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One Way (John 10:9)
John 10:9, I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The famous magician and escape artist, Houdini, could get out of any set of handcuffs, or any straight jacket that was ever placed upon him. In fact, he could release himself from almost any enclosure in less than one minute. Only once did Houdini fail. That incident occurred when he was touring the British Isles. Arriving at a small town, he agreed to demonstrate his ability by escaping from the local jail. The cell door was so ordinary looking that he smiled at the simplicity of the task. When given the signal, he used his terrific speed and agility to try to pick the lock. Unfortunately, he was unable to pick that lock. In frustration, he frantically tried every device he knew to pick the door, but nothing happened. He worked feverishly for two more hours, but to no avail. Finally, being completely exhausted, he fell against the door and lamented in defeat. Immediately, however, the door sprang open. His frustration had been due to the fact that the door had never been locked at all. The key truth is that Jesus is the door to salvation. There is no other way. Because of Jesus, we have access to God. How frequently, by a similar strategy, Satan has deceived poor sinners who are seeking to find a way to open the door of God's salvation. People work, cry, fret, sweat, and pray, trying in every way possible to bring release to their captive souls. Yet, it is only when sinners fall exhausted from their own efforts, and rest against "The Door," the Lord Jesus Christ, that they find the immediate release they so desperately seek. There are no alternatives and no options to salvation—it must come through Jesus Christ. John 14:6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. A traveler engaged a guide to take him across a desert area. When the two men arrived at the edge of the desert, the traveler, looking ahead, saw before him trackless sands without a single footprint, path, or marker of any kind. Turning to his guide, he asked in a tone of surprise, "Where is the road?" With a reproving glance, the guide replied, "I am the road." So, too, is the Lord our way through unfamiliar territory. He is the way! He is the only way to God. There is no other way. For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Dear friend, if you want to go to the Father’s house, to Heaven, you must come through “the Door”, the Lord Jesus. He is the only way! Jesus Christ is standing knocking at the door of our lives, waiting. He is standing at the door, not pushing it; speaking to us, not shouting. He is the architect; He designed it. He is the builder; He made it. He is the landlord; He bought it with His life-blood. It is His by right of plan, construction, and purchase. We are only tenants in a house which does not belong to us. He could put His shoulder to the door; He prefers to put His hand to the knocker. He could command us to open to Him or He could issue orders. He will not force an entry into anybody’s life; instead, He merely invites us to do so. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, Thank You for Jesus, Who laid down His life for me so that I might live with You forever. 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
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Our Faithful God (II Thessalonians 3:3)
II Thessalonians 3:3, But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. In II Thessalonians 3:3 of our text, Paul says, “…the Lord is faithful…” That was what the people in Thessalonica needed to hear, and it is the what you and I need to hear today. These thoughts remind us that our God is The Faithful God. I need to be reminded of that fact from time to time. One example of faithfulness is “Old Faithful” in the heart of Yellowstone National Park. It erupts every 60 minutes to 2 hours. Like Old Faithful, our Heavenly Father is faithful. God will be faithful to you because He is fully committed to you. He will keep every promise He has ever made in His Word! The LORD is faithful in many ways, here are two: 1. He is faithful to forgive. I John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Confession simply means being honest with ourselves and with God, and if others are involved, being honest with them, too. God is faithful to His promises. 2. He is faithful to forget. Hebrews 8:12, For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. What comforting Scriptures. God knows everything, but there are some things He has chosen to forget. God will remember our sins no more. When He buries our sin, He chooses not to dig them up and throw them in our face. When we forgive someone we bury the sin and relinquish our right to dig it up and remind the person about it. It is important that we learn to forgive like Jesus and love others like He did. Prayer, Father, I can’t help but think of the hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” as I think about all You have brought me through. It is true that I have faced many trials and temptations. And as I look back, I see how You protected and strengthened me every time. Thank You for Your personal care for me! Help me to remember these things as new trials and temptations present themselves in the future. 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 When God Says, Wait! (Psalm 37:1-9)
Psalm 37:1-9, Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. Waiting is one of the hardest things we try to do. So many people simply cannot wait for God to work and often take things into their own hands instead. When we seek God and His answer seems to be "wait," we don't always hear it because that answer is not the one we are seeking. Often believers view waiting on God as inactivity. But waiting is not inactive; it is pro-active. It is the believer wisely choosing not to do something blindly because he or she senses the Lord is saying "wait." If we are to follow God or hear from Him, we must be sensitive to His Spirit and discern when we are to step out in faith and when we are to wait. What God desires is that we would delight in Him. These verses list a lot of practical things we must do before God will give us what we are seeking. What are some evidences that we are not "waiting on the Lord" in our hearts (Psalm 37:1)? Fretting and being envious are evidences that we are not really waiting in our hearts. What needs to come before the Lord will give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:3-5)? We must trust Him, and we must do good. We are called to delight in Him so that He can begin to shape our desires. We need to commit our way to Him and let Him do it. Delighting oneself in the Lord means to find your greatest joy and satisfaction in your personal relationship with God. Those who delight in the Lord enjoy a sense of nearness to God, and they take great pleasure in living by the truth of God’s Word. They want what God wants, so He gives them the desires of their hearts. When we delight ourselves in God and find our greatest satisfaction in His purposes for us, God Himself places the right kinds of desires within our hearts; then He fulfills them. The pivotal verse in Psalm 37 is verse7. Instead of becoming heated or stirred up over evildoers, we should calmly rest in the Lord. Rest means to be silent and still, to be quiet and to settle one’s nerves, to be at peace. It indicates the absence of emotional distress and the ability to be quiet and relax. We should rest in the confidence that God will deal with the wicked. God works according to His timetable, not ours. We need to wait patiently for Him and be at peace. Psalm 37:7, "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him." But why? I believe there are lessons God teaches us through waiting on Him. 1. Waiting teaches us to keep our eyes on Him, not on our circumstances. In 2018, for nine months, Joy was very ill. Through it all, learning to wait on the Lord strengthened our faith in Him and confirmed our love for one another. 2. Waiting teaches us that the giver is more important than the gift. A child who always gets what he wants when he wants it is not a grateful child and ultimately isn't happy. Waiting helps us put life in perspective, and often it causes us to come to grips with what we have rather than complaining about the things we don't have. 3. Waiting demonstrates faith in God instead of in ourselves. Waiting is a choice. It’s a decision that says, “I only want what God will provide, final!” What God provides is far greater than what we can do on our own. When you live without worry and doubt, you will come to realize the rich blessings God has given you. You will see the fruits of serving Christ. Are you waiting on the Lord for your decision? If you are not, you will find yourself making things happen on your own. Those who are unwilling to wait for God’s will are foolishly making the choice to forfeit His will. Question to Consider: Are you completely satisfied with God's blessings in your life? Point to Ponder: Every time you think about complaining, think of a praise instead. You will start developing the patience needed to live a contented life. Prayer: Father in Heaven, I trust You, and I’m going to wait for Your timing. Forgive me for the times I’ve worried and doubted You. Teach me to trust and wait for You to act. 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 Surrendered Life (Romans 12:1-2)
Romans 12:1-2, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. The Scriptures challenge us to yield and do the will of God. Psalm 40:8, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. One man who delighted to do the will of God, no matter what the cost was Abraham Bininger, a Swiss boy from Zurich. He came with his parents to this country on the same ship with John Wesley. His parents died on the trip and were buried at sea. Young Abraham stepped down the gang-plank alone in a strange and bewildering land. A short time later he decided to take the Gospel to the natives on the island of St. Thomas, but when he got there, he learned that it was illegal for anyone but a slave to preach the Gospel to the slaves. He wrote to the governor of the island begging to become a slave himself that he might have the freedom to proclaim the gospel. The letter was forwarded to the king of Denmark who was so touched by Bininger's desire that he sent an edict to allow him to preach the Gospel where, when, and to whom he chose. This man, who presented his body as a living sacrifice, was greatly used of the Lord. There is no greater joy a person can know than to know that they are doing the will of the Lord. The Lord calls for all of us to be a living sacrifice and to submit ourselves for His service with all our heart. When we surrender our purpose and will to God and allow Him to use us as He sees fit, amazing things happen. The world is shaken not by the wise, the mighty, the intelligent, or the skilled, but by those who have yielded to God. Paul said it was "reasonable" for us to surrender our lives, but many today seem to think that it is too much to ask. Instead of surrendering, they cling tightly to their own desires and interests. How much better it is both for us and for a world in need if we surrender and let God choose our path! Each and every morning, teach yourself to begin your day with a prayer of dedication in which you earnestly and reverently present yourself and all that you are to God’s purposes. Don’t assume that because you did it yesterday, you don’t need to do it today. Every day you need to take a step closer to the Lord and to make a commitment more serious than the one you made before. Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
PRAYER: Father, teach me that I may know how to be more Christlike that I may please You and that You would be glorified. I know that I will never accomplish this without the Holy Spirit. So right now, I yield to Him. 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 On Fire for God (James 5:16)
James 5:16, Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.. In 1935, Blasio Kugosi, a school teacher in Rwanda, Central Africa, was deeply discouraged by the lack of zeal in the church and the ineffectiveness of his own life. He followed the example of the first Christians by seeking the Lord's power in his life. He closed himself in seclusion for a week of prayer and fasting in his little bungalow. Revival gripped his heart, mind, and soul. He emerged a changed man. The bungalow became a furnace for God which set him on fire spiritually. He confessed his sins to those he had wronged, including his wife and children. He proclaimed the Gospel in the school where he taught, and revival broke out there, resulting in students and teachers being saved. They were called abaka, meaning "people on fire." Shortly after that, Blasio was invited to Uganda to share with other Christians what God had been doing. As he called the leaders to repentance, the fire of the Holy Spirit breathed again on the place, with similar results as in Rwanda. Several days later, Blasio died of fever. His ministry lasted only a few weeks, but the revival fires sparked through his ministry swept throughout East Africa and continue to the present. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been transformed over the decades through this mighty East African revival. It all began with a discouraged Christian setting himself apart to seek the Lord and the fullness of God's Spirit in his life. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Effectual fervent has the sense of being ‘energized.’ What James is driving at is that effective prayer is fervent and from the heart. When a man will pour out his heart in prayer, God tends to hear the same. James then refers to a “righteous man.” He no doubt intends one righteous in his position in Christ; being justified. But he also likely refers to one righteous in his living, who is pleasing to God. When a Christian, one righteous not only in his position but also in his person, comes to God in fervent energized prayer, that prayer will avail much. The word availeth literally means to be ‘strong.’ In other words, prayer that is so strong it accomplishes what was intended. “I’d rather be able to pray than be a great preacher; Jesus Christ never taught His disciples how to preach, but only how to pray.”--D. L. Moody Prayer is hard work and takes energy. God desires that we seek Him out. Nothing will impact your life more than seeking the LORD and the sweet fellowship we have with Him. Those who seek the Lord will achieve understanding and clarity. God gives wisdom. Deuteronomy 4:29, But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. They will also find Him. Proverbs 8:17, I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. The word "find" means "to discover, understand, to recognize, to gain knowledge." He wants us to find Him and know Him. “There is more that you can do after you pray, but there is nothing you can do until you pray.”--Dr. Curtis Hutson Seeking the Lord is the greatest of all searches. There is no doubt that God wants every Christian to seek Him and to be right with Him. When we confess our sins to Him, He will hear us and cleanse us every time (I John 1:9). When it comes to our physical burdens God may lift them, lighten them, or leave them. In each case He will supply us with His grace and help us to move forward with our life. We need to trust God and realize that He knows what is best for our life. We need to pray with an urgent desire and not be apathetic in our approach. God wants us to come to him with passion (Hebrews 4:16). May we be bold in our praying. God encourages us to pray and lets us know that He wants to answer and do great things in our life (Jeremiah 33:3). God not only can answer our prayers but do far more than we expect (Ephesians 3:20). One of the great tragedies of modern-day Christianity is that we simply do not pray as we should. The Lord has placed all of the power and resources of Heaven at our disposal to do His work, yet we “have not, because we ask not”. The greatest enemy to answered prayer is unbelief. The Devil cannot keep God from answering our prayers, so he seeks to keep us from asking. He does all that he can to prevent our prayers. If we have faith enough to ask, we should have faith enough to believe that God hears and knows our need and supplies wisdom in every situation. A lack of faith will always hinder God from working in and through our lives. When we pray, we are not to waver. “What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use—men of prayer, men mighty in prayer.”--E.M. Bounds PRAYER: Father, I praise You that I can at anytime, anywhere, and under any circumstance come to You in prayer. My desire is to keep walking continually with You so that my prayer may be the natural expression of my life 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 Encouraging the Discouraged (Proverbs 25:11)
Proverbs 25:11, A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. The person who sets out to be an encourager will never find a shortage of people to help. The word encourage means to put courage into another. Now, more than ever, people are more discouraged due to the pressures in life. One of the overlooked needs that people have is to be encouraged. Often it is easier for us to read the physical needs of people rather than their emotional needs. “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11). The right word spoken at the right time can make all the difference to someone whose world is crashing. William Arthur Ward said, “Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.” You Can Encourage Others by Extending Friendship. In Acts 9, we read of Saul who had been an enemy of the early Church—even having some Christians killed. He became a believer, but the Church was still hesitant to receive him into fellowship. Acts 9:26-27 says, “And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.” Barnabas encouraged Saul by extending love and friendship to him. He befriended this new believer. You Can Encourage Others by Re-Building Relationships. In Acts 15:36-41, we see that earlier in their ministry Paul and Barnabas had taken a young John Mark with them on their first missionary journey. Somewhere along the way, Mark left the team and went home. Later, when they wanted to retrace their steps, Barnabas wanted to take Mark with them but Paul refused. Barnabas took Mark one way and Paul took Silas another. Barnabas sought to mend the broken relationship. II Timothy 4:11, “Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.” Later Paul asks for Mark to come to him. Paul’s relationship with Mark was restored and their ministries continued in part because Barnabas refused to let go of a good man just because he failed. Good counsel is great and beautiful. Words are verbal or written expressions of our thoughts. They convey what we think to those whom we desire to communicate. It is not only important, what we say to others, but how we say it. Saying the right thing in the right way at the right time can be very effective in making peace with another person. Our speech is to be always with grace, seasoned with salt. When our words or our counsel are fitly spoken, they will be as valuable and beautiful as golden apples. The reference to gold apples in a silver setting describes something that is both exceptionally beautiful and extremely valuable. It rightly illustrates the benefits of well-chosen, properly spoken words that bring reconciliation. Be proficient in your speech. The right word spoken at the right time can be valuable and beneficial. Wise people are careful in choosing their words when settling differences. Good counsel will help us to prevent hurt feelings and damaged relationships. Our counsel can bring healing to a broken heart. The counsel of our words can cause our enemies to be at peace with us or turn away the wrath of those who are angry. If you think about it, that is worth its weight in gold. How many wars or broken homes could have been avoided by good counsel. The Bible places great value on good words and counsel (Proverbs 11:13; 15:23; 24:26; Ephesians 4:15, 29; Colossians 4:6). Let's decide to do what we can with the resources the Lord gives us to encourage those who are hurt and struggling. When we see someone in a trial or heartache, let's encouragement them. Those words will mean more than any treasure because God has used our words in wonderful ways. Points to Ponder:
Questions to Consider:
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Psalm 57:7, My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. The heart of the psalmist is full of conviction. It is steadfast, firm, and strong. We will not praise God well if we are uncertain, doubtful, or weak. Our faith must have some firmness in it if we are to praise God. Allen Francis Gardiner grew up in a Christian home, took to the sea, and achieved a successful British naval career with little thought for God. In 1822, however, he fell ill and re-evaluated his wasted life. He scribbled in his journal, "After years of ingratitude, unbelief, blasphemy and rebellion, have I at last been melted? Alas, how slow, how reluctant I have been to admit the heavenly guest who stood knocking without!" Traveling around the world had given Captain Gardiner a glimpse of the need for missionaries, and he gave himself for the task. Surrendering to the Lord and leaving England for South America, he hoped to minister among the Araucanian (or Mapuche) Indians of Southern Chile. Government interference and intertribal fighting forced him back to England. Three years later he was at it again, visiting the Falklands and investigating the possibility of taking the gospel to the islands of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. Sensing opportunity at hand, Gardiner returned to England and on July 4, 1844, established a small organization called the Patagonian Missionary Society. He wrote, "I have made up my mind to go back to South America and leave no stone unturned, no effort untried, to establish a mission among the aboriginal tribes. While God gives me strength, failure will not daunt me." Allen kept trying to reach this region. He visited South America a third time, but his efforts were again hindered by intertribal fighting and governmental interference, the land being strongly Catholic, intolerant to Protestant missions. So he returned to England, recruited six missionaries, and set sail for Tierra del Fuego, but all seven men died of disease, starvation, and exposure on Picton Island. Gardiner, the last one to die, dated his final journal entry September 5, 1851, "Good and marvelous are the loving kindnesses of my gracious God unto me. He has preserved me hitherto and for four days, although without bodily food, without any feelings of hunger or thirst." Captain Allen Gardiner died without seeing a single soul saved among those for whom he was most burdened. Not one soul was saved, even though he kept trying and did not quit! Did he waste his life when he got right with God and went to the mission field? Did he waste his life away, dying on Picton Island in an effort to reach the lost for Christ? Was this man a flop or failure, even though he did the Lord's will? The answer is "No." Allen may have not seen one convert while he was alive, but he lit a fire which has never gone out. His South American Missionary Society (as it came to be called) has been sending missionaries and saving thousands of souls for over 175 years. Understand that Satan will endeavor to suppress your devotion. He will use discouragement, despondency, disillusionment, depression, defeat, dismay, disappointment, and the disdain of others to quench the flames of a burning heart for God. Jeremiah suffered from such discouragement and depression. Jeremiah 20:8-10, For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him. Jeremiah overcame his discouragement through the power of God's Word working in his life. Jeremiah 23:29, Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? The LORD is seeking a heart that is fixed and committed to Him. There are so many lures and distractions in this world that Satan will use to get you sidetracked. It is essential that you make up your mind and stick with that decision. The psalmist made that decision, as well as the Apostle Paul. I Corinthians 15:58, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Acts 20:24, But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. PRAYER: Heavenly Father, keep my heart fixed and steadfast with Your love. Help me never to grow cold or calloused towards You, Your Word, or others. 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 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 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. 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 demonstrate 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 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”, which means “we are to continually love others with a self-sacrificing love, 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 his or her 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 that 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 from 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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