Arms of Love
Now Think On This
Steve Martin
“Greater love has no one
than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.”
John 15:13, NKJV)
Do you need a hug today?
It sure would be nice to give you one right now.
When I receive prayer
requests from my beloved friends in Jerusalem, Sweden, Pakistan, India, and
even right here in the USA from my best friend in Peru, Illinois, sometimes I
just wish I could go to them and give them a big hug. Just to let them know that
they are not alone; that the Lord Jesus is not only their Savior and Redeemer,
but that He has also given others for them, to share His immense heart of love
and compassion with them.
He has created us with loving
arms – to wrap around others as He Himself does.
Generally I am not a
hugger as much as I’d like to be. I guess it has something to do with growing
up. Coming from a family of eight kids, just getting the daily jobs done and
the home managed was quite a bit for Mom and Dad in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Weariness, and all that goes with it, doesn’t always allow for giving out a
bunch of hugs. (But Mom sure does give them now. Thanks Mom! Dad has passed
onto glory.)
As a father myself, even
with our own four children, I regret that I didn’t give out the hugs I am sure
they wanted, and needed, as they grew up. I do pray that what they missed out
on then has now been received, as they walk in faith and love with their Lord
Jesus, and have much to share with their own.
As a husband, I am also aware
that I don’t give as many hugs as my good wife would love to have. But thank
God that by His everlasting grace I am still working on that, even after all these
38 years.
In years gone by, when Laurie
and I led worship at various Charlotte, NC church and ministry gatherings, we
would sing a song from Vineyard Music called Arms of Love (see lyrics below). It is a very simple song, and yet
it grips the heart when you hear of the Lord’s love, and how He so often wants
to wrap us up in His arms of love.
You see, one can have these
as you give of yourself to those in need, and whom you care about. When Jesus
came to earth - to walk among us, experience all that we too would go through,
and then in death gave us the opportunity to experience eternal life by His
sacrificial blood poured out - He demonstrated what love is all about. We are
to lay down our life for our friends, and to others whom He gives us.
Yeshua wrapped His loving
arms around the whole world as He hung on the tree, stretched out, fully exposed,
suffering a torturous death in order that you and I could have life. As Jesus
obeyed the Eternal Father, by abiding in His love, He poured out His precious, cleansing
blood, while graphically revealing the abundant love He bore in His heart. His
blood now covers our sins, and redeems us.
His life lived among us was
given because He loves us so much, and desires that we not perish in hell, but
abide forever with Him in His heavenly home. That is what love is all about.
Even Charlie Brown knows that.
My prayer for you today
is that you know of your Father’s loving arms, that you experience a true
friend who also does, and that together they would wrap their arms around you
at those times you desperately need a hug.
The Lord doesn’t leave
us alone to face that which often comes our way. He not only has given us Himself,
but desires to place us in a spiritual family to walk with, together laying our
lives down for one another, and sharing His arms of love with the world.
He loves you. He really does.
Go share His love, and hug
someone today. Wrap your loving arms around them.
Now think on this,
Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People.
Inc.
P.S. We sure could use
your help to bless the families we do in Israel, India, Pakistan, Vietnam and
the hurting ones here in the USA. Please give out of the abundance you have
been given.
I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve
In May, 2016, my wife
Laurie and I will be traveling to Israel to spend time with our friends. We
support them in word and deed. We have our plane tickets in hand. We support
Israel.
Love For His People,
Inc. is a charitable,
not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love
of the Father in the nations.
If these messages
minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and
maybe each month, to help us bless families we know in Israel, whom we
consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible
contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.
Contribution checks can
be sent to:
Love For His People,
Inc. P.O. Box414 Pineville, NC 28134
Todah rabah! (Hebrew
– Thank you very much.)
Please share Now
Think On This with your friends.
Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com
martinlighthouse@gmail.com
Facebook pages: Steve
Martin and Love For His People
Twitter: martinlighthous,
LovingHisPeople
Now Think On This #203 “Arms
of Love” by Steve
Martin
Date: In the year of our
Lord 2015 (11.08.15) Sunday at 6:00 am in Charlotte, NC
All previous editions
of Now Think On This can be found on this
Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This
I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with
your family and friends. You can easily use the social media icons below.
Thanks! Steve
Arms of
Love, Vineyard
I sing
a simple song of love
To my Savior, to my Jesus
I'm grateful for the things You've done
My loving Savior, oh precious Jesus
My heart is glad that
You called me Your own
There's no place I'd rather be
Than in Your arms of love
In Your arms of love
Holding me still
Holding me near in Your arms of love
CCLI Song Number 824481
Copyright: 1991 Mercy / Vineyard
Publishing, Vineyard Songs Canada
