The Power of Being Loved Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: The Power of Being Loved ----------------------- Date: 06/13/99 Keywords: "love" "security" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. eXXit advertises itself as a web site designed to help you "stand strong in the face of sexual temptation." In Galatians 5:22-23, the apostle Paul lists nine "fruit of the Spirit," fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in the life of the believer. Each of these fruits - if produced - will greatly aid a believer who seeks to "stand strong". At eXXit, we believe: that the fruit of the Spirit is produced in the life of a healthy Christian, just as apples appear on a healthy apple tree; that if there is any love or joy or peace in a Christian, it is ultimately the work of God; that Christians can cooperate with the Spirit's desire to produce His fruit in their lives by yieldedness, faith, obedience and involvement in ministry. Passage: Romans 8:35-39* Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? [36] Just as it is written, "FOR THY SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED." [37] But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. [38] For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, [39] nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Questions 1. Believers in Jesus suffer. Those who don't believe in Jesus suffer, too. Based on the verses above, is there anything to encourage a believer in the midst of suffering?   2. Again, based on the verses above, is there anything that can separate a believer from the love of Jesus?   Practical help "Love is a many splendored thing." The Beatles said, "All you need is love" - and then they broke up. Love is truly amazing. Love is the commitment of someone to always look after the best interests of another, no matter what. The promise of the Bible is that THIS LOVE is the love God has bestowed on Christians. When we understand that we are loved perfectly by a perfect God, changes begin. We begin to feel secure. We begin to feel the stirrings of love toward Him who loves us. We begin to notice an enlarging of the heart to love those around us. And, we begin to sense the incongruity of being loved perfectly AND lusting at images of God's creation on the Internet. Want freedom from porn? Take a few minutes to reflect on the greatness of God's love for you. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 1999 by eXXit *Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.