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The Test of Our Love (I John 3:17-18) - PART 2
I John 3:17-18, “But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” The truth about love is seen in our practice. John asks a powerful question intended to cause us to evaluate our lives by what we know about the love of God. Is the love of God abiding in you? If it is, it will not only be heard, but it will also be seen. Those who have the love of God in them will practice displaying that love in practical ways. God gives us opportunities to share His love in this world and we must take advantage of those opportunities. When the love of God is in us, we will be practicing that love in this world. Deuteronomy 15:7, “If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:” Proverbs 19:17, “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” May we learn the joy that comes from helping and loving others, and investing our lives in them. May we learn the joy from giving. In I John 3:18-24, John tries to get us to understand that our lives are preaching a message. Paul reminded us several times that we are to live out the truth by our actions. People are watching us. II Corinthians 3:2, “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:” Philippians 2:15, “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” That is practicing faith and helping in times of need. Are we ready to help out when the need arises? Helping others in need is sometimes inconvenient, uncomfortable, costly, demanding, and unappreciated, but God calls for us to love in a practical way. Help where we can help, do what we can do, give what we can give, and do it all for the glory of God. John says that if the love of God abides in us we will practice that love in the world. It’s been said that if we are going to help a brother, we must meet three conditions. First, we must have the means necessary to meet his need. Second, we must know that the need exists. Third, we must be loving enough to want to share. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we can not shut up our hearts to the needs of others. When we help others we are to help them with the love of God. That means that we will not be ashamed to help in the name of Jesus so that they too can experience the love of God. When we are motivated and empowered by the love of God, we will gladly, willingly, and lovingly help where we can, with what we have. The Word of God commands us to love in deed and in truth. We are not to love in tongue or with insincerity. We are put our love into action. We are to love in deed, and doing so may require sacrifice. They are all “talk” but no walk. Jesus had his fill of them in His day and so did Isaiah and Ezekiel. Matthew 15:8, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” Isaiah 29:13, “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:” Ezekiel 33:31, “And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.” Look through the Bible and you find a number of examples of people who loved in deed including Jesus and the three Hebrew men who would rather die than disobey God. Daniel loved God so much that he was willing to die rather than to stop praying to the Lord and pray to someone else. The Macedonian Christians gave sacrificially to Paul’s ministry so the gospel could be spread to the lost. Ruth followed and served Naomi when she did not have to do this. David’s mighty men loved him and were willing to give their lives in battle as they fought with him. If your life is going to be a living message that impacts others, then your love for God and people must be genuine and be demonstrated in your life by what you do as well as what you say. One of the great challenges for every Christian is to be a living message; to let Jesus Christ be seen in our own lives by the way we act, live, and talk, and to behave just like Jesus. Christians are to be in “ministry mode”. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” We are to use all we have to show the love of Jesus to this world. It is ten thousand times better to wear out for Jesus’ sake in blessing others and hear a “Well done, good and faithful servant”, than to have to go to the Judgment Seat of Christ and give account of a lifetime of selfishness. We have been reminded by the Spirit of God through the Word of God about the love of God. God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to the world, and Jesus loved us so much that He laid down His life for us. That is real, genuine, and eternal love. Jesus laid down His life for us and we need to be willing to lay down our lives for one another. God’s Word has challenged us to have an active, working, practical faith that displays the love of God in this world. God calls for us today to experience His love and He challenges us today to express His love. Questions to Consider: What kind of faith do you have? Does your faith in Jesus move you to help the brethren in need? Is the love of Jesus seen in your life, or only heard from your lips? Would you surrender to Jesus to begin to serve Him and show His love to those around you? If this post has blessed you in any way Please share this website and its articles with others www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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The Test of Our Love (I John 3:17-18) - PART 1
I John 3:17-18, “But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” A sure sign of genuine salvation is a heartfelt love for the brethren. I John 3:16, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” The test of true Biblical love is identified as a willingness to sacrifice one's own life for his brother. This is in contrast to Cain who hated and slew his brother. As Christians, we are the opposite—we give ourselves for others. Why? Because he laid down his life for us. This is Christianity—God has given to me; now I give to others. Love has compassion and gives to meet the needs of people. According to John, one way that our love is manifested is in our care of the brethren. I John 3:17, “But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” If a brother is in need, whether it is the need of food, clothes, shelter, or service, and if one has the ability to help but will not do so, how dwelleth the love of God in him? The bottom line is that if we have no concern for the welfare of God's people, the love of God is missing in us. One who can see a need and shut his heart to it does not have the love of Christ. The person who lives a selfish life has missed the whole point of Christ's sacrifice. II Corinthians 5:15, “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” The law of love according to the Bible is quite clear. Galatians 6:2, “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” If we have the bare necessities of life and see a person in need, how can we close our heart against him? How can we shut off feelings for him? How can we keep from helping him and from sharing what we have? If a person does this, how can the love of God dwell within them? The answer is clear: the love of God does not exist within a person who does not help those whom he sees in need. NOTICE: This doesn't mean we should give out money indiscriminately to everyone in need. The Bible instructs us in II Thessalonians 3:10, “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” When people are able and have opportunity to work, but they refuse, we are not to help them. However, when someone is in legitimate need and we habitually have no compassion on him or her, the love of God is not in us. According to the Bible, sin is more than doing something bad or wrong. James 4:17, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” I John 3:18, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” According to John, talk is cheap! John was dealing with lip service, as opposed to life service. John got down to words verses deeds. Most Christians can say a few words of comfort. Such words are important at times. However, kind words do not fill hungry stomachs. An unclothed person cannot wear our words. The widow's cold house cannot be heated by words of concern. It will take something tangible to meet the need. Because the love of God is shed abroad in our heart, we act differently towards others. Romans 5:5, “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” A clean heart is wrought by loving in deed and not in word only. To love only those who love us is to love only in theory and in speech. It is not loving like God loved; it is not practicing the love of God. We are admonished not to limit our love to words that we speak, but to genuinely show our love in deed and in truth. Our actions speak much louder than our words. We can talk of loving others and even challenge those around us to love others, but until we actually express our love through action, we have not really loved. We are admonished to show our love through action. Live it out daily as we serve others and care for them. The work of love must also be performed with pure motives. Some may act in the appearance of love, but real love was not the motivating force. Points to Ponder: One cannot know love apart from Christ. I pray the Lord will open our eyes; mine included, and allow us to see others as He sees them. May our hearts be filled with compassion for those who stand in such desperate need! Jesus didn't ignore the needs of His day and we must not ignore the needs of ours. Questions to Consider: It is probably safe to say that we all possess love, but does our love please the Lord? Does our love move us to action? Are we motivated to address the needs of our day? Are we willing to be the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus within a world that needs Him? If this post has blessed you in any way Please share this website and its articles with others www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com The Power of Love (I Corinthians 13:4-7) – PART 2
I Corinthians 13:4-7, “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” Charity never rejoices in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. In other words, God doesn’t want His children to turn a blind eye to sin. Yet at the same time, Christians are to look for ways to help unbelievers discover the Father’s love for them. The Lord lovingly created each of us, and even though we’re all sinners who have fallen short, we have the potential to be made into something good. He considers even the most evil and corrupt person worth saving. How do we know this is true? Because God so loved the world and whoever believes in His Son will have eternal life (John 3:16). There is nothing we can do to deserve His love. He loves every single person, no matter how horrible his or her sin may be. The Lord extends His care, His mercy, and His salvation to anybody who wants it. He keeps no record of wrongs. He loves without conditions. And He wants us to love others in the same way. Practicing this kind of love, however, isn’t always easy. One reason is that it doesn’t come naturally. Pure Christian love puts others ahead of ourselves. The Father’s love will help us learn how to care deeply for others. As our love for God grows, we learn how to truly love others well. 10. Charity rejoices in truth (I Corinthians 13:6). Charity rejoices in righteousness and never rejoices at injustice. Charity never rejoices in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. III John 3-4, “For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” Charity does not take pleasure in the unrighteousness and sin of others. Charity does not feed upon sin and wrong, nor does it pass along the stories of sin and wrong. Charity never covers nor hides the truth. Charity is courageous in that it faces the truth. Charity refuses to rejoice in the sin, iniquities, or failures of others. Charity looks beyond the failure and seeks the Lord. Charity rejoices and embraces the truths of God. Charity rejoices when truth is proclaimed and upheld, even in instances when truth hurts. God's love will allow us to embrace His truth in a way that will transform our lives. 11. Charity bears all things (I Corinthians 13:7). Charity is forbearing. This literally means "to cover." The word bears means both to cover all things and to bear up under all things. It does not expose the faults of another, but seeks to cover and heal. Charity does both: it stands up under the weight and onslaught of all things and it covers up the faults of others. It has no pleasure in exposing the wrong and weaknesses of others. We typically remember the offense long after it occurred. But that’s not what Christ did, He loved us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). Love bears up under any neglect, abuse, ridicule—anything that is thrown against it. 12. Charity believes all things. Charity is optimistic. It expects the best from everyone as it “believeth all things”. It is not gullible, but expectant. Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Charity is completely trusting, always eager to believe the best. Charity sees and understands the circumstances and accepts, forgives, and believes the very best about a person. Charity seeks to look at every situation in the best possible light. It does not seek to undermine, but to uplift and encourage. Charity seeks good in every situation. It determines to trust, believe, and remain confident. 13. Charity hopes all things. Charity is hopeful. Charity expects the best to come out of each person. Charity never ceases to hope. Charity never loses hope. It never resigns to defeat or failure. Charity expects the best possible outcome in all situations. Charity expects the good to eventually triumph and to gain the victory. Charity refuses to accept failure. Charity always hopes for the best and for the ultimate triumph of the good, no matter how fallen or how tragic the fall, or how difficult gaining the victory may seem. 14. Charity is enduring. Charity endures all that comes it’s way without complaint or plans of vengeance. It knows God will work out good at the end. We see this with Joseph (Genesis 45:4-5). The word “endures” is a military word meaning to stand against the attack of an enemy; it does not give up the fort; it stands its ground, never abandoning its post. Charity actively fights and endures all attacks. Charity is strong, full of fortitude and fight, and it struggles against any and every assault to buckle in to being unloving. Charity conquers and triumphs always because it endures all things. No matter what attacks charity, named or unnamed, it endures the attack and continues to love. Charity is consistent in that it isn't affected or dictated by circumstances. Charity is not swayed or changed by the actions or failure of others. Charity remains even if it must overlook the failures. Charity is not fickle or passing. It is not here one moment and gone the next and refuses to allow difficulties and strife to overcome it. Charity refuses to cease for any reason! If this post has blessed you in any way Please share this website and its articles with others www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com The Power of Love (I Corinthians 13:4-7) – PART 1
I Corinthians 13:4-7, Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. It's easy to look around and see that churches today are not making the same kind of impact on society that the early churches did in the first century. We have tools and techniques they could not even have imagined. We have programs and plans that have been market tested and promoted. We have buildings with comfortable chairs and air conditioning and state-of-the-art sound and light systems. But first-century churches shook the world without any of those things. What they had was an overwhelming love. They loved God wholeheartedly. They loved each other sacrificially. They loved the lost with a passion that made them brave every danger and overcome every obstacle to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. The following verses reveal the great acts of love. We see the character of Charity. What is given in these four verses is not a long, dry, methodical definition of love. On the contrary, the very acts of love are given; the very behavior of a person, the very way a person is to live among and with others. In living and moving among others in the world, a person is to love, and this is what loving others means. The Biblical qualities of Charity are as follows. 1. Charity suffers long (I Corinthians 13:4). Charity is patient with people. It is not hasty, demanding immediate satisfaction of it’s preferences. It suffers long. Charity is not irritable. In patience the loving person possesses his soul. Luke 21:19, In your patience possess your soul. It takes a lot to make him angry. The word always refers to being patient with people, not with circumstances. Charity suffers a long, long time. No matter the evil and injury done by a person. No matter the neglect or ignoring by a loved one. Charity suffers a long, long time without resentment, anger, or seeking revenge. Charity controls itself in order to win the person and to help him to live, work, and serve as he should. Patient endurance under provocation; literally long-tempered. Charity is not impatient or one that seeks "pay back." Stephen is a great example. 2. Charity is kind. Waiting in patience, it does not become rude and rash. Romans 12:10, Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honour preferring one another. Charity is courteous, good, helpful, useful, giving, showing and showering favors. Charity does not resent evil; it does not revel in the hurt and neglect. Charity reaches out in kindness; in helpfulness, in giving, and in showering favors upon the person who neglects or hurts oneself. This speaks of goodness that goes forth in order to benefit others. It is respectful of others and always considerate of their needs. 3. Charity is Not Envious. Charity does not envy, it is not jealous. It never becomes motivated by the desire for personal honors; therefore, it does not envy the honor which comes to another. Galatians 5:26, Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Charity does not have feelings against others because of what they have, such as gifts, position, friends, recognition, possessions, popularity, abilities. Charity does not begrudge or attack or downplay the abilities and success of others. Charity shares and joys and rejoices in the experience and good of others. Charity is not envious or jealous of the talents or blessings of others. Charity rejoices in their prosperity. 4. Charity does not vaunt itself. Charity is not boastful. Charity does not brag nor seek recognition, honor, or applause from others. On the contrary, Charity seeks to give: to recognize, to honor, to applaud the other person. This means "does not make a parade; it does not brag or boast." It does not seek to be the center of attention. Charity allows others to enjoy their moments of success, but refrains from bragging itself. 5. Charity is not puffed up. Charity is not arrogant or proud. In fact, it stands in humility, realizing that all we possess comes from the good hand of God. Real charity does not seek its own praise. Charity is Humble. (I Corinthians 13:4). It does not exalt itself or permit pride to influence its attitudes or actions. Romans 12:3, For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Charity is not prideful, arrogant, or conceited. Charity does not think nor act as though oneself is better or above others. Charity is modest and humble and recognizes and honors others. 6. Charity does not behave itself unseemly. (I Corinthians 13:5). Charity has good manners. Charity never behaves inappropriately, rudely, indecently, unmannerly, disgracefully. Charity does nothing to shame oneself. Charity always seeks to treat others with compassion and humility. Charity is orderly and controlled; and it behaves and treats all people with respect, honoring and respecting who they are. Charity keeps our emotions in check. It has no self-interests to promote. It looks for opportunities to promote another. So, it’s actions and attitudes are always proper. It allows us to be consistent in our witness and labor for the Lord among others. Real Charity allows us to be a light for the Lord. 7. Charity does not seek Her Own. Charity is Unselfish. Charity is not selfish; does not insist upon its own rights. Charity is not focused upon who one is nor upon what one has done. Charity seeks to serve, not have others serving oneself. Charity is acknowledging others, not insisting that others acknowledge oneself; it is giving to others, not insisting that others give to oneself. Charity is never selfish or self-centered. God's love is not one that seeks only its well being. It is genuinely concerned with the needs and desires of other. Charity allows us to place others' needs ahead of our own. A mother never questions her sacrifice for the sake of her children. A loving Christian never questions about sacrificial service for the cause of Christ. II Corinthians 12:15, And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you.” 8. Charity is not easily provoked. Charity is not easily angered; not ready to take offence; not quick tempered; not "touchy". It is not easily aroused to anger; does not become exasperated. Charity controls the emotions and never becomes angry without a cause (Romans 12:18). Charity is willing to yield to the wants of others. It is submissive and kind. Charity does not keep a record of past wrongs but rather overlooks and forgives. It is not adamant that it be served and promoted. 9. Charity does not think Evil. Charity thinks evil of no one. Charity does not think evil. Such fervent charity covers the faults of others. I Peter 4:8, And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Charity does not consider the wrong suffered; is not resentful; does not hold the evil done to oneself. Charity takes no worthless inventory. Love responds in a godly way. It does not dwell on the past or injustices that have come its way; love that is not persuaded or motivated by the actions of others. It always looks for good in a situation, rather than being negative and seeking fault or blame. It is not quick to jump to conclusions or embrace rumors. Charity suffers the evil done to it and forgets it. If this post has blessed you in any way Please share this website and its articles with others www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com I Can’t Help But To Love Him (I John 4:18-19)
I John 4:18-19, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.” The Lord’s love is so powerful, perfect, and pure in every way. God’s love casts out fear, overpowers worry, obliterates doubt, and overcomes anxiety. John understood the reality of God’s love. The word "love - loveth" is used 46 times in this letter. John knew that this love gives the right perspective on life. It frees us from the impulses that dominate the world. We no longer are obsessed with self-interest and pride. We can be selfless and focus on eternal values. God does not love us because we are special, or worthy, or lovable. He loves us because He is love. God does not wait for us to come to Him. If He did, no one would ever be saved. Romans 3:10-11, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” God's love is not only active, but sacrificial. Love is what put Jesus on the cross and kept Him there. Love is what motivated Him to go through the physical suffering, and the even worse spiritual and emotional suffering of bearing the weight of our sin. Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” God does not tell us to change our ways to qualify for His love before He extends it. When asked to name the greatest commandment, Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-38, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” It is this amazing love of God that calls us to love Him in return. How can we not love the God who loved us when we were unlovely, gave His life for us, washed us from our sin, and gives our lives meaning and purpose? How can we not love Him wholeheartedly and completely, above all else. The Bible makes clear that God wants us to realize how much He loves us, and to know how much He is ready to bless us if we love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind. If we understand God's love, we realize that He is love. Motivated by that love, we love to please Him and fellowship with Him. We love to know His Word and show love to others around us. Filled with His love, we eagerly share the Gospel. We do not have to strive for love and acceptance because Christ loves us as we are. His unconditional love motivates our service and gives us confidence. His balanced love provides confirmation when we are doing what is right and conviction when we are in the wrong. His selfless love causes Him to abundantly pour out His blessings upon us each day. Every area of our life is enhanced by the wonderful love of our Saviour. His love is a reality. God has His eyes on us and wants to show us His favor. He loves us no matter what. We can lay aside our regret over the past, our worries about the present, and our fears concerning the future. It is God's love for us and our love for Him that motivates us to follow, obey, and serve Him, and to continue to do so until we see His face. This love is forgiving and kind. It is practical and applies in every situation we face. In fact, accepting God's love changes our lives. The greatest thing we can do is to love God with everything that is within us. Focus your thoughts on God right now. Love Him unconditionally. Thank Him for His love. And let that love flow from you to people all around you. Points to Ponder: God's love to us calls for nothing less than complete love for Him in return. May our service for Christ be awakened by His love for us and revived each day by our love for Him. Let’s determine we will live each day in light of this reality. We have an opportunity to share Christ’s love with those who come to visit our church family. PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me just the way I am. I appreciate all that You have done for me. I confess that sometimes my fears reveal I’m not trusting You as I know I should, but trusting in something or someone else instead. Thank you for reminding me just how fragile everything else is compared with You. Thank You for never leaving or forsaking me. Thank You for never letting me down and always proving Yourself trustworthy. Help me learn to trust You increasingly and remove fears from my life. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com A Kind And Loving God (Titus 3:4-7)
Titus 3:4-7, “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Many people have the view of God as being so far away with little, if any, concern and interest in the affairs and lives of men, while others see God, who is always on the lookout, waiting to punish those who break His laws and fail to follow His rules. God is our Saviour. He is absolutely concerned with us, so concerned that His very name is God our Saviour. He has saved us from the sin, evil, suffering, and death of this world, and from the condemnation of the next world. This is one of the greatest summaries on salvation in all of Scripture. It is a message that must be preached if people are going to be reached for Christ and if believers are going to be grounded in sound doctrine. We must never forget what Jesus has done for us, making us part of the family of God. God, in His mercy, provided a means for our deliverance through the sacrifice of His Son. After all of the sin and rebellion that God had experienced in the hearts of men, He revealed His kindness and love toward us in the giving of His Son. God's goodness and kindness is so deep that it always gives whatever is necessary to meet the needs of a person. This was always God's plan of redemption. In Christ Jesus, we discover the love, grace, and mercy of God displayed for all the world to see! God's love reached out toward man; that God has a deep-seated affection for man and that He has showered His affection upon man by saving him. Even today, men continue to deny and reject the Lord, and yet He lovingly reveals Himself to them, offering salvation! Two things are essential in order to have mercy: seeing a need and being able to meet that need. God sees our need for salvation; He sees that we need to be saved from sin, death, and condemnation. Therefore, God acts; He has mercy upon us and provides the way for us to be saved. It is not by the works of righteousness that we possess. Our righteousness is as filthy rags in the sight of God. We are not saved because of our efforts or our goodness; we are saved according to His mercy. God chose to save us. He chose to withhold what we deserve and offer mercy instead. I rejoice today that judgment was withheld and mercy was extended. All who come to Christ in salvation come according to His wondrous mercy and grace. It is not of our works or deeds. The Spirit of God, through the blood of Christ, washes away the old life and gives the believer a new life. The Spirit of God regenerates a person, saves him from his old life and gives him a new life; a rebirth, spiritually creating him into a new person. When a person is truly saved, the Holy Spirit renews and revives him day by day. He stirs and energizes the person to follow Jesus more and more closely and to serve Him more and more faithfully. Those who were sinful and defiled before God have been declared righteous through the new birth. When a person genuinely believes and repents of his sin that Jesus Christ is his Savior, God takes that person's faith and counts it for righteousness (Romans 4:3, 5, 9, 11, 22, 24). Such belief honors God's Son (whom God loves very much), and because it honors God's Son, God accepts that person's faith for righteousness. God counts that person's faith as righteousness. Therefore, that person becomes acceptable to God. God justifies a man because of His Son, Jesus Christ. When a man believes in Jesus Christ, God takes that man's faith and counts it as righteousness. The man is not righteous, but God considers and credits the man's faith as righteousness. The righteousness that our blessed Lord possesses has been applied to our account. We are no longer viewed as condemned and separated from God in sin, but are received of Him, viewed as righteous as the Son is righteous (Romans 5:1; Philippians 3:9). We are no longer strangers; we have been adopted into the family and promised an eternal inheritance; we are heirs of God and joint-heirs of Christ (Romans 8:16-17). Points to Ponder: What truth we have considered in this passage this morning! What matters the most is whether you have been born again and forgiven of your sins. Jesus is man's only hope of redemption. Through Him there is cleansing and eternal life. Apart from Him there is judgment and condemnation. Questions to Consider: Which will it be for you today? Have you trusted Christ as you Saviour and Lord? What is keeping you from making the most important decision of your life? What is so important that you would put this decision off for another day? I urge you to come to Him while He is calling. Prayer, Father in Heaven, thank You for not sparing Your Son that I might become Your child by faith. Thank You for the assurance that I can come to know and believe the love You have for me, expressed so ultimately in Your Son. Thank You for Jesus who died for me, walks each day with me, and is waiting for me in eternity. I bring You my gratitude under the authority of His matchless name, Jesus. Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way Please share this website and its articles with others www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Love and Affection With God (John 15:12-15)
John 15:12-15, "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." Jesus, who is God, keeps the planets on course in their orbit around the sun; He keeps everything from disintegrating into chaos. This is great news for us because it means there is nothing too difficult for Jesus. He can help us with every problem. There is no wayward child, no sickness, no financial problem, and no troubled marriage too difficult for Him. Therefore, Jesus, who is God, can help with any problem. Have you ever felt you would like to have a relationship with God like the great saints of the Bible? The most amazing and most marvelous truth in the world is God wants to have an intimate relationship with you and me. God has given us the Bible so we may know how to come closer to Him and have an intimate relationship with Him. Does God ever seem far away? If so, we might wonder how involved in our life He actually is. At such times, we should rely on the truth of Scripture and the Gospels are a good place to start. Jesus’ life testifies to the divine desire for intimacy. He consistently reached out to strangers, inviting them to draw near to Him. He spoke words of encouragement to His followers. At the same time, He taught them the profound truths He had received from His Father (John 7:16) and held them accountable for their actions. And Jesus invited certain people to accompany Him for deeply personal experiences, such as the transfiguration and His last prayer retreat in the garden of Gethsemane (Mark 9:2; Matthew 26:36-37). The Saviour’s sacrificial choice to die in our place made it possible for us to join Him in God’s family. The Holy Spirit, each believer’s indwelling companion and guide, also witnesses to God’s closeness and detailed knowledge of those who are His. Yes, God has made intimacy with Him possible. But all too often, we hold back. Distracted by earthly concerns, we put limits on His involvement in our life and set family and friends as higher priorities. Let’s commit to placing the Lord first and pursuing Him with our whole heart (Mark 12:30). He lets us know that our relationship is further blessed by the fact that He promises us that we will enjoy an intimate relationship with His Father, also. Jesus tells us that because of our friendship, we are brought into a place where we will receive answers to our prayers. This is a great comfort as we travel through this world! Because we are in this relationship with Jesus, we are reconciled to the Father, and as a result, we are invited to come before Him and to make our petitions and requests known (Philippians 4:6-7; Hebrews 4:16). The idea here is that we do not travel through this world without a Helper and without a Friend (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5). Don't miss the blessing of the deeply personal relationship God offers. How is God’s love impacting you today? You may be in a trial as a discipline from your loving Father. You may be feeling His sadness over times when only hardship causes you to learn. Don’t overlook what you discover about His love from the trials or discipline you endure. Your ongoing transformation can always be traced back to the things God’s love does in your life. Prayer: Heavenly Father, You have searched me and known me. You know me so much better than I know myself. Thank You for loving me in and through Your Son, Jesus, in ways beyond what I can express. You always speak truth into my life, whether I accept it or not. You command, correct, instruct, and guide me, but most of all, You love me as You talk to me. You love me with a love I can spend the rest of time and eternity discovering and will never reach the end of. I realize the best way I can show my gratitude is to welcome all You are doing in my life to conform me to Christ’s character. Forgive me for my resistance and reluctance. Thank You for not giving up on me and for disciplining me even in ways You know I won’t like. I realize that is Your love in action, always doing for me what I am neither smart enough nor willing enough to pursue on my own. Please accept today my willingness to endure more readily and love You back more deeply for all You have graciously done for me. Thank You for speaking into my life, Lord. Please continue that good work in me. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com The Covering of Love (Psalm 91:4)
Psalm 91:4, “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” During a blizzard in South Wales, England, a young mother and her baby were making their way across the foothills when she was overtaken by the frigid storm. Failing to reach her destination, a group of searchers found her frozen body with her baby tightly wrapped underneath her; the child was warm and still alive. The mother had taken off her outer garments and covered her child from the cold. The child grew up to be David Lloyd George, Britain's Prime Minister and one of the greatest statesmen in England. His political and social greatness was made possible because his mother covered him in love. Much like David Lloyd George, our achievements in life can only be attributed to the covering of God's love. Love is the greatest of all virtues. True love is selfless and sacrificial. True love is willing to give at any price regardless of reciprocation. Paul said in I Corinthians 13:13, “And now abideth faith, hope, and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” True love was displayed officially at Calvary when Christ died in our place. Our burden of sin was laid upon Him as He covered us in grace. He not only took our sin, He took our sin away. This “covering” affords us the life of blessing and honor. Much like David Lloyd George, our achievements in life can only be attributed to the covering of God’s love. God is omnipotent, all-powerful. He will cover and protect us under His wings of care when we stay close to Him. The psalmist compared God’s care for His people to a bird gathering her young under her wings in order to protect them. The Lord will be our refuge, covering and protecting us in the dangers of life. Regardless of the threats and fears we may face; we can be confident in the protection of our loving Saviour. The truth or faithfulness of God will be our shield and buckler. God has given us His faithful promises to use as our armor for life’s battles (Ephesians 6:10-20). We are protected by His faithfulness to His Word. Knowing that, we can have complete confidence that He will fulfill His promises to us. In perilous times, we need to trust God to help us. When we abide in Him and live in the fullness of His Spirit, we can face every situation of life without fear. Whatever difficulties or dangers we may face, our Lord will be with us. The shadow of the Almighty will cover us through them all. We are covered by the feathers and sheltering wings of the Lord. His truth is our defense. It is our shield and buckler. The message is God's truth protects and surrounds us. It protects us from lies and deception and from making foolish decisions that scar our lives. Genuine security brings peace in times of darkness, danger, destruction, disease, and death. Night is a time of terrors, robbery, and murder. The godly man lies down in peace, and sleeps quietly, for he trusts his life in the hand of God, and he knows that He neither snoozes nor sleeps. Security and peace are a by-product of entrusting your life to God's care. People everywhere need a sense of security. True hope and security are found in the Lord Jesus Christ. When we are "in Him”, we are over-shadowed by His power; His presence makes every provision for our protection and blessing. God will protect us and deliver us, but it may not mean the absence of pain and affliction in this life. He is not only our shield, but a bulwark that fortifies our security. He will deliver us because we love Him. He sets us securely on high because we know His name. He answers us because we call on Him. He is with us in trouble, will rescue us, honor us, satisfy us with a long life, and allow us to know and experience His salvation because of an abiding, intimate relationship with Him. The fear of the unknown, the fear of loneliness, the fear of darkness, the fear of the future, or the fear of battle can be removed when your life is totally yielded to the Lord and you are obeying and doing what He instructs you to do in His Word. Peace comes from trusting in Him. In perilous times, we need to trust God to help us. When we abide in Him and live in the fullness of His Spirit, we can face every situation of life without fear. Satan’s fury against God, His Word, and His people is becoming more savage every day. More and more believers are paying a price for their faith in Jesus Christ. Through it all, however, God is our helper, and He is always with us (Hebrews 13:5-6). Our Saviour has promised to be with us to the end (Matthew 28:20). Whatever difficulties or dangers we may face, our Lord will be with us, we will not walk alone. We will walk under the comforting shelter of God’s shadow. If you've never been saved, there is a place beside the Lord for you if you will only claim it. If you are a Christian who has wandered from fellowship with the Lord; you need to come and find your place once again. I'm sure that you will find it just as you remembered. The Lord is waiting for you to come! Points to Ponder:
Questions to Consider:
Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your presence with me and that my future is secure in the place You're preparing for me. Your words bring me hope and comfort. Daily I catch glimpses of Your glory and blessing along the way as I walk with You. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Prayer for Abounding Love (Philippians 1:9)
Philippians 1:9, “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;” It is extremely important to pray. We learn in these verses that Paul prayed with power because of what he prayed and not how he prayed. Love was not lacking here. Paul desired that the love they had already shown would continue to grow, thrive, and abound. Love is the first and foremost of all Christian virtues and the greatest of them. Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” I Corinthians 13:13, “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” Love was the number one priority commandment with the Lord Jesus Christ. John 13:34-35, A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” Love was the most convincing testimony to the unsaved. Paul revealed to the Philippians his prayer for the them. Paul was pointed and specific in his praying. He made specific and passionate requests on behalf of the people of God. Paul prayed that the Philippians would have a growing love. We need to learn to be specific in our praying. We need to pray that our love may abound more and more. This is a divine love and a God-given affection. Paul was praying for the Philippians to be fruitful in their love. Love is alert and ever looking for an opportunity to serve others. True love sharpens our perception to see opportunities for service. Paul was praying that the Lord would enlarge their capacity for more than an ordinary measure of love. To better make my point, let me illustrate: Picture one holding a bucket, standing under a large waterfall and the water flowing over all the sides of the bucket because it cannot contain the mass amount of water. For one to contain the love of God; one can never get enough of it. Growing love must never stop for a believer. Love does magnificent things. God uses the growing love of His church to do wonders in His world. I Peter 2:22, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” II Peter 3:18, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” Love goes a long way and has a big impact upon people. The owner of a drive-through coffee business in southwest Portland, Oregon, was surprised one morning to have one of her customers not only pay for her own mocha but also for the mocha of the person in the car behind her. It put a smile on the owner's face to tell the next customer her drink had already been paid for. The 2nd customer was so pleased that someone else had purchased her coffee that she bought coffee for the next customer. This string of kindnesses—one stranger paying for the mocha of the next customer—continued for 2 hours and 27 customers. Love goes a long way. Where there is no exercise of love, there is no life and no learning. Love, if it is to be truly Christian, must be based on the things God shows and teaches us through His Word. It is a deep confidence directly related to God’s character, work, and purposes, and it expresses itself in active trust and obedience to God. We truly know God’s Word only as we live the Word and it becomes part of who we are. Biblical knowledge goes beyond knowing about God to knowing Him personally through a deep and growing relationship. As a result of this relationship, we will become more like Christ and take on His character traits, including a greater love for Him and others (Philippians 1:10-11; Ephesians 3:16-19). Paul thanked God for the Philippians, but he still prayed that God would grow them in love, knowledge, and discernment. Every Christian needs godly discernment. We need godly perspective as we minister in this world. Every church needs spiritual perception about the way things are and the way God wants things to be. PRAYER: LORD, I thank You for loving me unconditionally. The more I read Your love letter, the Bible, the more I come to know You and understand how much You love me. I pray I never lose the desire to dig each day in Your Word and also, to share Your love letter, the Bible, with others. In Jesus’ name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Lesson on Love (I Corinthians 13:4-7)
I Corinthians 13:4-7, “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” Charity, the agape love of God, will never fail you or let you down. This love is undeniable, unbroken, unchanging, and unbendable. It is a love you will always find to be reliable and true, a love on which you can depend. God wants you to learn to strive in His high-level agape love, which is why the Holy Spirit so carefully inspired Paul to write these famous words in I Corinthians 13:4-8. This passage of Scripture is God’s mirror, designed for us to look into so we can see how well we fare at walking in the agape love of God. A New York City Taxi driver recorded the following story. “I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes, I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift, I thought about just driving away, but instead, I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware. ‘Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. '’It's nothing’, I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated’. 'Oh, you're such a good boy', she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?' 'It's not the shortest way’, I answered quickly. 'Oh, I don't mind’, she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice’. I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left’, she continued in a soft voice. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.’ I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. 'What route would you like me to take?' I asked. For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing. As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'. We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under an entryway. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. 'How much do I owe you?' she asked, reaching into her purse. 'Nothing’, I said. 'You have to make a living’, she answered. 'There are other passengers’, I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. 'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy’, she said. 'Thank you.' I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life. I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away? I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware, beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one! Don't miss out on wonderful moments in your life by failing to love other people the way that God would have you to love them. Christlike love for others cannot exist without being displayed in our words and actions. The love of God is so powerful it obliterates any obstacle in its path that oppresses you from loving others.” Prayer: Father in Heaven, Your love is powerful and passionate; not passive or pathetic. When my criticism arises, please help me to be longsuffering towards them like You would. When I feel irritated, please help me to see the other person as who he is becoming by Your grace. Because You first loved me, help me to love others. In the name of Jesus, whose love never ends, amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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