We are told to love

Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Psa 44:22  Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

In the old testament and in the new testament those who would be God's are NOT promised a happy life. The promise is eternal life, not happy temporary life.  Christ our example- SUFFERED.  Why do we honestly believe we shouldn't suffer? We believe that, we really believe that. We wake up believing we deserve happiness. We go through our lives feeling the heavy weight of depression upon us and we look for cures to it. I'm not saying people don't need cures for depression, drugs and therapy etc, I would never say that, I've sought help myself. I'm saying that we feel this weight and want cures but truthfully we aren't promised cures beyond the hope we have for eternal life.  And we shouldn't be upset because we aren't promised happiness, we are told what we need to do to survive- over and over we are told.  WE are to believe, we are to think on these things--

Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

We are told to LOVE- to think outside of our self needs/desires.  If we cared more for others needs/desires than our own, just how different our lives might be.

Yet we insist we need to be treated with respect- our version of it. We insist we need to be thought well of. We insist that others shouldn't put us out. We rebel against others treating us wrongly- again our version of it. One person's seemingly selfish need, might just be our selfish refusal to meet that need. Their need might be genuine and not at all selfish, but we see it differently and we rebel against that. We get upset because we are put out from our own desire/need.  Truly we need the power of the Holy Spirit working in us if we hope to at all be selfless, to truly love others, to truly love God.  

All by His grace and mercy, HIS LOVE, not ours.

We are truly sheep meant for the slaughter in so many ways, yet we rebel against this truth. Satan would have us continue to rebel, to never quite give up ourselves in favor of others. Others will never be worthy of our unwavering, unquestioning obedience, yet this is exactly what is needed.

We belong to God, may God use us according to HIS service, not our own self-serving.  Please, FATHER GOD, please bless us with YOU and the power of the Holy Spirit to do all we cannot do, which is so much.

By YOUR LOVE.

In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, now and forever.

Amen.