshine and perfume the air with nature scents. My love for you is deeper than the ocean and bigger than the biggest want or need in your head. Oh if you only knew how much I want to walk and talk with you. We could spend an eternity together in heaven.

I know how hard it is on this earth, I really know! And I want to help you. I want you to meet my Father. He wants to help you, too. My father is that way, you know.

Just call me- ask me- talk with me! Oh please don't forget me. I have so much to share with you!

Alright, I won't bother you further. YOU are free to choose me. It is your decision. I have chosen you and because of this, I will wait- because I love you!"

Your Friend,
Jesus Christ

This tract is available for purchase from the Gospel Tract Society.

Presented to you by
Bread On The Waters (BOW)
Kraig Josiah Rice
www.breadonthewaters.com


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since February 12, 2006