Charge it to My Account (II Corinthians 5:21)
II Corinthians 5:21, For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. The stealing had to stop. Deep in the heart of Russia, local police were on the lookout for a thief who got away with hundreds of dollars’ worth of merchandise. Neither the local businesses nor the residents could afford the losses or the increased prices any longer. The stealing became a federal crime. The Russian czar made the offense punishable by 40 lashes. Police finally caught up with the crook and brought her to the Town Square, where she would be tied to a post to get 40 lashes. The czar came, along with hundreds of villagers from the city. But the czar recognized the woman’s face as that of his mother. Everyone looked at him to see what he would do. Would he pardon her, or would he make her pay the price for her crime? The czar knew the crime had to be punished, but he also knew his mother could not survive 40 lashes. So he walked over to the post where his mother was tied and took off his shirt. He chose to take the lashes in her place and the people were touched. Over 2,000 years ago, the world was guilty and condemned before God because of sin. We deserved to spend eternity in Hell, but God took our place through His Son on the cross. He didn’t just sweep our sins under a rug and pretend nothing ever happened. He didn’t say, “I’ll let it go this time—just don’t do it again.” Blood had to be shed. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He paid the purchased price for our redemption. Three days later, He arose from the dead as proof that His payment had been accepted by the Father. You and I can be completely forgiven for every sin we’ve ever committed, or will commit, if we just accept Christ’s free gift. The very core of the principle of justification is here presented. The great substitutionary work of Christ is in view. God made Jesus to be sin for us. He, the sinless One, who never knew sin and never will, had the iniquity of us all laid on Him. Nevertheless, God imputed to Him our sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. It is the very heart of the great doctrine of justification. Jesus placed your sins on his account. If you will go to the LORD, He will take His righteousness, which is perfect, and will accredit it to your account so that when you stand before God you will stand before Him as though you have never sinned. Not because you’re sinless, but because of your account. If you will receive Jesus Christ (Gospel) He will credit your account with perfection because He has already accredited your sin onto Jesus Christ. Jesus earnestly wants to impute your sin to His record and impute His righteousness to your record. Friend, the price has already been paid for your sins. Accept Christ’s free gift today, and you will find complete forgiveness. Prayer: Father in Heaven, thank You for sending Jesus to pay for our sins that we could be made righteous in Your sight. Every day I want to live to bring honor and glory to You and to share my testimony and the Gospel with others. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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God’s Greatest Gift to Us (Galatians 4:4-5)
Galatians 4:4-5, But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. When a mule's mind has been made, it takes a whole lot of persuading to get him to "unmake" it. A farmer had a mule he owned for many years. Over that time, he picked up on the mule's stubborn streaks. He got so good, he could see a stubborn streak coming and going. He also learned how to get the animal's attention: whenever it acted up, he beat it on the head with a wooden board until it decided to obey him. One day, another farmer stopped by to return some borrowed tools. He watched the farmer hit his mule on the head and said, "Well, it looks like you've figured out how to fix his problem." The farmer said, "I just know how to get his attention. He hasn't been cured yet." When God wanted to get the world's attention, He didn't beat us over the head with a board. He gave us His law so we would know that we are sinners who fall short of perfection (Galatians 3:24-25). The law showed us that our hatred was murder, and our covetousness was idolatry etc. It got our attention in a way nothing else ever could. God is also merciful. Not only did He get our attention, but He also provided a cure for our problem. Paul wrote that God sent Jesus "to redeem them that were under the law." He was talking about each one of us. By ourselves, we could not be restored to a relationship with Him. But God wanted us to be freed from sin and to live in harmony with Him. So He sent Jesus "that we might receive the adoption as sons." He sent His Son to die and shed His blood to pay for all of our sins, so we could go to Heaven. Once we get saved, God starts to work in our lives to help us be like Christ. God loves you, and wants a personal relationship with you. He wants you to be part of His family and it is His gift, and it is available to each of us. When a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Saviour, that person is adopted into the family of God. The implications of this new sonship include eternal life and cleansing from all sins. If the believer needs further assurance, God has provided it in His Word. There’s no doubt about it, Christian. When you put your trust in Christ, you’re in the family — for good. Don’t second-guess it. Don’t doubt it. Just live like it. Today. Has God been trying to get your attention lately? Maybe you heard a preacher give an invitation to put your trust in Christ. You were convicted about your sins, but you never accepted Christ as your Saviour. Get the matter settled today, once and for all. God doesn't try to get your attention to hurt you, but to get you to try His cure. Won't you trust in Christ right now? Prayer, Father, thank You for sending Jesus. Thank You that I could be adopted into Your family. Thank you for being my Father. In His name. Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com The Lord is with Us Always (Matthew 28:20)
Matthew 28:20, Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. God works providentially in our lives, even through adversity, for His glory and our good. Because God is faithful and sovereign, we should live with full trust in Him, knowing that even when obstacles appear to prevent His mission, He may use those very obstacles as part of His plan to bring glory to His Son. In Genesis, we see that Joseph suffered unjustly in Potiphar’s house and in prison, but he was later promoted to a place of prominence. Jesus suffered unjustly in His arrest and crucifixion, but He was later raised from the dead and returned to His exalted place of glory with the Father. At the age of seventeen, Joseph’s life had taken a tragic turn when his brothers betrayed him and sold him into slavery. In Egypt, Joseph’s tragic story would continue, but God was using Joseph’s adversity, the impact of which we continue to feel today as well. Joseph’s situation was difficult. He was betrayed by his brothers, torn from his family, and taken to a foreign land as a slave. And to make matters worse, his brothers lied to their father, making it look as if Joseph were dead. He was alone, and no one was going to look for him. But he was never really alone: “The Lord was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2). The Lord was with Joseph and brought him success in Potiphar’s house, which did not go unnoticed by his Egyptian master (Genesis 39:2-3). Potiphar recognized that God was blessing his young servant and that all he did prospered. Potiphar placed Joseph, his Israelite slave, in charge of his household and all he owned. Joseph was away from his people, but he was not away from the God of his people, and God remained faithful to His covenant promises: Joseph was a blessing to the nations. The Lord was with Joseph, and soon Potiphar noticed Joseph’s gifted and honest service (Genesis 39:2-3). It is interesting to note that this heathen man realized that Joseph’s God was blessing all his work as this suggests that Joseph witnessed to those around him and that it was the Lord who was helping him. Joseph fulfilled the divine promise that God’s people will be the means of blessing to others. Potiphar was blessed because of the presence of Joseph (Genesis 39:5). Also, when Joseph, upon identifying himself to his brothers, mentions that God sent him to Egypt to save many, both Hebrews and Egyptians (Genesis 45:5). God’s omnipresence means that He is always with us regardless of the place or the circumstance. God’s omnipresence is a deterrent for sin and a source of great comfort and hope for believers. He is present with us wherever we are and sees all that occurs. Nothing escapes His attention (Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5; Psalm 23:4; 33:14; 139:7-10; Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 18:20; 28:20; Hebrews 13:5). Because God exists apart from, and outside of, time and space He is not limited by obstacles and nothing is too hard for Him (Genesis 18:14). You are not alone. You can wait on God and trust Him. The seasons of hardship, and even the deepest valleys, will come to a conclusion for God’s glory and by His grace. Point to Ponder:
Question to Consider:
Prayer, Lord, I admit it’s easier for me to focus on my troubles than to remember the importance that You are always with me. And I realize it’s easier to feel stuck where I am today rather than remembering that You always see it through. Thank You for showing me that the circumstances aren’t nearly as important as Your constant and faithful presence in my life—no matter what, no matter when, and no matter how long! 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 Jesus' Greatest Craving (John 4:31-34)
John 4:31-34, In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. We all have cravings. For many its java (coffee), for some it is a job done successfully, for others its Jesus. We were all created with cravings. These cravings we were given are a desire to worship the LORD. When a person fails to satisfy the craving for the LORD they become dissatisfied and eventually miserable until that void is filled. One can attempt to gratify these passions with earthly possessions, however, there will never be satisfaction until Jesus has the preeminence. For Jesus, He sought the Father every day for direction and purpose. Jesus enjoyed meals. Throughout the Gospels, He made many significant statements and worked many miracles in the context of a shared table. Whether it was the feeding of the five thousand, or the Last Supper, we can see Jesus liked sitting down to a satisfying meal of food and fellowship. However, eating wasn’t the central motivating factor in His life. Sometimes He went without food for extended periods of time like His fast in the wilderness (Matthew 4). In the passage today, Jesus chose not to eat while the disciples took time for a meal in town. They left Him by the watering hole and returned later. Meanwhile, Jesus had an extended, life-transforming conversation with the woman at the well. Apparently, the disciples brought back something for Him and were encouraging Jesus to eat. “But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.” His answer caught them by surprise. “Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?’” They could not conceive He had not gratified His hunger for food. They must have thought, “when we’re hungry we eat! How can He not be hungry?” Knowing their thoughts, “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” His priorities put obeying His Father far above satisfying mere physical hunger. Jesus hungered most for His Father’s pleasure. Here, as elsewhere, His view of His role was, “…nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done (Luke 22:42).” He had a task to finish for God and skipping a few meals wasn’t going to be a problem. In life, some things are more important than food. By far, the most satisfying times in life are when we sense we have done as the Lord wanted us to do and served as He wanted us to serve. Those moments remind us that any attempt to satisfy self apart from doing the will of God is inevitably, not only a frustrating and empty pursuit, but also creates a very discouraging result. God is not interested in being our casual interest or an occasional appetite. If we know Him at all, He provokes a craving in us for Himself that should be apparent in our lives. So where does desire for God’s will and work fit into your list of priorities? It’s easy to let our earthly appetites distract us from what really satisfies. Hunger for God is the best kind of hunger, and doing God’s will brings the truest satisfaction. Sometimes we forget that. We fixate on satisfying ourselves and not on the will of God. The most lasting satisfaction in life comes from knowing we have done as the Lord wanted us to do. Any attempt to substitute anything other than God’s will only leave us feeling empty, frustrated, or discouraged—and hungry again soon. Questions to Consider: What is your first craving in the morning? What do you depend on to get you through the day? What are some ways in which you communicate and/or demonstrate your craving for the LORD? Points to Ponder: Jesus’ greatest craving was to please the Father. Doing God’s will satisfy your greatest craving. Prayer, Heavenly Father, teach me each day to rightly value Your will above anything else, particularly my own. Remind me that doing my will can’t satisfy me or please You. Lord, I want to trust You by honoring Your desire throughout 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 God Has a Bigger Shovel (Luke 6:38)
Luke 6:38, Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. This principle is universal. A person who has a generous spirit will get back even more than what they gave. This certainly is true in respect to giving to God. He will also give back more than we give to Him. While traveling during a rainy day, an elderly woman had a flat tire. As her car sat on the side of the road, she was approached by a young man. The young man said, "I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan." After he changed her tire she rolled the window down and asked him how much she owed him. Bryan never thought twice about asking for money, even though he could have used some financial help. Changing a tire was not a job to him; it was a matter of helping someone in need. He told the woman that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed. "And when you do," he added, "think of me." Bryan waited until the woman started her car and drove off. A few miles down the road the woman saw a small diner and she went in to grab a bite to eat. Her waitress had a sweet smile, one that couldn't be erased, even though she had been on her feet all day. The woman noticed that the waitress was pregnant. She wondered how someone who seemingly had so little could be so generous and kind to a stranger. After she finished her meal, she remembered Bryan and she gave the waitress a $100 bill. While the waitress went to get change, the woman slipped quietly out the door. When the waitress came back to the table, she noticed something written on a napkin. When she picked it up to read it, she noticed four $100 bills that had been left underneath it. There were tears in the waitress's eyes when she read what the woman had written: "You don't owe me anything. I've been there, too. Somebody nice helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: don't let this chain of love end with you." That night when the waitress got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the woman had written. How could the woman have known how much she and her husband needed that money? With the baby due in a month, she knew how worried her husband was. As he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered softly, "Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Bryan." Bryan was the young man that changed the tire. Prayer: Father in Heaven, when You sent Jesus to this world, You gave us heaven’s best. While there is certainly no way I could ever out give You, I can honor You by demonstrating a Christlike behavior to 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 Going Through Tough Times? (Romans 8:28-39)
Blessings sometimes come from a bad situation. It's often possible to make something better out of something bad. That's the way God works with us. We don't often do right the first time, but He's always ready to salvage the situation no matter how bad we make it. It is a truth of certainty for everyone who loves God. Pastor R.A. Torrey, "This verse is a soft pillow for a tired heart." All things…good or bad, sweet or bitter, victory or defeat, happy or sad, health or sickness, prosperity or poverty, calm or storm, comfort or suffering, life or death...all things work together for good. This doesn't mean that all that happens to us are good. Evil is prevalent in our world, but God is able to turn the bad around for our good and for His sovereign purpose in our lives. Some people do not know why bad things happen to good people. We know all things work together somehow, for good or our best. Bad events and circumstances work together for good. Notice the words of Paul. I. There is a Purpose for our Problems (Romans 8:28)Romans 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Whatever happens, I can trust God, realizing He is using life's circumstances to conform me into Christlikeness: II. There is a Process for our Problems (Romans 8:29-30)Romans 8:29, For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:30, Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. III. There is a Promise Concerning our Problems (Romans 8:31-39) Romans 8:31, What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? The fact that people are against me fades in light of the fact that He will furnish all that I need in life, including Christ Himself: Romans 8:32, He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:33, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Accusations against me are meaningless in view of the fact that Christ is in constant communication with the Father on my behalf. Romans 8:34, Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Romans 8:35-37, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. I can rest in the assurance of Christ's love as He promises me complete victory in every situation. Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. No controlling factors in life can separate me from the love of God that is found in Christ Jesus: Prayer, Father, since I know You love me, and I know Your plans for me will come to pass, I faithfully discharge the duties I have been given. I perform everything I am expected to do in excellence, whether others are watching or not. I will never give up, cave in or quit! I declare this by faith. 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 Don’t Let Your Past Keep You From Serving God (Philippians 3:13-14)
We need grace in order to forget. We are often encouraged to remember and warned against forgetting, but it is just as important to forget as it is to remember. For many, having an excellent memory has lead to heartache and brought pain and regret. Joseph thanked God that He had made him forget, and Paul often spoke of forgetting as a state of progress. Let’s not misunderstand, or lose sight of, what he is writing. Obviously, no man can ever forget his past, but as the years of our walk with the Lord increase, we will have many great memories. However, memories do not always inspire. There are many who mourn due to the memory of past sin, regrets and failures. There is neither strength, nor joy, in their souls because they lack the grace to forget. Paul pressed forward for a prize. To him there was something greater to be gained by moving ahead and not lingering in the past. That is true for us in terms of offense as well. There is simply nothing to be gained by going back to past hurts and refusing to get over them. However, by forgiving and pressing forward, we gain a greater attribute of Christ-likeness. We are often inspired by those who are following, reaching and pressing toward the finish line despite life’s challenges. 1. Remember God Forgets God always remembers to forget the sin He forgives (Isaiah 43:25; Hebrews 8:12; 10:17) God gives the assurance to the sinner who turns to Him that his sin will not be mentioned to him (Ezekiel 18:22). He is so direct in His forgiveness of our sins that He casts all our sins into the depths of the sea, ‘"Into the depth of the sea"! (Micah 7:19). Nothing could be more point-blank. If He blots out, why should we try to remember? Think of it, the devil will offer us any tackle he can in order for us to see if we could fish them up again. The Lord threw them in. Let us always be content to let them be buried there. It is miserable to see some people's nauseating distress over their past when God has already forgiven them long ago. He forgets—why should we remember? If we believe in the forgiveness of sins, let us not torture ourselves with useless and needless pain. Forget the things which are behind. Leave sin where He has placed it—under the blood of the Cross. 2. Regrets are Futile In life, there are both triumphant victories and crushing defeats. When an opportunity has been missed we observe its worth. Life's lessons on learning about losses should teach us to discipline our mind, but for some people it only gets on the nerves. “If I had only listened the first time and acted more wisely, how different life would have been!” They sit down and fret over what might have been, all the while other opportunities are slipping by. Forget past chances and bend your back to the one at your feet. The fire has died in some hearts because they can never seem to forget their past mistakes. Some unpleasant trial has derailed them and they have never gotten back on track. The minds of many have become a graveyard haunted by past regrets. Joseph thanked God that He had made him forget not only his travail, but also his father's house. Of course, he never forgot his home entirely, but it ceased to hold him captive. Our lives should be so filled with meaning and purpose that its attractive desire compels us to focus on the future, not in the past. Keep in mind, that everyday the Lord offers new opportunities for us to manifest His glory and build up His kingdom. Each day is valuable, and with it presents opportunities that will never come again. Although the past cannot be recaptured, there are pages for tomorrow still blank, waiting to be turned so life’s journeys can be recorded. 3. Resist Focusing on Former Successes As strange as it may sound, successes in life can do more harm than failures to some. No matter how many victories and successes one has achieved for the Lord Jesus Christ, he is to never cease from the laboring in his service. Some have been known to go on a lengthy leave of absence from God's service after a monumental success. However, each new triumph should inspire a new desire, igniting a passion to perform another task. But sometimes spiritual paralysis sets inside the soul, leaving the servant of God comatose. Paul is stating it is great we have many victories in this life, but don't focus too long on them because know they are in the past. Press on to future achievements. Great achievements have been the undoing of many servants because they have failed to forget. If we are constantly focusing on past victories we will only find ourselves stumbling forward as we seek future triumphs. Prayer, Lord Jesus, help me to pursue toward the prize without wavering on life's highway. Thank You for forgetting my past and giving me strength I need to press on. I know that what lies ahead for me are many opportunities to build up Your Kingdom. I look to You as You guide me and provide for me with spiritual stamina for the journey ahead. May I not look back and never give up. I await the day to see Your face and hear these words, "Well Done". If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Loving One Another (I John 3:11-20) – Part 3
Comprehending Love (I John 3:16-20) I John 3:16-20, 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. 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. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. The manifestation of Biblical love in our life is the evidence that we truly belong to Christ. One visible evidence of love is the sacrifice it is willing to make for the object loved. There was no doubt in John’s mind about the love Jesus had. But he also said that fellow Christians should feel a sense of obligation to make sacrifices for one another. The love of Christ should be continuously active in the followers of Christ. 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 point 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 shuts 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. 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 give ourselves for others. Why? Because He laid down his life for us. One can talk about what one believes, however, if what one believes is not real enough to motivate that person to good works, that persons faith is dead (James 2:14-17)! Genuine love doesn’t just talk, it acts. People who are insincere might talk about helping; but people who truly love like the Lord reach out to help a fellow believer. This degree of love might be called to demonstration by meeting a material need. It might be manifested by lending a helping hand or a listening ear. There are countless ways in which we can show the reality of our love for the brethren. A young mother admitted in a prayer meeting that she never seemed to find time for her own personal devotions. She had little children to care for and the hours vanished away. Two of the ladies from the church responded by assisting her in her home. “We’ve come to help you,” they explained. “You go into the bedroom and get started on your devotions.” After several days of this help, the young mother was able to develop her devotional life so that the daily demands on her time no longer upset her. It is to be more than lip love. Our actions speak louder than our words could ever speak. When we love one another, we know that we are living the truth. May the love of Christ saturate our relationships. PRAYER: Lord, help me to grow in my love for You and for others You have given 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 Loving One Another (I John 3:11-20) – Part 2
Causes to Love (I John 3:13-15) I John 3:13-15, Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Cain had a bitter hatred for his own brother because of Abel’s ’righteousness. It is godliness that infuriates the wicked (Proverbs 29:27). As people become more ungodly, those who are good will be called evil and those who are called evil will be called good (Isaiah 5:20). When these conditions occur, that society is in serious sorrow. How can a person know if they have been saved and have passed from death unto life? The answer, according to John, is love for the brethren. The word "brethren" has reference to the spiritual brotherhood. Love is not the cause of our passing over into life; it is the proof that we have passed from death to life. John comes back to this point again because this matter is so important. Christians grow when they love other believers. Churches thrive when the people love one another instead of fussing, feuding, and fighting with one another. When you love the brethren, you will love your church and you will enjoy going to church. It is difficult to love others in the church, to really know them, and get close to them when you are not faithful to the services. It is one thing to like other believers, but it is another matter to actually love other Christians. Hatred is a very serious matter because hatred is not satisfied with controlling a small part of your heart. It wants and takes almost complete control of a person’s heart, mind, body, and soul. When hate grips a person, they do not think rationally at all. The person is consumed by their hate. Common sense gets blurred, biased, and bizarre. Hating a believer makes a person no different than Osama Bin Laden, Charles Manson, or Adolf Hitler in God’s approximation. That is alarming and crushing. Those who are branded by repeated hateful attitudes toward others and who habitually harbor murderous feelings, give proof of an unbelieving heart. We must remember that Jesus was hated by the world long before we came on the scene. Therefore, we should not be surprised when the world and worldly people hate us. The more you love and honor God, the more you expose the evil of those who do not. The more you expose the evil of those who dishonor God, the more they’ll hate you. They’ll hate you because of who you love, because of who you resemble. They hated Jesus and they’ll hate those who are like Jesus. The very core of Christ's message is one of love. God loved so much that He gave His all. Those saved have experienced that love fully, and now God desires that they turn around to show others that love as well. Love isn't common in our world. Hearing of someone giving of themselves stands out in a world of selfish pursuit. So, when someone shows love, others notice. As Christians, our very existence should be to show love to those around us. PRAYER: Lord, I know the power of Your love can impact someone today so, help me take the time to show it to someone today. In Jesus' name. Amen. Visit this website tomorrow for PART 3 of this 3 Part Series. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Loving One Another (I John 3:11-20) – Part 1
Christlike Love (I John 3:11-12) I John 3:11-12, For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. Here in these verses, John’s main emphasis is one of the most needed things in the world and in the church, which is love. The love spoken of here is the unconditional, self-sacrificing love which God has shown to man. This is the very thing that Christians are to have for one another. This message suggests that while others are loving us, we are to be loving them. In I John 3:11, John said that we have an obligation to love one another. This obligation was laid down from the beginning. John probably had reference to John 13:34, A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. This word “love” means “we are to continually love others with a self-sacrificing love.” It is the same kind of love that God has for us. When the ministry of the Lord Jesus was nearing its end on earth, He shared with the disciples the key, distinguishing mark of a Christian. It was not someone who wore a cross around their neck. It was not someone who went to church. The mark was love for the brethren. I John 3:12, on the other hand, suggests that Cain had a love unlike what we are to have. Cain’s love for his brother Abel had conditions in it. Cain’s love for his brother dried up once he discovered that his brother was so much different than himself. Cain discovered that Abel’s deeds were righteous and his own deeds were evil. Cain’s love was a wrong love because it was not strong enough to let his brother take a few steps ahead of him. In our loving one another, we must be sure that we have a right love. This kind of love is unconditional. Cain killed his brother because he was angry at God for refusing his offering to the Lord and was jealous that Abel’s offering was accepted. It was accepted because it was offered in obedience and faith (Hebrews 11:4). Cain wanted to worship God on his own terms and did not follow the instructions of his father on how to offer a proper blood sacrifice to the Lord. Cain’s offering was a bloodless one. Cain was not any different than people today who worship God on their terms. They leave Jesus out of their lives. They depend on works, to get them to Heaven or gain merit with God, but all to no avail. Without personally accepting Christ’s sacrifice for sins, a person is of the wicked one (John 8:44). Love does not persecute the righteous. A person who truly loves his brother will not persecute him. Love means that we will not even dislike another person. We love them, care for them, and reach out to them. We want their fellowship in Christ, longing for them to experience all the richness of life and for them to know all the fulness of Christ and His love. PRAYER: Lord, I see that love for others and for You does not come easily to me. That kind of love isn’t in me on my own. I’m asking You today to pour that kind of love into my life. In Jesus' name. Amen. Visit this website tomorrow for PART 2 of this 3 Part Series. 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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