1 Corinthians 1:3
What is love? Love is God promising humanity a saviour and the Father fulfilled His promise in Jesus Christ. Love can be found in John 3:16, “For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This verse depicts the true heart of God and demonstrates to the world what true love is. The words “world and whosoever” encompasses every one. God is not concerned about race, creed, color or social status; He is concerned about humanity’s salvation. For this reason God gave the best and all He had to provide mankind with everlasting life. What love?
1 John 4:9 supports God’s love for humanity which is evidence through Jesus Christ that “we may live through him.” God tells us in1 John 4:7 to love one another because He is the source of our love and there is no greater love than the love of God who lives in us through the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit we can overcome the evils of this world, which includes Satan’s temptations, persecutions and false teachings. With the Holy Spirit aiding the believer, we can live victoriously according to God’s will for our lives in Christ (Romans 8:37, Word Study Bible).
Once believers establish a vertical relationship with God, then believers can develop a horizontal relationship one to another (v7). Love is one of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and evidenced in our new birth and spiritual maturity. In addition, it is something the believer is responsible to develop because (a) it is God’s nature and we are born of Him, (b) He is love and believers experience His love and forgiveness. What love!
1 John 4:10 states, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” What is left to say about God and His love; it transcends all definitions and actions. How do we as believers respond to God’s love? Deuteronomy 6:5 answers the question on how believers are to respond to God’s love given all that He has done for humanity. Verse 5 is a commandment given by God and is regarded as the greatest commandment of all. Furthermore verse 5 supports Mark 12:29-31 in regards to the believer’s relationship to God and one another.
It was a labor of love that our Savior Jesus Christ went to the cross as humanity’s propitiator in complete obedience His father. How are we to respond? We are to remember His work on the cross in faith and that Jesus Christ paid humanity’s sin debt at Calvary. It was a labor of love from a human perspective because Jesus was both man and God. In His humanity, Jesus suffered brutal pain and agony many hours for mankind. In Sovereignty Jesus willingly gave His life bridging the divide between man and God. During those atoning hours God, the Father could not look on His Son; even the heavenly bodies went out of control; the sun refused to shine, the earth reeled back and forth like a drunken man and mid-day looked like night, because the second person in the Godhead was taking on humanity’s sins.
Remembering what God the Father and His Son done for us, we should love God first and then “one another in deed and in truth” (1 Johns 3:18). This shows that we have the love of God in us and we are the sons of God. Love is the focal point of our being an has been written and testified of, we as believers can delight ourselves in the LORD because we are loved and at any time we feel unloved we can pray this prayer, “LORD thank you for encompassing me with your love” (Light For My Path for Women, Jennifer Hahn). This prayer is powerful and reflective of foot prints in the sand saying; when we are in trouble and there are one set of footprints it is our Lord carrying us. Another view point on God’s love, when troubles over shadows us and we feel unloved; God’s love is the umbrella that protects us. God said “I will never leave you nor forsake you” Take God at His word and enjoy His all encompassing love.
The book, The Lord Is My Shepherd is available through Amazon.com, Barnes and Nobles, and PublishAmerica.com.
Read and be blessed. Post your comments to the envelope.
Willie White,
The author
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Walk in Love
Ephesians 5:1-2a
Why is it important to walk in love? Ephesians 5: 1 -2 states “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling saviour.” These two verses answer why believers are to walk in love. Additionally, if we as believers are to follow God’s example on love who gave His best for humanity’s sins and Christ’s Calvary encounter was the ultimate display of love for mankind. This display of love depicts the true heart of God and the obedience of His Son. Furthermore, being a Christian means being Christ-like, then we are to walk humbly in love to God. Amy Carmichael’s saying on love, “If I put my own good name before the other’s highest good, then I know nothing of Calvary love.”
The question is how do Christians show the world love? Romans 12:10, states, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.” Scriptures instructing believers on love are 1 Thessalonians 4:9b states, “ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.” In 1 John 4:11-12, “If we love one another, and “God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” Love has been the message since the beginning of time will continue to resonate throughout the ages as we are to love God first then one another; love begins and ends with God. What greater love that a man will lay down his life for his friends, which is what Christ did for humanity. Jesus called His disciples friends and you and I are considered friends upon establishing a relationship with Jesus.
We have discussed how Christians show the world love; let’s discuss the benefits of walking in love. Christians are commissioned to serve as God’s ambassadors who carry His message throughout the world. As Christ’s ambassador we are let our light shine before God so men may see our good works and want to be saved. The world is to see Christ manifested in our daily lives. Believers are the salt of the earth; seasoning the earth with the gospel message of Christ. Matthew 28:19-20 is known as the great commission for all believers who are commissioned to go into every nation making disciples not just converts. Christ is with His ambassadors in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Christ promised to be with His followers to the ends of the world, and believers can stand on this promise. What is a disciple? A disciple is a follower of Christ who is committed to following Christ with their whole hearts, minds, wills and has committed themselves to Christ and His kingdom purposes. Believers are to live separated lives as sojourners in a foreign land, which is what we are; because heaven is our true home.
What is believers’ lifestyle? Believers practice a lifestyle of daily holy living, because believers are of the royal priesthood which sets us apart as a holy nation for a special service for the Lord. Some of those special services include, (a) being a living sacrifice of holy obedience to God and not conforming to this world, (b) offering our petitions, prayer and praise to God on behalf of others, (c) performing good deeds, (d) giving material possessions as required, and (e) presenting our bodies to God as instruments of righteousness ( KJV LSPSB).
Final question, what are the blessings from walking in God’s love? The blessings from walking in God’s love result in believers being made holy which separates us from the world and delivers us from the bondage sin that we may have an intimate fellowship with God and gladly serve Him until we reach our heavenly home. Believers have separation by accepting Christ’s atoning death on the cross through faith. Sanctification is an ongoing process that requires believers to remain in constant communion with Christ. Believers are blessed with the Hoy Spirit who leads guides and protects us while calming the trouble waters of our souls. We are kept in unity with God by the constant anointing of the Holy Spirit through daily Bible reading and prayer. How is your Christian walk? Is it in love?
Why is it important to walk in love? Ephesians 5: 1 -2 states “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling saviour.” These two verses answer why believers are to walk in love. Additionally, if we as believers are to follow God’s example on love who gave His best for humanity’s sins and Christ’s Calvary encounter was the ultimate display of love for mankind. This display of love depicts the true heart of God and the obedience of His Son. Furthermore, being a Christian means being Christ-like, then we are to walk humbly in love to God. Amy Carmichael’s saying on love, “If I put my own good name before the other’s highest good, then I know nothing of Calvary love.”
The question is how do Christians show the world love? Romans 12:10, states, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.” Scriptures instructing believers on love are 1 Thessalonians 4:9b states, “ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.” In 1 John 4:11-12, “If we love one another, and “God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” Love has been the message since the beginning of time will continue to resonate throughout the ages as we are to love God first then one another; love begins and ends with God. What greater love that a man will lay down his life for his friends, which is what Christ did for humanity. Jesus called His disciples friends and you and I are considered friends upon establishing a relationship with Jesus.
We have discussed how Christians show the world love; let’s discuss the benefits of walking in love. Christians are commissioned to serve as God’s ambassadors who carry His message throughout the world. As Christ’s ambassador we are let our light shine before God so men may see our good works and want to be saved. The world is to see Christ manifested in our daily lives. Believers are the salt of the earth; seasoning the earth with the gospel message of Christ. Matthew 28:19-20 is known as the great commission for all believers who are commissioned to go into every nation making disciples not just converts. Christ is with His ambassadors in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Christ promised to be with His followers to the ends of the world, and believers can stand on this promise. What is a disciple? A disciple is a follower of Christ who is committed to following Christ with their whole hearts, minds, wills and has committed themselves to Christ and His kingdom purposes. Believers are to live separated lives as sojourners in a foreign land, which is what we are; because heaven is our true home.
What is believers’ lifestyle? Believers practice a lifestyle of daily holy living, because believers are of the royal priesthood which sets us apart as a holy nation for a special service for the Lord. Some of those special services include, (a) being a living sacrifice of holy obedience to God and not conforming to this world, (b) offering our petitions, prayer and praise to God on behalf of others, (c) performing good deeds, (d) giving material possessions as required, and (e) presenting our bodies to God as instruments of righteousness ( KJV LSPSB).
Final question, what are the blessings from walking in God’s love? The blessings from walking in God’s love result in believers being made holy which separates us from the world and delivers us from the bondage sin that we may have an intimate fellowship with God and gladly serve Him until we reach our heavenly home. Believers have separation by accepting Christ’s atoning death on the cross through faith. Sanctification is an ongoing process that requires believers to remain in constant communion with Christ. Believers are blessed with the Hoy Spirit who leads guides and protects us while calming the trouble waters of our souls. We are kept in unity with God by the constant anointing of the Holy Spirit through daily Bible reading and prayer. How is your Christian walk? Is it in love?
Friday, May 9, 2008
Mother's Day
Happy Mother’s Day
Marvellous are Thy Works
Psalm 139:14
Marvellous are Thy Works
Psalm 139:14
Who are mothers? Mothers are the female parent in the household. She is a voice of authority. She is the child-bearer of the family. She is the family’s centerpiece. She loves and moves with the grace of God. She love and cherishes her family, husband and children unconditionally. She loves and honors her position and responsibilities.
Mothers are a masterpiece designed by God, and mothers honor their masterful works as recorded in Psalm 139:14 which states, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
Mothers, you are a blessing from God; your hands never stop working. You mend broken hearts with a smile, kind words of encouragement and then offer an intercessory prayer to God. Your words melt away the hurt, problems become smaller, mountains appear easier to climb, and goals become achievable.
This day is set aside to say thank you for all your acts of kindness, endless love and tireless efforts.
Mothers, what would life be like without you? Mothers, you are loved.
Happy Mother’s Day
WILLIE B. WHITE,
Author
Good Shepherd Writing and Publishing LLC
© all rights subsists 05/04/2008
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