Posts Tagged ‘love’

Scripture reading for September 13th: 2nd Corinthians 13:1-14

Paul was coming for his third visit and promised to address their problems with the sins he listed.  Some people there were questioning Paul’s authority and the power of Christ.  He told them that every matter would be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.  He had warned them on the second visit and now was prepared to deal with those who had not repented.  “. . .since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me.  He is not weak in dealing with you but is powerful among you.  For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power.  Likewise, we are weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him to serve you.” (2nd Corinthians 13:3-4)  It was Christ’s power in Paul’s weak body that made him a servant of Christ to help them.  Christ would not put up with sin in His body!

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.  Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you–unless, of course, you fail the test?  And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.” (2nd Corinthians 13:5-6)   Paul told them to test themselves for Christ in their life.  The real test of true Christianity is Christ living in us.  Paul knew that Christ lived in his body and was confident that these Corinthians would see that in him.  (Galatians 2:20)  They also would be able to know whether or not Christ was in them!

Paul was writing this letter to help these Corinthian Christian make the needed corrections in their lives before he came and would need to use his authority in person.  His desire and Christ’s was for their perfection!  His final words showed his heart to these brothers:  “Finally, brothers, good-by.  Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace.  And the God of love and peace will be with you.” (2nd Corinthians 13:11)

If we will take godly correction from those God places in our lives, we will make progress towards perfection!  If we don’t aim for perfection, we surely won’t hit it by accident!  We must help one another in order to make progress and to work at living in peace.  God will work in us and love us to perfection!

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Scripture reading for August 20th: 1st Corinthians 12:27-13:13

Each person has been placed in Christ’s body by God as it pleased Him!  (1st Corinthians 12:18)  We are all arranged and joined together in such a way to function as a unit to accomplish God’s purposes.  God appointed some ‘gift people’ to help with the teaching, equipping, and administration of His body.  But no matter what gift you may have, God has encouraged all to desire the greater gifts and to pursue the most excellent way: the way of love!

Paul gives us one of the best descriptions of what love looks like that was ever penned!  “Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.” (1st Corinthians 13:4-8a)

We can have all the gifts and be filled with faith, but without love we amount to nothing.  Pentecostal and charismatic Christians have to be careful in this regard.  The church at Corinth was flowing with gifts of the Spirit, but lack of love caused divisions and many other problems.  Our flesh can easily get in the way and cause the love of God to cease flowing in our life.  Faith works by love.  (Galatians 5:5-6)

The proper exercise of the gifts also requires faith and love working together.  The gifts are for the edification, exhortation, and comfort of the body.   Christ loves His church and all is to be done through love.  Love is not rude, boastful, or self-seeking.  Love is humble and seeks the best for the other person.  Pride and envy are not part of God’s kind of love!  His love doesn’t keep record of wrongs and doesn’t remain angry with another person.  His love trusts and protects and hangs in there for the long haul.  In the end, love like this never fails to produce God’s highest good for the other person and for the Church of Jesus Christ!

“Now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.” (1st Corinthians 13:13)  When all else fades away, love remains the greatest gift of all!  Will you ask God for a fresh revelation of His love today?

Scripture reading for July 29th: Romans 12:1-21

Paul’s thoughts now turn to the practical aspects of living out what we truly believe, the truth in Jesus Christ!  Chapters 12-16 are the practical application of the first eleven chapters.  “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-3)

As Christians, our bodies are now the property of God to be used for His purposes and glory!  We are not our own, we were bought with a price, the precious blood of Jesus!  We must offer our bodies willingly to God.  They are not dead, but living sacrifices, ready for the Master’s use.  This is an act of faith and it pleases God.  (Hebrews 11:6)  It is a spiritual act of worship, on par with singing, prayer, or tithing!

Practical offering of our bodies included using whatever gift we have received from God to serve others.  (Romans 12:4-13)  A short list of gifts and their benefits include prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, and showing mercy.  All members are to bless others with their gifts and they will find their own needs met.

We must also renew our minds by studying God’s word and allowing our thinking to be transformed from the world’s ways to God’s word.  Spiritual worship includes the mind as well as the body.  Transformation takes time and study.  We must apply ourselves to this purpose.

Attitudes of our minds were also practically listed by Paul.  We must learn to love each other and honor one another above ourselves.  We must share with those in need and practice hospitality.  Troubles will come but we must maintain our joy and hope.  We must act righteously towards those who mistreat us, not react in a worldly manner.  This included blessing our persecutors and associating with the lowly.

We must learn not to hold grudges or seek revenge.  All vengeance belongs to God.  We learn to bless our enemies and do good towards them.  In doing so, we overcome evil with good!  (Romans 12:19-21)  What a joy to be a living sacrifice with a transformed mind!

Scripture reading for December 2nd: Ephesians 1-6

Ephesians is one of the most encouraging epistles of Paul.  Written from prison, Paul shares the mystery of the church as the bride of Christ with all who read this letter.  The letter is written , “To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 1:1)   All who believe in Jesus Christ are considered “saints”, those set apart for the master’s use.  Each saint was chosen by Jesus and blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms through relationship with Him.  (Ephesians 1:3-14)  Believers have been lavished with God’s grace through forgiveness of sins and adoption as sons.  They have had the mystery of His will revealed to them.  They have a down payment of future blessedness, the promised Holy Spirit!

Paul prays two beautiful prayers for the saints recorded in Ephesians 1:15-19 and 3:14-21.  These prayers are models for our praying for spiritual insight into who we are in Christ and what He has given us.  Christ’s love for those He has chosen is so high and long and wide and deep that only by personal revelation can it be fathomed!  Paul bowed his knees before the Father in prayer and worship, praying from the depth of his heart.  What encouragement for us to know that we have been prayed for in this manner!  To consider that God can do “immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, according to the power at work in us,” (Ephesians 3:20) is exciting and opens up a new world for us.

Paul deals with practical matters of human relationships, including husbands and wives.  Mutual submission to each other out of respect for Christ is a great foundation for marriage.  (Ephesians 5:21)  Wives should submit to their husbands as to Christ.  Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church and laid His life down for her.  Paul states that these thoughts are a profound mystery!  (Ephesians 5:32)  Christ is the husband of His bride, the church and loves her as His own body!  He is one with the church as a husband is one with his wife.  Christ must be submitted to and reverenced by the church as the wife is to submit to and reverence her husband.

May we ponder this mystery today and apply the truths to our daily lives.  Marriages are to be visual aides to understand Christ and the Church.

Scripture reading for December 8th:  2 Timothy 1-4

The second letter of Paul to Timothy is widely believed to be the last written by the Apostle before his execution in Rome.  His final words of encouragement to this young man should also be encouraging to us.  Living in these last days requires focus.  We can easily be overcome by fear at the events unfolding around us.  Let’s listen with our hearts open to the Lord to Paul’s final words.

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:6-7)

Timothy came from good stock.  His mother and grandmother were both Jewish believers.  They had faith which was alive in them.  They were not timid but were filled with power and love because of their personal knowledge of God.  Paul had sensed the call of God on Timothy and had prayed over him for God’s gifts to come forth.  One gift was that of pastor and teacher.  This gift involved preaching and teaching God’s Word.

“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will  go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:12-17

Paul warned Timothy of coming persecution and deception.  The best defense was continuing in the word of God.  This is the word that was taught him by his mother and grandmother as well as his mentor, Paul himself.  It is the best equipment for a man or woman of God.

“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge:  Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction.” 2nd Timothy 4:1-2

The presence of the Lord with Paul and his understanding of God’s judgment of each person at Christ’s appearing caused him to give Timothy a simple charge.  He told him to preach the Word of God.  The Word is always in season.  It should be used to correct people, to rebuke those in known sin and to encourage them to prepare for Christ’s coming.  Take this simple charge to your heart today and let it move you to action!  It’s in season no matter what time of year!

Dear Friends,

Greetings on another day of rest!  We need to begin a new week with God’s people in worship of our great King!  We can rest in His love and celebrate His victory!  It is a command of Scripture to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together for regular worship, prayer, and sharing of community.  May your day be one of worship, rest and soul refreshing!

Today we must also continue reading if we are to finish our trek through the Bible.  The passage for today is Paul’s letter to Timothy.  Timothy is a young pastor, mentored by Paul, who was then pastoring the church at Ephesus.  Paul wrote to him to encourage him and instruct him in basic pastoral leadership.  Here are some of my favorite verses from our reading today.

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst.  But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life.  Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:15-17

” I urge then, first of all that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone–for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men–the testimony given in its proper time.” 1 Timothy 2:1-5

“Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:  He appeared in a body; was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.” 1st Timothy 3:16

May the Lord bless you and keep you this day and each day this coming week!

In His Love, Pastor John