A Guilty Heart Receives No Love

But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,

Nor have entered into the heart of man

The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

(1 Corinthians 2:9)

It is a miracle that any of us are saved! First we have to admit we are sinners, determine our way is the wrong way and turn around and follow Jesus. The problem is, on one hand we don't think we are all that bad so we stand our ground believing as long as we don't kill anyone we should be safe. On the other hand we can become so consumed with guilt and shame over our sin that we believe, "there is no way God would love us."

Romans 3:23 says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Pride gets in the way of our salvation on both accounts. We think too highly of ourselves or too lowly, either way we are thinking of ourselves too much! Guilt and shame can be a good thing if they lead a person to repentance. But linger too long in the valley of "woe is me," and you've rejected God's love. 

How can a person born into sin, full of worldly knowledge and experiences, convinced in their heart of their own understandings, receive something as wonderful as God's perfect love? How can a person who has heard the gospel, receive and accept God's amazing love knowing full well they don't deserve His love? How can we even comprehend the mystery of God? 

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

God has freely given us His love!
Love, what is love?
Right here you have a choice; base your answer on things you've experienced, maybe read or seen in a movie, or receive something by faith, that is of God!

1 Corinthians 13 tells us that; "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." 

Love suffers and is kind? Kind of a crazy thought right? Jesus suffered and died on the cross all for love.

Love does not envy? Jesus didn't envy His disciples who would outlive Him or consider it unfair that He being perfect and sinless should bear the iniquity of us all.

Love does not parade itself? Jesus, being God, could have come down as a king with riches and servants, but instead made himself of no reputation.

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 
(John 15:9)

We can only know love by the Spirit of God! We can only be loving with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. The spirit of man doesn't know these Godly truths and certainly can't practice them in his own strength! We need to forget what we know or have experienced and, by faith believe in God's love!

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 

(1 John 4:7-9). 

The tricky part is knowing where your heart is. Do you believe that God loves you or is your heart filled with so much guilt and shame that you can't receive His love. We fill our hearts with so much junk it literally becomes like a stone wall blocking the flow of love going out and coming in. We think we're keeping our hearts safe by shutting down when in reality we just cause our beating hearts to grow cold and dark.

Praise God for His word in Ezekiel 36: 26-27. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them..

Do you want a new heart? Do you want to live your life fully and not numb yourself because of fear or guilt or shame? Then cry out to Jesus and get in the Word of God!

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)

Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. (Acts 2: 41-43)

God has cleansed us by the washing of the word

You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you (John 15:3).

Lay down your guilt and shame at Jesus' feet and receive His love so that you in turn can love others. Because the only thing we keep in this life is what we give away!

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5:14)

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Cor 13:13)

Lord give us clarity by the Holy Spirit. Help us to see and hear the things You have prepared for us the ones You love! Help us to receive Your love because we are fully aware we do not deserve Your love! Our hearts are guilty before You but we rejoice knowing You have given us Your Son Jesus who took all our sin on Himself and paid our debt. May we, by faith in Jesus Christ, fully surrender to Your love so that we can love others! Forgive us for doubting Your love and for thinking we could be justified without the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Keep us close to You God and teach us not to fear. Help us to lay down our fears and put our faith in You! You are LOVE, and LOVE never fails! Thank You for Your word, in Jesus name amen!