And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God (Eph 3:19).
But He begins the lesson with the assurance, I love you perfectly.'
The discipline of the way teaches this; but if He, in His love, strikes the furrows in the heart, it is that He may sow the seed which shall ripen in glory.
The hand of God never deals but in concert with His heart of infinite love towards us. -J.N.D.
It would cost Him nothing, we may say, to meet the need of a lifetime in a moment; and a lesser love than His would supply it at once, and get rid of the constant burden.
To them that love God,to them whose heart is taken up with God and the fulfillment of His purpose, all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to His purpose.That is a definite statement showing believers are called into a Divine purpose.
In Deuteronomy chapter 7 we read, Know therefore that the LORD thy God, He is God, the faithful God, Who keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him, for without His faithfulness, His eternal omniscience would be of little worth – and without His faithfulness, His infinite power would leave man adrift.
Grace Thru Faith - STUDY
Precious Peace
How wonderful to know that the love of God is towards us, in Christ Jesus.
But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
before the world was made – in the unimaginable realm of His TriUnity of love..
Gracious God
Once He set His heart on redemption, it exploded into myriads of additional graces: Love; Joy; Peace; Long-suffering; Kindness; Goodness; Faithfulness; Gentleness; Self-Control.
One day we rejoice in our salvation, but the next we question our acceptance, One night we bathe in His presence, but the next we despair of His love.
that we treat His love and grace and our position in Christ lightly.
May He open the eyes of our hearts with a fresh understanding, of what it truly means to be accepted in the Beloved Son of His love.
Long-Suffering
I believe, with all my heart that in the fullness of time we will understand why the Bridegroom ‘tarried’… for we know that all things work together for good to those that love God. All things – even things we don’t understand and the things that grieve us: all things; ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
O make but trial of His love experience will decide how blest are they, and only they who in His truth confide.
An Unchanging Love
'But if your sins are not met there, where can they be met?
He certainly will judge the flesh if we do not, but He never departs from the love which He has expressed to the prodigal, and we find that when the cloud (which walking in the flesh produced) has passed away, His love, blessed be His Name, had never changed.'
Love As He Loved
The Lord Jesus wants each of His children to be united in love – united in Him..
until we all come to the knowledge of the Son of God. For God is love and love is of God and we are to be one in Him – united in Him. We are to love as Jesus loved us – to love others as His love flows through us.
As Son of God and Son of Man, He is the object of our faith – our expression of love.
Initial prideful, bitter hatred of all who followed Jesus of Nazareth, was exchanged – replaced, with such a deep love of his Master, as reflected in his penmanship.
He expressed the true, magnificent depths to which God’s love, in Christ, ascends.
And how often has the real sting and stigma been modified by a feigning love unbroken and preserved, when the divided parties should have no association with each other in the things of God.
Love, let us again say emphatically, is incumbent upon the Lord people toward ll men,whether of the ouseholdor otherwise (Gal. 6:10), but fellowship is something more.
Purpose and Plan
A never-ending love-story started in eternity past and continues into eternity future.
Jesus Christ
The central character of God’s never-ending love-story features the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the fulfilment of the past – and the promise of the future.
And at centre stage of His holy life stands an old rugged cross – as the eternal emblem of God’s love for man.
Advent of Christ
It took 4000 years for God to prepare a fallen world for the advent of the Messiah, and the slowly unfolding plan of this never-ending love-story discovered righteousness and justices kissing love and grace as the eternal Creator Himself entered the universe that He made – to redeem the fallen race of man, who were in active rebellion against Him.
Bride of Christ
This never-ending love-story started in eternity past and continues into the eternal future and every member of the human race can feature in this romance forever – by becoming a part of the beloved bride of Christ… the Son of the Most High God.
Many Religions, One God
There are many religions – but only one FAITH. There is only ONE God Who is faithful. There is only ONE God in Whom we can put our trust. There is only ONE God Who we can confidently love and be loved by. His ways are superior from the devised plans of man. His ways are unique and are disclosed to those that love Him. The one God Who is faithful can be reverently loved. He longs to draw men to Himself with His long, exquisite chords of love and He desires to woo His own into a privileged intimacy with Himself.
His yearning toward you, is that you walk with Him in the cool of the day. His longing toward you, is to share the deep mysteries of His love.
Call of the Lord
He longs to tell you the precious thoughts of His heart… as He did with Abraham - shall I tell Abraham that thing which I do? But are we too busy to draw near in faith? Are we too fearful to open our ears – to hear His whispers of love? Happy is the one whom God chooses and draws into His counsel.
Secrets of the Lord
For the secrets of the Lord are with those that fear Him, and He will reveal to His favoured one, His covenant of love. Remember, God’s creation is seen by all. God’s act of grace is received by those that believe in His name, but God’s thoughts are only revealed to His friends.
It is by deepening our faith in His promises that we can finally trust in His love.
God longs to have, at His side, His friends - men and women; those who wait upon Him; those who tarry at His leisure; those who learn of His plans; those who trust in His love; those who gaze on His loveliness. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you – Love as I have loved. How deep and mysterious are the words of the Paul… That I may KNOW Christ.
to trust in the One Who is to be trusted. We are also called to live a life of faith.. a life that relies on Him; a life that trusts in His love; a life that submits to His commands – a life that yields itself entirely into His keeping. When we look beyond the things of this life, heaven becomes more real than earth.
Godly Thinking
He had a Single Mind – in spite of all the problems and circumstances of life. He had a Submissive Mind – regardless of the way that people behaved towards him. He had a Spiritual Mind – where he set his heart on the right thinking. He had a Secure Mind – where worry and fear was replaced with trust and love. He had a Surrendered Mind – where each thought was captured and given to God.
Godly Love
Jesus initially touches on the secret that was given to Paul and expounded by him:- You must love the Lord your God with all your HEART – and Paul tells us HOW. You must love the Lord your God with all your SOUL – and Paul tells us HOW. You must love the Lord your God with all your MIND – and Paul tells us HOW. Paul tells us how our thinking and thought processes must love and trust the Lord.. with every part of your being.
Godly Focus
When Paul’s heart and soul and mind was set on the Lord Jesus, his life was one of victory, joy, faith and love... despite life’s circumstances.
By faith we have moved from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light:- from the kingdom of death to the kingdom of life; from the kingdom of sorrow to the kingdom of joy – from the kingdom of fear to the kingdom of love.
Veiled Life
In the main, God chose to veil our view of Jesus, until the time of John the Baptist’s ministry, when Jesus started to walk in and out among the disciples of John. And yet there is much that we know of His character – His spirited zeal for the Lord – His love for the Scriptures of God and His humble dedication to His Father in heaven.
When you refrain from your personal struggles, abide in His love and move your focus from past rejection to His consummate acceptance of you – then He will show Himself to you, in a new and deeper way.
Spiritual Eye
When through the workings out of His purpose in the depth of your inner being, He takes you to an end of yourself, and gives you your own Job experience… then He will draw you with His cords of love to the very extremity of your hope and you will say – in the understanding of your own 'Job' experience….
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. (1 Thessalonians 3:12 NIV)
Love for those of our own company may not be so difficult.
I have of late felt more deeply and strongly than ever before the force of very familiar words Knowledge puffeth up, but love buildeth up (1 Cor. 8:1), and other words such as maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love (Eph. 4:16).
But the Lord looks on the heart; He sees if there is something deep down under all these preponderances, if there is a real heart love for Himself, and He knows if this is really the endeavor to express that love.
There may be misapprehension, there may be ignorance, there may be other causes, but this which offends us is, on the part of those concerned, their way of showing their love for the Lord, and we must not be turned aside we must get close to them and find what possibilities there are for the Lord.
He is going on, He is not giving up; He is making all He possibly can of the least bit of heart love for Himself and for all men.
And how we love to read these words and try to imagine His above-all abundance. But do we honestly accept these words as fact or view them as a lovely fantasy?
Word of Truth
Can we not trust our Saviour’s word, Who died an ignominious death for love of us? Can we not believe that the above-all abundance and riches of His grace is true?
As Scripture says: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love Him.”1 Corinthians 2:9
But no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9
Word of Truth
In Romans 5:8 we read that: God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Human Acceptance
Does he really accept me? Does he truly love me? Does he fully trust me..
Am I still accepted by the one I love? Does He still love me? These are the assurances every wife and lover yearns to have from her beloved. These are the eternal questions buried deep in the heart of every-woman….
Does He still love and trust me with all my faults – despite my foibles, my weaknesses, my lack, my silly traits, my eccentricities?
Does God still love me?
Preordained Acceptance
But God preordained that all who believe in Jesus are fully accepted in His beloved Son. The peace and love and acceptance of God is only through His beloved Son. Without assurance of this precious fact, many live a life of daily dissatisfaction. Without confidence in His Word, many spend their years in constant mistrust. If the failing beauty of a wife doesn’t influence the ardour of a devoted husband, how much more God’s never-failing acceptance is of the believer in Christ. God’s acceptance of you and His acceptance of me is based on one thing – the finished work of the Lord Jesus, on Calvary’s cross: being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Unchangable Acceptance
God’s love never changes, His truth never alters, His acceptance never ceases. His love for you does not depend on your attributes and your achievements. His acceptance of me is not influenced by my foibles and lack – my silly traits. His truth is the same forever. His truth is the same for everyone of His own. He is not influenced by our efforts or our qualities. He doesn’t”t change towards us due to our inadequacies or outbursts. Many presume that their lack, inadequacies and the remembrances of old sins requires repeatedly renewal of acceptance with God.. lest He withdraws His acceptance of them and withholds His love from them. But God never alters.
Underlying Hope
Perhaps there is no greater yearning in the heart of everyman than to love and to be loved.. to be accepted, truly accepted – to be really and truly and honestly accepted.
We are made acceptable by God – in and through the Beloved Son of His love. This is a truth, whether we know it or not. This is truth, whether we believe it or not. If we are a believer – we are accepted by God – whether or not we accept it !!!!
It is a wonderful thing to have the consciousness that we are in living union with the Lord Jesus in heavenly glory, knowing our position in that risen sphere, participating in all that constitutes His life in the blessed circle of love and rest where He lives unto the Father.
And surely the development and exercise of such affections as these, eternal in their nature, though called into activity by circumstances connected with conditions of weakness and trial, is a greater triumph of divine love and power than restoring the sick ones to health.
This ‘love motive’ is a good motive, but it is not the correct path to spiritual maturity, for this path of devotion can lead the old-self trying to live for God, by being good, and the consequences of this path is often in living the self-life instead of the Christ-life.
The ‘love motive’ sees Christ as our wonderful Redeemer – as our substitute.
However this love motive can often cause believers to remain in spiritual babyhood.
Loving Words
As she stood in anguish and pain, gazing at her dying son, a sword indeed pierced through her own aching soul, leaving her heart bloodied and bruised, and probably bereft of hope. Despite the sins of all humanity that weighed so heavily upon the shoulders of our blessed Lord; despite the bitter pain, affliction and anguish He bore, for your transgressions and for mine, He saw His own dear mother, in her deep and gaping grief, and His own breaking heart of compassion reached out, in love, to her.
A Mother’s Love
She, who at His conception, dimly glanced His future role, in her glorious song..
She who bore Him in pain, nursed Him at her breast; she who comforted and soothed him through infancy; she who taught Him through His childhood with her simple gentleness; she who bore, taught and trained Him in unforgettable, tenderness and love – she now beheld her Son!
A Saviour’s Love
She, who in her misunderstandings had scolded Him when He reminded her, I must be about My Father’s business.
and who are my brethren? She it was, to whom in love and compassion, the Lord spoke His third word from the cross:- Woman, behold thy son!
A Fervent Love
Stripped of all and in poverty of spirit, one would think that He’d no more to give. He had already bequeathed to all who hung Him on the Tree, the Precious Pardon of God Almighty - to a dying world. He had graciously bestowed on His companion in punishment... The Promise of Paradise, Today… to a dying man. But there before Him, in dumb disbelief and paralysed in their agony, were two of those, beloved of Him. Standing in that little group of mourners were two who had been His beloved companions:- When Jesus, therefore, saw His mother and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, 'Woman, behold thy son!' Then saith He to the disciple, 'Behold thy mother' – and from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
A Profound Love
No more touching display of deep human love than this could ever be played out on the theatre of life.
Yet this was not the selfish love that so often crosses the TV screen – or the stage – or the film studio.
This was a fervent love, a profound love, an intense love, an overwhelming love.
This was a love that passes the understanding of man - a love that staggers the imagination of all.
An Eternal Love
At His tender age of thirty-three, He bore the accumulated pain and grief of all humanity. His was not the anguish of a typical, three-score years and ten lifespan. His was the excruciating heartache and bitter torment, meted out and endured by ALL through history. He did not suffer affliction at the hand of God for a few brief hours on the Cross as some seem to imply. His pain spanned the culmination of every single filthy, foul, disgusting sin. His pain spans 7000 years of sin that the world has ever amassed.
A Godly Love
In His heartache, torment, suffering, and distress, He stretched His arms of love – a reach from eternity past to eternity future. The anguish, desolation, loneliness, and rejection poured on Him was the totality of humanities amassed evil – and the outflow from Him was forgiveness; hope; compassion – love. All Satan’s tempestuous fury was concentrated and condensed into one brief breath of time. All the Father’s undiluted wrath and rage was poured out in full measure upon His sinless head – and in the midst of this, He called out, Woman, behold thy son!
We are to be ready: for we do not know the day or the time that our Lord will come.. but our readiness should not be in fear but a dear desire to be with the One we love.
You find a company or lives welded together in an indissoluble, indestructible oneness and you will find there the love of God wrought very deeply into the heart.
i>That they may be one,one by the giving love of God through the Son transmitted to the seed.
Yes, this matter of Divine love touches so many points all the way round, and why is there such a passion in our hearts as we do speak in these days about this matter?
And it is just the contradiction of the Divine thought to have a heavenly people on this earth of this kind; the reproduction of this seed which is Christ, which is the embodiment of this love that lets go, this love that knows how to yield, this love that is all the time giving.
I do feel that we need so much more of this grace of our Lord Jesus, this love of God, that gets us out of the picture.
The love of God should release us from all that sort of thing, to say nothing of worse traits of spitefulness and criticism and hurting one another with words.
The Lord love deliver us from all and make of us part of this heavenly seed, this heavenly people, really expressing the giving, letting go love of God which comes back a thousand-fold.
Trust His Love
And yet there is no clearer path and no more important task than to grow – to grow day by day and moment by moment; to grow into a deeper knowledge of the Lord; to gain a deeper and more intimate relationship with the Beloved.
Zephaniah tells us: He will be silent in His love. Spirit to spirit communion; yet He answered her not a word… But as we rest in His love; as we sit silently before Him and worship at His feet, He will bring that comfort and peace that only springs from resting in Him.
Rest Of Silence
Oh, what a joy it is when earthly friends whose sensitivity towards each other, and love for each other can just sit in silence and wait in perfect understanding – just resting in the presence of the other. How much more should it be when the Lord Himself should so desire that we prove our love and friendship to Him, by asking us to wait. To wait for Him in secret silence. And in so doing, assuring Him that our love for Him is constant, and our faith in Him can stand the test of His silence,
Faithful to the End
Paul discovered that no privation or prison cell, no threat or torture, no impoverishment or lack was able to separate him from the love of Christ Jesus.
Indeed, he was able to say with confident assurance, I am persuaded that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus..
either death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither fears for today nor worries about tomorrow, not even the powers of hell, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from the love of God.
Since we are morally coloured by the human company we keep, whether high or low, think of the importance of continually associating with the Lord Jesus on high, and having Him as the centre of our love and interest (2 Cor. 3:18).
When we behold them by the ministry of the Spirit it is as beholding us with infinite love, and bestowing upon us the blessings of grace.
In other words, love, petition, listening to the Father's voice, receiving the love and peace of the Lord Jesus, fellowship, are invoked in this knowledge. -A.S.
But God does not leave His children in bitterness of soul for lack of care or love. God has a deeper, wider, greater purpose than His hurting child can understand. Waiting may frustrate us and His silences may thunder in our pounding soul, but He desires to bestow over and above all that we can ask or think or imagine. If we could only comprehend His love, His mind and His reason for His delay!!
His delay, however devastating it may appear, is because of His deep love for you.
Fires of Suffering
If the understanding love of the Lord is to be shed abroad through your mean life; if you long for patience of spirit and humility of heart, you must needs be tried in the fires of suffering.
If you desire to be fruitful... to bestow on others His gentleness and grace; His compassion and mercy; His long-suffering and goodness; His love - you must learn through tribulation and trial.
Purifying Process
But one by one through the purifying process of His sanctifying grace; day by day through the grinding mill-stone of His love; little by little the rough-edged rock is smoothed.
For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge, that if One died for all, then all died. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. The first man was of the earth, made of dust – a living being.
Lord of Glory
Behold the Lord of glory revealed by Man to men. Yet, His glory is shrouded, and He has no form or majesty that we should look at Him. Behold, He has no beauty that we should desire Him. His exceeding loveliness is veiled before His human brethren. His grace and glory is tempered before human gaze. No man has seen God in His pure essence at any time, except the only begotten Son of His love, Who has unfolded to man… the brightness of God’s glory and Who has demonstrated to us the exact expression of His nature and love.
Wise and Foolish
Those who love Jesus, behold Him as precious Saviour; glorious Lord; gracious God – commanding rapt admiration, profound thanks and eternal praise and worship.
Many do not wish to know Him, for men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil – and many of His own people do not want Jesus as their King.
Seeker-Friendly
In this sin-sick world sincerity, love and truth are becoming very sparse. It has infiltrated Christendom with a seeker-friendly gospel. It has spread between brothers in the faith as they try to appease each other. It has penetrated truth in relationships when one won't risk upsetting another.
If true love in the heart has but zeal and courage enough to show itself in dealing plainly with our friends, and reproving them for what they say and do amiss, this is really better, though for the present they are painful as wounds. It is a sign that our friends are faithful indeed, if in love to our souls, they will not suffer ill upon us, nor let us alone in it.
Child-Training
God in His love and wisdom uses many forms of child-training in each of our lives.
Humility is born from the Supreme Good – LOVE. Humility is the Garment of Grace. Humility is the Adornment of the Heart. Humility requires us to submit to the Spirit to search out our Secret Sins.
Humility lives as service to Christ and love to the adversary.
God's elective purposes are carried out in such an incomprehensible way through the internal and external influences of infinite love and wisdom that man is at no time conscious of any external compulsion, but only of choices and decisions in the exercise of his own free will.
From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.Ephesians 4:16
encouraging each other, and speaking the truth in love.
Built-up in Love
But there can be neither oneness nor fellowship when the body remains in disunity, for unless the body is built up in love, even a zeal for the truth is of little worth, 'for even if I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, but do not have love, I am nothing'. 1 Corinthians 13:2
Gifts and Graces
Much of the Church today is being robbed of the unity about which Christ prayed, so how can the body grow and build itself up in love – each part doing its work? Well, Paul has already reminded us, in the previous verses, that we all are equipped.
Worthy of our Calling
We are to exercise the gifts God has given to each of us in the place He has put us. We are to minister to one another, edifying each other and speaking the truth in love. We are to walk in a manner that is worthy of the calling with which we are called, with all humility, gentleness, patience, and tolerance for one another – in love. And this will keep us from being tossed about by every wind of doctrine.
May we be members that minister to one another and encouraging each other – in love.
May we continue to build and be built, until we all come to unity in the faith. May we be fitly framed together – speaking the truth in love as we grow in grace. May we walk in humility and gentleness, patience and love.
May we do our part to build up the body of Christ – in love.
Christ’s Representatives
We should love and protect all those that are brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.
Together we help the other parts grow, and edify the saints of God ,that are His – so that the whole body is healthy, maturing in grace and growing in His love.
We are children of God and fellow-heirs with the beloved Son of His excellent love.
Unity of the Spirit
We have the indwelling Spirit of wisdom and grace – the Spirit of power and love.
His faith is not so strong and unwavering as he imagined; the ardor of his love soon vanishes; the power of sin, which at first he fancied was utterly broken, makes itself felt again, prayer becomes languid, and joy seems to have taken flight.
It tastes of mercy and forgiveness, grace and divine love.
How to Know Christ
Are you longing after God – desirous of His presence? Do you seek to be filled with His Spirit and overwhelmed by His Love? Do you yearn for forgiveness and holiness and assurance? Do you call out with Paul “That I may know Christ – that I may know Him?
Israel Restored
Israel was called and chosen and sadly they failed – but in His love and grace, Israel will be restored to her earthly calling as God’s people.
Church of God
And the Church has also been called and chosen to be His beloved bride, and His bride is the Church of God, which He purchased with His own Blood – in love.
But… as it is written: God loved Jacob…” with His everlasting love.
Fleshly Jacob had a heart that was hardened towards his Lord, and the birthright and the promise and the blessings were his, but the birthright and the promise and the blessings were held, in abeyance: as it is written: God loved Jacob…with an everlasting love:
Jacob’s ego was inflated and his pride glistened like a necklace – and still: God loved Jacob, with an everlasting love.
God blessed this man – this: Jacob whom I love, but God left Jacob needing more and wanting more.
Yes, God met with Jacob in a way that he never forgot, and as it is written: God Loved Jacob… with His everlasting love.
That night the scheming, self-sufficient, supplanter – Jacob, became Prince with God, for God loved Jacob… with His everlasting love… Mal.1:2 All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for … reproof and correction.” 2Tim.3:16.
Man of Flesh to Prince with God
God loved Jacob with an everlasting love – Jacob I have loved, and God loves me with an everlasting love..
chosen before the world was founded – and God loves you with an everlasting love – chosen before the world was founded.
God in His eternal attributes endued man with free-will to accept, or to reject Him, and God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, set apart, and blameless before Him – in love.
He made us pure and holy, and He freed us from sin. 1Corinthians 1:30 God in His grace chose us to be in union with Christ and in fellowship with Himself – not because of our own merit but by His amazing and eternal grace, and God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him – in love.
One Way
There is a need in the life of all mankind for God – for His forgiveness and love, and multiple methods have been designed in an attempt to reach humanity’s goal. But the futility of those that are searching for a bloodless way is tragic and pitiful – for Christ not only told us the Way, but He alone is the Way – the only way to God – and all the questions that are deep in the heart of man have been answered in Him.
God’s Wisdom
There is a need in the life of all mankind for God – for His forgiveness and love, but the true and only God has been swept aside in preference for man’s imaginings. Multiple methods have been designed in an attempt to reach humanity’s goal. God will once again astound these hypocrites with amazing wonders.
Comfort in Fear
It seems that the Lord loves us so deeply, that He would not have us fear, for He tells us:- that fear is not made perfect in love....and that there is no fear in love, because fear hath torment.... but perfect love casts out fear:- 1John 4:18.
He would have us live our lives without fear; without care, without doubt or worry. If we trust Him fully then we must love Him completely.. and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him 1John 4:16. What comfort is this.
He charges us not to fear this life, not to fear death nor to fear what is after death. He has His words of comfort in every walk of life - and in every touch of death - and He would have each of His own living fully in Him... full of that perfect love that casts out all fear ... and care..
We may love as Jonathan, and follow as Ruth, but until we know that we are united to the Lord Jesus Christ in glory, we will not be free enough from our own interests, to take up His.
The beloved John who cried out: Behold the Lamb of God… the one who had pointed many of these same men to the One that stood among then – he had been slaughtered in an orgy of lust and crudity, and so they gathered themselves to Jesus. Should not we in like manner gather ourselves to the Source of all calm? Should not we similarly flee to the Lord and rest under the pinions of His love? Should not we cast all our burdens upon Him – for He cares for you too?
One is the morning-time as we awake to find ourselves resting in His love. One is the quite-time where He so delights to still our anxious thoughts as we rest in Him.
John.15:9 – Abide in My love – Remain in My love – Rest in My love.
It emanates from the love of the Father to the Son.
It is a divine Life : a divine Love : a divine Rest.
Possibility of Rest
As the Son rested in the love of the Father through His life and death and grave, so the love of Christ is to be our rest in and through this time of turmoil.
And how do we achieve this divine life, this divine love, this divine rest?
Rest in My Love
Don’t seek the answers from others but occupy yourself with Him.
as we concentrate on Him and gaze on Him and think on Him – as we worship Him and get to know Him more and more, so we love Him.
Those that submit to His correction and rest in His love and focus upon Him – they are the ones that will bring forth twenty, fifty, and a hundred percent fruit.
Chosen by God
The eyes of the Lord had been upon the young Mary for many a year, for she was called and chosen to be His special vessel for His Unique Son. The righteousness of this woman had not gone unnoticed before the Lord, for the eyes of Mary had been upon the Lord for many a year during her short life. Her devotion to God dictated an equal devotion to the Son of His love. Her poverty and lowly state were no barrier to the Lord, for her delight was in the Lord. Indeed, her humility of heart and modest estate was what attracted His attention: for who can find a virtuous woman?
It is the most blessed and most wonderful thing to be able to recognize that there is a growing revelation of Jesus Christ within; you see more and more of what He means from God standpoint, and as that is so, there comes this increase of the Lord Jesus... the fruit of the Spirit love.
An increase of the revelation of Jesus Christ in the heart is an increase of the love of the Lord Jesus, the fruit of the Spirit.
You are conscious that your heart is coming more and more under the constraint of His love and that unloveliness is becoming subordinate to His love.
There is no place for learning the tender sympathy of the Lord Jesus, and the blessings of the Father's love and patience and care, as in the trials of the wilderness journey.
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creation, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:39).
The death of the Cross spells love for both friend and enemy.
If we get a wrong idea about the inward working of the Cross we shall lose our own enjoyment of God's love and fail to manifest that love to others. We have no doubt that, for the sinner, the Cross is the outstanding expression of God's love, but when we realize that it brings us, as believers, into a very personal experience of being crucified together with Christ, we are apt to lose sight of the love of God.
The Cross will always bring us back to the love of God in ever-increasing fulness.
the one that can watch the dried brook and trust in God’s unfailing faithfulness; the one that holds an empty cruise of oil and yet believes in God’s provision; the one that stands by the Red Sea’s raging waters and expects his deliverance; the one whose barren womb can spring forth with life, by faith – the one who amidst the flooding tsunamis of life, can simply rest in His love. How blessed the one that is not living at crossed purposes with the purpose of God.
Too frequently a period of blessedness transforms into a long season of wretchedness. Following a time of tender intimacy and gracious communion with God.. a time that has been spent hidden behind the closed portals of His love, the door is flung open to the enemy’s most fiery trials and evil suggestions.
Child Training
Blessed is the man who endures Satan’s temptation. Blessed is the man who endures God’s testings – (for the temptations of Satan are used by God in His child training). So blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
as I watch life and hope crumble beneath the feet of those who dearly love the Lord..
to throw away my confidence in Him, or to trust in His love.
No, I don’t understand, but I have no alternative but to trust in His love.
Let God Be True
Do I let the terrible situations facing so many I love dearly, affect my faith in God?
But I have no alternative, but to trust in His love – believe His Word.
I didn’t understand then, but I had no alternative but to trust in His love.
I can dismiss the promises in His Word that speak of His love for me, His child. I can throw away my confidence, and pour scorn on any veiled, future reward.
Holding Fast
No, I don’t understand what she and others are going through, but I personally had no alternative but to trust in His love.
No, I do not understand but I have no alternative but to trust in His love and to hold fast.
Spiritual Bliss
How many of us, like these shepherds, have been in the very presence of God? How many of us, recall that wonderful transfiguring time, and long for its return? How many even question the glorious promises, bestowed on us from earlier days? How many start to wonder if the closeness, once discovered, when in His Presence.. was but an illusion; a dream; a forgotten hope; a lost delight – as they also leave that high point in their lives and walk away (leaving their first love).
Be assured that our Father intends every one of them to be a road for us to Christ; so that we may reach Him and know Him in some character of His love and power, that otherwise our souls had not known. -C.A.C.
Oft-times God, Who loves us with an everlasting and incomprehensible love, seems careless and aloof… causing the voice of the Spirit, not only to whisper in our ear: Hast thou considered my servant Job?” but Hast thou considered my servant Jesus?
Eternal Root
MERCY and TRUTH meet and are linked together in His eternal embrace. RIGHTEOUSNESS and PEACE are joined in God’s profound love and grace.
All have their roots in the love, tenderness, and intimacy of the eternal One.
Redemptive Grace
The Redemptive Love of God in the Person of His Son has eternally united Judgment and Love – has bound together Mercy and Truth, forever – has enabled Righteousness and Peace to embrace in gracious union.
All conflicts are calmed because the God-Man kissed the extremes, Uniting Mercy and Truth, Judgment and Love, Righteousness and Peace: for He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes, we are healed.
My precious twins talked for the best part of an hour on God’s unfailing love... and that nothing we say or do or think can ever alter God’s depth of love for us.
Dividing God’s Word
What blessed me was that their conversation was all about God’s boundless Love.
It paints an astonishing contrast between mans' selfishness and God’s great love.
Distorted Thinking
So often it seems haziness of this truth leads to brotherly contempt, not Christian love.
Rest in Him
Don’t attempt self-preservation – just rest in His love and allow His peace to envelop your soul.
God’s Love
The hymn, O Love that wilt not let me go, was the fruit of that suffering:-
O Love that wilt not let me go,I rest my weary soul in thee;I give thee back the life I owe,That in Thine ocean depths its flow –May richer, fuller be.
My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge – and I say this, lest any man should deceive you with enticing words.Colossians 2:2-4
Paul’s Teachings
Paul outlined in great detail these glorious positional truths to encourage our hearts. His desire was that we are united in love and understand the riches of God’s grace. He longed that we have complete assurance of the mystery of God – namely Christ: in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:3 Paul’s epistles certainly are overflowing with much to rejoice our heart, but he also gives us some severe warnings, which encourage spiritual alertness.
Early Life
In the first flush of the Christian journey, the saved saint rejoices in God his Saviour, and God’s grace is experienced as prayers are answered and love starts to bud. And the believer’s early path becomes a way of joyful expectation and euphoric bliss..
Because God knows that it is love for the Giver more than love of gift that counts.
so God set need of Himself deep in the bowels of each believers’ heart - a need to know Him; a need to love Him; a need to need Him.
God knows that the only path to growth for His children is their need of Him, for He has set a need of Himself deep in the bowels of each believer's heart - a need to know Him; a need to love Him; a need to need Him.
Such a man also has first-hand knowledge of the loving care of the Chief Shepherd, and His ability to heal one who has come humbly to trust in Him and Him alone. Therefore, he does not easily despair of others, but looks beyond sinfulness, wilfulness, and stupidity, to the might of unchanging love.
that you personally know, love, and need the Father..
and personally know, love and need Jesus Christ, Whom He has sent.
a need to know Him' a need to love Him; a need to need Him.
There is not a thing in heaven or earth that can separate us from His love.
Seasons of rebellion, or periods when faith wore thin, never altered His love.
Never Stopping
It is those times when He appears to have withdrawn His every blessing from you, that He is drawing you closer to Himself, with cords of love for you, because you are accepted – accepted in the Beloved.
Everlasting
Who shall separate us from the love of God In Christ Jesus?
For I am persuaded that nothing shall separate us from the love of God, for we are accepted – eternally accepted, and we are accepted unconditionally in the Beloved.
His deity equipped the Son of God to be good enough to pay the ransom price for the sin of world – but only His humanity qualified the Son of Man to become our kinsman-Redeemer, so that He could pour out His life-blood at Calvary, as the one and only perfect human Sacrifice for sin – the Sin Offering. Not only was He the perfect sacrifice that went to the cross as an obedient Son in submission to His Father – but He willingly walked the way of the cross for the depth of love He had for His Father.
I love you with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3 GW)
I/i>have borne with you all this time because I love you; anything could have happened to you, but I have not let it, I have shown you infinite longsuffering and patience, and earnest solicitude for your eternal well-being: because I love you, I have kept you alive, and have brought you to this time and to this place; I have not let you go.
We may, all unconsciously, be hearing this message now simply because of this infinite love of God which has been preserving us unto this hour to let us know it.
You may think it is quite fortuitous that you are hearing it just one of the chance happenings of life; but if you knew the truth it is this infinite love of God which has held you to this time in relation to the infinite purposes of that love to let you know it.
There is nothing casual about it, there is sovereign love here.
Because I have so loved, because, self-sufficient as I am, I cannot do without you oh, mystery of Divine love!
We cannot take that in, but that is the teaching of the Word of God... God does not want that kind of love that is not love at all because it gets everything that it wants to satiate its own lusts.
That is not love.
This love of God must make us like itself, it must be after its own kind.
And so, strangely enough, many have come to find the love of God through the dark way of suffering to discover that God was not their enemy but their friend, when they thought that He was pursuing with the object of destroying them....
If you know yourself only a little you must be amazed at this statement, but if it does not come to you as the most wonderful thing that ever was or could be, there is something grievously the matter with you; that such a One should say to such as WE, I have loved THEE, with an everlasting love.
This will remove all those horrible things - pride, avarice, covetousness, self-interest, worldly ambition - and we shall be very humble, very grateful people, full of a great longing somehow to requite that love, somehow to win for that One His rights.
forever separated – separated from the love and grace of God. They became powerless Satan-enslaved, conscience-smitten..
Important Truth
But remember God’s everlasting mercy. Man’s conscience tries to find repose in religiosity and self-approval, yet man’s conscience cannot find approval in any semblance of self, self- importance; self- reliance; self-sufficiency; self-will – self-seeking. Man’s conscience cannot approve in any semblance of self. How much less can a holy God, Whose His eyes behold the very thoughts and motives of man. Man will therefore turn away and try to hide his own shame: sad, lonely, hurting, shameful, fearful man! Adam walked with God in the cool of the evening, yet Adam did not know God. Do you? Had Adam truly known God’s perfect love, he would not have been afraid for it is written, there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. And it is also continues: He that fears is not made perfect in love. Praise God that there is something beyond the conscience – of what I am. Praise God there is an unveiled mystery and a revelation – of what God is.
through the manifold wisdom of God. Creation alone would never have brought out the nature and character of God. There was infinitely more than the power and the wisdom reflected in creation. There was LOVE, MERCY, PATIENCE, TENDERNESS and GENTLENESS. There was HOLINESS, GOODNESS, GRACE and LONG-SUFFERING.
The Father’s blessings demonstrate the length, breadth, depth, and height of His love.
Identified With Christ
God’s gracious heart of love gave His only begotten and dearly beloved Son for us. God’s bountiful gift of grace provides a way for us to be clothed in His righteousness.
Ear of Love
His voice is spoken into the ear of love, for love is intent on hearing even the faintest whispers from the Beloved.
But there does come a time, also, when love ceases to be heard.. if love is not responded to – if love is not believed in.
Take Heed
He is Love, and if you would know Him and His hear His voice..
Anchored to Christ
In this time of earthquakes and many other terrors that are coming on the world, men’s hearts will fail unless their heart is anchored to His voice of love.
Comfort and Care
Exhortation and encouragement is a beautiful aspect of our Christian life. Peter is the apostle that encourages us to care for one another, in Christ. Peter tells us: above all, keep loving one another earnestly, for love covers a multitude of sins. 1Peter 4:8. We should be concerned for the well-being of fellow believers in many ways.
We are to comfort each other and help to underpin each other in life: Exhort yourselves together – Heb.10:25 Comfort one another – 1Thess.4:18 Love one another earnestly. 1Peter.1:22
Faithful Servant
A faithful servant will act to exhort and edify his fellow believers in love. A careless steward will act to correct or criticise and smite his fellow-servants, but gracious exhortation can only be done in the power of the Holy Spirit.
And any correction must be carried out in love – for love covers many sins.
We are to let the love of the Lord Jesus be seen in us. We are to let the Spirit of exhortation work through us for the benefit of others. And always it is to be carried out in the spirit of humility.
May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love... that you may really come to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge without experience. (Ephesians 3:17,19 AMP)
Scripture Truths
In Galatians 5:6 we read that: in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor un-circumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.. while in Romans 5:16 we read: therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace.
And in 1 Corinthians 13:2 we read that Though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
God so loves that whosoever believes shall be saved… Faith is the key to unlock our hearts to His love.
believing is the key to unlock our hearts to His love and His grace.
God’s Love
If love is offered – if unconditional love is given, why must I doubt?
Jesus tells us that: as the Father has loved Me, so I love you, abide in My love.
John 15.9 So faith is the key that unlocks our hearts to His unconditional, agape love.
Faith is the key that unlocks our hearts to His love.
to His love – to JESUS.
If I have all faith so that I can remove all mountains and have not love, I am nothing.
Trust is the essential key to unlock your heart to His love.
And these may well be the factors which challenge the reality of our love to God.
But all this concentration of attacks upon love did not turn the Lord away from remaining faithful to the Father's will in every detail.
God's love meant more to Him than the bitterness of enemies, the failure of friends, the strength of popular opinion or the matter of His own rights.
When He came to rest in the glory of the Father's presence, love had conquered every temptation....We, too, are confronted by some of the foes which He had to face, for we have been called to bear the Cross after Him.
The fickleness of friends and fellow-workers, the bigoted criticism of those who claim to be God's servants, the fear-inspiring pressure of popular opinion, the misunderstanding and jealousy which Satan himself inspires these are some of the tests put to our love.
It was love for the Father which enabled Him always to choose the Father's will, and the outcome of His triumph is that we should be holy and without blemish before Him in love.
There is a sense in which God is seeking to undo in us all that failure of love which we inherit from Adam.
He exposes us to the painfulness of the Cross, not in some capricious or unsympathetic way, but because He aims to reproduce in us that love in fulfillment of His will which Christ already presents to Him on our behalf.
Do you look at your life and the world situation and question what He is doing. 'I see persecutions throughout the world – can He be a God of love and care?
– I am experiencing the most trying time in my life – can He really love me?'
Grace and Truth
How we love to see the best in others – to overlook their flaws and weaknesses. How we want to excuse their little foibles and disregard their faults and failings.
“What would Jesus do..?” – we ask ourselves… He would love them and He would forgive them… we tell ourselves.
And a half-truth is no truth if the whole truth is not supplied, Jesus would indeed love them, but Jesus would also correct them.
Loving Aright
If we truly love God rightly, then we will love others aright, but if we do not love God rightly, then we can never love others aright.
If we truly love others rightly, we will love them with His love.
If we truly love others, we will remove all man-erected illusions – we will see and love men as women through the eyes of disillusionment.
Christlike Eyes
Through Him our love will have no cynicism, bitterness, cruelty, or dissatisfaction.. and through Him, we will not overlook flaws and weaknesses – faults and failings.
But through Him, we will love with the sharpness of a double-edged sword.
Forgiveness was God’s heart of love towards the perpetrators of this heinous crime..
Only the love of our precious Saviour could have implored such a powerful pardon – and His death purchased and procured God’s gracious forgiveness for us all.
What Think Ye
Christ’s substitutionary death at Calvary paid the price for the sin of the world. His precious pardon was prayed over every guilty person, Jew and Gentile alike. Forgiveness is Father-heart of God’s great love towards every guilty sinner – believing on the Lord Jesus Christ is the only requirement – What think ye of Christ?
and as life slips past, we discover ourselves in a world of strangers, bereft of love.
And eye has not seen nor ear heard what He has in store for those that love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9 And yet, I hear you say:- I am living now… in this sin-sick, forsaken world – and life is rushing me by..
How can He say this and what is in store for them that love and trust Him?
as long as we are His own – For I am persuaded that neither death nor life….. nor things present nor things to come…. can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Intercession is fruitless without a heart filled to overflowing with the love OF Jesus.
Intercession is fruitless without a heart filled to overflowing with love FOR Jesus.
Effective Intercession
Effective intercession rests on fellowship with God and demands a clean heart. Fellowship with the Father – is through the Son – in the Spirit of love and truth. This is the reason that it is critical to understand what is behind 1John chapter 1.
And you find that list moves out into the dimensions of the knowledge-surpassing love: ..that you may be filled unto all the fullness of God.Spiritual illumination leads on to being filled unto all the fullness.
Writings of John
The writings of John were also scripted to point to a time of departing glory. The first flush of faith had been replaced with a people that left their first love..
He had uttered some of the most astonishing words from the cross; His Precious Pardon, Forgive to His malicious persecutors; His Promise of Paradise – Today, to His penitent co-convict; His Amazing Love – Provision, to the woman who bore Him; His Anguished Outcry – MY GOD, as He was made sin for humanity; His Final Offer of Grace - I Thirst..
Christ's love compels us. (2 Corinthians 5:14 NIV)
The love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5).
Nothing can make us true servants of the Lord but a personal passionate love for Himself.
You are the Lord servant right enough if you have an adequate love for Himself in your heart.
All our value to the Lord depends upon the measure of our heart-love for Himself.
It did many things, but the Lord said, I have this against thee, that thou hast left thy first love (Rev. 2:4).
And unless this original first love is recovered, it is mere profession, doing many things, but the thing which justifies our existence is that love and only that.
Nothing but that love will keep us going.
It is the power of endurance through the years, and it is an awful thing to come to a Christian life which has got to be kept up without that love for the Lord in the heart.
It is only that love that really makes the Christian life possible under all the strain of the years.
I am quite sure that in the case of the apostle, with all his suffering and all he had to meet, the thing that kept him going was that flame of love in his own heart for the Lord Himself.
Through the suffering, nothing but a strong love for the Lord will keep us going.
Once we understand His eternal plan and purpose for us… once we realise He is preparing us through a process of child-training, our confidence and trust in His love towards us is multiplied. These are foundational truths and eternal facts that must be fixed in our hearts.
His love towards us and His acceptance of us, through Christ, is on every page.
His love and grace drips like honey onto the tongue.
His love and mercy is a golden thread, weaving its way through the Word – a blood-red thread that streams through its pages to Calvary’s cross.
Prayer of Forgiveness
How true is the scripture that tells us that love covers a multitude of sins.
Little did Stephen realise that his prayer of forgiveness would cover the man who became the apostle to the gentiles and wrote... The greatest of all is love 1Cor.13:13
And the truth of God and His tremendous goodness hides behind the walls of doubt.. and God’s Father heart of love is tainted by man, through self-imposed twisted thoughts.
These Questions
Do you ever say something like:- ”Nothing ever goes right for me…” OR, “there are just some people for whom nothing goes right and ..I am one of ‘em”.. or do you ever feel that God does not love you as much as He loves as others? If so I challenge you to take a long, hard, steady look at yourself..
To receive from Him the gifts of salvation – the gift of hope, the gift of love, the gift of joy.
Grace of God
Pouring into the hearts of those that love Him - His own sweet spirit of gentleness and grace.
He knows my heritage – the grossness of my birth, yet pursues me with tender love.
He reassures my fainting heart by reminding me of His love. He tells me “My delight is in you..” – this One that loves me so dearly - this One that loves you so dearly too.
Image of God
This Lord Jesus Christ is the very image of the invisible, indivisible God. This Lord Jesus Christ is the effulgence of God’s glory and grace and love. This same Lord Jesus Christ searched me out to bestow on me the unimaginable. He lifted me up out of the miry clay and seated me with Himself in the heavenlies.
Do Not Be Troubled
FRET NOT :I give My perfect peace to you – no matter what happens …. BE STILL : I love you.
I have loved you with an everlasting love. REST in ME : Patiently endure, and let My patience have her perfect work in you.Psalm 37:1 Isaiah 26:3, Psalm 46:10 Jeremiah 31:3. Matthew 11:28 James 1:4
Caring God
It seems beyond mortal credibility that the great God of the universe cares. It is past understanding that the Almighty should care for one person – one who has so often grieved His heart and quenched His Spirit. It beggars belief that the eternal One should seek out and love one person – one among the billions of mortal souls.. one so unworthy..
We have an Anchor that keeps the soulSteadfast and sure while the billows roll,Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.
I have become an heir of salvation, purchased through Christ’s sacrifice – purchased of God – born-again in His Spirit, washed in His life-giving, atoning blood. Perfect submission, all is at rest. I in my Saviour am happy and blessed. Watching and waiting, looking above. Filled with His goodness, lost in His love. This is my story and this must be my everlasting song.
I learned a lesson then, that self-vindication invariably falls on deaf ears, but God will filter misunderstanding and twisted truth through His own lens of absolution – causing all things to work to together for good to those that love Him… to those that are the called according to His good pleasure.
O Worship the King…
O worship the King, all glorious above,O gratefully sing His power and His love,Our Shield and DEFENDER, the Ancient of Days,Pavilioned in splendour, and girded with praise.
Ineffable love!While angels delight to worship Thee above,The humbler creation, though feeble their lays,With true adoration shall all sing Thy praise.
But God is also the Object of my faith – the One in Whom I place my trust. It was the Lord Who gave me my faith, when He stooped low to love me. It was He Who intended me to keep on seeking Him, by means of His gift of faith.
Beautiful Faith
There is something sublimely virtuous and beautiful, in seeking God by faith. I have not seen Him face to face and yet I love Him.
I have not felt His loving arms around me, and yet I love Him. I have no physical evidences of His being, and yet I love Him.
And yet in His love He stooped so low as to even care for me..
to love me – to desire me.
Hence it is the Father‘s will that I accept this in gratitude, in love, and in all humility.
Wisdom unsearchable,God the invisible,Love indestructible,In frailty appearsLord of infinityStooping so tenderlyLifts my humanity..To the heights of His throne
We walked and talked and bathed in the closeness of the moment, and along the way He gave me little tokens of His love for me… first some tiny, wild strawberries, a few red raspberries (protected by the nettles) ..
Study - GOD, All I Need
Hope Deferred
Hope is one of the abiding essentials in the plan of God - along with faith and love.
A Precious Grace
How dearly must I hold fast to all such tokens of His love for me – especially during those times of difficulty, temptation, discouragement, and pain.
Paul expounds this cherished word – “hope” in his famous chapter on love..
and now abideth faith, hope, and love 1 Corinthians 13:13– hope being one of the three precious graces.
Hope recognises chastisement as the love of the Father toward His child..
Love fails and faith falls, if hope is deferred or if hope is lost.
and we will become strong in faith, strong in love, and strong in God.
One the gladness of rejoicingOn the far eternal shore,Where the One almighty FatherReigns in love for evermore.
In 1943 Abraham Maslow proposed his own 'Hierarchy of Needs', in every area of life. Starting with basic physiological needs, he progressed up his graduation ladder:- physiological needs; safety needs – the need to love and be loved and to have a sense of belonging; the need for esteem and self-actualisation.
a responsive attitude to divine love.
The termination of this life on earth is nothing more than a portal.. a door into the closer reaches of His love and His heart.
And here is one of the innermost secrets of Christian living and walking with Christ... an attitude of praise and gratitude, from a humble heart - broken in love for Him.
For all things work together for good to those that love Him – to the called.
Come unto me, ye weary,And I will give you rest.O blessed voice of Jesus,Which comes to hearts oppressed.It tells of benediction-Of pardon, grace, and peace,Of joy that hath no ending,Of love that cannot cease.
God did not love the world system that is currently under Satan’s rule for Jesus plainly tells us, My kingdom is not of this world. John 18:36 It was man, for whom God set about implementing His glorious plan of salvation.
God loved man, and that love was so deep and compassionate – so all-embracing that He sent His Son to die as the sacrifice for sin, so that man might live.
Christ did this willingly and in love, and God gives this freely to all who will believe in Him.
Free Gift of Salvation
Salvation was made possible by God’s love.
Man’s Deficient Strength
Have you ever run a marathon – and finished first? Those who do rejoice greatly, like a strong man to run his race, as we read in Psalm 19:5 Oh, there is much joy and satisfaction in moral and physical strength, but the man that is perfect in physical strength depends on many things: nourishing food to replenish and build up the power of sinews and muscles; sufficient sleep and a carefully constructed workout, to maintain peak fitness – and how we love to look fit and sleek and how we love to confidently complete the race, and how we wish we were even fitter, fleeter, and faster!
Spiritual Muscle
The spiritual muscle and might that He desires to be built up in our hearts..is love, joy, patient endurance, gentleness and goodness, meekness and mercy.
Cast care aside, upon thy Guide,His boundless mercy will provide;Lean, and the trusting soul shall proveChrist is its Life, and Christ its Love.
How can we hear His words of instructions or discern His whispers of love. God instructs us to take time each day to quietly meditate upon His word of truth; to quietly consider the things of God and the beauties of His person.
The truth of the gracious Father-heart of God Who loves with an infinite love can sometimes become twisted.
The truth of His Father-heart of love has at times become warped and distorted, as He is manipulated into the image of a demanding brother; a scornful mother; an abusive father… as God’s love and His forgiveness; His promises and His precepts are twisted to blaspheme His holy character. Many will not face the truth that their view of God could be thus distorted.
Some are unresponsive when help and guidance are offered in love.
And fear keeps many from knowing the truth of the love of the Father-heart of God today.
He loves with an everlasting love – and denial or distortion of that fact in any life is a lie – for if the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. John.8:36.
Way of the Cross
There are a few who seek to follow Christ in the way of the Cross, where Christ remains their first love and remains as the focus of their heart, for as Jesus said, if you lose your life (your soul) for My sake, you will find it… for many are called but few are chosen, and I have chosen you. If I sincerely and earnestly progress along the path of Christ… the way of the Cross, my experience in life will be patterned after His life and my earthy walk will reflect His earthly walk, and I shall discover that as I try to spend my life for others, I shall not be able to spare myself.
Deuteronomy 6
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 There is no more important lesson to pass on to our children than to love the Lord – not a half-hearted, 'take-it-or-leave' it love, but a deep-rooted affection for God.
Proverbs 22
This directive to love the Lord with our whole being should be our joy and delight, and were we to apply this in our lives, our joy would be complete – in Christ.
The eternal significance of the bible for all mankind is demonstrated in this verse. How important, therefore to teach our children to love God’s word as a child.
Husbands should love their wives with the same love that Christ loved the church.
We live in a time when the pagan mindset of the world is eroding Christian homes, but God will honour all that, in His strength, teach their children to love the Lord.
Given to God
When you give your children to the Lord He will fulfil your heart's desire, for they love the Lord your God with all their heart – and develop a sincere faith – in Christ… and when they are old they will not depart from it.
We know that for those who love God, that is, for those who are called according to His purpose, all things are working together for good. (Romans 8:28 ISV)
Do not lose the present value of it by always living mentally or hopefully in a time when you will be out of it, but go back there and recognize that if you are the Lord's, if you love God and are called according to purpose (as you are if you are in Christ), God is seeking to do something with you and in you by means of the conditions of your present situation.
God’s Precious Promise
This wonderful open secret permeates through the pages of scripture like perfume. It is found in Paul’s letter to the Romans, as well as other confirmatory chapters, and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God – to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Eternal One
Mercy and Truth meet and are linked together in His eternal embrace. Righteousness and Peace are joined in God’s profound Love and Grace. Mercy is disposed to Clemency and Pardon. Truth is linked with Justice and Punishment.
Peace would rejoice in Forgiveness and Grace – all have their roots in the Love, Tenderness, and Intimacy of the Eternal One.
Void Contradictions
The redemptive love of God is in the Person of His Son.
It has eternally united Judgment and Love.
Uniting Mercy and Truth; Judgment and Love; Righteousness and Peace - For He was wounded for our transgression. He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes, we are healed.
His Word is the pure principle and standard that God Himself has ordered. Of course, we are all human and we all love to have concrete reassurances, but our comfort and reassurance must remain in His Word of truth.
Heart of Love
The heart of God is a heart of love, and in giving His only begotten Son to be born into the world, so that He could die as our kinsman-Redeemer, demonstrates a love that is stronger than death – an unfathomable love that the Father has for humanity. God opened the floodgates of heaven and poured out a gift of unimaginable love over all mankind – for in being born in the likeness of human flesh, Christ bound Himself irrevocably and eternally to the human race, with cords that cannot be broken.
Gift of Love
God loved the world so dearly that He gave the Son of His love to bear the punishment for our sin and to die an ignominious death as the substitute for our sin, on a cruel Roman cross – and He gave His Son as a Gift forever – to a race of fallen sinners. Today there is a man seated on the throne of God, Who was born in Bethlehem 2000 years ago. He was laid in a manger and grew up in a simple home.
He walked this earth and suffered and died – but He rose again and all for love of me and you.
Son and Child
How true is the saying:- Deity is enshrined in humanity, for unto us a Son is given, and humanity is enfolded in the bosom of infinite love.
Historical Reality
The incarnation of the second Person of the Trinity, that was purposed in the eternal council chambers of God became a reality so that Christ could declare: Behold, I have come to do your will, O God — in the volume of the book it is written of Me. The heart of God is indeed a heart of love, and the irreversible gift of His only begotten Son to a sinful world, was predetermined so He could die as our kinsman-Redeemer.
Amazing Love
The amazing, unfathomable love the Father has for humanity is demonstrated – in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us – so that we might live.
Without total confidence in God’s love and righteousness, there is little peace in a believer’s heart.
He has promised that: all things work together for good, to them that love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose – even the bad things
A Study:- Man’s Nature and Destiny
And now abide these three – faith – hope – love.1Corinthians13:13
I remember you always for these three things: your work of FAITH, your labour of LOVE, your patience of HOPE in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father .1Thessalonians 1:3
Love of God
God loved you so much, that He sent His Son into the world, to be the object of your faith – for you to believe on Him.
You have been the object of His love from eternity past, and you are accepted, spotless, and without blemish, in the Son.
They think God can’t love them as much as He loves others with a ‘deeper’ faith.
Accusations of Satan
But this is misrepresenting scripture and feeds the accusational lie of Satan, “He can't love you – just look at your circumstances,” ” Satan hisses, “He doesn’t bother about you – your prayers are not being answered,” he taunts.
Faith Unlocks our Heart
No, faith is the key that unlocks our hearts to the love of God – faith in His Son: the faith of the Son of God..
Eternal Love
And God has given us the gift of love..
a love that passes understanding – a perfect love, for love is the very nature and character of God.
A pure love, that will no longer be hidden by the clouds of doubt and fear – a wonderful love, for God is love and God is eternal.
His is a love that is eternal.
Yes, a perfect love: for perfect love casts out all fear. 1John.4:18.
these three promises: but the greatest of the three is love.
Powerful Love
How fundamental to accept without question this astonishing love of God.
A love so incomprehensible, in that He loved so much, that He died for you and me; a love for us that was conceived by God before the foundation of the world; a love so deep that it spans from eternity past into eternity future – a love so intense that He took us from the miry clay, and wed us to His Son.
A love so glorious that He removed our filthy rags to deck us in His righteousness; a love so powerful that we’re pronounced co-heirs with Him on the throne of Christ – a love we do not understand, as our lives spiral out of control.
Importance of Love
Faith without love is nothing worth.
Works without love is of little use.
Gifts and knowledge without love are discordant gratings and empty receptacles.
Love suffers long and love goes on suffering.
Love suffers on and on without recourse.
Love never fails and love never ceases – it continues and continues on and on.
Love in other guises is of little worth, unless absorbed within this love of God.
Never confuse human love with this love, for human love at best is a selfish love.
Never confuse parental love with this love, for it is grossly shallow by comparison.
Never confuse sexual love with this love – although it isGod’s gift, it is tainted with lust.
Love of God
The love of God in us must be Him living in us - His love shining through us: for God’s love is shed abroad in our hearts by His Holy Spirit, Who is given to us all, as we read in Romans chapter 5.
Love is preeminently a grace bestowed, just like faith and hope and all other fruit.
Love is primarily a holy adhesive, uniting faith, and hope in all that Christ is.
Love is the continuous, unpaid debt of the believer, so richly immersed in His love.
Love is indeed the fulfilling of the Law of God and Paul tells us:- owe no one anything except to LOVE one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Christ’s Love
And yet - and yet it is even more than to love our neighbour as ourselves.
A new command I give unto you that you love as I have loved – love in exactly the same way as I have loved you.
Can you for a second imagine that you could love to the depth of God’s love?
This was His impossible command to us… love AS I HAVE LOVED.
This love is simply to be the badge of every disciple of the Lord.
Christ’s love radiating in all directions like beams of a light, shining from a heart-core.
Love streaming to the heart of the Father and also to the beggar in the street.
Love pulsing through the warp and weft of life despite the shadow of the cross.
Love that we in this life of sin and sadness, pain, and problems are instructed to mirror.
Unfailing Love
Though circumstances sometimes appear to the contrary, His love will never fail.
bars of abuse and aggression – prison bars that make us wonder if God’s love is for real or just an illusion.
But His love for you now, is no less intense than the reason He died on Calvary.
Just because you don’t see it, or feel His love, will never negate the truth of His love.
Interceding Love
Let me tell you my friend, Christ’s whole life was lived under the shadow of His cross.
And that Man’s love for you is passionate and deep and eternal, for we are bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh.
His Love for you has never failed not will it ever, despite appearances.
Three Gifts
Yes, there are three amazing gifts that have been bestowed on all that believe – Faith, and Hope, and Love – these three gifts – these three promises, but the greatest of the three is LOVE.
We are predestined to become like the Son of His love and foreordained to son-ship.
Wonderful Wealth
The Father has allowed us a glimpse into the wonderful wealth of all we are in Him. He has given us a peep behind the scene of His infinite wisdom and boundless love..
Adoption as Sons
Through His love He predestined us to adoption as sons, through Jesus Christ.. and He did this according to His kind intention and gracious will – and He did this to the ultimate praise of the glory of His grace. Oh!
We are recipients of the greatest love story of the universe – and it is all by grace.
that we seek a life that is Christ-centred – that we seek to know Him more – that in love we might do all to His praise and glory, for He alone is worthy.
And we know that all things work together for good to those that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.Romans 8:28Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:Ephesians 4:13
How encouraging to call to remembrance the wonderful truths of the Word of God, knowing that all things work together for good to those that love God..
Jesus Christ alone is the God of our Salvation – and He it is, that causes all things to work together for good to them that love God – to them that are the called according to His purpose.
Yes and Amen
In the meantime, in His grace – let us rest on the precious promises of God knowing they are all ‘yes’, and ‘amen’ in Christ – knowing that all things work together for good to those that love God..
Little Flock
God has indeed withdrawn His presence from the Church He loves so much, just as He withdrew from the nation He chose to be His inheritance. But He reserves for Himself a few – a remnant that will trust in His love. He keeps for Himself a little flock – a tiny ‘Gideon’s army’ who live by faith.
Israel’s Remnant
They would be ones that, “hopefully”, trusted in His word. They would be men and women that, “patiently”, waited for His time. They would be servants of the Lord that, “trustingly”, resting in His love. And for every lone Elijah, God reserves “7000” more who remained faithful.
Let us like them be servants of the Lord that 'trustingly rest 'in His LOVE.
Right Thinking
But right thinking about God and the Son of His love is critical to spiritual growth, for every thought we have of God, influences the decisions we make. Think about the following.. No nation in the history of the world has risen above their perception of God. No civilisation has peaked above their consciousness of Who God is. No peoples have exceeded their religious thinking of the nature of God.
Collectively and individually we have left our first love.
Time and Incentive
There is little time or incentive to be still and know the God of the universe.. and there are fewer who desire to fall in love with the lover of our soul. – and to worship as His feet in grateful thanks and reverential tears.
Biased Perceptions
His fatherhood is often debased by the experiences of an imperfect earthly father. His steadfastness is frequently disbelieved – by the betrayal of spouse or friend. His commands are repeatedly translated into the demands of an imperfect Church. His grace is often belittled; His love often spurned; His gift treated with contempt – all because..
He alone is Eternally Faithful and Just and Holy and Gracious and Good and True – He alone is forever Love.
Jesus said, “I have made known to them Thy name, and will make it known; that the love with which Thou hast loved Me may be in them and I in them.” John 17:26.
God’s Love
His love and mercy towards us all is new each morning and fresh every day.
Our love and gratitude towards Him should be our daily rejoicing.
He has disclosed His very heart of love..
He has whispered into our very beings – I love you!!! God’s profound and wondrous thoughts are beyond my scant understanding.
Love of Christ
How can we diligently strive to holiness without becoming legalistic in our thought? Well, it seems that Paul answers the question – and it is all summed up in love: for the love of Christ constrains us ..
the love of Christ compels us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died.
We do not diligently pursue holiness out of duty, but because of deep love for Him.
We endeavour to be holy for one reason only – that the love of Christ constrains us.
Love was the motivating factor behind Paul’s pursuit of holiness and must be ours too.
Godly Living
We do not strive to godly living out of obligation or a desire to gain God’s approval. We do not diligently pursue our sanctification out of a sense of duty, but of love.
If love is not the stimulus for godly living, we will fall into the mindset of the world – for we love Him because He first loved us and saved us by His grace.
Riches of His Grace
When we begin to understand that grace is bigger than the total sum of our sins, the love of God will constrain us towards the diligent pursuit of sanctification.
When we start to realise that grace is vaster than the weight of our good works, the love of Christ will constrain us towards striving to a godly way of living.
When we comprehend that depth of the riches of His grace towards us, the love of Christ will constrain us towards the earnest pursuit of holiness... and so we will prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God..
Paul was a man whose life was governed by the Holy Spirit of Christ Jesus his Lord. Paul was a man that longed that we also should know Christ – in an intimate way.. that you may to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19
Governed by God
Let us with Paul, set our heart and mind to know Him more, and love Him better.
Face of Christ
The Law was indeed given to Israel through Moses, but the unfailing love of God and His everlasting faithfulness is seen reflected in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ. The beauty of grace and truth is contrasted with the stark reality of the Mosaic Law, for the Law was given by Moses – but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
The Cross
But God in His love and mercy sent grace and truth through the incarnate Word.. so that all that believe in His name would not perish – but have everlasting life. The expression of God’s grace is seen in the gift of His Son and His work on the cross, so that by believing on the person of Jesus Christ we may have life in His name.
Love of God
What manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that He should shower on sinful man the grace and favour that we do not deserve and cannot earn- but in His perfect life the Incarnate Word of God, in His sinless body on the tree, met all the righteous requirements of the Law – to free us from condemnation so that we might have LIFE. The law indeed was given to Israel through Moses, but the unfailing love of God and His everlasting and faithfulness - is only seen in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ.
God loved Job with a perfect love; a love that could take account of everything, and, looking below the surface, could see the deep moral roots in the heart of His servant - roots which Job had never seen, and, therefore, never judged.
Provision of Grace
God’s provision of grace is given in love and breaks the power of cancelled sin. Grace sets us free to live and move and have our being – living and working in Him.
Sufficient Grace
Grace and truth came through the Lord Jesus – as does love, joy, peace, and hope, and we have access to all the grace of Christ..
Riches of Grace
When we labour for Him in love, God’s grace is all we need – grace working within, for it is God that works in us to will and to do to His glory – God’s in-working grace.
And chastening is from love, a token of our Father's care.
Every trial comes from the Father as a call to come away from the world to Him, to trust Him, to believe in His love.
May you so appreciate the plans of your Father that you can triumphantly glory in the love that subjects you to such discipline, though the trial itself be sharp and to the flesh hard to bear. -J.H.T.
And to godliness add brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness add love.2Pet.1:7
Desirable Characteristics
Love is kind, and one very precious fruit of the Spirit of God is goodness.
They are the quiet sisters of love and joy and faith and self-control.
and gestures of love.
in fastings. By purity; by knowledge; by long-suffering; by kindness – by the Holy Ghost; by sincere, genuine, agape love; by the word of truth; by the power of God; by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left; by honour and dishonour; by evil report and good report.
No matter what we may encounter in this life, we who belong to the Lord Jesus have this definite knowledge - our Father will use it all in love as an instrument in the carrying out of the glorious purpose to which He has destined us.
But if it is to be accomplished by means of the trial, He, in His perfect love, will not free us from it but strengthen us to go through it and be victorious over it. -A.M.
Fullness of God
You can read about the fullness of our faithful God in Ephesians 3:19… and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. You can read about the fullness of our faithful Christ in Ephesians 4:13 …until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. You can read about the fullness of the Godhead in Coossiansl 2:9… For in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Really love themLove each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. (Romans 12:9,10 NLT)
That is the first thing about this love.
He does not withdraw His love because we make mistakes.
That is a very different kind of love from our love.
This is God's love in Christ....
You know, it is so easy to talk about love, to pretend to love, to use the language of love, to sing hymns about love, and it can all be sentimental; perhaps we all know people who have told us that they love us, but very often they are the very people who have hurt us most.
Now, the love of Jesus was not sentimental, it was practical.
He did not go in with His disciples and say, 'Brothers, I do love you very much.' He showed that He loved them by what He did for them.
It was not sentimental love, it was practical love.
And this is the love with which He loved them unto the uttermost.... These things which characterize the love of Christ for His own ought to characterize us in love for others.
So that as He loved us to the uttermost, so ought we to love one another.
He reveals His plans to us by His grace and His love, for all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2Tim.3:16.
– 'Trust in my love'. 'Feed my sheep'. 'Repent and return to your first love'. 'Be thou faithful'. 'Abide In Me…' Oh yes – He waits for us to come to Him.
Jesus offered her His love and His forgiveness..
He seeks to get close to us, so that He can pour out His love all over our thirsty hearts.
He waits to draw out our trust, our love, our faith, and our obedience to Him.
He then seeks to test our obedience, our faith, our love, and trust in Him, before He drops His veil, and shows us His blessed face, and reveals His presence.
Admitting Need
He will not force His love onto any one of us.
He will wait; wait for us to open our hearts to Him, so that He can see into the depth of our need and longing – and correct and give and love.
for He longs to pour out His love over your dry and thirsty life. Come – let him that is athirst COME.
and cogs and wheels whirr and intercept in beautiful symmetry – so too your pleading cries to the Lord, and so too His dear response to you, for you are His beloved child and He loves you with an undying love.
Our spiritual puppy-love is soon lost, to be replaced through the years by our bridal-love.
My beloved spoke, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away (SoS. 2:10).
His gifts come down to ease us in a world like this, that our hearts may rise the easier to the scene where He displays the fulness of His love for us.
The earthly walk of Israel is given to demonstrate what we face in the spiritual – both are used by God to draw us to Him – to teach us to trust in His strong arms of love.
Incomparable Love
God in His incomparable love has blessed us in the heavenlies in a myriad of ways. God who is rich in mercy made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in sins.
This earnest – this love-token is more lasting and established than the shining sun: His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and the truth of the Lord endures forever. Psalm 145:13
To know the Lord Jesus is to love Him; and to love Him is to insist on being with Him; to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:14).
It is a great thing to have the consciousness that we are bound up with Him there in heavenly glory, and to know that we are with Him in that sphere of ascension to participate in all that constitutes His life in that blessed circle of love and glory where He lives unto the Father.
With our finite minds, we are incapable of understanding the essence of the infinite God – nevertheless, all the wisdom and knowledge of God is hidden in Christ in its entirety. Man, a fallen creature was incapable of meeting and communing with a holy God, but God in His mercy and love revealed Himself, in Christ Jesus – in His fullness.
Incarnate God
His love is measureless and scoops into its skirts boundless mercy and eternal grace. His immeasurable holiness acts in absolute righteousness and unquestionable justice. The fullness of God has been manifested in the self-revelation of Himself, in Christ. And in Him are hidden all the treasures of God’s eternal wisdom and knowledge.
If we are left here a little longer we shall need the grace, mercy, and forbearance of the Father in a thousand ways, but all that will be needed in the future to keep us from ourselves is small compared with the stupendous cost at which divine love forever secured us. -C.A.C.
It is a heart that we shall come to eventually; not an explanation to satisfy our reason, not a demonstration of power, but just a heart but a mighty heart: and when we use that word rightly, we simply mean love.
That means that they are without all that love means.
Love is not the governing thing in their thoughts, actions, and motives; they are strangers to love.
Heart then, for us, means love, and when we say that back of all things and at the center of all things there is a heart, we mean there is love.
the kindness of your youth; the love of your betrothal..
His very nature and name is ‘love‘.
Ahh, but know this, beloved... you are sure of His love and He knows you by name; His loving purpose He is refining in you; step by step He is working His skill, though an agonising process in you and little by little He is taking you deeper, deeper – deeper into Himself.
Deep Grace
What a depth of love the Lord had for all His own.
How deep the love of the Father..
and John the apostle in his twilight years was submerged in love for His Lord, for he had dwelt on His gracious words, for no man spoke like this Man: “love as I loved; trust as little children; forgive as your Father has forgiven you”.
Deep Love
John had experienced the love and forgiveness of Christ in His own turbulent life, for this son of thunder who thought to strike others with fire and brimstone..
ow seeks to smite them with Christ’s forgiveness and the love of Jesus..
for his own dirty feet had been washed, in love, by the gracious Son of God.
What a depth of love the Lord had for His own.
How deep the love of the Father.
And John the apostle in his twilight years was submerged in love for His Lord.
John drank deeply of the love and forgiveness of His Jesus, and so we read: I write unto you, my little children, because your sins are forgiven you – for HIS name’s sake.
So stand calmly, bow down and worship in the gracious presence of the Son of His love, for our human 'righteousness' has been exchanged for His holy righteousness.
While in Zephaniah 3:17 we are told: He will be silent in His love.
His eyes were full of tender love for her.
He kissed her bowed head and spoke sweet words of love.
How dearly He must love the first..
She needs my love, affection, and gentleness every moment of every day.
has faith and love of the finest quality.
Silent in Love
I am silent in my love towards her..
because I love beyond the power of words to express..
because My love is beyond the comprehension of human understanding.
I love so deeply for your sakes..
so that you too may learn to love and trust Me, in a Spirit-taught, spontaneous response to My love – without the need of anything outward to call it forth.
that you may better trust Him – that you may better love Him.
His withdrawal and silences may be because He trusts you to trust Him – and so continue to trust in His love.
Our Father chooses His opportunities to teach us these things, and when He has accomplished this work the special communications of His wisdom and love no longer continue, for He desires we should walk by faith, according to what we know we possess in the Lord Jesus.
After receiving the instruction, we have to return to the ordinary activity of a life of responsibility, and to those relationships with our brethren in which love is developed and exercised, as it is put to the proof, either in the assembly or in individual relationships.
Surely this pinnacle in the gospel of John 17:24 was an example of How to live.. an example of How to pray.. an example of How to deny self – an example of How to love as I have loved.
Denying Self
Assuredly this entreaty to the Father demonstrates a life given over to the love of God..
But murmurings and complaints can ofttimes ripen into rebellion and ruin, and such grievances can all too often lead to doubting God’s love and faithfulness.
Since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.1Thessalonians 5:8
for when we are covered with Christ we have put on faith and hope and love.
Protective Breastplate
Both faith and love unite as one, for faith works through love – while love feeds faith.
This protective breastplate of faith and love is our covering of Christ’s righteousness, for the heart that abides in Christ is the one that stands firm in the day of trouble.
Love is the root that bears all things, believes all things, hopes and endures all things.
The latter excites the diligent works of a growing love for Jesus Christ, and they intertwine as His banner of love, over those that trust in His name.
The breastplate of faith and love covers our heart, enfolding us in His righteousness.
Let us put on the breastplate of faith and love, for we are covered in His righteousness, and for a helmet – let us wear the hope of eternal salvation in Him.
The first action of the Spirit in the soul for growth is to assure you of the Father's love for you, and then you are not thinking about yourself or your own state, but of Him; though no doubt you will be greatly exercised as to how you are answering to that love.
I have a Person, and the love of that Person for my heart.
And when I think of who that Person is, and how He has brought divine love to me, and how He draws my heart to Himself in an ineffable scene of divine affections, I begin to taste divine satisfaction.
It is a love which has removed for its own satisfaction everything that I am morally as of the race of Adam, so that I might be free in the presence of that love. -C.A.C.
Loving Obedience
Love was the motivating factor behind the Lord’s obedience to the Father.
Love was the reason that the Lord Jesus followed the path of obedience.
Love to do the Father’s will; love for the church, which is His body.
It is a deep, personal, eternal, relational love that excites true obedience in man – for God is love and the greatest of all is love.
Had Christ acted independently of God He could never have secured our salvation, but in loving obedience to the Father and in gracious love for us He became obedient, for being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
He laid aside His deity and learned obedience for love of you and me... so that we could become the righteousness of Christ, in Him.
Like Christ, we too can learn obedience when love becomes our motivating factor - as we learn to diligently do His will out of love for our Saviour – as in love for the Lord Jesus we submit to His leading in willing obedience.
but as it is written: God loved Jacob.. with His everlasting love.
with His everlasting love.
with an everlasting love.
God blessed this man – this: Jacob whom I love, but God left Jacob needing more and wanting more – and God just waited.
It was only when Jacob was broken and bowed in submission before his God, that God met with Jacob in a way that he never forgot – as it is written: God Loved Jacob… with an everlasting love.
That night the scheming, self-sufficient, supplanter - Jacob, became 'prince with God': for God loved Jacob… with His everlasting love.
God’s Answer
God in His great love for the world answered this universal longing and inner need. The incarnation of His only begotten Son was His precious answer to this inner ache. And though God in His grace sent His Son Who was the exact image of the invisible God to come and live and walk amongst us for 33 years – how few really understood.
A life of quiet and calm; a life of hope and fulfilment: a life of peace and rejoicing... a life of unbroken fellowship with the Lord; a life of love and joy and hope; a life nestling in the bosom of the Father; a life where darkness has melted away; a life where sorrows of the night have softened into joy of an eternal morning.
Ideal and Actual
Such a model etches a rude distinction between the ideal and the actual. A life of noise and clamour; a life of darkness and disease; a life of pain and despair; a life of where the Lord seems distant; a life lacking love, joy and peace; a life of sorrows and sin; of sickness and sadness; deterioration and death.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.2 Corinthians 13:14
Letters of Grace
Often a sermon on salvation is beautifully woven into the initial letters of GRACE, G – Salvation is a Gift of God – a Good Gift that is Granted to allR – Salvation is Redemption – Received by faith, Reuniting us with GodA – Salvation is Accepted by God’s love, Available to All, Accessible through faithC – Salvation Comes thru Christ Crucified Who paid the Cost at the CrossE – Salvation Ends in Eternal life and is an Everlasting gift – and an Escape
Grace is founded on the sovereignty of God and shows forth His unconditional love. Grace is God’s over-abounding provision, not only in the physical but in the spiritual. Grace not only restores what was lost in Eden but adds to it an unknown expanse.
Strombeck’s Definition
Grace was once defined by Strombeck as: “the unmerited abounding provision of the unrestrained operation of God’s infinite love through Christ Jesus on behalf of man – especially he who depends on Him.”
It is the operation of His infinite love on behalf of such as are worthy of everlasting punishment.
This outpouring of God’s infinite love is possible only because Jesus Christ, by His death, fully satisfied the demands of God’s justice.
In everything – commending ourselves as bond-servants of God… in much endurance; in afflictions; in hardships’ in distresses; in beatings; in imprisonments; in tumults; in labours; in sleeplessness; in hunger; in purity; in knowledge; in patience; in kindness; in the Holy Spirit; in genuine love; in the word of truth – in the power of God.
His works flooding your faith; your love; your works.
First Love
In the beginning, the joy of sins forgiven was a mountain-top experience.
At the outset the preciousness of 'first-love held you enthralled.
At the start, the grateful love of a cleansed life was your rapt enthrillment.
Why have You hidden Your face which I love? Why have you departed when my downcast soul cries for Your touch? Why does thick darkness obscure my Beloved?
Though He slay me, yet shall I trust Him. Yes, Beloved, it is to draw you with cords of love into His deepest secrets – where you, 'in Christ' live in quiet, humble submission to His Word – where Christ in you becomes an Anchor for other hurting souls in your journey into faith.
hope' and hope makes not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us.
Love often slams shut doors, firmly fast – as well as opening them wide.
He is the love in our life. For our light afflictions which is but for a moment, worketh in us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; where-unto ye do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19
It is a position that is bound by the chains of deep devotion and steadfast love.
He goes on:- 'for my concern is that their hearts may be braced (comforted, cheered, and encouraged), so they are knit together in love – in unity and in oneness – in Christ.'
Treasured Words
Oh how we just love those dear, old-favourite hymns and sweet cherished choruses.
Are we truly looking to Jesus moment by moment and kept in His love?
Are we truly and honestly kept in His love – moment by precious moment, day by day?
His desire is that moment by moment we are kept in His love – alone.
Personal Reflections
Are we truly and in all honesty moment by moment kept in His love?
Are we lost in His love moment by moment?
Moment by moment I’m kept in His love;Moment by moment I’ve life from above;Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.
Moment by moment I’m kept in His love;Moment by moment I’ve life from above;Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.
God Made Man
Why – why do we have to believe on Jesus? Why believe on Him? Why not just believe on God the Father? Surely that’s enough? Is not the Father’s love great enough and sufficient to save us from our sins? No!
Never-Ending Love Story
O listen to the wondrous story,Counted once among the lost;Yes: One came down from heaven’s glory,Saving us at awful cost.
There My love will come upon you and overshadow you.
Love the Lord
Down through the ages men, with quill and pen, print and pronouncement, have been eager to write about me and conclude about my truth and many have greatly erred.
I need the man to love me – to love me with all his heart and all his soul and mind and strength.
This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,o that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. (Philippians 1:9,10 NIV)
Such are full of love and patience, and do not lose their poise when everything seems to be going to pieces.
Pain when you find yourself tormented and in deep sorrow Stunned into disbelief, paralysed by grief, when you thought your heart would break. 'Last Night' - when you found yourself betrayed – betrayed by a friend you love.
Universal Episode
Where love is wounded to its core; where trust is tried to its bitter limits; where hope seems dashed to the stony ground; where joy seems ground to the dust of ashes; where patience screams forgive!
That 'Last Night' – where love was wounded to its core.
A man must not be a double-minded man, for you cannot love God and the world, and the language construction here, is a single act requiring two distinct actions.
Gentle Reproof
Jesus loved Philip with a godly love that is impossible to understand. Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another as I have loved you..
Intimate or Afar
Not to know the Lord in this capacity is not to know Him as all. Not to know as the Son of God’s love is to miss out on intimacy with Him. We may be quite familiar with the facts of Christ’s life – His birth in Bethlehem; His marvellous miracles; His ascension from Olivet.
It is not the fault of the Lord if He seems far off from any one of us. This divine love is close to each of us perpetually.
Even where in the new convert there is great singleness of heart and faith, with true love and devotion to the Saviour, time is needed for a deeper knowledge of the old man and sin, for a spiritual insight into what the Father's will and grace are. -A.M.
It is a progression from obedience to obedience, from dependence to dependence, from righteousness to righteousness, and from love to love.
The way of His wisdom is the way of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” Proverbs 3:17 But only those that follow His footsteps have quietness of spirit and amity with God. Only those who trust His love are in concord with themselves and with others. Only they who truly know how to die to self, utterly and completely – only they are truly at peace with life’s circumstances. They find no strain within; no hostility without; no alienation from God. They have no pricks of an accusing conscience; no unsatisfied longings or desires, for they trust in His love completely – for they know that: “all things work together, for good…” Rom.8:28
And you shall LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’Mark 12:29-30
First Love
Israel were commanded to HEAR their faithful God and to LOVE Him. Likewise, the Church are to LISTEN to our Lord and LOVE Him with our whole being.
The Church is to hear all that the Spirit says to us, and not to wax cold towards Him. As Christians, we need to return to our first love – the One who first loved us.
He can be trusted. Great is God’s faithfulness, and great is Christ’s love for His Church.
Eternal Truths
These vital truths are for our learning and were played out in the time of Nehemiah. They are still true today and need to be fastened in our hearts and secured in our mind. Let us without reservation listen and love… listen to His voice and to hear His word – encourage each other to fall in love with our Lord, all over again.
Covered in Christ
Let us seek to remain in direct unity in the bond of love and fellowship..
He will seek to undermine your love and trust in the Lord.
We should like by purity; by knowledge; by long-suffering; by kindness; by the Holy Spirit; by sincere, genuine agape love.
God takes all things and God uses all things, for all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Rom.8:28 And He takes time – He often takes a life-time to gently lead one into this truth.
a voluntary sacrifice of Himself to God – on our behalf, and purely for love of God.
knowing that God’s love for man was such that He alone could display His Love.
Our Voluntary Sacrifice
And this is what He asks of us - not just that we believe and are saved, but that we love Him all our heart and soul and mind and strength – and that we live our Christian life as a willing 'sacrifice of praise' . I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice – a voluntary offering – a ‘burnt’ offering a sweet savor to the Father… holy, acceptable to God.
Those who open their hearts to the Lord Jesus let in heaven’s love and divine joy.
God and King
It is the personification of God Who is the One for Whom I should be listening. It is my Saviour and Lord, my God and my King Who demands my contemplation. It is my beloved Bridegroom for Whom my heart should be aching – that I may know Him more – that I may love Him better.
It is the continual, progressive, self-revelation of God Almighty. It is an ongoing, step-by-step unveiling of God to His people. His Word contains both precepts and promises, poetry and prophecy. His Word is a love letter to every believer – which says I love you.
Divine Love
This love is not the frothy romance of novels – nor the passion of a paperback. It speaks of strength and stamina, pain and long-suffering patience. It speaks of heartache and endurance. It speaks of deep disappointment, and yet an abiding forgiveness. It speaks of love that never fails, despite the grossest betrayals. It speaks of tenderness, regardless of the most ruthless duplicity. It speaks of forbearance and grace, in spite of deception and disloyalty. It speaks of the deepest affection – a love that never gives up – that never ever fluctuates, no matter what. It speaks of His precepts and promises through poetry and prophecy.
Witness of the Word
God’s faithful love and tender forbearance is seen throughout scripture, His Word and promises never once failed throughout the past 6000 years. The Word of God is witness to that fact, and untold saints who passed this way before can vouchsafe to this truth. Because of the past faithfulness of His Word, future prophecy is assured. God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfil it?
Heb.13:8 But we live by faith and not by sight. We trust His Word because He has spoken it, and we love Him because He first loved us. Such love and faith, does not find its roots in today's passing events. Such love and faith, is not based on fluctuating feelings. Such love and faith, does not follow after human schemes. Such love and faith, is not founded on hopeful speculations. Such love and faith, is firmly fixed in the immutable God. Such love and faith is secured in the unbreakable Word of God.
Consider Jesus
When we are tempted to base our love and faith on temporal things:- on passing events or fluctuating feelings – on human schemes or hopeful speculations… just consider looking away from the temporal to the eternal. Consider looking away from the earthly to the heavenly. Consider looking away from the terrestrial to the celestial. Consider the immutability of God’s promises and prophecy.
He is Faithful
If we fail in our faith or falter in our confidence, He remains faithful. If we betray His trust or fluctuate in our feelings, He abides constant. If our love dims or if we vacillate in our trust, He stays the same.. He cannot deny Himself.
As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
This is My commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you.
Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
These things I command you, that you love one another.
Abiding Love
Some years ago I read of a saint who studied John chapter 15, for many long years, extracting a wealth of choice jewels and prized treasures from this one chapter.
Some time ago for one whole summer, following in his exemplary, in-depth deliberations, I too would reflect and ruminate on these verses for many days at a time – to search out God’s nuggets of love… for me.
walk with me briefly to discover some of the wonders of His abiding love.
If you keep My commandments, you WILL abide in My love, in the same way that I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
Love One Another
This is My commandment… that you love one another – as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for a friend. These things I command you, that you love one another. Jesus said, THIS is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you… by this shall all men know that you are My disciples.
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples. (John 13:35 NLT)
Love not the presence of a lot of understanding and teaching and truth, and not the absence of all sorts of things is the governing matter with the Lord.
It is not that He Himself in His heart accepts the wrong things, but He sees through them, He sees differently from ourselves.... You can see there is no hope of building up unless there is love and love for all men.
It is love that builds.
Love ought to bring into the countenance some suggestion of quiet strength and restful confidence....
Well, let us sit down in the armchair of His love and be at rest, and then get to work.
It comes from love, God's love.
Whatever else He gives us and adds to us, may the Lord make us a people who are characterized supremely by this love for one another and for all men.
Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love. (John 13:1 NIV)
No ministry of the servant of Jesus Christ can be a triumphant ministry unless there is a deep, strong, abiding love.... Love is going to solve our problems and to bring us into victory; but apart from a sufficient love, the problems of human make-up, the many differences of disposition and character and all that goes to make up a company, and the continuous drain and strain, with all the pressure that comes from the enemy, will present a problem, a perplexity and a paralyzing task....
Love got above all that they were; love gave the extra thing which enabled Him not to take them just as they were and end there.
So in our relationships, the spirit of the true servant is only possible as there is a deep love.
It is (if it is the true thing) the outworking of love for the Lord and for those who are the objects of His love.
Sooner or later you and I will be brought to the position where the question will be, Have we sufficient love to go on?
Can we find enough love in our hearts to get us through this particularly difficult situation?
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7).
Nothing can separate the believer from the love of God, and under no circumstances whatever can he come under the infliction of wrath from God.
He may have to correct His saints for their sins, and where there has been no failure He may chasten (child train) them for their profit, that they may become partakers of His holiness; but all this is in love, not in wrath.
Every action of God toward His saints is in grace and blessing; it is ever the outcome of His love.
The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God (2 Thess. 3:5).
How strengthening it is, to know that He is at this moment feeling and exercising the same love and grace towards me as when He died upon the Cross for me. -J.N.D.
I have got away from grace if I have the slightest doubt about God's love for me.
May our hearts get such a lesson in the love of the Father, that, instead of being depressed by trying circumstances, or elated by what are called providential interpositions, we may know that we are the objects of this wonderful love, and are being educated into it by the only One who knew it in all its power as He walked here below through this wilderness world. -J.B.S.
To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge (Eph. 3:19).
Uncompromising Trust
Much of Christ’s life exemplified how the man of God should live and pray. Christ’s life demonstrated an unfailing, trusting obedience to the heavenly Father.. a simple, uncompromising trust in the Father – that did only what the Father did.. a life that remained in continuous and ongoing fellowship with the Father.. a life that is in love with the Father and a heart that prays, Thy will be done – a life that translated into unceasing; persevering; grateful; obedient; trusting prayer. Christ’s life reflected a life of continuous; gracious; thankful; trusting communion.
Gideon was obedient, Hezekiah demonstrated trust and Habakkuk displayed love.
Thankful Intercession
Jesus Himself is the best example of simple trust, deep love, and unfailing obedience.
The Father’s Will
In the garden, His thoughts flew to Abba - Father, His close relational bond, (a fellowship to which we can aspire – one achievable in the power of the Spirit) It was in the place of deepest pain that He prayed, not My will but Thine be done. (an unachievable prayer when our will takes precedent over Thy will – but an achievable plea in the heart of a man – in love with the Father)
Love of God
I am quite sure that Christ did not delight to go to the cross and all that it entailed..
His reward was us. Christ went to the cross for love of His church.... but He died primarily for love of God, for His delight was to do the Father’s will.
All things in the life of all believers are working together for God’s good and for God’s end.All things are working God’s way to them that love their Lord – to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Time of God
All He asks is that we trust Him in all things – put our total faith in Him, knowing that: 'ALL things work together for good to those who love God..
Impossible Command
Jesus loved Philip with a godly love that is impossible to understand.
Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another as I have loved you, and yet His gentle reproof to this precious disciple was: “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me?”
Facts of Life
Not to know the Lord in this capacity is not to know Him at all. Not to know the Son of God’s Love is to miss out on KNOWING Him.
Eternal Grace
His divine love is close to each of us perpetually, His eternal grace is poured over us in great abundance, His holy correction is administered to us with infinite tenderness.
When the Lord Jesus' love is before you, you find this love is drawing you from darkness to light.
It is beautiful to see that the work of true love is to set aside darkness, or whatever would interfere with fellowship; and therefore it is not esteemed as it ought to be, because we are looking for something on the earth, and the tendency is to judge of His love by earthly gifts or favors down here.
Still He rules over all, and where evil cannot be turned to good, limits and forbids it: He maketh the wrath of man to praise Him, and the remainder of wrath (what would go beyond this) He restrains (Ps. 76:10).” - F.W.G. 114 “People may quarrel with the sovereignty of God, but I love it, because I know enough about my natural bent and will to be sure that if left to myself I should have gone straight to perdition.
To be willing to accept crucifixion with Christ, to leave all yourself, your plans and your longings, your abilities and your possessions, all of them at the Cross, so that you only trust and love and live for the Lord Jesus, hurts a great deal.
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.Romans 8:28
Psa.139:16. No born-again believer need ever fear rejection, for we are accepted in the Beloved Eph.1:6. Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love – with loving-kindness I have drawn you.
Alternative Directions
After the initial honeymoon period of glorious delight in His inestimable love, we often leave Him.
We try to live by Self-Denial; Self-Discipline; Self-Protection; Self-Importance; Self-Interest – until we turn again to the delights of our first love and do the first works..
rivers of pardon and promises; streams of love and grace; cascades of His fellowship.
Spiritual Fruit
This is the man that brings for the fruit of God’s Holy Spirit; Love in times of Hostility; Joy in times of Pain; Peace in times of Trouble; Long-suffering in times of Frustration; Gentleness in times of Oppression; Goodness in times of Evil; Faith in times of Testing; Meekness in times of Irritations; Temperance in times of Temptation.
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge.Ephesians 3:17,18
Dimensions of Love
In the physical, there are 3 dimensions of measurement – length breadth, and height, but in his computation of Christ’s love Paul’s measure reaches into the unexplored.
He desires that we know, understand, and appropriate each element of the love of God.
In love.. so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
The depth of God’s grace excludes none that call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, for God’s love stoops to the pit of death to encompass all who trust in His only Son.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us – even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).
Let Us Rejoice
Let us rejoice in the BREADTH of God’s Superlative LOVE for God SO loved the world …..
Let us thank God for the LENGTH of God’s Superlative LOVE for God SO loved the world that He GAVE His one and only Son…
Let us wonder at the Depth of God’s Superlative LOVE for God SO loved the world that He GAVE His one and only Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him shall not perish….
Let us praise our gracious God for the BREADTH of God’s Superlative LOVE for God SO loved the world that He GAVE His one and only Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him shall not perish but have ETERNAL LIFE.Let us worship our Superlative God for the multiplied dimensions of His love.
We cannot judge God's ways without judging God: we may love Him in His ways, but the moment we judge or question that which He has revealed, we get above God, we make ourselves gods, and we put Him in the place of the creature as subject to us.
This most painful intimate time was not to be witnessed by the inquisitive eye of man..nor the angelic host, as Father and Son in unison suffered excruciating pain, through this momentous, agonising separation. And a fathomless darkness, never witnessed within eternity before, hung heavily over the Son of His love.
In this, His darkest hour is He aware that He is pushed far from the Father’s heart of love?
For HIS sake we are joint-heirs with the Son of God’s love.
Casting out upon the sea of humanity gifts of salvation;a gift of hope; a gift of love; a gift of joy.
Pouring into the hearts of those that love Him,His Own sweet Spirit of gentleness and grace.
Walk With Jesus
And now we take up the mantle that fell from His shoulder, and walk the walk that Jesus walked, and talk the talk that Jesus talked, and love the love that Jesus loved – and suffer the sufferings that Jesus suffered.
Distorted Views
Some lay particular weight upon His love, but ignore His justice. Some lay particular emphasis upon His justice, while disregarding His love. Some go overboard with grace, and are drawn into licentious living. Others focus upon the law, pointing an accusing finger at so many other people. Some believe that God requires certain rituals or He cannot not accept us. Others believe they are under God’s wrath because of pre-christian indiscretions.
Focus your heart on His beauty in spirit and in truth and rest in His love. As you ponder upon Him and all He is, you will be blessed.
Just think about the riches of His love that He has bestowed on you… and on me.
We need to love Him with all our heart - not just part of it.
We needs must value His fellowship, more than that of friends or family, until like Abraham we would willingly give up ALL we hold and love dearest in this life.
Daniel was thrown to the lions, and experienced significant trials throughout his life, but Daniel became one of the greatest intercessors, for love of his people.
And the intercessions of Daniel for his people are an example of such love.
Painful Love
Christ’s ministry on intercession is an illustration of His great love for us.
Intercessory prayer is praying into the will of God and it can be painful... because intercessory prayer can only be founded on the love of God – a love that is perfected through suffering.
Jesus said, love as I have loved you, and His love was expressed in intercession.
Love Through Prayer
Love as I love – pray as I pray.
Love through prayer and pray through love.
Love is very patient.
Love is kind.
Love is not jealous.
Love does not boast.
Love is not arrogant or proud.
Love does not insist on its own way.
Love is not rude.
Love is not selfish or self-seeking.
Love is not easily angered, irritable, or touchy.
Love keeps no record of wrong.
Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing.
Love rejoices with the truth.
Never-ending LoveLove bears all things. Love believes all things. Love endures all things.
Nehemiah - study (2)
O LORD God of heaven, Who faithfully keeps covenant and mercy for them that love Him and HEAR His commandments.Nehemiah.1:5
A Heartbroken Man
Nehemiah was a man that had a passion for God and a love for His people.
He knew that God was faithful even when His own people strayed far from Him: O LORD God of heaven, he prayed, Who faithfully keeps covenant and mercy for them that love Him and HEAR His commandments: Nehemiah.1:5 Nehemiah loved and trusted the Lord – and cried out to Him for his people and city.
A Praying Man
Israel was God’s nation, who was to listen to the word of the Lord and obey His voice. They were also commanded to love their faithful God with all their mind and strength.
But Nehemiah was a man that had a passion for his God and a love for God’s people – and so Nehemiah interceded for his people.
There are many in the Church that do not love the Lord with all their heart and mind. Some have failed to listen to His voice and have left their first love – the Lord Jesus, and like Nehemiah, we too need to pray for the Church – to intercede on their behalf.
We need to know that He has the power to save and a heart of love towards His people.
Temple of God
Nehemiah was a man that had a passion for his God and a love for God’s people. He was distressed that the superstructure of God’s house had fallen into disrepair. We too should have a passion for God and a deep love for God’s people. We too should intercede on behalf of the body of Christ – who are the temple of God.
Let us be a Nehemiah in own generation and know, love, trust, and obey our God.
Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, Who keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes be open to hear the prayer Your servant is praying before You day and night – for Your servants, the people of Israel. Nehemiah 1:5-6
Godly Living
We are to put away foolish speaking which misrepresents our new holy nature, but rather speak the truth in love and edify and encourage the body of Christ.
On the other hand Ritualism is the infidelity of the imagination, very often with piety underneath it, with a love for the Saviour that may preserve from the full consequences of the system, but in itself always savoring of and tending to idolatry.
Love really does not think of anyone but its Object until it is quite sure of its place with Him, and then when at rest about itself it studies the mind and heart of the Object.
I find that Christ loved me, and gave Himself for me when I was in a most unattractive state; but He makes me suitable to Himself, and I am so assured of the permanency of His love and of my association with Him that my heart is free to study Him.
Nay, we may turn even the love of Christ into our law; we may say, He has loved me, and done all this for me, and I ought to love Him, and do so much for Him, in return for this love,' etc.
Thus if we turn His love into a rule of life, it becomes the ministration of condemnation.
It means living, weeping, suffering, loving with infinite patience, infinite tenderness, unwearying love for every member of the Body of Christ.
The unwearied care of our Father for us, His patient grace, His gentleness, His leading us on from the world nearer, in spirit, to Himself, indicate what should be the character of our love's activity towards one another.
Contemplate the beloved Son of God’s love in the bosom of the tender Father.
Consider Divinity, receiving, and reciprocating Divine Love.
Ponder on Love’s embrace, in all its unutterable purity and ardour – caressed by the gracious Spirit of Love.
bathed in the pure essence of divine Life, divine Light and divine Love – right back, before the foundations of all, in timeless eternity it happened.
It was here, in the mind of the Father – it was here, in the heart of the Son – it was here, in the breath of the Spirit..it was here, through the interaction and interpersonal expression of divine love… it was here, in goodness, kindness, and person-ness between the persons of the Trinity..
it was here, by means of Love incomprehensible – that God conceived of you!
Plan of Redemption
It was here in eternity past that His thoughts of Love formulated you.
It was here in the secret place of the most-High that you were chosen in Him: according as He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.
God’s Promises
If there is any doubt that you are loved with an everlasting Love..
if there is any question in your heart that His plans and purposes might fail – look back before the foundation of the creation – where once upon a past eternity, His love for you began and is forever established.
Trust in God’s promises and rest in His love... secured before the foundation of the world, through the Son of His Love.
They Overcame
It is only the heart that has fully embraced the Cross that can withstand the attacks… vicious attacks of a vicious enemy that accuse the bedrock of a man’s belief in God. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb. And they overcame him because of the word of their testimony, And they overcame him because they did not love their life – even when faced with death.
Could it be possible that God would so love an individual as to give His only Son to die for him and still love him to the extent of following him with the pleadings and drawings of His grace until He has won that soul into His own family and created him anew by the impartation of His own divine nature, and then be careless as to what becomes of the one He has thus given His all to procure? -L.S.C.
Let my circumstances be what they may, if I can see them ordered for me unfailingly by One in whom infinite wisdom, power, and goodness combine, and whose love toward me I am assured of, my restlessness is gone, my will subjected to that other will in which I can but acquiesce and delight. -F.W.G.
Spirit of God
He is the Spirit of truth and of love – He is it Who illuminates the word of God. He is the Spirit of power and peace – He it is Who convicts and converts the soul. He is the Spirit of grace and joy – and He is the Spirit of righteousness and hope.
Holy Spirit, Love divine,Glow within this heart of mine;Kindle every high desire;Perish self in Thy pure fire.
demonstrating His ineffable love for you and me – in time and through eternity.
Revealed Plan
The Bible is the completed revealed plan of God – to us from Him… from the indescribable, limitless characteristics of a Holy God to the knowable Father of love, Who revealed Himself through His Son.
Let us seek to love Him better – this God Who chose to reveal Himself to us.
Let us know, love, and worship the one Who loves us and gave Himself for us.
I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known in order that the love You have for Me may be in them and that I Myself may be in them. (John 17:26 NIV)
Total Righteousness
And His gift to all who trust on His name is a justifying righteousness:- regeneration; sanctification; glorification; a new creation in Christ, and the grace of God and peace with God, and faith and hope and love and joy, and the indwelling Spirit and a heavenly inheritance – and eternal life: for He washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father, to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.
He is the Morning Star, that bright morning star, Who is waiting now, for His bride, and the light of His pure love shines into the hearts of all who trust in His name – and He shows us the way, for He is the only Way into the Father-heart of God.
Where sin brought us, love brought the Lord Jesus - even to death; and His death is the end before God of all that we were as children of Adam - men in the flesh.
There is but one thought with our Father in disciplining us, namely, to make our trials an opportunity for our heart to learn and discover more of His love, and the resources which are in Him as He has revealed them to us in His Son. -J.B.S.
This earnest pleading of his heart is also a portion of his wider teaching to the Body.. that they have the light of the Lord and His tender love in their mind and heart - that they access His divine power and heavenly presence, in heart and mind.
Unveiled Inheritance
We are to know more fully the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.. not only the actual inheritance that is held in trust, but its considerable GLORY - the riches of grace, peace, hope, and love, that are ours to live by in the present, and its full and final and unveiled inheritance, when we see Him as He is.
This earnest pleading of his heart is also a portion of his wider teaching to the Body.. that they have the light of the Lord and His tender love in their mind and heart; that they access His divine power and heavenly presence in heart and mind.
Unveiled Inheritance
We are to know more fully the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.. not only the actual inheritance that is held in trust, but its considerable GLORY.. the riches of grace, peace, hope, and love – that are ours to live by in the present, and its full and final and unveiled inheritance – when we see Him as He is.
Blessed Hope
What a joy for Paul that these Ephesians believers had such a love for their Lord, and how he longed that they fully appreciate the blessed hope they have in Christ.
It must have rejoiced Paul’s heart to see the genuine love they had for each other.. just as the Father rejoices when He sees His children trusting His word – just as the Lord’s heart is gladdened when members of His body dwell in unity.
Oh, Paul knew that the more we know Christ personally – the more we love Him..
and the more we love Him the deeper our love becomes – and we know Him better – and then we start to understand the abundant riches of God’s grace towards us.
I pray…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Spiritual Revelation
How we love Paul’s prayer for God’s revelation to the church – in Ephesians chapter one. He prays that we understand our favoured position in Christ – and His fullness in us.
Spiritual Fullness
It is so that Christ may dwell deeply in our hearts through faith. It is that we may be rooted and grounded in the extensive love of Christ. It is so that we may be able to comprehend the vast dimensions of God’s love.
It is so that we know the length and breadth and depth height of His love for us- a love surpassing human knowledge – a love that is way beyond our human reason.
Fullness of God’s Love
As we abide in Christ so He will dwell in our hearts by faith – with thanksgiving.. That we may not only know about God’s love, but to know God’s love in reality.. that we not only know He is life – but to have His life living within our heart – that we might be filled will all the fullness of God’s love – as an actuality.
Know God
We must know Him as our Light, our Wisdom, our Assurance and Truth. We must trust Him as our Anchor, our Courage, our Provider and Defender. We must love Him as our Saviour, our Comforter, our Father and Friend.
Right Sphere
How do we keep ourselves in the sphere of intimate love, trust and knowing God? Well – for all questions of life and death, Scripture gives the only answer. The Word of God is our sole plumb-line and one source of understanding and aid.
Privileged People
What privileged people we truly are, that we should be called God’s children. He has showered His love over us and bestowed on us every spiritual blessing.
Spiritual Temple
What a privileged group of people we are – that we should be called God’s children. What showers of love has been bestowed on us, for we are united forever with Christ. What grace..
What more satisfied and appyperson is there even amidst suffering and sorrow than he or she who is most perfect in patience, love, faith, and the other fruits of the Spirit?
While Martha was cumbered about much serving, and her love, most true in its way, went forth in actively providing for the Lord's outward need, Mary, unconsciously perhaps, proved her stronger faith and deeper love by sitting at His feet and drinking in His words.
We may often have a measure of the power of the Spirit, but if there is not a large measure of the Spirit as the Spirit of grace and love, the defect will be manifest in our work.
One may have a great zeal in God's service, and may be used to influence many for good, and yet, when weighed in the balance of love, be found sadly wanting.
Therefore he does not easily despair of others, but looks beyond sinfulness, wilfulness, and stupidity, to the might of unchanging love.
When thou art restored, strengthen thy brethren.' There is nothing in all this world nearer and dearer to the heart of the Lord Jesus than His sheep, His lambs: and hence He could not have given Peter a more affecting proof of His confidence than by committing to his care the dearest objects of His deep and tender love. -C.H.M.
It sweeps the imagination into the far reaches of the star-spangled universe of God, and it trolls the depth of the heart of God’s love in the face of His beloved Son.
Gift of God’s Grace
God could not expose His gift of grace more than what is captured in these pages. God could not shower His heart of love more abundantly over sinners saved by grace.
Pinnacle of Faith
The book of Ephesians must be the pinnacle of faith, hope and love for the believer. The book of Ephesians has rightly been called the Holiest of all Holy Scripture, and we would do well to read its content; reflect on its glory and rely on its truth – for it reaches beyond man’s creative vision and peeps into the mind of the Creator. It touches into the heavenly realms and glimpses the likeness of the glory of God.
Authoritative, because people love to be led by one who knows where he is going and who inspires their confidence.
Paul could say, I am glad to spend and to be spent for your sakes, notwithstanding the more earnestly I love you the less I be loved'; not, I will help you as long as you love me.
God commended His love to us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us, and EVERYONE has a choice to accept or to reject God’s free gift of salvation.
Finished Work
If you have even one doubt about the provision of God, you are in this category. If you have a question-mark over the promises of God, this applies to you, too. If you doubt God’s love or question your security in Christ, you deny His cross.. for these are wrong perceptions of Christ’s finished work on the Cross – this is an incorrect understanding of all God’s attributes – His justice and love.
The other, prayer as infinite grace of God, lifting us up into His fellowship and love, and then when He has thus brought us to Himself, bestowing upon us the blessing we need.
In the latter, God and His love, and fellowship with Him, and the surrender of the suppliant to His glory and His will is the supreme objective. -A.M.
big burly fishermen that discovered that self-dependence is not the way? Why was it that these lovers of Christ at the end of their lives pleaded – Let us not love in word, neither in tongue – but in deed and in truth.
Be of one mind, having compassion one of another. Love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. 1 John.3:18
It is when love of self and love of the world is gone, that we learn to abide in Him and be in touch with Him at all times – and in all places or surroundings.
Two thousand years have rolled by since this angelic proclamation of peace on earth and still this false perspective of God’s love and the peace of Christ deceives man’s thinking.
Though He was draining the bitter dregs from His cup of woe – a bitter cup, given to Him by the Father – for love of you and me… He gave a cup of blessedness and comfort to this penitent, with the words..
Faithful God
No wonder the sweet Psalmist of Israel wrote of our great God: the LORD is compassionate and gracious, patient, and abundantly rich in gracious love.
He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve, or repaid us according to our offences, for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His faithful love toward those who fear Him. Psalm 103
A combination of love, mercy, and grace has been showered on us in great abundance.
The more we understand His grace – the more we are filled with wonder love and praise.
Once we lay aside our rebellion in the tomb, and place our confidence in our Father, and in His love for us in the Son, we are obeying the command, Be still,' and we gain an understanding of the God of deliverance we could gain in no other way.
The eyes of your heart enlightened...discerning love.
Love is as far removed from blindness as heaven from earth.
Love is blind?
No not true love.
The fact is that true love sees everything, but transcends everything.
The love of Christ for His disciples was not blind love that did not know His men, love that was duped, deceived, misled, but eventually found out that they were not the men He thought they were.
His love saw everything and could tell them beforehand exactly what they would do; but love persisted in face of it all.
Love is a great seeing thing.
If you are consumed with a burning love for the Lord, you will be very quick of scent as to what is doubtful and questionable.
No, love for the Lord will bring you quickly to see and to sense there is something that needs to be adjusted.
Love will do it.
But, mark you, if this love, this discerning love, has really filled your heart by all the intelligence of the Holy Spirit indwelling you, you will sense it without being told; or if it should be brought to you from the Word, that within you will say, Yes, I know that is right, the Lord tells me that is right.
That is what He has had in mind from the beginning and He calls that first love that is quick of scent to see what needs to be cut off or added, what adjustments are necessary, and does accordingly.
You do not have to do that where there is devotion, love watchful all the time, aliveness, alertness, perception, readiness to do without being all the time told to do it.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.1 John 4:11
The Love of God
The love of God was love in deed and in truth. It did not materialise from an inward emotion. It was not based on selfish need. The love of God was expressed in a way that we can never doubt:- The Father loved us so much – that He gave His Own Son.
The love of God IS love, in deed and in truth.
Object of God’s Love
Such love pours out itself in giving gifts to the object of its love.
Such love expresses itself in the forgiveness of the object of its love.
You are the object of His forgiving love.
Day by day we recognise that His love is changeless and abiding.
Nature of God Love
The disposition of God Himself is to be the guide of our actions and attitudes.
Examples of God’s Love
We are to follow in His path; to trace His steps; to discover His attitude; to reflect His love.
He will produce in us the fruit of His Spirit, and as we daily submit to His leading and correction – we will reflect His love.
Fountain of Life
His joy is a fountain of life – welling up and over-spilling. His joy is a reservoir of love – in his Christ-filled heart. But Satan as a roaring lion seeks whom he may devour and robs us of this godly joy. And Satan places doubt and uncertainties in the hearts of the believer, and seeks to entice the believer back to the emptiness of the world’s fleeting thrill.
Pain of the World
There is much in life’s circumstances that gives the believer pain. There is much in the world in which he lives that causes him distress. The injustices of life; the sufferings of so many; the neglect of the truths of God; the rejection of the love of the Father; the compromise of the gift of Salvation; the venomous hatred of the Giver of Salvation; the ignorance of so many who have never heard His Word of Salvation. Yes, there is much in life’s circumstances that gives the believer pain.
Hope trusts in His love for the blessing of the godly.
Eternal Hope
He has established the eternal love of the Father towards us, in that while we were yet sinners… Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 Yes, and He placed us in Christ, and He seated us together with Him in heavenly places..
Two things are implied in dependence: first, the sense that we cannot do without God in a single instance; and, secondly, that He is for us.' In other words, there is confidence in His love and power on our behalf, as well as the consciousness that without Him we can do nothing. -J.N.D.
We may be brought thither by a humbling process but it is not in merely thinking evil of the old man that we are truly humble; we have the privilege of forgetting ourselves in the love of our Father. -J.N.D.
Separation of the Son of His love from His beloved Father.
before the foundation of the world, so that we who were chosen In Him before the foundation of the world, should be holy and without blame before Him in love.
Our Father wants us in the place where we do not depend upon feelings; where, though we do not behold Him, though we do not sense Him, we shall endure as beholding Him who is invisible.' He wants us where we can trust Him through darkness and apparent separation, as unflinchingly as in light and fellowship; where we know that His banner, Love, is always floating over us, though it is so dark that we cannot see it.
When circumstances seem impossible, when all signs of grace in you seem at their lowest ebb, when temptation is fiercest, when love and joy and hope seem well nigh extinguished in your heart, then rest, without feeling and without emotion, in the Father's faithfulness; abide in the fact that He loves you infinitely, and even now is working in you faithfully; and honor Him, and put the enemy to flight by taking to yourself the words of Job: Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.' I have prayed for thee' (says the One who ever lives to make intercession for us) that thy faith fail not.' -D.T.
Unknowable and Incomprehensible
And yet this awesome God wants a love relationship with those that believe in Him and He gave us a most amazing revelations of Himself – in and through His Word.
Knowable and Intimate
And His Word reveals that this God is knowable – intimately. His Word reveals that He knows us – intimately. And His Word reveals that He desires a trusting love relationship with us.
The one who knows best the Father's love will be the best exponent of that love - the best qualified servant for the Father to send on a mission of interest to those who are ignorant of it.
Under the Mosaic law-system, love for others was to be in the degree in which one loved himself; under grace it is to be in the degree in which the Lord Jesus has loved the believer and given His life for him (1 John 3:16). -L.S.C.
Often this is called growing in grace – maturing in our spiritual life – discipleship. Let us be those that come after Christ and love not the things of this world. Let us be those who carry our own cross and come after Him. Let us be those that forsake all that we have – to become His disciple..
That which we most need in life - love, unfailing love - is abundantly and satisfyingly ours in the Lord Jesus.
But we so often seek it elsewhere.Nothing can be sweeter than the repose in divine love when it is known and the heart is free to rest in it.
The soul may have a long journey to reach it experientially; there may be many needs and exercises to be met and removed on the way; self and the world will have to be learned; but the great end of all our exercises - and, I may add, of all our deliverances - is that we rest in the thoughts of divine love, and that love becomes in a very real way the portion of our hearts.
If our hearts are not in the circle of divine love they have really got nothing, for as Christians we have no portion on earth.
There is no reserve in God's love; He has given the best in heaven for the worst on earth, and in this way has rebuked distrust and established confidence, so that the works of the devil' might be undone in our hearts.
And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God (2 Thess. 3:5).
Lack of Love
The Lord Jesus told us of a scarcity of one vital element as the day approaches.
Jesus told us that there would be a lack of love in the body of Christ.
“the love of many shall grow cold.” Matt.24:12
Evil Multiplies
We discover that as evil multiplies, an icy coolness will replace genuine love. The wickedness in the world will cause many to lose all sense of gracious propriety.
Agape Love
This is both a sad and a shocking fact and one that we need to examine carefully.
This is not a love associated with the world.
It is not what man considers to be love.
This is godly love; pure love; unselfish love; agape love.
This is the love given of God – the agape, godly love of Christ in many shall wax cold.
Only believers are equipped with Christ’s love.
We alone have His love working in us, for it is only as Christ’s love flows through us, that His love can stream out to others, We have been commanded to love as I have loved – in the power of the Spirit.
Outward Appearances
Many with an outward appearance of godliness are wolves in sheep’s clothing.. for the love of many will grow cold towards their fellows – and where love does not reign faith morphs into unbelief.
Let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love..
Living faith, divine love and patient hope are the three essential garments of protection.
This combination of faith, love and hope is our essential protection from this evil day.
Grace of God
Through the grace of God, we can be perfected in love and practical in our faith.
Through the grace of God, we can love and trust and do exploits for the Lord.
Through the grace of God, we can stand firm right up to the time of His return – for we must all guard against God’s agape love in our hearts wearing thin.
Let us be like the Thessalonian believers, who Paul remembers with affection for... your work of Faith, your labour of Love, and your patience of Hope, in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,” 1 1Thessalonians 1:3
Work of Faith
There can be no acceptable work of God in our lives that is not a work of faith. There can be no work of faith, which is not a labour of God’s agape love in us. There can be no end-time endurance without the patience of hope resting on Him.
Israel as a nation broke the first commandment – they did not love the Lord their God with all their hearts and so the very nation through whom would be born the Messiah was punished by God and scattered amongst the nations.
Nothing can ever remove us from the love of God which is In Christ Jesus – nothing, but we can either choose to remain in constant fellowship with the Lord..
You seek Him to search out any rebellious attitude where self reigns supreme – and you admit to yourself that you left your first love, the Lord Jesus.
Finish Christ’s words of love, in Spirit and in Truth, and you will see:- Without Me, ye can do nothing…..
There is nothing in creation that can separate us from God’s eternally secure love.
Divine Signpost
Just as faith is the essential key to unlock our hearts to His love, and just as charity is one small part of the whole of the love of God, so prophecy is a mere signpost to point us to incarnate love: Love never fails, but whether there are prophecies, they will be done away..” 1Cor.13:8
And the more we know Him the more we trust Him – and the more we trust Him, the more we love Him – and the more we grow to love Him the more clearly we see self for what it is
This is most truly a demonstration of His inestimable love for you.
Blood dripped to the threshold, and master and servant stepped across that flood, – confirming a covenant of love – a service of love – a deep love for his master.
Blood-Covenant
To have stepped upon the drops of blood would have been an unholy act. To have trodden under-foot the blood-covenant of love would have been shocking.
Serve each other through love. (Galatians 5:13 GW)
It is always the work of God's enemy to clog up our lives by introducing love of self or love of the world, and it needs ruthless determination to remove the accumulated rubbish and re-dig the well in purity of devotion to Christ.
It may well be, though, that the hindrances arise from lack of love to our fellow believers.
He is the Spirit of fellowship, so that if we fail in that realm then we fail in the matter of love.
It is so easy to allow unworthy considerations to quench brotherly love, to be clogged up with resentment or to be wrongly influenced by our susceptibilities or hurt feelings.... We have to be active in positive cultivation of fellowship.
God Himself, and not the deliverance, is to be the satisfaction of His servant; consequently the deliverance is often postponed until we are without prospect or expectation of it; and then it may be accorded in a manner so transcendently beyond our conception, that we must see and understand the love and interest which surrounded us during the whole period of our trial.
Love really does not think of anyone but its Object until it is quite sure of its place with Him, and then when at rest about itself it studies the mind and heart of the Object.
I find that the Lord Jesus loved me and gave Himself for me when I was in a most unattractive state; but He makes me suitable to Himself, and I am so assured of the permanency of His love and of my association with Him that my heart is free to study Him.
You must connect your heart with the love and not with the benefit otherwise you are not yet established.
I am not only clear of everything that was against me, but I am brought into a new kind of love - the love of the Father.
The law demands, love God; grace declares, God so loved!
Forgiveness of sins
But God in His love and justice has provided a solution for the sins we commit.
which is passed to all humanity, but God in His love and grace has provided a solution for the old sin nature, in Adam – and the solution is to be taken out of Adam and placed into Christ – by faith: for as by the one man’s disobedience (Adam) the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience (Christ) the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19,
From beginning to end, our Christian walk is to build a love relationship with Him – but cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches often divert our attention.
And we leave our first love..
and love for the Lord grows cold.
and disillusionment grows and love wanes and hope dies – but above the cloud of unknowing – the Son continues to shine on you.
Silent in Love
The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, but we can resist Him.
– became Jacob I have love, with His everlasting love. Jacob (the deceiver) He loved. Samson (the womaniser) He loved. David (the adulterous murderer) He loved. Daniel (the faithful servant) He loved and Job (the prideful questioner) He loved.
Love of God
God loved each of these men with an everlasting love.
Oh yes, Jacob I have loved, with an everlasting love. And God loves me with an everlasting love..
chosen before the world was founded – and God loves you with an everlasting love – chosen before the world was founded. But as air is vital for the body, so the Holy Spirit is vital for the maturing soul
Trust His Promises
If God is remaining silent, don’t imagine that it is because He does not love you.
Ready to trust in His love; ready to believe His Word – and ready to spend time to commune without ceasing.
If I am not going to give it up and leave, I must come to some spiritual enlargement; I have to know the Lord in a new way, to have more grace, love and patience.
They leave their first love; and coolness gives way to disillusionment; and disillusion to disappointments; and disappointment to murmurings – and murmuring leads you back to the vomit of a sick world.
Many believers misunderstand and spend their life lashing out at themselves: God cant love me ‘cuz of my misspent youth.
He could never love me, they bewail.
They have been forever forgiven, and God sees you as perfect and loves you with a perfect, pure, and holy love.
Old and New Natures
God’s love for you is deep – as deep as His love for Jesus, the Son of His Love.
Though we are perfect in spirit and loved with an everlasting love forever, we will also be judged for the way we lived – whether carnal or spiritual – works of the flesh or works of the Spirit – but the choice is yours, alone.
But His love for us remains unchanged and unchanging, eternal and unconditional.
and Love stooped so low as to embrace you and me from the pit of hell. Love became incarnate and poured Himself into a prepared body – and that same Love has come to reside in a Body, which is the Church.
And we are commanded to love as I have loved and to walk in love.
We are told that of all that remains there is love – and love is the greatest of all – and we are to build ourselves up in His most holy love.
Expression of Love
The Body of Christ is built up of love and is born out of love. The Church of Christ is constituted by love and continues in love, and Christ is the head of the Church, which is His body... and He is love.
And we who are members of His body are a means of Christ’s expression of love..
The Body of Christ
The body of Christ is being fitted together perfectly and being built up by Him. Each part has its own special work to do, so that the whole body is fit and healthy. Each one is to help the other grow and mature and be built up together full of love. Each is Christ’s representative who needs to be spiritually renewed to express His love – a spiritual renewal of our thought, our heart our attitudes, and our mind, for we are told be renewed in the spirit of your mind in Ephesians 4:23
Abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, abound in all love 2 Corinthians 8:7
We have faith in Him. We don’t look at the crushing circumstances of life but trust in His love.
Abound in all Speech
How do we abound in all SPEECH? Well, we speak His Word into every situation of life – for His Word is life. We guard our tongue and we take every thought captive in love.
Abound in all Love
How do we abound in all LOVE?
For the body of Christ is being fitted together and built up by Him – in love.
he love of Christ constrains us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, that they which live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto Him enceforth know we no man after the flesh./i> That means that as far as we can see, we have not made what we are by nature the final basis of our relationships, of our expectations, of our judgments, of our appraisals, of our valuations.
Love of God
FIRSTGod loved you so much that He sent His Son to die for you, that you might live.
This is that greatest love that is imaginable.
This is a love that can scarcely be comprehended.
This is a love that chose you before the foundation of the world: Father, I will that they also, whom You hast given Me, be with Me where I am – and Jesus means you.
I have loved you with an everlasting love: with loving- kindness have I drawn you.
THIRDThis God will continue to love you to the very depth of His being.
an example of God’s grace to angelic principalities and powers – an example of God’s and wisdom and power and love towards you.
Some think God favours and approves others far more than He could ever love them.
Banish these thoughts from your mind forever – you misrepresent the love of God.
God loves you with an everlasting love.
Understanding Trials
Neither of these men failed to believe in the love of God or the truth of His Word, yet the circumstances of both lives screamed the opposite.
But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. 1Cor.2:9
Our first parents became degraded souls – forever separating themselves from a love relationship with God. They became powerless, Satan enslaved – conscience smitten and terrified creatures.
Had Adam truly known God’s perfect love, he would not have been afraid for it is written: there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” 1John 4:18, and it continues: he that fears is not made perfect in love. 1John 4:18.
There was infinitely more than the power and the wisdom reflected in creation… there was love, mercy, patience, tenderness and gentleness.
dedicated prayer warriors to stand in the gap and pray ‘beyond themselves.’ Believers, with a heart for God’s glory; children, with a love for the Lord; Christians who stand between life and death, for the many; warriors, to fight between heaven and hell, for fellow brothers and sisters.
Just sit calmly still!Nor deem these days–these waiting days–as ill,The One who loves thee best, who plans thy way,Hath not forgotten thy great need today!And, if He waits, ’tis sure He waits to proveTo thee, His tender child, His heart’s deep love.
Growing In Grace - STUDY
That we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes – but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him Who is the Head, even Christ.Ephesians 4:15
Command to Grow
Peter exhorts us to grow in grace and: as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby, 1 Peter 2:2 while Paul reminds us to: speak the truth in love, so we may grow up into Him in all things.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”John 15:13
Maybe protecting a loved one or a threatened stranger needing your gallant sanctuary – and death of this mortal body so another can live, truly shows great character and love.
But take a closer look at the deeper meaning of this greatest of all love: “For their sakes, I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified through the truth” John 17:19
Christian Challenge
We too are called at such a time as this, to accept this self-same challenge. We too are called to such a place as this, to be despised of the world and rejected. We too are called to come out from among them and be separate. We too are called to obey His commandment, to love deeply, and suffer long.
Throne Ministry
Unsung lovers of God who’ve seasoned the path of the body of Christ over time; each adding tears of intercessory love to the brimming bowl on the heavenly alter – all combined to contribute to heaven’s plan – in the throne ministry of God’s will.
Every believer has an equal opportunity to become a participant, praying priest – linking their intercessions with those of past mighty men of faith and love.
Remain in Christ
Teach me Lord to REMAIN IN CHRIST– teach us to remain in His love and guard and keep ourselves in the love of God; to expect and patiently wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ – Who will bring us unto life eternal.
Willing Sacrifice
Were it not for the humanity of our Saviour and the blood that poured over the Mercy Seat of God, from His human heart of love… there could never have been redemption for the race of man – for only a perfect Man (a kinsman Redeemer), Who was born into the human race, could redeem fallen man from eternal separation from a holy God.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing… Whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
Paul the angry young man with blood-stains on his hands, used that same hand to pen the precious words: the greatest of all is love.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you – that you also love one another.John 13:34
As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you – abide in My love.John 15:9
And this is My commandment – that you love one another as I have loved you.John 15:12
Reach Out To Others
Never let one day pass when you have not reached out the arm of love to someone.
– a Note – a Letter – a Smile – a Visit – a Call – a Prayer; – an act of LOVE
Stretch out His arm of love to someone through your arm of love.
Reach Out In Love
Let it be done in love.
Love as I have loved. and let it be full of joy for the joy of the Lord is my strength.
A helping hand is often needed, to raise the helpless to courage; to faith; to patience; to endurance; to hope – to love.
How many burdens can you carry for others, in His love?
How many souls can you encourage to press on to the end? In giving love and in sharing joy, you too will gain... good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
Lord, take my life,And make it wholly Thine;Fill my poor heartWith Thy great love divine.Take all my will,My passion, self and pride;I now surrender, LordIn me abide.
Distorted Truth
Often, in the heart damaged by life’s traumas- truth becomes distorted.. even the Truth of God can become twisted and perverted. The Father-heart of God -Who loves with His infinite love – can be distorted, and the Truth of His Father-heart of love – can become warped and twisted. God can be manipulated into the image of a demanding brother; a scornful mother – an abusive father..
And as a result we question the character of God; we question His Love; we question His Forgiveness; we question His Promises – we question His Word.
Speaking Truth
Many will not face the truth that their view of God could be distorted. Some are even unresponsive when help and guidance is offered in love.
Fear prevents many from knowing the truth of the love of the Father heart of God.
Well, I can tell you it is probably more than you think, and it all comes back to believing God’s Word and trusting His love…period.
Rooted in Love
And after all of this… what then? The interesting this is, that over these years I have observed it all comes back to one thing… LOVE. Firstly, our relationship with the Lord Jesus is by faith. Secondly..
that faith without love is really very ineffective. Thirdly, every promise in Revelation 2 and 3 brings you back to loving Jesus. Fourth, every crown we can gain has its roots in love. Fifth – there is nothing we can do of ourselves. All these are vital principles of the Christian life. All these truths are foundational Gospel facts.
Special Verse
This is the first simple verse that many a young child learns to recite, and yet many believe God is more likely to ignore us and stay away than love us.
Span of Love
Yes – God’s Love spans the breadth and length and depth and height of eternity.
Paul tells us: you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have the power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge.
His yearnings and tender love towards us is unceasing.
His love is without bars, barricades, or blockages, and His love is all-embracing and all-encompassing.
Universal Love
His love is without race or class or creed or national barriers, for He loved the Syrophoenician woman and the Roman centurion without prejudice.
His love is without age or popularity... or financial or cultural barriers.
Unprejudiced Love
His love is even without a pride barrier, for He knelt to wash the feet of His prideful disciples, and He loved the prideful, self-satisfied, rich young ruler.
And the love of Christ continues to stretch to the breadth of understanding.
Limited Perception
Yet so many limit His goodness to their own earthly experience. They choose to view His love and grace to the limits of their understanding – to view it to the extent to which they themselves understand love. And they refuse to recognise His love if it is not what they expect – if it is not proffered in the way that they want or imagine.
Unfailing Love
But His love never fails. It never, ever fails – despite our failings and doubts and fears. The breadth of His love encompasses the whole world in its fallen state.
For the love of God is broaderThan the measure of man’s mind.And the heart of the eternalIs most wonderfully kind.
Everlasting Love
Jeremiah like Paul reminds us of the immeasurable breadth of His love, God loves you with an everlasting love.
Jer.31:3. God loves you with an everlasting love and Jesus loves with an everlasting love. Our Lord did not pray for the world that the world might be saved… He prayed: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me John 17:21 AND… that He loved them. John 13:1
Measure of Love
How meager and ineffective is our own comprehension of God’s love.
How weak and defective is our own love, for we sit in prideful palaces.
It was once said we must go down lower than to the lowest reaches of hell if we would begin to touch a measure of the extremity of God’s love.
A Tiny Glimpse
Were we to be given the slightest glimpse of the true love of God.. through the lowering clouds of unknowing in the mists of life’s uncertainties, I doubt temptation’s unbelief would ever darken our questioning hearts again.
For the love of God is broaderThan the measure of man’s mind;And the heart of the EternalIs most wonderfully kind.
If our love were but more simple,We would take Him at His word;And our life would be thanksgivingFor the goodness of the Lord.
An Unfailing Reality
Remember, child of God, love covers a multitude of sins and you are Loved with an everlasting love – and love never fails.
The church has no existence in the thought of God apart from the revelation of Jesus Christ, and it is judged according to the measure in which Christ the Son of God love is in evidence by its existence.
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure.His power no boundary known unto man;For out of His infinite riches in Jesus.He giveth and giveth and giveth again.
Whosoever
The breadth of God’s love encompasses the whole of the world and reaches into the eternal.
The length of God’s love is the gift of God’s supreme love in the Son of His love – to effect eternal life.
But what of the deep, deep depth of that fathomless love. What of the enigmatic, depth of the love of the eternal, holy omnipotent God?
The mysterious depth of the love of God is revealed by that word – WHOSOEVER.
Fathomless Love
The love of God stoops down to the sin-encrusted earth from His hallowed heaven. The love of God scrapes up from humankind the sick, suffering, sin-stained sinner. The love of God rakes from the pit of hell, fallen sons and daughters of Adam.
And yet He knew that He – the Giver of life and love, would be so despised and rejected. He knew that the precious Son of His love would be oppressed, and afflicted by men. He knew His chosen, anointed One, would be led as a lamb to the slaughter by those He came to save.
Isn’t it so that being close to a person can engender disdain, disinterest, disrespect – instead of a deepening intimacy, and a love and longing to know them more and more.
It seems we are so 'familiar with the depth of God’s deep deep love that we forget.
We ignore and diminish the enormity of the deepness and distance of His great love.
Human Love
It was once said, 'We love the lovely because it is flattering to us to do so'.
We love our kith and kin because it is the economy of pride to do so.
Divine Love
The Bible reveals God to be the lover of His enemies.
Christ-Clinging
It is not by self-wrestling, but by Christ-Clinging that we shall be most blessed. Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! Oh the DEPTH OF HIS LOVE. How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
I wrote to you out of great sorrow and anguish of heart along with many tears not to make you sad but to let you know how much love I have for you. (2 Corinthians 2:4 ISV)
That extra feature where we cannot just be occupied with faults and be people of a criticizing attitude, the extra feature with a love which covers a multitude of sins.
The songs of Zacharias and Mary are touching pictures of God’s faithfulness down through the centuries – to fulfil all that He promised to His people Israel. There are many glimpses of the love of God, which is seen to extend beyond the boundaries of Israel, and there are even some hidden hints of the future church of Christ for the everlasting King, Who is to sit on David’s throne is the Prince of Peace, Whose kingdom will last forever, and Whose glory will cover the earth.
The Son of God
The eternal Son of the Father is identified as the perfect Son of Mary – and the deity of Christ is married with the humanity of our Kinsman-Redeemer – as the never-ending love-story of redemption continues to be unfolded, to all with ears to hear. The Messiah of Israel and His sovereignty over the household of the Jewish nation was a vital role that Christ was to play on His first visit to earth.
The eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him. He sees and hears all that depend on His faithful love.Psalm 33:18
The fear of the Lord and reverence of His name is the beginning of wisdom, and trusting His love and believing His Word is what delights His heart – and so He sees and He hears all those that depend on His faithful love.
God’s Forgiveness
Yes, we are certainly supposed to love and forgive those that sin against us, yet forgiveness does not come easily to any one of us. It is the Holy Spirit Who is the One, Who can fill our hearts with God’s love and forgiveness.
Pursue His Love
But before waiting for things to happen to enable forgiveness to be applied.
we should seek to be proactive in asking that His love fill us to overflowing.
Pursuit of His Love should be a conscious part of our prayer-time.
We should seek to be filled with His love that surpasses understanding.
Perfect Law
The perfect Law was engraved on stone but is unable to beat with a heart of pure love. The faultless Law cannot empathise with our weakness or understand our difficulties. The letter of the Law may be perfect, but is insufficient to reveal the Father’s love. The ministration of law came through Moses, but fullness of grace came via Jesus.
Solemn Thought
Andrew Murray observed this:- What a solemn thought, that our love for God will be measured by our everyday fellowship with men, and the love it displays.
How solemn that our love for God will be found to be a delusion, unless its truth is proved in standing the test of daily life with our fellow man.
Jesus said that in the last days that the love of most would grow cold and many would turn away from the faith, betraying and hating each other.
When did we become so unwilling to share the truth, and to receive it in love from dear friends, who desire our safety and benefit? Be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.
Let us rejoice that God in His love sent a specific person to do a specific work which resulted in a specific accomplishment – and simply requires a specific response.
Isaiah 43:10-11. Israel was to tell of God’s saving grace and turn the gentile nations back to Him – for God desires that ALL people know and love Him as Creator, Saviour and Lord.
That you... may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:18,19)
only perceiving a dim shadowy silhouette. You stand in the centre of His incomplete - partially developed plan for your life. You sometimes kick against the pricks of correction, which are sent in love, to you. You ofttimes resist the chosen tool He appointed, to refine and perfect you.
Don't kick against the pricks of correction, sent in love, to you.
We love Him, because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).
We first come to know something of the Lord Jesus' love by what He did for us; but that is only the basis for coming to know His love in what He is to us.
There are three steps in appreciation of His love for us.
Love's delight is found in the company of its object.
but have not LOVE I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal
but have not LOVE, I am nothing
but have not LOVE – I am nothingIf I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned but have not LOVE – I gain nothing.LOVE is very patient LOVE is kind LOVE is not jealousLOVE does not boast
LOVE is not arrogant or proud LOVE does not insist on its own was.
LOVE is not rude LOVE is not selfish or self-seeking .
LOVE in not easily angered, irritable or touchy LOVE keeps no record of wrongs.
LOVE does not rejoice at wrongdoing LOVE rejoices with the truth
LOVE bears all things LOVE believes all things LOVE endures all things
Breadth of Love
The BREADTH of God’s love reaches the four corners of earth and heaven.
Length of Love
The LENGTH of God’s love is eternal..
Depth of Love
The DEPTH of God’s love reaches the pit of hell... encompassing all, including me, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish. (John 3:16) for if I make my bed in hell, behold You are there. (Psalm 139:8)
Love In Christ
The HEIGHT of God’s Love is to seat you in heavenly places in Christ, so that all who believe shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16).
Yes, His love places you where He is and where we shall ever be..
Truth in Love
There is no hypocrisy or insincerity in God’s love.
There is no false virtue in His love. There is no affectation or duplicity in His love.
There is no false or empty talk in His love. He means what He says, and He says what He means – for His Word is Truth.
God’s Standard
He will never lower His standards for you or for anyone else... nor will He force His love upon the unwilling recipient – on you or on anyone else.
To the ecclesiastically great scribe, He said, “follow Me, but you will have nowhere to lay your head”. (John 8:20). To the financially rich and great ruler, He said: “your riches hinder your spiritual growth – give them away to the poor”. (Luke 12:33). To the socially great pharisee, Simon He said: “you love only a little, because you only seek Me a little”. (Luke 7:47).
Unbiased Love
God is no respecter of persons, He loves you for who you are, In Christ.
Those who seek Him and love Him set all aspects of self aside.
Those who seek Him and love Him set all aspects of self aside.
Refining Love
It is those He will break and calm and heal and clean and cleanse and love. Those are the ones in whom He will live His life – through them, and they will be told to come up higher. (Luke 14:10)
Best Plans
On a human level, our love for another may be real... so that my plans and my purposes be carried out and fulfilled for my benefit!! But on Christ’s plane, His love may at first hurt and wound and sting and lacerate, in order that HIS best plans and purposes are fulfilled for your ultimate good.
Wise Words
There is nothing so low in your life that He can’t lift up to the height of His love.
“To realise the dimensions of the love of God, its breadth and length and depth and height – will serve to drive home to us the reality of God’s love, and the result of our belief in that love will be that. No question will ever profoundly vex our minds. No sorrow will be so deep as to overwhelm our spirits, because the heart is at rest in God, just as the heart of our Lord was at rest in Him Father.
This does not mean that our faith will not be tested. If it is faith, it must be tested – but profoundly speaking it will be easy to believe in God’s love.”
This is My commandment, that you LOVE one another as I have loved you.John 15:12
And above all things have fervent LOVE for one another, for LOVE will cover a multitude of sins.1 Peter 4:8
God is Love.
GOD IS LOVE.
Deliver me from unworthy views of love.
My poor human love at its very best, can deteriorate into selfishness.
Types of Love
My self-giving mother love..
can decline into self-seeking love.
My benevolent-giving love..
can disintegrate into self-righteous love.
My sensual physical love..
can degenerate into lustful love.
But the love of God is pure, outgoing, gracious love.
Divine Love
His Love is strong, not emotional.
His Love is gentle, not sentimental.
His divine love is the most precious gift of love, that the God of love can bestow….
Add to brotherly kindness – divine love.
God’s Love
His loving thoughts are only towards me continuously.
His loving presence is not merely for personal pleasure, but a unity of the spirit in the fellowship of love.
Proof of God’s Love
This loving God stopped short of nothing in saving us from our sins.
This loving God stooped down to send us the Son of His Love..
Such love can only beget love from me in return..
Dead to human love; mother-love; physical love; emotional love; benevolent love.
Delegates of God’s Love
Moreover, we are all entrusted with an obligation so pure and so lovely..
that being so loved by God, we should love one another.
– not just the old law of, love your neighbour as yourself.
But the new commandment of love… Love – as I have loved you.
Living out His love in me.
Allowing His love to flow through me to another.
Highest Form of Love
If God sought the very best for us..
even the cost of giving us His Son to death, then the love of others is our highest responsibility – and love of others is our most precious privilege.
Our love to God is to be expressed in loving others Whom He loves – loving with His pure, sacrificial love.
Greater love has no one than this... than to lay down one’s life (to love) his friends.
Gift of Love
He has set aside the glory He had with the Father before the world was created and lived His entire life in humble obedience to the Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Every Passover Lamb since their escape from Egypt was a death that pointed to Christ. Every sin offering prefigured Calvary’s cross and every morning and evening sacrifice pictured His entire life as a freewill gift of love – a sweet savour – offered daily to God.
that Christ Jesus the only begotten Son of His love was to be born of woman… born under the Law to redeem those under the Law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Three things will last forever faith, hope, and love and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT)
It is by love.
What the Lord needs is an open, pure spirit towards Himself, and love toward all saints; the Lord will bring into His greater fullness where there is a genuine love one to the other - in Him.... The Ephesian letter in which there is the fullest unveiling of heavenly truth in the deepest teaching concerning the Church, the Body of Christ, there is from start to finish the golden thread of love running all through; this is significant when you consider what the letter contains. 1 Corinthians 13 is the great chapter on love, and is put over beside all the gifts.
Love is the real spiritualitythat is spirituality.
Love is the most difficult and the greatest of all gifts.
The devil has locked up a number of the Lord's children as in a padded room of their own limitations; frozen their love by something between them and other children of God.
The way out is by increase of love; and we shall remain locked up until we are there.... True spirituality is the measure of love of God shed abroad in the heart, all the spirituals rest upon and have their rise out of love.
Not power, or knowledge, or different gifts, these are not the first things, the first thing is love.
God’s Great Gift
One mark of Christmas is the giving of presents to one another and it is lovely to give gifts to those we love – for we read in Scripture that it is better to give than to receive.
It’s suitable for all occasions no matter what the time – and for all persons whether bond or free. God’s unutterable gift of His Son multiplies into a plethora of additional gifts, which explode into an astonishing display of God’s amazing grace and unconditional love. Spiritual death is removed and the new life of Christ is breathed into our dead spirit – we were dead in our sins, but made alive in Christ.
God’s Unspeakable Gift
God’s unspeakable gift transferred us from spiritual darkness to spiritual light – for the imputed sin of Adam and the many sins we commit are removed far away. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our sins from us – for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him.
But there lies before you and reaches out through eternal ages such a purpose of God concerning us all that i>Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him(1 Cor. 2:9).
or in the world.. If God is all-powerful – then why…..? If God is a God of love – then why…..? If God is a caring Father – then why…..? If God really loves His children – then why…..?
This is the place where the greatest patience and trusting hope must be exhibited… where Love and Faith support the weary arms of Hope.. just as Joshua and Hur held up the weary arms of Moses, until the precious desire blossoms forth as a Tree of Life..
Love, Justice, Grace
The Law condemned ALL - for none can keep the righteous requirements of the Law, yet grace set aside God’s Law – to break the power of condemnation on all men.
God’s love dictated that He loved the world so much that He wanted to save mankind. God’s justice dictated that He must judge all guilty sinners and condemn humanity.
What great love the Father lavished on us, that we should be called children of God.
Growing In Grace - STUDY
This is love for God: to obey His commands – and His commands are not burdensome.John 5:3
Christians are to love as Christ loved us.
Only as we abide in Him and He in us can we love as He loved us.
We have been set free from the bondage of the hundreds of Old Testament commands contained in the Mosaic Law, and we are been called to love.
John declared.. beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God… 1 John 4:7.
and this is love for God: to obey His commands, and His commands are not burdensome. 1John 5:3. Never forget that: the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
If there comes between those in these relationships, these strains, these cross-purposes, these cross-currents, this being offended and upset, this breach of true love, our attitude must be, not just that this is a miserable unhappy thing, and the sooner we make it up the better; our attitude must be, this thing out in the realm of spiritual intelligences is working against the glory of Christ, this is working against Him as the Head because all these relationships are joined so vitally to the Head; this is working against the Holy Spirit as the unifying power of the whole Body, this is doing damage, and therefore, inasmuch as we are so minutely related to all the members by the Holy Spirit, what one does must somehow, all beyond our realization or consciousness, touch Christ, touch the Holy Spirit, and therefore, all other members.
May you… being rooted and grounded in love… experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.Ephesians 3:17-18
Eternity to Eternity
How is it possible to describe the length of God’s love? Some consider that the length of His love stretches from eternity… to eternity… and indeed it does! Jeremiah points out that: God loves you with an everlasting love.
Jer.31:3, while Paul reminds us that: nothing that can separate us from His love.
Both tell us that no earthly or heavenly boundaries can divide us from this greatest of love.
– breadth and length and height and depth. Even in this, Paul points out the superlative love of God, for His own.
Superlative Gemstone
But eternal love only scratches the surface of the length of God’s deep love. Everlasting love is only a minute facet of the span of God’s devotion. His infinite love is just one jewel in a casket of brilliant, superlative gemstones. For He yearns with unfathomable, unselfish, tender passion for your love. He longs with a profound, mysterious yearning for the love of His creation.
Penetrating Love
Your impoverished love for Him has scarcely scratched the surface of your soul, and yet the length of His penetrating love for you is without human comprehension.
What love is this, that He should forever give up His invisible 'unknowing' for you.
Worldly Offerings
Contemplate the fountain of His love that longs to flood through your heart, and blush with shame at the paltry way you seek solace in other broken cisterns.
Measureless Span
Until you begin to search to know and understand the extent of God’s love for you..
Oswald Chambers
Oswald Chambers put it this way: When the supreme Love of God in the giving of Himself has truly got hold of me, I love myself in the power of His love: that means a son of God being presented to God as a result of His effectual Redemption, in bringing many sons to glory.
That is a gratification to God, because it is the returning back to Himself – the Love in expressed reality. When the redemption is effected in me, I am a delight to God, not to myself, I am not meant for myself, I am meant for God.
Infinite Light
No man has seen God at any time and lived, for His glory is beyond understanding. No searching in the heavens above or the earth beneath can discover Him, for He dwells in eternal light and infinite love that cannot be seen nor fathomed out.
Yet the infinite light of God has been expressed in a revelation of His divine love, and since the fall of our first parents, God has gradually unfolded His perfect plan.
Personified Light
And down through the centuries, His seed of Light was born by mortal flesh, until He took our flesh upon Him, and came in the likeness of earthly tissue. He took upon Himself our human nature – and tempered His brightness for a season -and everlasting light and love was Personified – and made manifest in a weak, human vessel.
God entrusted into our mortal frame His light and His love – by grace through faith..
There is no-one like Him, Who stooped so low as to love even me.
His Love
This same Lord Jesus Christ sought me out, because He loves me so dearly. He sees my ugliness and yet He calls me Beloved! He understands my faults and failings and yet He has chosen me to be His bride! He knows my heritage..
the grossness of my birth, yet pursues me with tender love. He reassures my fainting heart, by reminding me, “My delight is in you..” Psalm 119:70. This One that loves me so dearly – and you too.
This Lord Jesus Christ is the effulgence of God’s glory and grace and love.
This Man that is the very image and likeness of the invisible, indivisible God – this Lord Jesus Christ, Who chose to share His glory with the likes of me… was mocked and jeered at, spat upon and despised – all to meet my terrible sin – all for Love of me and all for Love of you too.
Condescending Love
Herein lies the infinitude of God’s condescending love towards me. Herein lies the inexplicability of God’s gracious love towards you too – in that while we were yet sinners… while we were dead in trespasses and sins, Christ died for you… (and me to) so that we could be one with Him.Romans 5:8. Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. Let this mind of Christ be in me as well.
Love one another, as I have loved you…John 14:31 / John 15:12
But Scripture declares of a righteous God, a God worthy of our love and worthy of our trust; a God..
slow to anger and of great goodness; a God of grace and truth and abounding in great goodness; a God Whose mercy is everlasting; a God Whose love is eternal.
A life, where empty hearts are filled to overflowing with His love; a life where aching souls are restored to fullness of purpose.
Christ’s Image
As we abide in Him and He in us, we love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19 As a child should be free to run to his father for help in trouble..
This sweet fellowship of loving trust and trusting love – for this is the Father-heart of God.
Everlasting Love
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. John 15:9This is the love of the Father.
Exemplary Grace
His grace towards those that were poor and despised was exemplary and His loving involvement with the debased of society became a reason for some increasing hostility. He was gentle as a dove, and wise as a serpent – yet always spoke the truth in love.
Daniel was beloved of God, Moses meek and humble and John was the apostle of love.
Hallmarks of men, that love and trust their God in action and attitude.
Align my thoughts to the mind of Christ – that I may think like Him. Mould my will to Yours O Lord my God, that I delight to do Thy Will. Unite my heart to Your heart of love – that I may reflect You in all I do.
In Thessalonians, we are urged not to be soon shaken in mind, for God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy1:7
And Peter, as He draws His lovely letter to a close, in his final lengthy soliloquy says, finally, be ye all of one mind……having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. 1 Peter 3:8
Saintly submission is a deep, willing, passionate love.. in fact, a willing bond-slave: and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him forever.” Exod.21:6
And His perfect life was one of deep, willing, passionate, yielding love.
Today many ‘preachers‘ and ‘prophets‘ love to ‘reveal’ hidden things of God.
Secret Things
Secrets and mysteries belong to God, but many love to pretend they know His thoughts. Many love to share God’s ‘secret things’ with others, and many others love to receive them.
Jesus - love made flesh and tabernacling with man. Oh that men would praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted. His glory is above the earth and heaven.
To rest more deeply in His gentle love..
To know Him and to love Him..to know Him more, to love Him more. To go deeper and deeper into a knowing of the One, that is called JESUS.
Till then I would Thy love proclaimWith every fleeting breath,And may the music of Thy NameRefresh my soul in death!
Final Reflection
Take time, believer, to reflect on every aspect of the name of Jesus - Prophet Priest, and King... Who for love of you set aside His glory to become one of us, that you might one day be seated with Him in heavenly places.
An era of insanity, as natural man plans humanities next move – on the chessboard of life: but God has made foolish the wisdom of this world. 1Cor.3:19 And a young child, brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord has greater wisdom, than the anti-theist minds of the world’s ministers, who so love to play “god“.
God the Father
God in His wisdom and grace designed the plan of salvation before the world began. God in His love and mercy purposed to save humanity before we were even created.
The bottom line is that the Lord Jesus is to be the focal point of our love and worship.
We discover God’s infinite love, justice, mercy and grace.
We discover the love and mercy of a holy God Who took steps to save a fallen race that was lost in trespasses and sins – we see the scarlet thread of redemption streaming down through the pages of holy writ to condemned humanity.
But the world, which is lying in the evil one, is blind and deaf to the virtues of their gracious Creator and His love for His creation.
Righteousness of God
By God’s grace we saw the truth of His infinite love towards us, in that while we were still rebellious sinners and at enmity with our Creator – Christ died for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him..
His Story of Forgiveness
His prayer encompassed you and me as His life-giving love flowed..
Prayer of Forgiveness
We too should pray for those that despise and reject us. We too should pray for those that hurt and abuse us. We too should pray for those that grieve and harm us – and we too should love as He loved. This is not mere choice.
A new commandment I give unto you that you love one another.
Love as I have loved you.
Illustration of Forgiveness
There are some fragrant trees that bathe a sweet perfume… on the very axe that strikes them, and we too should show only sweet tender, forgiving love, to those that hurt or harm us; to those that grieve or pain us.
Horrors of Death
God is love but He is also just and righteous and He can never wink at sin. The cost of sin is very high and the only acceptable payment is the blood of Christ. Only the blood of Jesus can atone for sin while maintaining God’s truth and honour.
Purchased, in Love
What awesome grace to be purchased, in love, by God and so become His child. What an honor to be brought into His kingdom from a life of slavery to sin and Satan.
The only hope is that it may be true of us, as of Paul: The love of Christ constraineth (2 Corinthians 5:14).
There is all the difference between the natural and the spiritual in this matter of the energy of love.
So it is that the love of Christ should hold or grip us, conquering our natural emotions by the mighty power of the Spirit.
If we do not know something of the mighty grip of Christ's love, we will never go right through to the end of this strenuous race.
After all it is the love of Christ which makes for the fullness of Christ.
If we finally come to that fullness it can only be by the constraint and holding power of His love.
The letter to the Galatians is devoted to emphasizing the place of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer, for He alone can supply the necessary energy of love for us to go on running well.
a life that can finally say in thought, word, deed, and motive.. it is not I that lives in me, but Christ. Gal.2:20. This is my commandment, that you love… John.14:34. Love one another as I have loved you.
This is Christ’s impossible command – yet this impossible love is possible, but only as we submit all to Him.
How blessed it is to know, and at the same time how solemn to realize, that the sin of the child of God is against his Father, and that it is the love of relationship that is called into exercise about it - love which acts towards us for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness' (Heb. 12:10).
For Christ loved the Church, that He might sanctify her and cleanse her – so walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
General Love
Christ loved the Church..
precious words indeed for all who love Christ.
In John chapter 3 verse 16 we read that:- 'God loved the world..' within the scope of His eternal love.. for God’s love is a general love for all. Ahh, but Christ’s love for the Church, is a close, cherished, devoted, personal love.
Personal Love
Christ’s love is a precious love – betwixt Him and His Church. It’s a penetrating love – between Christ and His Body. It’s an intimate love, that flows from the Son to His own darling dove. It was for the Church that the Lord Jesus gave up His life. It was for this pearl of great price – the Lord gave all to purchase her for Himself.
Love for the Bride
He loved her as Himself and has seated her together with Him in heavenly places. He treasures her so dearly, that He betrothed Himself to her as a Bridegroom. He gave Himself for His bride, that He might set her apart as unto Himself. The Lamb of God sacrificed His life..
This love is so amazing - so divine, it demands our soul, our heart, our life, our all.
Precious Possession
This precious truth of the profound depth of Christ’s love for His Church demands our rapt attention! We are this congregation of saints that God has given to the Lord.. as His precious possession. We are the flock of God, given by the Father to the great Shepherd of the sheep.
Christ’s Glory
He loves you personally, precious child of God – with a love that passes understanding. He prays for you individually, beloved saint – He intercedes for you day and night. Christ, in His heavenly role of Mediator and Priest, prays for His own future bride.
Christ Plea
Righteous Father, though the world does not know You, I know You, and they know that You have sent me. I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known, in order that the love that You have for Me may be in them – and that I Myself may be in them. Oh, the depth and extent of this love for each one of us, surpasses human imagination.
He collects the misty-eyed tears that wet our bewildered cheeks, to demonstrate the extent of His love for us.. and places them in His bottle of mercy – and records the number and volume therein.
Love and Grace
Let us trace the rainbow of His grace and love – through the tears of our grateful hearts, and accept Him at His word-by faith.
Christ’s love for the Church is a profound mystery indeed, but it is YES and AMEN in Christ Jesus.
Love and Mercy
And over those twenty years of struggle and joy, pain and hope, He has graciously shown me the other side of the coin from the Sacrifice of Praise.
He takes a heart that is resistant to His love through the brutality of life – and He melts it with His love and He mends it with His mercy.
Demanding Sacrifice
All sacrifice is demanding.. whether the sacrifice of praise or the sacrifice of a broken, contrite heart – or placing your own beloved Isaac upon the alter of His dear love. But the Sacrifice of silence requires the greatest mental battle in prolonged prayer. The Sacrifice of prolonged prayer necessitates great struggle of your will.
yet He is also our Wonderful Counsellor, for He understands each one of us personally and sympathises with our weaknesses – yet has been tested in every way as we are, but without sin. He understands all our struggles and cares for us deeply, desiring that we cast all our care on Him, for He cares with the depth of love that emanates from the heart of God.
We need to abide in His love and trust His Word – for there’s no heartache that is beyond His almighty power – no anxiety that He cannot calm.
His character does not change and His compassion and mercy lasts from one generation to another for He is the same yesterday, today and forever. We can join with Jeremiah who wrote: because of God’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end.
We are to think like Him; to love as He loved; to bear fruit through Him – for apart from Him we are nothing and that is zero!
To align my mind to the mind of Christ and to align my will to the will of God – to break me if necessary and to humble me if required – and I pray this not just for myself – but for those that I love.
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. (Philippians 2:1,2 NIV)
And God desires that we are transformed into the image of the Son of His love, but we can hinder His good transforming work in our lives, and grieve His Spirit – and so we are warned not to grieve the Holy Spirit: do not GRIEVE the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption… Eph.4:30.
Grief is a deep-seated emotion, that results from deep-seated deep, deep love.
God loves you with a deep, deep, deep love and longs to work in your life.
Hearts must have bled as they watched Him laid in the tomb, but faithful love had not died.
Dutiful Love
Oh believer, no matter how painful the hour and no matter how dark your path or how grim your circumstances, Love Never Fails.
Though expectations may fail of their realisation, and the blossom of hope may fall and die – still cling to Him, the Lover of your soul Remember, our deepest disappointments can often prove to be the richest of blessings in His sweet timing – only rest in His arms of love.
But true hope in Christ the Lord explodes into true glory of unimaginable joy – a true acceptance of the father-heart of love, births into inconceivable blessings.
Hope of Faith
Bring Him the very finest and richest offering of loving trust and trusting love..
Bring a broken heart, a contrite spirit, and a life - surrendered of uncluttered love for Him.
How distressed must they have felt as they carried their gifts of love, for the Lover of their soul!
Divine Love
But Divine Love had journeyed ahead of their trembling steps.
No obstacle can block or hinder a heart that is overwhelmed with love for Him, for He loved us first with an everlasting love and He pours out His love into each fainting heart.
Love and faith combine to always have an advance of angels, to roll the stone away.
Reflection on LoveLove explodes into a myriad of sparkling rainbowed gemstones, that make up the “Supreme Good“: Love is patient; Love is kind; Love is not envy; Love doesn't boast.
Love is not proud; Love is not rude.
Love isn't self-seeking, and love is not easily angered.
Love keeps no record of wrongs, and love doesn't delight in evil.
Love rejoices in the truth.
Love always protects; Love always trusts; Love always hopes; Love always perseveres and love never fails.
Reflection of Christ
Oh, consider this spectrum of love and who comes to mind?
Personification of Love
Paul tell us that love is the fulfilling of the Law.
Behold the Man Who is the personification of this spectrum of love.
We read in 2 Thessalonians 3:5 “now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ”.
In Luke 6 we read: “love your enemies and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the most High”.
Consider Jesus – for love will cover a multitude of sins.
Greatest Of All
Peter tells us in 1 Peter 4:8: Above all things have fervent love among yourselves.
Above all things, for love will cover a multitude of sins.
And John goes further with his profound statement: God is Love. Paul identified Love as the “Summum Bonum” of all graces.
“The Supreme Good.” Yes, love is the greatest thing of all.
Ripening of Love
Pointing to love as the “Supreme Good'” is no prejudice on his part.
Love was not Paul’s strong point in his early years.
But an observant student can detect a maturing tenderness as Paul gets older – a graciousness that grew and ripened and mellowed with his advancing years, for it was Paul that wrote that love is the “Supreme Good.
– for the greatest of all is love. 1Cor.13:13
Ultimate Goal
Love is greater than faith.
Paul identified faith as the essential key to unlock our hearts to God’s love..
Love is greater than prophecy and knowledge which will one day pass.
He identified prophecy as a mere signpost to point us to incarnate love..
Love is greater than charity and all good works, for charitable works or ‘helps‘ are only one face of a pure cut diamond..
Love is greater than speaking in the languages of men or of angels.
Ultimate Sacrifice
Paul shows love to be higher than sacrifice, persecution and martyrdom, for it was only through love that the ultimate sacrifice was offered, It was because God loved so dearly that He made that ultimate sacrifice.
Paul takes love – the grace of all graces and in three short verses, he passes it through the magnificent, crystal prism of God’s own light-refracting it into the blessed rainbowed-spectrum of His pure love.
Spectrum of Love
This multifaceted spectrum of compound love ripples into a multi-hued gem.
The nine virtues in this spectrum of love equal the “Summum Bonum“.
This polychromatic spectrum of love makes up the “Supreme Good”:-
Patience : for love suffers long.Kindness : for love is kind.Generosity : for love envieth not.Humility : for love vaunteth not itself and is not puffed up.Courtesy : for love does not behave itself unseemly.Unselfishness : for love seeketh not her own.Good temper : for love is not easily provoked.Guilelessness : for love thinks no evil.Sincerity : for love rejoices not in iniquity but rejoices in the truth.
The Supreme Good
Peter says: above all things have fervent love among yourselves.
Above ALL things for: love will cover a multitude of sins, and John goes further with his profound statement: God is Love.
Yes, Paul identified love as the “Summum Bonum” of all graces.
“The Supreme Good.” – for love is the greatest thing of all.
Spirit and Prayer
Believers may be divided by thousands of miles – separated by land and sea… but we can gather together in love and encouragement – in spirit and in prayer, reminding each other that the time is short and we are to look up. Christ is returning soon and our redemption draws closer with each passing day.
Growing in Understanding
The more we know Him – the more we understand Him. The more we understand Him – the more we trust Him. The more we trust Him – the more we love Him. The more we love Him – the more we know Him.
God’s Communication
Yes – today God communicates to His children through His written and living Word – for the Spirit of Christ is He that dwells within the heart of the believer, and He commands us: Love: “love in the same way that I have loved you“. Abide: “abide in Me and I in you“.
Believe: believe in the Name of the Lord Jesus and have faith in His Word. Trust: just trust in His love.
Haunting Question
That the love of many will grow cold, as Scripture told us.
God has decreed that all circumstances, both the positives and the negatives are used: all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Rom.8:28
Acts 17:10 God in His grace and love for us, permits His light to shine into our hearts. In two Peter chapter one ver nineteen, we read:- He gives us a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19
Light of Truth
We are called to walk in the light as He is in the light, and in so doing He draws us deeper and deeper into the mysteries of His love. He opens our understanding to the shining truth concerning Himself. He corrects our awareness of the shocking truth relating to ourselves! When His truth shows us our error, we must accept His Truth. When His light reveals in us our darkness, we must renounce its blackness – and walk back into His marvellous Light.
John 4:14 For as it is written, eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9 Whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.
Scripture outlines the ideal – a life of quiet, calm, unbroken fellowship with the Lord – a life lived in the love of God, where His glorious face shines upon our pathway – a life where dark shadows flee away and morning joy surpasses the night of sorrow.
“Love you – ha ha what a joke!!!!” ..
as His presence seems to be overshadowed by darkness, diminishing to nothing, and the question of His acceptance and His love, fall heavily on the conscience.
An experience that in time or in eternity will prove itself to be one of those things for which we say – ALL things work together for good to those that love God – to those that are the called, according to HIS purpose….
He is talking of the believers’ inherited rewards of those that love Him.. for those that live by faith in His Word – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,” we are encouraged.
those that trust in His love, no matter what!
just as it was for the Son of God’s love.
This current world system is not where we should be placing our hope – for our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Saviour – the Lord Jesus Christ Philippians 3:20. Scripture informs us that the love of many believers will grow cold. The Bible tells us that many Christians will forsake Him for alternative truths. The Word of God warns that the Church will be leavened at the time of His return.
He Must Increase
How important that we cry out with John, “He must increase and I must decrease“. How vital that we call out daily with Paul, “Lord, what would You have me to do?” How crucial that we echo Christ’s profound words of love – ” Thy will not mine be done.” Luke 22:42
And our first love is left as other, more important issues start to occupy the mind – and pressures invade and circumstances press in and salvation loses its appeal.
Growing in Grace
He desires all His children to grow in grace and to walk in spirit and truth. God wants us to develop a spiritual walk, which grows into a closer walk with Him. But after the first flush of Christian joy, we can leave our first love and fall from grace.
We can't lose our salvation but we stray from a spiritual walk into a carnal walk. We can leave our first love of Christ and be enticed back to the ways of the world – or we can fall from grace, trying to please God through our own good works.
but also a life dedicated to Him; a life submitted completely to Him and His will; a life of total consecration to Him; a life that produces purity of heart and holiness of life; a life, utterly in love with the Son of His love; a life that kneels at His feet in brokenness of spirit; a life that washes His feet in humility of heart – a life that can say without reservation:
Take my hands, and let them moveAt the impulse of Thy love.Take my feet, and let them beSwift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my love; my Lord, I pourAt Thy feet its treasure store.Take myself, and I will beEver, only, all for Thee.
Now His life was necessary to vindicate the Father and His holy law, as well as to manifest Himself and His love; but the righteousness that we are made in Christ is another thought altogether - not the law fulfilled by Him, but the justifying righteousness of the Father founded on the Lord Jesus' death, displayed in His resurrection, and crowned by His glory in heaven. -W.K.
Children of Grace
All who have received a new life in Christ, BY grace, must be trained THROUGH grace. Grace brings to our understanding the great love and goodness of God towards us.
Should we not acknowledge His amazing grace and unconditional love towards us?
Heavenly Home
And yet our feet are dusty – polluted with the sin and filth of this world, for we are ever yet journeying towards our heavenly home. The Father is there and seated on His throne of grace. At His right hand is seated the Son of His love – the Man; the perfect Man; the Man Christ Jesus - seated on the throne with the Father.
Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him.
The Lord our God is One... One in unity, One in attributes, One in power, One in love.
Mystery of Love
The mystery of the trinity is baffling, but the mystery of His love for me, is staggering.
Think about the eternal, faithful, righteous, gracious, holy God of love.
Contemplate the incredible depth of the Father’s love in the life of a man – for God loved you so much that He sent His Son to die, for you.
Meditate on the mystery of the triad of his gifts: faith, hope and love – and you will discover the all-inclusive, all-comprehensive depth of His love – His deep love for you.
While spiritual strength is always marked by love, warmth, life, fellowship, openness, confidence, and trust in the Lord.... At the end, in the Revelation, the dragon, the whole power of Satan is overthrown by the Lamb.
“It is not only that the Lord Jesus is the object of my heart, but I find that the One I love has made me the object of His heart!
People are ready to say how they love Him, but how far can they say that they are conscious of His love for them; that they so prize it, that it is the greatest secret of their heart?
“When the Lord Jesus’ love is before you, you find this love is drawing you from darkness to light.
It is beautiful to see that the work of true love is to set aside darkness, or whatever would interfere with association; and therefore it is not esteemed as it ought to be, because we are looking for something on earth, and the tendency is to judge of His love by earthly gifts and favors down here.” -J.B.S.
The Father will not give you humility or patience or love as separate gifts of grace; He has given you the Lord Jesus, and if you simply trust Him to live out His life in you, He will be humble, patient, loving and everything else you need.
The semblance of love which does not maintain the truth, but accommodates itself to that which is not the truth, is not love according to God.
God would have us love one another; but the Holy Spirit, by whose power we receive the divine nature, and who pours the love of God into our hearts, is the Spirit of truth, and His office is to glorify Christ.
Therefore it is impossible that a love which can put up with a doctrine that falsified Christ, or which is indifferent to anything that concerns His glory, can be of the Holy Spirit - still less so, if such indifference be set up as a proof of that love.
There is a distinctness between the operation of the Spirit of God in bringing me unto the Lord Jesus, bearing witness to me of God's love, and of the efficacy of what Christ has done - and His operation in my soul to produce the image of His Son.
A Christian who doubts the Father's love to him, and who looks for peace to that which passes in his own heart, is doubting God's truth.
The Word is the revelation God has given of Himself; it displays the love of God toward us, and what is in His heart.
how can God love me after all that I have done in my life..
and life becomes wonderful and you bathe in the gracious presence of God’s love.
And the first flush of first love wells up within your heart of ecstasy.
This is not the will of God for you... for God sent His Son to die – for love of you.
Eternal Reality
Paul rehearses this truth throughout His inspired epistles: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
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 created being, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I know of no arguments, and I am acquainted with no power, that will move the heart to devotedness except the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Himself and His love.
Yes, a love and a passion and deep, deep devotion to the Lord, but lack of love, passion and devotion is too often our weak, frail downfall – but we are frequently reminded in many ways what to do. Repent and return to your first love. Rev. 2:5
Faithful Life
This faithful godly man was given illumination in his old age, because he demonstrated a life of faith, of love, of patience and – Simeon waited.
Do not grieve the Spirit, and the first thing He will do will be to fill your heart with love, joy, and peace; and when the inner condition is right, then the outer condition will be right.
God’s Faithfulness
I believe in the fullness of time we will all understand why the Bridegroom tarried, for we know that ALL things work together for good to those that love God. All things – even things we don’t understand and the things that grieve us.
All things - ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
She postpones her grand entry to ensure her beloved’s anticipation is heightened. She defers her arrival to deepen his love and increase his longing to be one with her.
Patient Waiting
Waiting for Love’s embrace is far from easy when the object of love is delayed. I go to prepare a place for you, He promised.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself. Should not this promise of the heavenly Bridegroom cause our hearts to rejoice? Should not the deep desire or His heart move our own to an even deeper longing? Knowing that He prayed: Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am..” John 17:24. Should not our yearning love for Him overshadow any concern about His delay? For having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them to the end.
but equally important is to wait for Him and rest in His love.
God’s Plan For Today
God will often extricate us from the difficult situation and the crisis circumstance, for His love endures forever. But if only we would sit still and calmly wait for His unfolding plan, we would likely not discover ourselves lost in the labyrinth of self-made plans – that fain would rescue us from our God-permitted circumstance.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2
How to Live
AHH, I hear you say, how can I make every effort to do this without self-effort? How can I be humble, gentle, and patient without making every effort to be so? How can love others in the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace?
Careless Unpreparedness
But this is not the only sphere of life that can catch a Christian unaware. Lives that are comfortable, clean and plodding carelessly along may be unprepared. Lives that have left their first love or lost their focus on Christ will not be ready.
Christ’s Love
In Revelation chapter 3 we read 'indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie — indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
Should we not count all things loss for the excellence of knowing Him? Should we not accept that in this life we will have many troubles and sorrow? But He has overcome this world, for love of you for love of me.
Fellowship of Suffering
Should we not similarly be prepared to be overcomers and not lie down in despair? Should we not love the fellowship of His sufferings for this brief span?
Knowing that He walked this self-same path of suffering – only for love of us - so that with Him we may spend an eternity in the fellowship of our Beloved?
And can it be that I should gainAn interest in the Saviour’s blood?Died He for me, who caused His pain—For me, who Him to death pursued?Amazing love!
Amazing love!
How can it be,’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:Who can explore His strange design?In vain the firstborn seraph triesTo sound the depths of love divine.’Tis mercy all!
He left His Father’s throne aboveSo free, so infinite His grace—Emptied Himself of all but love,And bled for Adam’s helpless race:’Tis mercy all, immense and free,For O my God, it found out me!
We pray for love and yet He lacerates our hearts through friendships that He introduced..
He indeed is the Personification of unselfishness and strength; of mercy and love – and we live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved us, and gave Himself for us.
Why in Luke 16, are we instructed to: “make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon” Luke 16:9 Does this not contradict scriptures, which warn us against the love of money?
Honest Examination
While it was Samuel Rutherford who has been quoted as saying: “You are to believe in God’s love and power more than you believe in your own feelings and experiences.
New Testament Faith
Paul, that great apostle to the church, reminds us to live by faith and not by sight, demonstrating that in this church age our badge must be faith – faith working through love: for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
Paul also cautions us that faith without love is of little account.
We read: though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 1Cor.13:2.
Faith and Love
I must centre my mind on Him and trust in His immutable Word.
If love is offered and unconditional love is given, why must I doubt?
For doubt erects a barrier to His overwhelming love.
Doubt places a cloud over His ever-shining love toward us.
Jesus said: as the Father has loved Me, so I love you.
Abide in My love; remain in my love – rest in my love.
Faith is a key that unlocks our hearts to God’s love.
It is just the beginning of the process, in you, and so day by day, by the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, grow in grace; grow in understanding; grow in love and grow in wisdom..
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him Who is the head, that is, ChristEphesians 4:15
Truth in Love
They brought comfort to the hurting; forgiveness to the sinner; direction to the lost.
The Lord Jesus spoke the truth in love when He challenged the woman at the well. He spoke the truth in love to the man born blind – to Nicodemus – to Simon Peter.
Gracious Words
The words of Christ ministered to an exact point of need – speaking the truth in love. His speech was seasoned with salt – cleaning and impacting hurting, damaged lives – addressing the need, while touching the truth, with gracious words of love and hope.
Paul’s Words
Paul also spoke the truth in love to the foolish Galatians and to his disciple Timothy.
He spoke the truth in love to the carnal Corinthians and in His audience with Festus.
We are all members of one body and should care for each other as we do our own bodies, and speaking the truth in love can encourage as well as correct – edify as well as instruct.
We should not speak the truth in contempt or anger or self-righteousness. We should speak the truth in love – words seasoned with salt and full of grace.
Let us endeavour to speak the truth in love, for this is pleasing to the Lord... and we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him, Who is the head – that is, Christ.
More Advice
Let all your things be done with love.
Be long-suffering and forbearing with one another -in love – Oh, and endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace – and love each other.
Forgive one another, and above all these things put on Love, which binds us all together.
The sweet portals of love often lead through a door of testing trials and bitter pain.
It is often the seeking heart that becomes the butt of Satan’s vicious and prolonged attacks:- blessed is the man who endures temptation.. for when he has been approved he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” 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.Romans 8:38,39
There is not a thing in heaven or on earth that can separate us from His love.
Seasons of rebellion, or times when faith wears thin – never altered His love for you.
Cords of Love
Sometimes it appears that He has withdrawn His every blessing from you, but those are often the times He is drawing you closer to Himself, with cords of love.
Jesus reminds us, ‘without Me you can do nothing’. And Paul questions, ‘who shall separate us from the love of God in Christ?’
Eternal Unconditional Love
Shall.... tribulation?
I am persuaded that nothing shall separate us from His love, for we are accepted eternally and unconditionally in the Beloved.
The Open Heart
The heart that is open to His presence will gladly partake of all His grace and love.
He may come bearing gifts of wholeness and health; wisdom, love, and help, and yet He may be prevented by unbelief – as He was that time so long ago, “He came unto His own and His own received Him not…” John 1:11
Do you compare the lives and experiences of others as more deserving of His love?
– if so you question the truth of God’s unconditional love.
God’s Wisdom
Have you ever considered His love for you as less than it is for someone else… because of some deep secret or painful disappointment hidden in your own life?
Deeper truth – designed specifically to draw You, into His arms of love.
And you will then see the more expansive truth of His love for you – as did Job.
God’s love is a blessed fountain-spring of grace and glory.
The Blessed Hope
The hope of those, 'blesseds' of the Lord, is beyond the present, physical world, – His blessed blessings reach deep into the love-heart of Himself. – His Blessed hope stretches forward to the coming kingdom.
But it is the love of the Lord Jesus that would lead us on, through the judgment of ourselves and ways, into deeper communion with Himself to be better representatives of Him here in whose likeness we shall soon appear.
The latter is not easily learned; the former is the fruit of light; the latter is never acquired but as there is practical grace and love - the activity of the Lord Jesus' nature in me by the Spirit. -J.B.S.
Though we were dead in our sins, at enmity with God and eternally separated from Him, in His grace and love He stooped down in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ and rescued us from slavery to sin and the eternal death sentence under which we were all placed.
There is no-one outside the realm of Christ's saving love and all who believe in Him and His work on the Cross will receive eternal life.
These saints remained constant in their love and loyalty towards the Lord, and were those who were maturing in the faith, growing in grace, and aware of their privileged position in Him.
The tone of this letter demonstrates the genuine love Peter felt for these believers and he encourages them to develop the same, sincere love for one another that he has towards them.
Peter would never forget the love that Jesus showed to him, when he denied his Saviour three times, and no doubt the heart-desire of this aging apostle was to obey His command to feed the sheep of Christ's pasture that were in his care, and to nourish the little lambs in His flock.
His desire for these scattered saints was that they reflect the holy character of the Lord Himself, Who said, Be holy for I am holy. Peter knew, only too well, how easy it is for our fallen nature to stray from the path of righteousness and wrote, Since you have, in obedience to the truth, purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart.
Since you have been declared righteous, by faith in Christ - love one another wholeheartedly.
The love the Saviour had for this blustery fisherman was being translated into a godly love for those in Peter's own charge.
Peter wanted them - and us, and ALL who believe the truth of the gospel, to keep our hearts pure and to obey Christ's own command to love others as Christ loves us, to develop a sincere love of the brethren, to fervently love one another from the inner depths of our hearts, and not to love with a hypocritical heart or insincerity of spirit.
The love about which Peter was talking was not the brotherly love we have for people we like or the romantic love of the emotions.
Peter was calling them, and us, to love others as Christ loved us - with a sacrificial love, that can only come from a heart that has been saved by grace through faith in Christ - a heart that is in fellowship with the Father, through a cleansed heart that is walking in spirit, and in obedience to the truth.
We manufacture a sincere love for the brethren.
We are unable to fervently love one another in our own strength.
And as we continue to purify our heart and soul through living a life of faith, in obedience to Christ's commands, He will pour into our heart that sincere love for the brethren, that only comes through faith in Him - for we can only fervently love one another from the heart as the love of Christ streams into our soul and out to others.
We are to grow from being a baby Christian, whose main focus is the importance of repenting of our pre-salvation sins and bathing in the joy of being saved, into becoming a mature believer, where we develop an abiding fellowship with the Father, by walking in the light of His glorious truth and being continuously cleansed through His sufficient grace - as we rest in our Saviour's love.
They would not see Him physically but they would see Him with their spiritual eye of understanding, and He promised to one day return to take all who love and trust in Him, to be with Himself in heaven.
But Paul knew that no matter what life threw in his direction: All things work together for good for those that love the Lord Jesus and are called according to His good purpose.
Let us trust not in ourselves, but in His unfailing love.
The God of the universe in human flesh, with only love and pity for humanity in His heart and an immovable resolve to fulfil the perfect will of His heavenly Father, stood silent before His wicked accusers: As a lamb that was led to the slaughter.
Let us remember that all things ultimately work together for good to those that love God, but we only see through a glass darkly and we do not always understand why certain things are permitted to happen in our lives and in our world.
Paul was a man who knew that nothing in heaven or earth could separate him from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus.
Living for Christ, whether in heaven-above or in the earth-beneath, are both filled with great advantages - when love for our Saviour and serving Him is our sole ambition and passionate aim.
When we abide in Christ and He abides in us, the fruit of the Spirit is the product that will flow through us - and the fruit that Christ produces through us will be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
And it is as we walk in spirit and truth, as we live our lives in faith and love, as we remain in Him and abide in Him, we are able to say, It is not I that live, but CHRIST that lives and abides in ME, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Paul made no secret of His great love and concern for the believers in Thessalonica.
Timothy was sent to find out how the believers there were getting along, to establish them in the faith, and give them spiritual support and godly encouragement.Paul rejoiced when Timothy returned with the joyful tidings that they were being established in the faith and well-grounded in the Word, despite the many difficulties and distresses they were facing: May the Lord cause you to increase in your faith and abound in your love for one another and for all people, was Paul's heartfelt prayer for them all, just as we also do for you.Paul continued in prayers and loving intercessions for the saints at Thessalonica, beseeching God the Father Himself and Jesus our Lord to direct and govern their ways.May we be like Paul, and remember to lift up our fellow Christian brothers and sisters in continuous and loving prayer and heartfelt intercessions.
In a few short verses, the believer is called and challenged to abide in Christ; to abide in the Vine; to abide in His love; to abide in Him.
Indeed, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; fruit which is only produced in us as we abide in Christ and He in us.
We are to abide in Christ; to abide in the Vine; to abide in His love: Abide in Me and I in you. To abide in Christ and to have Him abide in us are two sides of the same coin.
They are called to urge the younger women to love and respect their own husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind and gentle, and to be subject to their own husbands so that no one will malign the Word of God.
Genuine thanksgiving to the Lord is a freewill offering, a sacrifice of praise, a living sacrifice, a gift of love which is a sweet-smelling savour to the Lord our God.
Such an offering is not merely to be an external display of reverent homage or a gesture of pious religiosity, but an inner spirit of genuine gratefulness, a heart overflowing with adoration that springs from the man or woman that is deeply in love with the Lord.
His Word is a lamp to our feet and a guiding light along our pathway, for by grace through faith we have been made His children and are called to walk in the light of His love, by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.May the light of His love so shine through each one of us, that men may see our godly deeds, hear the Word of truth, trust in Christ for the forgiveness of sin, and glorify our Father Who is in heaven.
Love of money and love for God cannot co-exist; one or the other will always reign supreme in the heart of man.
It is the misguided love of money that is rooted in all sorts of evil attitudes and ungodly actions, and so we are instructed by the Lord Jesus Himself not to lay up for ourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.
For the time being, we are separated from our heavenly Bridegroom, but a day has been appointed when: The Lord Jesus shall descend from heaven with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God, and we shall hear the voice of our Beloved saying: Arise my love, my beautiful one, and come away - come up here.
What a beautiful love story we discover in the Song of Solomon, and what reassurance it gives us to know that despite His long delay, the time is coming when we shall be with Christ Jesus forever.
His love for His Bride and His faithfulness towards us all is never-failing, even when we may prove weary of waiting or tempted towards unfaithfulness.
Let us seek to occupy ourselves until He comes and be ready and waiting so that we are not taken by surprise when we hear His voice saying: Arise my love, my beautiful one, and come away - come up here.
And yet, for the love of you and the love of me, Jesus stepped out of eternity in order to be born as a baby and to die on the Cross as the Saviour of mankind.
It was out of intense love for His Father and a deep love for the Church, the Lord Jesus gave Himself freely; willingly; voluntarily and joyfully, to be our Kinsman-Redeemer.
Christ's death was also a love-gift that was given freely, willingly, sacrificially, and joyfully.
When Christ went to the cross He died as the Sin-Offering on the Day of Atonement and the Burnt-Offering made freely as a love gift to the Father.
Let us reflect on that pivotal point in history, where the love of our wonderful God and the grace of our beautiful Saviour was so perfectly demonstrated in the intertwining of this duel sacrifice for us - FIRST) a compulsory sacrifice for sin and SECOND) a voluntary burnt-offering out of love.
In his later years, the apostle John was often called 'the apostle of love', for this fiery son of thunder displayed such a gentle grace in his twilight years.
How thankful we should be that God demonstrated His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us all - as the Substitute for our sin.
Love for his brothers and sisters in Christ was clearly seen in all of Paul's writings and in this letter to the Colossians, his heart's desire was that these beloved believers would gain great spiritual strength.
The marriage union is an important one, for we know that nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, and Christian marriage should be a mirror-image of our intimate union with Christ.
Yes, it was the humble Son of Man Who stretched out His arms of love on a cruel Roman Cross and Who suffered, died, and rose again Who established the earth and formed the heavens, in the beginning.
The book concludes with a lovely section that encourages us all to remain in the love of God, to build ourselves up in the most holy faith by means of the indwelling Spirit, and to keep our hearts and minds focussed on the Lord Jesus, watching for His any day return.We cannot keep ourselves from stumbling, but Christ can, and so we need to dig deeply into His Word.
No wonder that Paul proclaimed in anguish of heart: I fear for you, that perhaps I have laboured over you in vain. Paul likened his love for these Galatians believers to a woman who reached the point of utter exhaustion when giving birth to a baby.
What is important, is to know the Word of God, to trust the Word of God, and to apply the Word of God in every circumstance of life, knowing that to do so will lead to success in the Christian life; for all things work together for good to those that love the Lord and trust His Word.
We should meditate on His Word, memorise His Word, trust His Word, and love His Word, and we should be sure to obey His Word and apply His Word in our daily lives, for in so doing we will certainly prosper and succeed in all we do, to His praise and glory.
Gold, silver, precious stones and crowns are identified as the rewards which are given to celebrate the work of faith, the labour of love or the steadfastness of a believer's hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, and each crown is received in the presence of God the Father.
Having been justified by His grace and made children of God, we are to reflect the love and kindness of Christ to others... but we are not to seek out arguments or respond to argumentative or contentious people.
Paul was certainly filled with joy knowing that there were many who were continuing his work and preaching Christ from a sincere love of the Lord and a desire to tell forth the glorious message of salvation by grace through faith in Him, but he also rejoiced over the ministry of those whose motive in preaching was rooted in envy and strife.
However deep, dark, and dangerous the circumstances of life are, we are told that the steadfast love of God never ceases towards us.
But a life of faith cannot be founded on the shifting sands of doubt and disappointment, but needs to be secured to the changeless foundation of Jesus Christ Who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, for His steadfast love never ceases.
and Jesus answered by quoting 'the Shema': Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one, Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength, substituting the word 'mind' for the word 'strength'.
Love for God and love for others, we are told, is the fulfilment of God's law, for we cannot love others until we are in right relationship with our Heavenly Father.
And, we cannot truly love God unless we truly know Him as our Saviour, Whom to know is life eternal.
When a man or woman truly loves the Lord with every part of their being, then that love is true love.
It is a love that is birthed in trusting Him, and a love that flows in to our hearts and minds from the love of Christ for His own.
And from that love will flow a willing service and loving obedience, from a heart that loves the Lord with every part of his being.
Let us seek to love and honour the Lord with every part of our being, to love as Christ loved us, to love Him with our heart, our mind, our thoughts, and our motives.
Let our every thought be taken captive to the Lord so that we may remain in sweet fellowship with the God of our salvation, for when the eyes of our heart are fixed on Him in grateful thanks for His work on Calvary's Cross and the redemptive work within our own lives, we who are forgiven much will love much.
Indeed, it should be our joy and rejoicing to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength and mind, for He loved us first.
And it identifies humility, obedience, love, and purity as godly characteristics which should be manifested in the life of the man or woman of God who is walking in spirit and truth.
John delights to emphasise the Father's love for His children, and he also reminds us that the love of Christ is the hallmark of a true Christian.
Godly love should be manifested in the lives of all who have been born of the Spirit of God.
And so he declares this beautiful truth: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is His faithfulness.
But only as we look away from ourselves, our problems, and our own limited perspectives, and call to mind the greater reality of His loving-mercies, deep-compassion, and long-suffering, do we recognise the steadfast love of the Lord which never ceases.
God is righteous and must punish sin, but He is also faithful to fulfil His promises to those that love Him and to reward those that place their trust in Him - for without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
And it was Christ Who was not only willing to be born into the fallen human race which had became rebellious sinners, at enmity with God, but He willingly chose to die the most cruel and painful death... even the death of the Cross, and to be labelled as a hated and despised criminal for love of those that loathed and rejected Him.
And over and again, we are warned of the dangers that befall any one of us when we start to love this world and the things of this world.
One cannot love this world system and the things that are in the world, and love the Lord our God at the same time.
And loving the world and the things of this world is incompatible with our love for the Father and His desire for His children.
It is described by the Lord as the lust of the flesh (which kindles and stimulates our sensory appetites), the lust of the eyes (where we crave and covet the things that we see), and the pride of life (where self-interest and self-love is displayed in self-glorification, self-importance, self-indulgence, self-reliance, self-righteousness, and all too often self-deification).
Although our position in Christ can never be lost for those that are born-again, nevertheless our communion with Christ can be interrupted, our fellowship with the Father can be broken, and our spiritual channel of communication can be choked so that His love ceases to flow out from Him, through us, to others - and we grieve the indwelling Holy Spirit of God.
Let us not love the world nor the things of this world by living a fleshly and carnal life, knowing that this will cause our fellowship with our Heavenly Father to be seriously affected and will have the devastating result that the love of the Father is no longer in us.
Rather, let us love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind, and with all our strength, and let us seek to walk in spirit and in truth, day by day, to His praise and glory.
It occurs when the white light of the sun falls onto droplets of water, refracting into the glorious display we love to witness after the storm-clouds have thundered past.
May we turn from the things of this world in willing submission to God's child-training programme, so that like the Lord Jesus Christ, we may live in spirit and truth, walk in the light as He is in the light and love others as He loves us - until in all things we can say, Father, Thy Will Be Done in me.
Paul's message never altered, but his love for the Lord and his passion to share the good news of the gospel of God gathered momentum and intensity throughout his ministry.
We do not have to grovel for meager scraps at the bench of an unbelieving judge, for we have free and open access into the throne of grace and the riches of His love in Christ Jesus so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
His delay is not inactivity or disinterest, but a preparation to make all things work together for good, to those that love God and are called according to His purpose.
However, God's Words warns that the God of love, Who will redeem us by faith, is also a God of justice and righteousness, Who will judge the wicked and condemn the unrighteous.
Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings....continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them.
In the penultimate verse of Ephesians, Paul is offering a familiar and well-loved salutation to his brothers and sisters in Christ: Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.Peace, love, and faith are three spiritual qualities that are sprinkled in unfettered abundance throughout Paul's writings, and yet they retain a freshness each time they are bestowed on God's children of faith.Only once in the New Testament, is this phrase peace be to the brethren, used.
MY peace I give unto you.The amazing love of God, binds us together in worship and praise to our Heavenly Father Whose loves for us is so profound, that He gave His only begotten Son to become our substitute for sin, while the supernatural love of Jesus is such that while we were yet sinners, Christ died on our account so that we might be forgiven of our sin, receive a new life in Him, become united with Christ and abide with Him forever.Faith, enables us to worship in spirit and truth.
It empowers us to carry out the work that God has prepared for us to do and it emboldens us to engage in the spiritual warfare of this age, effectively: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and satanic powers, who prowl around, seeking to destroy our ministry and taint our testimony.Peace and love with faith, comes directly from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The unity of the triune Godhead, combines to bestow peace to the brethren, and love with faith.
We are also encouraged to bear with one another in love and to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, knowing that we are one in Christ and united together in one faith, one hope, one baptism, and one Lord.
Paul also encourages us to speak the truth in love and to grow up in all things into Christ Who is our federal Head, our living Lord, and our Kinsman-Redeemer.
Rather, we are to be ruled or governed by the Holy Spirit Who brings forth love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Let us not be drunk with wine or controlled by any other substance or emotion that discredits our Heavenly Father, but let us go on being filled, day by day, with the Holy Spirit of God so that we may manifest the grace of the Lord Jesus, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit in our lives, today and throughout the rest of our time on earth.
The love of Christ is a supernatural love, a divine love, a love that streams to us from the heart of God, for God is Love.
The Lord Jesus was soon to demonstrate how deep that love was for all who receive Him as their redeeming sin sacrifice, for greater love has no one than this, that the Man Christ Jesus, God incarnate, would lay down His life for His friends.
And so, He gave us a new commandment, a command that sums up the perfect Law of God in one simple act: Love one another as I have loved You. In so doing, we perfectly fulfil the requirements of God's law and the will of God’s heart for all His children, for what is impossible for man is possible with God.
When we live our life in spirit, in truth, and in submission to the Holy Spirit, the life of Christ lives in us and the love of Christ streams from us, and God is glorified by this.
And there is a legitimate reason that we are called upon to live godly in Christ Jesus, to walk in spirit and truth, to submit to the teaching and training of the Holy Spirit, and to learn obedience through suffering: To love one another as Christ loved us, for by this all people will know that you are my disciples.
No surprise that early in his ministry Christ said, Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, so that at the end of His life He could give a new commandment: That we love others as He loved us.
When, in the power of the Holy Spirit, Christians put to death the lust of the flesh, the things of the world, and the pride of life, and choose to walk in newness of life - we walk in love.
Only as we allow Christ to live in us, will His love stream through us so that by this will other people know that we are learning of Christ, that we are His disciples.
God knows that disobedient Israel will one day return to His open arms of love, for they are like a flock of straying sheep without a shepherd and the wounds and pain that have been inflicted due to centuries of idolatry and apostasy will be over, when they acknowledge Jesus as Lord.
What a long-suffering and gracious God we have – for as He has dealt in grace toward His erring nation, so He will deal with Christians who have wandered far from His outstretched arms of love or when faith wears thin and life seems too much to bear.
Our merciful God first identified Himself as Jehovah-jireh, our gracious Provider, to Abraham when he was halted, by the Lord, from offering up his son, Isaac, as his sacrifice of love and obedience.
He has anointed our head with oil and our cup of blessing overflows with His goodness and love.
The anointing oil that is poured over our heads is the soothing ointment of His never-ending love.
Surely with David we can proclaim, My cup of blessing runneth over, for His grace is limitless, His love is boundless, and His mercy endures from one generation to another.
Jesus had just washed the feet of His confused disciples, in an act of gracious love.
It was at this time of intense sorrow and deep, deep passion that the little flock of Christ heard their Good Shepherd say: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, so love you one another.
The Sermon on the Mount had catapulted the Law of Moses into the realms of moral idealism, but here was a command for divine perfection: LOVE as I have loved.
The Son of Man Whom they now confessed as Son of God was full of grace and truth, and He was shortly to display a love so staggering that it baffles the minds of men.
A divine love that they themselves were being called upon to emulate.
They did not understand that in a few short weeks they would be indwelt by the Holy Spirit so that the life that they now lived in the flesh would be the new life of Christ living in and through them; a life they would receive by the power of the Spirit, for the life of Christ and the love of Christ was to be their eternal portion, and it is our eternal portion too.
No one can love as Christ loved in the power of their own sinful flesh.
No one can love as Jesus loved by their own imperfect human effort, however hard we try, for the love of man is but a faint reflection of the glorious Son of Righteousness.
It is only as we walk in spirit and truth, in submission to the leading of the Holy Spirit within, can we fulfil this beautiful command to: Love as I have loved you, until we can at last say with Paul: It is not I that lives but Christ that lives in me.
It is not I that LOVE but the love of Christ in me.
May our offerings be carried out in ways that honour the Lord, by ministering to others as God desires so that we may lay up for ourselves spiritual treasure in heaven, knowing that the things of this world will all pass away while the things of value are permanently laid up in heavenly places, for those that love the Lord and walk in spirit and in truth.
One would have thought that godliness would have been the ultimate objective in a Christian's life... but Peter continues, and to your godliness, add brotherly kindness, and to your brotherly kindness - add LOVE.
Love is the fulfilment of God's law in our lives.
Godliness should be the objective of a believer - where a practical holiness honours the Lord our God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength - but godliness should manifest love.
And love for our perfect God must develop into love for an imperfect humanity.
We have received His eternal, resurrected life and we have been given His perfect sinless nature - through which the supernatural love of God can be manifested.
Let us reckon ourselves dead to sin and all that the old sin nature represents and let us reckon ourselves alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord - so that by His power we may love the Lord our God with all our heart - and in His name, add to that godliness, brotherly kindness, and progress from brotherly kindness to the divine love - that is ours in Christ Jesus.
And although love for our Lord and Saviour should be the only reason we need to work wholeheartedly, God in His grace gives us yet another blessing: You will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.
We all acknowledge one God and Father of all, Who is over all and through all and in all, for by grace through faith in the eternal Son of His love, we have been redeemed and declared righteous in the eyes of God - and He has made us His children.
And so He left important instructions for all of His children to follow; that we should love each other with a divine, self-sacrificial love, that only comes from Him.
The essence of the Christian creed is contained in this extraordinary command of Christ: Love one another in the same manner that I have loved you. Christ willingly sacrificed His own life so that we might live, should we not do the same for others?
Let us love each other in the same way the Christ loved us, to the benefit to the Body, and the glory of our Lord.
Our weakness is in opposition to His strength, our lack lies in contradistinction to His great bounty, our disinterested ungodliness starkly contrasts with His goodness, gracious humility, and deep, deep love.
How can we doubt His love, for He died for us when we were undesirable, unlovely, and unlovable?
But because of His great love, He came as our representative Man to be a pattern for our learning, living His life in the power of the Spirit, to demonstrate how we too should live.
BUT GOD Who is loving, gracious, long-suffering, and faithful, pronounced His bitter rod of severe chastening due to their apostasy, which would also prove to be a blossoming staff of sweet comfort and peace, grace and mercy, love, and hope, and joy.
He beamed the warmth of His Light and Love into the broken hearts of many.
God is Light - unapproachable Light, and yet He has placed His Spirit of Light into our hearts to lead us aright, to guide us into all truth and to shine His love into the hearts and lives of all with whom we come in contact.
The time had now come when Christ was about to relinquish the protection of these men that He loved so dearly back into the safe-keeping of the Father, for He was about to deliver Himself up for their sake and give His life as the ransom price for love of them.
As members of His Body, our mission during this Church dispensation is to reflect the light of His love and proclaim Christ: crucified, risen, ascended, and glorified.
In a time when there are ever deepening divisions in the world, how important it is to love our brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ.
Let us be those who build each other up in love, encouraging and comforting each other as we see the day approaching.
And may our love for each other flow out into the world so that unbelievers may see our love, be drawn to Jesus, and enter into a saving knowledge of our loving Saviour.
Love for God and love for other people threads its way through this apostle's writings, and in summing up his first epistle, Peter offers the do's and dont's of Christian living in a few pertinent phrases.
After stressing the need for unity, brotherly love, sympathy, and compassion for other people, he urges believers not to repay evil for evil nor to respond to an insult with an equally disparaging remark.
It is not only our Christian brethren that should be so treated, but we are called to love our enemies.
However, the third option, which is the divine standard, is rooted in the love of Christ and the example that He left us, where evil is repaid with good and where blessings are the response to an insult, for that is what God has called us to do and He will bless us for it.
Let us in His sufficiency love one another, be like-minded and sympathetic, compassionate and humble.
Let us love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.
Should not we, who have been enriched in every way in Him, in all utterance and knowledge, show forth the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit in our lives from this day forward and henceforth for every more?
Although many years had passed since Peter walked with Jesus on the way, met Him on the shores of the Galilee, and was commissioned to feed His sheep and protect His little lambs, this aging apostle's love and devotion for His Lord did not dim with the passing of years, but was strengthened as he faithfully fulfilled his God-ordained commission.
Both in those fledgling days of the Church and in his later years when he penned his two epistles, Peter frequently quoted from the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms, to endorse the truth of the glorious gospel he taught so passionately. His desire was to teach and encourage the saints in their spiritual growth and to glorify his risen, ascended, wonderful Saviour Whom he called Master, and Who loved him with an everlasting love.
Nor was he timid in rejoicing with unspeakable joy, the awe, wonder, and unfeigned love and affection he held for the Lord Jesus.
Should we not join the apostle Peter in rejoicing with unspeakable joy, unfeigned love, and grateful thanks for all that we are in Christ?
It demonstrates a life that maintains fidelity to the truth of God's Word - a life that is inseparably united with others, in love - for Christ's command to His people to love one another as I have loved you, for by this shall all men know that you are My disciples.
The truth about which John is speaking is the truth that was received from our Heavenly Father - that God is love and that the love of God is truly perfected in those who hold fast to the truth of His Word, submit to His will, and keep His commandments.
The Lord Jesus, Himself, said, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no man comes unto the Father but by Me, and this elderly disciple of Christ rejoiced because these children were occupied with Christ and obeying His command - which from the beginning was to love one another.
John is often referred to as the apostle of love while Paul is seen as the apostle of grace - but the truth of the gospel of Christ is rooted and grounded in love and grace - together with mercy and compassion, goodness and faithfulness, joy and peace in believing, patience and self-control.
Perhaps more than any other disciple, John stressed the love of God.
In his Gospel, he quoted Christ's instruction: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
And here in 2 John, it is love that is the focus of the truth in which the children of the elect lady were walking, we read, I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father... now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.
May we, like the children in this Epistle, walk in the truth of God's Word and keep his commandment knowing that God, Who is rich in mercy and of great goodness, demonstrated the great love with which He loved us... in that although we were dead in our transgression and sin, He made us alive, together with Christ, and saved us by His grace.
The man or woman who is walking in truth is the one who is not only doctrinally sound... but who is humble of heart, growing in grace, standing fast on the Word, rejoicing in the Lord, and living in love and unity with their brothers in Christ.
The one who is living in truth is the one who is submitted to God, standing firm in the faith, resisting the evil one, and permitting the Word of God and the truth it contains to dwell within them richly, with all wisdom and in love as it is applied in their lives for the glory of God.
A true friend loves at all times, in good circumstances and during times of greatest difficulty and hardships, and Jesus reminded us that the greatest of all love is expressed when a friend is prepared to give up his own life for that of his friend or to forego his own desires and needs for the sake of his dearly beloved friend.
True and lasting friendship can never be built on deceitfulness of duplicity, and even through the truth may sting our pride, when the truth is spoke in love it should always be acted upon, for through it, the Spirit of God will teach a valuable lesson and further build our Christian character and grace.
The love that the Father has for the Son is a deep, abiding, immeasurable, and eternal love.
It is a love that passes the understanding of our limited human minds.
It is a love that can never be comprehended by human understanding.
And yet on the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples that the love that He has for them is the same as the love that the Father has for His only begotten Son, and the Lord Jesus has that same depth of love for ALL of His children.
He loves all who are called by His name with an everlasting love, for He told us: As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you.
Abide in My love.
We are accepted by the Father, in Christ, and we are loved with an incomprehensible love by the Lord Jesus Himself, Who has called us to abide in His love.
Let us abide in Him and rest in His love so that we may bear fruit, more fruit, much fruit, to the praise and honour of our Father in heaven.
He even condenses this into the simplicity of love the brethren.
At a time when the love of many is growing ever colder and darker, we are called upon to love our Christian brothers and sisters in Christ, to care and to pray for them to love one another in the same way that Christ loved us.
Surely, if we were to apply this call of the apostle, to be like-minded and sympathetic, to love our fellow believers, and to be compassionate in humility of heart, we would be following our Lord's command to: Love as I have loved you, for by this shall all men know that you are My disciples.
Before the foundation of the world, He knew each one that would believe on His Son and expressed His attitude of love and grace towards us, and showered upon us mercy and untold blessings.
We who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ should foster an inner attitude of grateful thanks, loving appreciation, joyous anticipation, and everlasting wonderment at all that He has done for us and His inexpressible love towards us: In that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
It is beyond our comprehension that God could love us so dearly, that He gave His only begotten Son into the world to be the propitiation for our sin, such that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but receive eternal life as a free gift of His grace.
We are blessed in superlative-abundance by God the Father with daily blessings and many manifestations of His love towards us.
We are to praise and glorify the One Who so generously pours out such unimaginable and eternal blessings on all who trust in the anointed Son of His love.
The love of money is a root of many kinds of evil.
Balaam is a perfect example of a man whose love of money brought him to destruction.
A man who could have been greatly used by God to preach truth to a pagan nation, allowed his love of money to destroy his life and tarnish his reputation, and yet the spiritual sensitivity of a little dumb donkey was greater than his master.
Philadelphia means 'love for the brethren' and true, godly love for one another can only be manifested in the life of a believer who is in fellowship with the Father and walking in spirit and truth.
The same promise that was given to the Philadelphian Christians can become our promise, when we love the Lord our God with all our heart, and when we love the brethren with the same godly love that comes through Christ.
The Christian has been given all he needs to love as Christ loved.
In this verse, after reminding the Corinthians of his and his co-workers great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonour, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; Paul is able to conclude that he and his co-workers were sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
As we consider the beauty of all that Christ has done for us, His gift of eternal salvation and the eternal security we find in Him, our rejoicing heart travels to Romans 12, where Paul calms each doubting heart with that memorable truth: Who will separate us from the love of Christ?
Nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing is able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
There is no more beautiful, yet poignant foreshadowing of the sacrificial death of God's dearly beloved Son on Calvary's Cross, than this scene in Genesis 22.Earlier, Abraham had received the horrifying instruction from the Lord to, Take your son, your only son, whom you love... and offer him as a burnt offering.
He left the two young men, and taking the fire and knife in his hand – together, father and son walked to the appointed place of sacrifice.Isaac was to be a burnt offering unto the Lord – a freewill offering – a sacrifice of love that was to be given to the Lord by Isaac's father, Abraham.Like Isaac, the Lord Jesus was made to be a sacrifice unto the Lord.
Christ was given by the Father as a sacrifice of pure love, and Jesus gave Him life willingly, for love of the Father.God in His grace provided a ram as a substitute for Isaac so that he might live.
Human nature generally indicates that we are able to love the people who love us.
Loving those that love us comes naturally, and although there may well be a selfish motive underlying human love, Jesus tells us that if you only love those that love you, there is no credit connected with this in God's divine administration.
Jesus called upon us to love our enemies as well as our friends.
We are to love our adversaries and pray for those that are antagonistic towards us.
We are to love those that oppose us and are hostile towards us, and we are exhorted to do good to them.
The distinctive behaviour and divine love that is described in this verse, can only be manifest in the one that has been born from above - as the life and nature of Christ is manifested in them.
May the love and grace of Christ so fill our hearts, that we manifest the divine love of God to others, in word and in deed, and become a beautiful reflection of Christ Jesus our Saviour and bring honour and glory to His holy name.
God is Spirit and God is eternal, but God in His grace and love clothed Himself in human flesh so that He could become the incarnate Son of God and live a perfect life clothed in mortal flesh (yet without sin) in order to qualify Himself to become humanity's Kinsman-Redeemer.
We are not appointed to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Good Shepherd Who will take us to the heavenly home He has prepared for all who love Him so that we might have life and have it more abundantly.
In this edifying and encouraging passage in Romans 8, Paul details the glories of being in Christ, the wonders that God has planned for those that love Him, and an eternal assurance that every born-again child of God will live with Him forever.
Let us begin to understand the depth of love Christ has for us as we live for Him, setting our mind on the Spirit, and being conformed into the image of the lovely Lord Jesus.
Unlike the majority of Israelite prophets who called the nation to repentance and proclaimed God's great love and faithfulness towards His chosen people, Jonah's message was a warning to pagan Gentiles to turn from their false gods and trust in the true God of heaven and earth Who demonstrates His great heart of compassion, mercy, and grace, for ALL people.
He discussed the importance of the Lord's Supper, the varieties of spiritual gifts and the supremacy of love.
Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong, he urges, and let EVERYTHING that you do be done in love.
Perhaps, this last exhortation from Paul to the saints in Corinth covers all his other directives and instructions, for when all that we say and do and think, is carried out in LOVE, it embraces every other lesson Paul taught.
Let ALL that you do be done in love.
It may be a simple instruction to the Church but it is one of the greatest challenges with which any of us can be presented, for it is the Holy Spirit of God Who calls us to live as Christ lived and to love as Christ loved.
Such divine love is an impossibility in our own limited, human strength.
It is as we abide in Christ and He in us, that we begin to learn the lesson of love - godly love - sacrificial love.
It is as we permit the Holy Spirit to carry out His good work in and through our lives, that we can become a channel through whom His love can flow out to others.
And in this final chapter of Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth, he exhorts the believers there, let all be done in love. What a sublimely simple instruction to the Church of today, and yet what a profound depth of truth is contained within this uncomplicated and divine directive.
Love is the fulfilling of the Law, and only as we allow the love of Christ to saturate our being, as we die to self and walk in spirit and truth, can this Christlike characteristic be executed.
Every action and every attitude, every word and every work, each thought of the heart, each decision of the mind and even the motives that influence the choices we make, need to be bathed in the purifying gaze of the Holy Spirit, washed in the fountain of God's divine love and covered with the unconditional grace of Christ, Who for love of His church went to the cross willingly - so that like Him, everything we do, may be done through HIM - in LOVE.
And we mature in the faith, grow in grace, and learn of Christ, by depending upon the light of His life within, obeying His commands to love as He loved us, and by keeping His Word so that His love might be perfected in us.
And only then, in His power and strength, we may learn to walk in the light, to grow in grace, to mature in the faith, to love as Christ loved, and to enjoy unbroken fellowship with our Father in heaven.
The love and respect Mary had for Jesus caused her to anoint His feet with an extravagantly costly perfume, which she reverently wiped with her hair so that: The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
The one who worships at the feet of the Lord Jesus in spirit and truth is the one who carries with them some of the fragrant beauty of His person: to those that despise the Lord it is an aroma of death but to those that love Him, it is a fragrance of life.
As fallen sinners, the grace and mercy we have received from God is without comparison, and in the light of God's amazing love towards each one of us, we are encouraged to offer our bodies, our lives, ourselves, our very being as a living, breathing, holy sacrifice to the Lord.
There is nothing we can do to repay God, but surely in the light of its eternal glories and benefits we can offer ourselves to Him in love and gratitude, by presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, for this is our spiritual worship.
This is not a command, for God wants our love and service to be rendered freely and willingly, but in light of the inestimable riches of God's free grace which He has poured out in great measure on fallen sinners simply because we trusted in Christ as our Saviour, surely it should be our joy and delight to present our bodies, day by day, in spiritual worship as a living sacrifice - holy and pleasing to the Lord.
The more we learn of God’s Word and come to an understanding of Who God is, what He is doing, and all that He has planned for those that love Him, the more we see an unveiling of His glory upon glory and the more we recognise God's grace upon grace that is daily being showered upon all His blood-bought children.
There is no time nor place where His sacrifice of intercession does not reach us, thus underlining His promise: I will never leave you nor forsake you.The more we learn of God's Word and the wonderful covenant relationship that He has with His Church, the more we discover His showers of blessing and abundant privileges raining down upon our heads and come to an understanding of Who God is, what He is doing, and all that He has planned for those that love Him.
Surely, we should love to the uttermost the One Who has saved us to the uttermost.
As we walk in spirit and truth and submit to the Spirit's leading, we discover that we will grow in every facet of grace and virtue, faith and love, holiness and understanding, wisdom and obedience.
We can in spirit and in truth cry out and say, I have trusted Him, and I am not afraid - for nothing can separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.
He sounds as if he were advancing in years, because John refers to Him as 'Gaius, the Elder' and yet it is likely that this elderly gentleman was brought to faith in Christ through the ministry of John himself, for in addressing him, the apostle writes: I have no greater joy than this – to hear of my children walking in the truth.John makes no secret of his love and respect for this man, whom he admits to love in truth, for it appears that his whole life was dedicated to the Lord, and Gaius must have been a wonderful testimony of a godly man who walked in grace and love, for we read that his soul prospered.
Such teaching is false and biblically incorrect.May we seek to be more like the beloved Gaius, who walked in spirit, truth, and love, and was faithful in whatsoever good works he undertook, for the sake of saints and strangers alike.
It was David who knew this to be true in his own life, and we find him reflecting on the wonder of the Lord as he prayerfully considers the goodness of God and His faithfulness in meeting sinners and teaching them the way of truth: All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth, he writes, His ways lead to gracious love, and He shows His fidelity towards those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
It is only as we remain in Christ, rest in His love, and walk in the path He has planned for us, that we will discover all His paths are strewn with goodness and grace.
The Lord knows that only as we commune with Him and obey His new commandment to love as I have loved, will He be able to pour His streams of living water through us, and equip us to be channels of comfort and refreshment to all those with whom we come in contact.
It was Christ Himself Who taught: No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other.
Conflict of interest enters in when there are two opposing loyalties, and the inevitable result is that greater allegiance, love, loyalty, and devotion is given to one party, to the point where one trumps the other.
Today, we must let Christ's warning to these disciples, ring through our ears and convict our hearts: No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other for we cannot serve God and money.
Let us love the Lord our God with all or heart, and all our soul, and all our mind, and all our strength, and look to Jesus, Who has promised to supply all we need, according to His riches in glory.
A passion and purpose that he could not carry out in his own 'wretched' strength, but a passion and a purpose that was fulfilled by means of the indwelling power of Christ which lived in him and worked mightily through him; a power that works mightily in all who will cease from their own fleshly strivings, rest in His love, and abide in Christ's sufficient strength.
Time after time, we discover our faithful God restoring His people and leading them by a straight way until they reached a city in which to dwell, for the Lord is good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon His name, and His love endures forever.
Let us walk in His ways, trust His Word, and give Him thanks and praise for His steadfast love and wondrous works to the children of men.
Let us therefore in love and grace be sensitive to the needs of others, neither compromising the gospel of Christ nor causing our liberty in Christ to be a stumbling block to other brothers and sisters in Christ: Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
He had listened to all His teachings, and John's love for Jesus had multiplied with his passing years.
Familiarity with and love for our precious Saviour must never deflect our reverence of Who He is, nor must the dreadful awe of His eternal Presence prevent us from resting our head on His bosom and walking and talking with Him in the cool of the day.
And over the years, Paul grew to love and trust His precious Saviour passionately and intimately.
The truth of the gospel of Christ and the reality of his Saviour was so tangible to Paul, that nothing could separate him from the love of God and the many precious promises that are given to all believers.
The yearning love he had for each one and his desire that they become mature believers in Christ, was comparable with a mother's birth pangs as she prepares to give birth to her baby.
And as we walk in Him, may the natural overflow be a desire to tell those we meet of the wonderful love of Christ Jesus and the salvation found in believing in Him.
We too have great hope in the God of our salvation and like David, we too will please Him when we unreservedly trust in His Word and believe that he is a God Who rewards those who diligently seek Him and obey His Word in spirit, in truth and out of love for Him, Who loved us first.
He exhorted them (and us) to allow God remould our minds from within so that we may demonstrate, by our practice, that we are progressing towards the goal of true, spiritual maturity - in the bond of peace and love.
Correction should be done in the spirit of love and the bond of peace, without compromising the gospel of God.
There should be unity in the essentials of our faith, liberty and Christian courtesy surrounding any non-essential doctrinal issues, and godly love and graciousness should be demonstrated in the actions and attitudes we show towards our brothers and sisters in Christ - knowing that God is not a God of confusion but the God of peace.
In the Corinthian church, it was a lack of love and a cooling of affection towards Paul himself that he identified.
James also reminds us that friendship with the world is hostility toward God, while John entreats us not to love the world nor the things in the world.
The eyes of the Lord are forever on those that hope in His unfailing love, and God dispatches ministering angels to protect His children who trust in His name.
He was able to pray to His Heavenly Father that His disciples would behold the glory He had before the world was created, and to let them understand the love He shared with the Father before the world was founded.
The day finally arrived when Abraham's faith was tested in the extreme, for the Lord called his servant to: Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering, on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.
Only by grace through faith can we receive the love of God which passes our understanding.
Only by grace through faith can we experience the beautiful fruit of the Spirit in our hearts - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Both peace WITH God and the peace OF God are impossible without grace - the unconditional, unmerited gracious favour of God our Father and the gracious love and tender mercy, that was poured out for us on Calvary's cross.
The unbeliever is drawn by the Father's cords of love and convicted of their sinfulness and need of a Saviour, through the ministry of Holy Spirit.
It is not the self-satisfied, independent man who delights to be identified as 'master of his own destiny,' nor the carnal Christian who leaves his first love to enjoy the passing pleasures of this fallen world, but the one who cries: My soul thirsts for the Lord..
In like manner, the faith of a Christian needs to be pure, unblemished, and perfect, and the trials of life are designed to purify our hearts, increase our dependence upon the Lord Jesus, deepen our love for our Saviour, enrich our spiritual lives, strengthen our hope in His many precious promises, and increase our faith in the Word of God.
Our lives are not to hide behind a hypocritical mask of lies and deceit, or display a fictitious form of godliness, but one that puts away all falsehood and speaks the truth in love.
Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
Jude's challenge continues in verse 21 with the command to: Keep yourselves in the love of God and eagerly await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
We must endeavour to remain within the protective sphere of God's never-ending love as we abide in Christ and He in us.
How important to build up our faith on a sound foundation, to fight the good fight of faith, and keep ourselves in the love of God.
There is no list of rites, rituals, do's or don'ts commanded of us, except to love one another.
Indeed, the love we have for one another is often expressed when the needs and feelings of others are considered before our own, for he who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law.
Love is the fulfilment of the law, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us all free from the law of sin and death.
If the freedom we have in Christ causes someone's faith to flounder or encourages a brother to do something his conscience forbids, it is contrary the law of love.
But no companion is so cherished and no individual so dependable, as the precious Saviour of our soul, Jesus Christ, Who loves us with an everlasting love and gave His life so that we might live.
The Psalmist, who wrote this inspired anthem loved the Lord, with a deep and personal love.
He valued Scriptures with a passion, as exemplified in this long, and well-loved Psalm, Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (v 103) Your Word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. (v 89) Oh, how I love Your Word!
There is no question, as one follows this man's unfolding train of thought, that he had his priorities right, and the private place of his heart contained the personal treasure that is found in Scripture, as he cries out to the Father, Your Word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. This is the grateful cry of a sinner, saved by grace, whose dear desire is to love the Lord and honour Him with all his heart, and soul, and mind, and strength.
This was a man who had come to love God's Word and treasure it in his heart.
Degenerative diseases might give witness to a vacant look or lack of recognition - but NOTHING can separate us from the love of God and NO-ONE has the power to sever our fellowship with our Heavenly Lord.
Jesus condensed this down into a simple, universally agreed concept 1) love for God and 2) love for one's neighbour - and although these commands were specifically given to Israel as part of God's covenant with His chosen people, there is much that is supremely relevant to the Christian Church today and much that lines up with the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus which was given to the Church today, and we do well to examine them closely.
And all God's commands to Israel, clearly outline what behaviour God expects from all His blood-bought children, for love is the fulfilment of the law.
Righteous prayer emanates from an obedience to God's Word and a mental attitude of love for Him, which was initiated by God Himself Who first loved us by giving His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Keeping His commandment to love as He love, living in humble submission to the indwelling Holy Spirit, walking in spirit and truth, and praying in alignment with the Word and Will of God, are some of the biblical prerequisites of answered prayer that John is talking about in this passage.
When a woman's own children recognise their mother's outstanding virtue and tell her so, or when a husband praises his wife and rejoices that she is his God-given help-meet, there is much joy that ensues.When a man or woman of God dies to self, lives for Christ, and conducts their public and private life with a gentle and caring spirit, they not only command the love and respect of their children and spouse and the admiration of their friends and neighbours, but also bring glory to their Father in heaven.May we seek to engage in the godly virtues that are laid out for our learning in Scripture, for the benefit of all and for the glory of God.
Let us pray for our leaders, support the weak, help the afflicted, love and serve all men, and let us read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the Word of God, knowing that we are living in perilous times - and our only confidence and help lies in Jesus Christ, our Blessed Hope.
Rather, let us trust in the faithful Word of God, for the Lord will fight for us, while we need to rest in His love and trust His Word, for He Who had promised will do it, in His way, and to His glory.
Each grace stands alone and yet together, the fruit of the Spirit unites into one perfect gemstone which is rooted and founded on God's love.
The love of God pours forth a fountain of graces that are each uniquely attractive, but which intertwine together into a complimentary oneness that so exemplifies the gracious goodness of our God.
When God's love is the first and foundational fruit, it is interesting to note that joy is the first pretty face that peeps out from the radiance of His love.
Joy in the heart of the believer must be grounded in God's love, without which it fades into man's feeble attempts at happiness.
The wonders of salvation and mercy of God that forgives us our sins and imputes us with Christ's righteousness is joy indeed, as is the glorious hope of our eternal home that God has prepared for all those that love Him.
But in the meantime, may the love of God be manifested through an inner joy that is founded on Him.
Let us be prepared to share the joy of the Lord sensitively with those that are in pain and be a channel through whom God pours His love into the lives of those we meet.
The very nature and heart of God is eternal LOVE and this sublime attribute permeates all His other superlative qualities.
This greatest of all commands to LOVE the Lord our God, embraces and intertwines with every other facet of His beautiful, eternal character.
Love is the alpha and headspring of the fruit of the spirit.
Love is the superlative and pre-eminent affection of the soul.
Love is the peak and pinnacle of a life that is hid with Christ in God: And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love.
But the greatest of these is love.
God desires that we love HIM to the very heart and core of our being so that the deepest affection of our souls is securely centred with love on Him.
God also desires that we love Him with every fibre of our intellect and understanding so that our moment-by-moment thoughts and cognitive ponderings turn in love to His beautiful Person, with an undivided mind.
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
But Jesus goes even further, for as well as loving the Lord with all our heart and soul and strength, He adds that we are to love the Lord our God with all our whole mind and intellect as well.
Love the Lord with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind, and with all our strength, is the first commandment.
It is the greatest of all commands, for it means to love the Lord and seek Him with a passion for Who He is and not for any other motives.
It is to find our sole satisfaction in Him alone and to strive with every fibre of our being to love Him more and more.
To fulfil the first commandment given to Israel and to attain to the greatest command that Christ gave the Church: To love as He loves us, brings us to the brink of despair, for it requires God's fallen creatures to attain to the impossible.
But it also lays the groundwork of understanding God's love for us and His grace towards us: That God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
It is also designed to bring us to an understanding that without Christ we can do nothing, but in Him we can do all things, including to love as Christ loved us by allowing Him to live and work through us so that as His love shines through our life, He would be glorified through it.
It is out of His deep and everlasting love for us that He commands this level of affection from His children, for it is only as our love is centred upon Him, that our lives will be transformed into His image and likeness.
Only then will His perfect love flow through us to others.
Loving the Lord with all our heart, and soul, and mind, and strength, is a progressive love that builds and develops in our Christian walk, for as we grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, so we grow in love for the Lord our God and are enabled to have that love translated into the good works that God has prepared for us to do.
Only as we love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength, will our love be centred on Him, and our lives transformed into the image of the likeness of the only begotten Son of His Love.
May we learn to consciously love the Lord with our heart, to love Him with every fibre of our being.
May we seek to love the Lord with all our soul; to love Him our will and our emotions.
May we be determined to love the Lord with all our mind; our intellect and undivided attention.
May we endeavour to love the Lord with all our strength; to love Him with every part of ourself, spirit, soul, and body.
May our love for the Lord reflect the command in this challenging verse: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first and greatest commandment.
We should have pity for those that hate us because earlier in the passage, we are reminded that those that continue to be entrapped by Satan in this fallen world system do not have the spiritual capacity to know God and the love of God Who sent His Son to die to pay the price for their sin.
This is because they have rejected the truth and do not know or understand the depths of the riches of His great love towards us, in that while we were sinners Christ died for US - so that we might LIVE.
Our God is a God of love and mercy, but He is also a God of justice and righteous judgement and when His people who are called by His name are sinful, idolatrous, disobedient, and rebellious, the inevitable result is their justified punishment.
Only those who have been born from above, by faith in Christ's redeeming work, are given the light of His life as an eternal possession and are brought into the radiance of His unconditional love.
Paul knew that one of the keys that contributes to Christian joy and walking in fellowship with the Lord, is that brothers in Christ are kind and considerate to one another, having the love of Christ in their hearts, and being one in spirit and like-minded in purpose.
Like Jeremiah, we are called to be faithful to the point of death and we will receive healing, deliverance, and the eternal reward that God has prepared for those that love and trust Him.
He thanked God for their work which was energised by faith, their service which was motivated by love, and their unwavering hope in the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And Paul constantly bore in mind the Thessalonians work of faith, their labour of love, and the steadfastness of hope they had in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul also remembered their labour of love.
The love of these believers was not a fluctuating, emotional love or love based on fleshly feelings, stimulated by sentimentality or circumstances.
Love for the Lord is a sacred sacrifice of earnest praise and grateful thanksgiving for all that God has done for us, through Christ.
Labouring in love is prompted by the knowledge that all we are and all we have is from the Lord.
The more we know of God's goodness and grace towards us, the more we are prompted to labour in love for the Lord.
When we begin to consider the enormity of what God has done for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died a cruel and painful death on the Cross, the more we are prompted to labour in love for Him.
May we follow in the footsteps of the Christians of Thessalonica whose good works were energised by faith, whose service was motivated by love, and who maintained an unwavering hope in the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
May our labour of love become a living sacrifice that honours our Father in thought, word, and deed, and may the steadfastness of our hope in Christ Jesus our Lord, stimulate others to work the works of faith, to labour in love, and to remain steadfast in the blessed hope we have in the Lord Jesus, in the presence of our God and Father.
Instead of maintaining unbroken fellowship with the Lord and looking to our Heavenly Father for help and sustenance, too often we leave our first love and turn to our bank-balance or earthly relationships to supply our need.
Whether wilfully or through a small series of downward steps, we too can find ourselves straying from the paths of truth and righteousness, but God is ever ready to demonstrate His never-failing gracious love and tender mercies to any of His children who turn from their sin and call on His name for help.
Having heard of their fervent trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and their love for one another, we read that Paul prayed often for the Colossians Christians.
It was their faith in Christ and their love for each other that motivated Paul to write to these faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, and caused him to pray continuously for them, giving thanks to God for them all.
Faith and love are two of the principle graces that are the hallmark of the saint, and along with hope they combine into a trio of Christian attributes that are so beloved of the Father.
Faith and love are two 'fruits of the Spirit' that blossom and bloom in the lives of all believers that are walking in spirit and truth.
Paul goes on to say: Faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven, the fruit of which is the gospel growing throughout the whole world.
Let us be known for our faith in Christ and our love for all God's people.
The more we know Him the more we trust Him; and the more we trust Him, the more His love flows into our heart so that we become a channel of Christ's love and grace, flowing out to all the saints of God.
It details the glorious plan of salvation and the enormous sacrifice of Christ on the Cross, whereby fallen man is not only released from slavery to sin, delivered from eternal condemnation, and reconciled back to God, but also saved by grace through faith in Him, made a new creation in Christ, made a citizen of heaven and a joint-heir with the Son of God, bestowed with the riches of God's grace, in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit, eternally secure in His gracious love, and so much more.
The Lord is indeed rich in goodness and grace, mercy and love, wisdom and knowledge and power, and in Christ, we too have been made rich in everything, for He has bestowed on us the riches of His grace in Christ Jesus our Saviour and, by faith, we have a rich reward that is kept for us in heaven.
His ways are incomprehensible, His knowledge is unsearchable, His love is never-ending, His judgements are righteous, and His strength is invincible.
Those that resented Paul's apostolic calling and yet taught the true gospel message of Christ, were teaching the truth through hypocritical pretence rather than teaching the truth in love.
It was God Who planned the redemption of mankind before the foundation of the world, and by the grace of God, through faith in Christ, we have become the children of God and joint heirs with the beloved Son of His love.
Being still in the presence of God is not a sulky silence or hushed murmuring, but is simply resting in Him, trusting in His Word of truth, abiding in His love, and being content to await His timing.
How we praise and glorify our Heavenly Father for the blessed hope we have in Christ which will never disappoint us, because God's over-abounding love has been poured in our hearts through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit Who took up residence in our heart the moment we trusted in Christ.
We are permitted to listen into a heavenly conversation where Satan accuses Job of only being faithful to the Lord, because of the riches he has received from God, rather than love for his Creator.
But in His grace, He works ALL things together for the good of those that love Him and are fitting into His plan.
The love about which the Bible speaks, is different from every other type of human love, and is uniquely imparted to the child of God from the indwelling Spirit of truth and love.The Lord Jesus laid down His life for His friends... and for His enemies.
We are directed to lay down our lives, in sacrificial love for our fellow men.It is comparatively easy to love in word and tongue.
It is reasonably simple to say, 'I love you' to other people, but the test of genuine love is expressed in deed and in truth.It is not simply expressing affection through what we say, but through the giving up of ourselves for the service of others, no matter what the cost in time, money, reputation – and even life itself.It is a 'dying to self' and a 'living for Christ' which is manifest in works of righteousness for the benefit of others – and to the greater glory of God.
It is dying to our own self-interest and letting the beauty and love of the Lord Jesus be seen in us – so that it flows out to others in our actions and attitude.Loving in word, is contrasted with loving in deed.
The former is to talk about caring, while the latter is to express unconditional love, in action.Loving in tongue is contrasted with loving in spirit and in truth.
The former is an insincere and artificial affection, while the latter is a genuine godly love that is manifest in a life that cares for the concerns of others before one’s own needs or wishes.Make no mistake – to love in deed and in truth is not something that we can do for ourselves, however hard we try!
We cannot love in deed and in truth through a training programme, mental exertion, or fleshly effort.
To love in deed and in truth is a supernatural love that comes directly from God, Himself, and can only be manifested in the life of a born-again believer who is walking in spirit and truth.Loving in spirit, in word, in deed, and in truth is evidenced in the life of one who has died to the self-life, abides in Christ, and is able to say with the apostle Paul, It is not I that live my life, but Christ, Whose life is in me and living through me.
No matter what man tries to do to scupper the plans and purposes of God, there is no created thing in heaven above, the earth beneath, or the waters under the earth, either visible or invisible, that can separate us from the love of God which is ours in Christ Jesus; and nothing can halt God's purposes from being finally and fully fulfilled.
But their hurting hearts and the hungry love they had for their Saviour, caused certain women to rise early in the morning, while it was still dark, and hurry to the tomb to anoint His body with sweet perfume; but how their love was rewarded when they heard those earth-shattering words: He is not here, but He has risen.
Christ not only removed the sin-barrier between God and man through the sacrifice of His body on the Cross, but He also tore down the dividing walls of partition that separated Jew from Gentile, uniting them together in brotherly love, and making them 'one new man' in Christ.
While God shows no favouritism between rich and poor, because salvation is a free gift of grace to whosoever will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, James does seem to imply that God extends special favour towards those that are poor, in respect of the riches of this world: Listen, my beloved brothers, he writes, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
Too often, the world's opinion of riches is bound up in the baubles of this world that will one day be burned up, but let us pay heed a truth that has stood the test of time - God has chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, and this is a promise which holds true for all who love him.
Not only are there external difficulties and dangers to face in life's journey, but also there are internal failings and weaknesses that lurk deep within our soul which can cause us to walk away from our 'First Love', but God's Word provides a sure foundation upon which to stand in a darkened world that is falling apart.
He was the brother of James and a bondservant of the Lord Jesus Christ, and he desired to write a letter of encouragement to those who love the Lord and are loved by the Father.
Christ fulfilled the law on our behalf, not so that we could live lawless lives, but to enable us to obey the Lord in spirit and truth and live godly in Christ Jesus out of love for Him, and not because of slavish fear.
But there were other sheep in different sheep-folds for the Good Shepherd to care for, and so the Father also GAVE the same unique Son of His love because He loved the world so much that whosoever would believe on His name, would not perish and be condemned, but have everlasting life and be forever free from God's condemnation.
It is by grace we are saved, not because of our merit but because of His mercy and love so that by His propitiatory death and Resurrection we too might be made alive together with Him.
The inexhaustible wisdom and love of God is reflected in these blessed words: God has made us alive together with Christ, (by grace you are saved).
May we regularly reflect on the enormity of what the Lord has done for us; for while we were still helplessly estranged from God, He sent Christ to die for us at the right time, and demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ, the Son of the most high God, God the SON, died for us.
And can it be that I should gainAn interest in the Saviour’s blood?Died He for me, who caused His pain?For me, Who Him to death pursued?Amazing love!
how can it beThat Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?Amazing love!
The Immortal dies!Who can explore His strange design?In vain the firstborn seraph triesTo sound the depths of love Divine!’Tis mercy all!
He left His Father’s throne above,So free, so infinite His grace;Emptied Himself of all but love,And bled for Adam’s helpless race:’Tis mercy all, immense and free;For, O my God, it found out me.’Tis mercy all, immense and free;For, O my God, it found out me.
Gifts from this cheerful crowd were a freewill love-offering to the Lord and is a beautiful example of the verse in Corinthians which states: God loves a cheerful giver!
Mark gives additional insight into Mary and her deep love for the Lord, for it was Mary Magdalene from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons.
There are many blasphemous books that have been written and false teachings that have circulated, regarding Mary Magdalene's love for Jesus and His deep love for her.
She knew His voice and out of a heart of unwavering faith and deep love, she replied 'Rabboni'.
To praise God for the deep faith, generous love, and patient endurance that is exhibited by those who hope in the Lord, and to pray impassionedly for evangelistic doors to be opened so that the gospel of grace may be proclaimed far and wide, to those who do not yet know Him.
So firm is his trust in the Word of the Lord, that he declares unashamedly that nothing can eclipse the glorious, golden rays of God's love upon those that are called by His name.
He is the rock upon which we stand, and nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, so we fear no one, dread nothing, and trust in the Lord with all our being.
When we are led and guided by His eternal light, the light of His love floods our soul with the divine light of a heavenly birth so that He dispels all darkness, comforts all sorrows, calms our fears, and guides us into the paths of righteousness and truth.
Each of the nine individual qualities that are listed as the fruit of the Spirit, have their genesis in the fountain-head of God's sacrificial LOVE.
The triplet of love, joy, and peace, demonstrates an inner quality that permeates the entire disposition of the one that is producing this fruit of the Spirit, as they grow in grace and are being conformed into the image and likeness of Christ, through the power of the indwelling Spirit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Although indivisible, LOVE has been listed as the firstfruit - not from importance but as the foundational requirement from which the other spiritual characteristics flow.
It is not the human love we enjoy from parents, children, spouses, and friends, but the sacrificial love of God that can only be manifested from the Spirit Himself.
It is a sacrificial love, whereby we give up ourselves for the sake of others and for the glory of God.
While some people are adept at perfecting certain of these spiritual characteristics in their own strength, the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, can only be genuinely manifested in a spirit-filled man or woman.
With this in mind, after cataloging a fearsome list of the most traumatic circumstances that may impact our lives or afflict us in the physical, emotional, and spiritual realms, and having proclaimed that nothing can separate us from Christ's love (including tribulation and distress, famine and nakedness, peril, persecution, and death), Paul emphatically declares that we are conquerors in every single situation that crosses our path, in time and into eternity.
No matter what sufferings and difficulties we may face, our Heavenly Saviour is able to work everything together for our eternal good and for His greater glory, and He does this because of His great love for each one of us.
Should we not praise His wonderful name for all His overflowing blessings of love and the immeasurable depths of grace he has poured up upon us?
This is a godly principle of faith – that when we abide in Christ during the inevitable disasters that flood our lives, faith increases, trust is amplified, hope is expanded, and our love of Jesus reaches even greater heights, as we grow in grace and in a knowledge of Him.Oh, such life victory has nothing to do with our own great strength, intellectual ability, or healthy bank balance, for of ourselves we would be overwhelmed by all these things rather than becoming a conqueror through Christ.
And in the previous verse, Paul adopts a beautiful picture of every child of God being a letter from Christ, as we reflect His life in us and show forth His love to others, not only in what we say, but in all that we do and the way that we behave.
Heaven was hushed, time stood still, and God turned His face away from the Son of His love, in Whom He was well pleased.
Why did God forsake the Son of His love?
The debt we owe our Saviour should be a never-ending stream of grateful love that floods through our heart and soul, knowing that He was made sin on our account so that we could be made the righteousness of God in Him.
In the Scriptures, the oil of gladness and incense of joy, are so often seen as the adornment of the man or woman that loves righteousness and hates wickedness, while the perfumer's ointment and sacred anointing incense is frequently seen in Scripture, ascending up to the Lord as a good and acceptable freewill offering, a love offering, a burnt sacrifice and sweet-smelling savour that is so pleasing in the sight of the Lord.
Although this Psalm was originally given to encourage Israel to love the Lord with all their heart and walk in His ways, there is much about which to rejoice when we read that the Lord knows the way of the righteous.
We simply need to rest in His love and yield to the work of His Spirit in the inner man, for: Faithful is He Who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
The supernatural love and intimate communion that Christ (in His humanity) demonstrated and enjoyed with His Father, is the depth of love and fellowship that He desires to have with each of His own.
We are to be deeply in love with our Lord Jesus in principle and in purpose, in thought, word, and deed, just as He was with His own Father when He walked the dusty roads of Israel, for He did only those things that He heard from His Father and His prayer was always, Your will be done so that You may be glorified.
But not only does He desire a vertical oneness of each of His children with Himself, but He also yearns that we have a horizontal oneness with our brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ; that we become one in principle and purpose, one in thought and word and deed, one in faith and doctrine, one in love and hope.
The forgiveness of sin (salvation of the soul and eternal life, which is part of the package of forgiveness) is a gift - a free gift - a free gift from God - an unconditional gift from God which demonstrates His amazing grace and unconditional love, and it is available to every-man, every sinner.
Forgiveness of sins and eternal life is God's free gift which comes to all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, Paul told the Philippian jailer, while John tells us in his gospel: For God so love the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son so that all that BELIEVE ON HIM should not perish but have eternal life.
This beautiful passage, which is directed towards the people of Israel, announces, in tender language, that God has loved them with an everlasting love.
It is a reminder that He drew them to Himself in love and His love for them is everlasting.
is His proclamation to Israel: I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore, with loving-kindness I have drawn you.
But the rich and abundant mercy of God is not only poured out on His people Israel, but embraces all who are members of Christ's Body, which is the Church, and because of the great love with which He loved us, He has drawn us into permanent union with Christ and seated us together with Him in heavenly places.
God is holy, and God is just, but the very nature of God is love.
The Alpha and Omega of God's eternal and unchangeable attributes unite together in perfect love, for despite their bitter waywardness and foolish choices, the Lord loved Israel with an everlasting love, and His love for the Church reflects that same, never-ending love.
Intermingled deep within His eternal character of love, there is a multiplicity of godly attributes and divine graces, for He is good and gracious, He is patient and kind, He is long-suffering, and abundant in truth.
It was not just because of our sorry state that He demonstrated His unconditional love towards us (pitiable though we were).
It was not because of our desperate destiny in the fires of hell that He poured out His unique love upon us (appalling though our future was).
God's love rests upon His eternal, unchangeable, divine character.
God has a unique and unfathomable love for all mankind which was demonstrated toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, dead in our sin and at enmity with God, Christ died for us.
Jesus paid the price for our sin so that His unconditional love and unswerving justice could be demonstrated through Him.
He did not die because of who we are, but because of His everlasting love towards the children of men.
Herein is love: not that we loved God, but that He took the initiative and loved us first, by sending His only begotten Son into the world to die for sinful man so that whosoever believes on Him would not be condemned, but be given abundant and eternal life, by grace through faith.
Ineffable love!While angels delight to worship Thee above,The humbler creation, though feeble their lays,With true adoration shall all sing Thy praise.
This much-loved passage gives real insight into our position in Christ and reminds us that because we are united to Him by faith, we are to love one another as Christ loved us.
We are also to abide in His love and trust His wise purpose for our lives.
Christ spoke many things to His disciples so that His love and peace could reign in their hearts and that their joy might be full to overflowing, but the joy of the Lord is often couched in the fellowship of His suffering and pain so that the good purpose of the Lord is fulfilled to their eternal benefit and to the glory of God.
He has covered us with the robe of His righteousness and adopted us into His holy and eternal family, and the glory of His supernatural life and His self-sacrificing love that is being formed in all those that are His, is the glory of the only begotten Son of God, full of grace and truth, shining through the lives of all His children, for we are one with Him.
Let us be conduits for Him, reflecting His love, grace, and glory to those around.
He has promised to recompense, with bountiful gifts, each labour of love, each work of faith, each heart that is watching for His soon return, and each prayer that cries out: Maranatha!
The marks of a maturing Christian is a love for God, obedience to His Word, and a desire to honour Him in all things, and John gives some clear instructions on practical Christian living and some obvious indications of spiritual growth and Christian responsibility.
Do not love the world nor the things in the world, is John's urgent plea to these believers, for if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him - and everything that is in the world - including the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
Unlike the gifts of the Spirit which are only temporary, the fruit of the Spirit is everlasting - for love never fails.
Unlike the spiritual gifts of prophecy, tongues, and knowledge which will pass away and cease forever, the spiritual fruit of love is eternal - for love never fails.
Let us value the Giver rather than the gift, and seek to know HIM more and more, for God is love and love never fails, in this world or in the ages to come.
We should consider the serious effect that unguarded words can have on those around us and remember that pleasant words, encouraging speech, gracious remarks, and even corrective comments that are spoken in love, are like a honeycomb to the tongue.
Well, God's love for His people never fails and His response to their cry was loud and clear in the next chapter.
God's promises to Israel will never fail and those that love the Lord, trust His Word, obey His commands, and honour His name, will one day receive the reward that was promised to Abraham and His seed.
We love God because He first loved us, and we demonstrate our love towards Him by obeying His command to love one another as He loved us.
Our love for one another is proof of our fellowship with the Father, a demonstration of our position in Christ as sons of God, and evidence of the indwelling Spirit of God.
God's love is proclaimed throughout the Scriptures, and from Genesis to Revelation, we discover that God is love.
We discover that His is a love that is beyond human comprehension, and a love that is rooted and grounded in His eternal righteousness, justice, long-suffering, and grace.
His love for mankind is proved at the Cross of Calvary, for God sent His only begotten Son into the world to die for the sin of the whole world.
And the love of God is perfected in all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, for we are saved by grace alone - through faith alone - in Christ alone.
It was John, the beloved apostle who spent over three years living with the Lord, walking in His gracious footsteps, watching His godly actions, and observing His dependent prayer-life, who told us: God is love.
During His life on earth, Jesus Himself had much to say about the love of God.
But Jesus did not simply preach the love of God, He proved God's love by giving up His life as a ransom for many.
Should not we who have been saved by grace alone - through faith alone- in Christ alone, give testimony of God's great love for mankind by giving up ourselves to His service until we can say as He did: Father Thy will be done in my life, to Your praise and glory.
Just as we can never fulfil Christ's new commandment to love others as He loved us without His sufficient grace flowing through us in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, so we are incapable of walking before God in a worthy manner without the enabling of His Spirit, through His sufficient strength.
The heart of God is manifest in His Spirit of love.
He demonstrated His love towards man in a multitude of ways, but the incarnation of His dearly beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the brightest and best signification of the love of God towards mankind.
The love of God is not only demonstrated through Christ's supreme sacrifice of Himself on the cross, but is also revealed in the Father, Who sent the Son of His love to be the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.
The greatest manifestation of God's love towards a cursed world and a condemned race was shown at the appointed time, when God the Father sent His only begotten Son into the world to be the substitute for our sin.
Never will we understand the depth of His love for us, for it pleased the Lord to bruise Him.
The greatest possible example of the love of God towards fallen man is that God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him would not perish but be saved.
What amazing love that through faith in Him, sinners such as you and I, might be saved by grace and raised into newness of life.
God's heart is the Spirit of love and all other expressions of love towards us are eclipsed by the superlative gift of the dearly-loved Son of God.
The dimensions of God's love are expressed in the gift of His Saviour-Son.
The length and breadth and depth and height of God's amazing love is immeasurable.
His wonderful grace and inexorable love is correspondingly commensurate with the eternal death and shocking damnation, which the fallen race of sinful humanity so justly deserves.
It was for love of us that He died.
How we glorify God for the supernatural love of the Father of our Lord Jesus, Who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.
It is because of the great love of God that we were redeemed from the slave-market of sin, declared righteous in His eyes, rescued from the terrible judgement of God, we so justly deserve, and were made His children and joint-heirs with Christ.
This is how God's love was revealed among us - God sent His unique Son into the world so that we might live through Him - not only in this world but in the eternal ages to come.
May we never, ever hold lightly the LOVE that God has for us.
The focus of the previous chapter is to be filled with the Spirit of God, and one result of this spiritual 'filling' is the manifestation of a submissive spirit, godly love, and a true respect for one another.Not only are wives to be submissive to their husbands and men are to love their spouses as Christ loved the Church, but these godly characteristics should be displayed in their children's behaviour, and so we read: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.To obey their parents 'in the Lord' means that children should carry out instructions they receive from their parents, as if it were God Himself Who was directing them.
Parents are older, wiser, and have gained beneficial life-experiences which can be passed on to the younger generation, while children need to receive godly discipline if they are to honour their parents, be obedient to them, and do what is right in the eyes of the Lord.Parents need to act responsibly towards their children, and those who walk in spirit, truth, virtue, and love are those who will be honoured by their own children.
We are now under grace and so if we love our Saviour, we will keep His commandments out of our love for Him and not out of duty.
He gave His life for love of us, and we simply love Him because He first loved us and gave Himself for us.
And the commands of our Saviour to all His followers are rooted and grounded in love - His love - the love of Christ dwelling in us and the love of Christ flowing through us to others.
The commands of Christ are distinct from those given to Israel and so much more glorious, for we are commanded to love one another in exactly the same way that Christ loved us.
And when we abide in His love and walk in spirit and truth, we truly fulfil the new commandment that the Lord Jesus gave to His disciples, shortly before His death and Resurrection.
We can only fulfil His commandment of love in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit as we live our life in total dependence upon Him, trusting His Word and doing only those things that we hear from Him.
A new commandment I give to you, were some of the last words that the apostles heard before His crucifixion: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. This new commandment to the Church is a foundational principle upon which Christianity is founded, and if we truly love the Lord Jesus, we will keep His commandments of love so that the life we now live in the flesh is not of us, but Christ living in us.
In his desire to warn believers of the increasing numbers of false teachers and heresies that were bombarding the Church of his day, Jude wrote an epistle of encouragement and advice, but he begins with a beautiful greeting; a prayer that has travelled down the centuries to the Body of Christ, and an entreaty to God that mercy and peace and love be multiplied to all those who in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jude knew that the Church of his day was facing difficult days, and would be comforted and encouraged, knowing that he was praying for multiplied mercy, peace, and love for them.
He also knew that giving them practical examples of how to live in these times, would be beneficial to them, and those around them: But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
He asked that an overflowing abundance of mercy, peace, and love be showered on all who trust in Jesus. He knew that wolves were prowling around seeking to scatter the little flock of God, and so he asked the Father for mercy to help in time of need and for an abundance of peace and love, in the midst of difficult times.
This prayer for multiplied blessings of mercy, peace, and love is equally needed today.
Let us unite to plead God's mercy and peace and love on all Who are in Christ Jesus.
The people of God who fear and reverence His name have the assurance that the Day of the Lord will be one that ushers in the sunshine of God's eternal love.
To all who believe, He provides the warmth of His everlasting love and His protection from the destructive heat of 'The Day', for we are not appointed to wrath.
He wanted them to grow in grace, walk in spirit and truth, mature in the faith, love as Christ loved, live in unity with one another, and rejoice in the Lord always.
The more we rest, remain, and abide in Him, the more the love of God is perfected in us.
Christian love for one another is the outward manifestation of the invisible God in our world today.
The life that rests, remains, and abides in Christ is the one that demonstrates godly love for one another.
As God abides in us and His love is perfected in us, so we become a channel of His love to each other.
The way that God manifests Himself to the world today is through the love we have for one another, but this is only possible as we rest, remain and abide in Him.
May we become channels through whom the love of God may be poured out to others.
The warm gentleness and tender-hearted forgiveness in Paul's chapter on love, in 1 Corinthians 13, identifies LOVE as the foundational fruit of the Spirit, from which all other gifts and graces grow.
Love is also a gift of the Spirit because it is only as we abide in Him and He in us, that we can love as Christ loved, as we allow the love of Christ to flow through us to others.
Here, in Peter's first epistle, we find another important teaching on love, which is condensed into one tiny verse by the big, Galilean 'fisher-of-men.' Above all things, Peter writes, have fervent love among yourselves: for love shall cover a multitude of sins.
Peter was a man who had a fervent love of his Lord, and the elderly apostle encourages us to let love be a dominant theme in all our lives.
Peter had been deeply impacted by Christ's unconditional love toward him.
He had first-hand experience of receiving Christ's divine love, through the covering of his own sins.
No wonder Peter emphasised the need for us all to have a deep, heartfelt and intense love for our Lord, and a similarly deep, impassioned, fervent love for one another.
Does not He Who loved us so deeply, even to the point of death on the cross, demand that we display unselfish love towards others?
Is He not worthy to receive the same depth of love that He showed towards us when we were dead in sin and at enmity with God, a sacrificial love, a dedicated love, a complete, unselfish, and holy love?
Should not we who have received such a depth of love and forgiveness from our precious Saviour, not show forth His love to others?
Love one another as I have loved you, was the command Christ gave to the Church.
Should not our love for one another reflect that pure, selfless love that the Lord Jesus demonstrated toward us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us?
Such love does not wink at sin, nor does it translate imperfections into destructive criticism, but is gracious toward the faults of others and patient with their defects.
Such love applauds the good qualities they find in others while speaking the truth in love.
Peter knew that God is love.
He understood that he who dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him.
No surprise that Peter exhorts us, above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.
When the love of God through Christ, abounds in our hearts, then the offenses of others, together with our own sins, are covered in Christlike forgiveness.
There is nothing that can separate us from His love, for past, present, and future sins have been washed in the sea of His amazing forgiveness, and His vast ocean of forgetfulness, and we are cleansed by the Blood of the Lamb.
Should not we who have had the sordid sins of our blackened souls washed, covered, cleansed, and eternally forgiven by our gracious God, reflect His tender-hearted forgiveness, His warm gentleness, His deep compassion and fervent love in our dealings on our brothers and sisters in Christ?
Should not we above all things have fervent love one for another, knowing that the love of Christ covers a multitude of sins?
It is a spirit of godly love that perfumes the path of believers who are walking in the truth and obeying Christ's command to love each other as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us.
Love is a subject that threads its way through the writings of John, who is often referred to as 'the apostle of love'.
It is the intermarriage of truth and love that weaves its message throughout all of John's writing.
It is the same kissing couplets of truth and love that are the focal point of John's second epistle as he writes to 'The Elect Lady' and her children whom he loves in truth.
This elderly disciple of Jesus, who heard his Master declare, I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life, and saw Him stretch out His arms of love on the Cross, cannot contain his joy that some of the elect lady's children are walking in the truth of the gospel - in keeping with a command they had received from the Father from the beginning - to love one another.
John does not separate truth from love nor does he promote love without the accompaniment of truth. It has been said that 'truth without love is brutality while love without truth is hypocrisy'.
The cold light of academic truth without the warming heart of godly love is a far cry from the command that Christ gave to his disciples to love one another as He loved us.
Paul accurately describes the divorce of truth from love in his first epistle to the Corinthians, when he writes, Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
The love about which John is speaking in his second epistle is a love that is described, superbly, in first Corinthians - a love that is: Patient and kind; it doesn't envy and isn't boastful or conceited; it doesn't act improperly towards others and is not selfish; it is neither easily provoked nor keeps a record of the wrongdoing of others.
The quality of love to which John referred in his letter is a love that rejoices in the truth; a love that bears all things; believes all things; hopes all things; endures all things - a love that never fails.
And he rejoiced that the elect lady's children were walking in the truth - in keeping with a command received from the Father from the beginning - to love one another; to love each other as Christ loved us - to love others with a sacrificial love that is ready and willing to love the truth and to speak the truth in love.
John was not introducing a new concept of love.
He was not initiating a different directive on love or promoting an emotional response.
He wanted this lady and her children to stand firm on the teaching they had originally received: Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.
And this is love - that we walk according to His commandments.
From the beginning, we discover that love does no wrong to a neighbour therefore love is the fulfilment of the Law.
During His ministry on earth, the Lord Jesus instructed His followers to love the Lord their God with all their heart, and soul, and mind, and strength: This is the first and great commandment, He reminded them, and the second is 'you shall love your neighbour as yourself.' And the entire truth of God's Word hangs upon the Law and the Prophets.
And the same query about love can be answered in the same way, for Christ is the personification of LOVE.
The love of Christ is imperfect if divorced from the truth of the gospel: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
The truth of the gospel is dependent on God's love for us and the distinguishing mark of a child of God should be our love for one another.
If God loved us so dearly - should we not obey His command and love one another?
May we endeavour to fulfil God's command which was given to us all from the beginning - to love one another: And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments.
He is the one who has the love of God shed abroad in his heart and confesses Christ crucified, risen, ascended, and glorified; the one who trusts in the atoning Word of Jesus Christ in his heart, by faith with thanksgiving.
He is the one who has been made a new creation in Christ and is enabled to love others with the supernatural love of the Lord Jesus, for divine love is of God and everyone who loves with a Christ-like love is born of God and knows Him.
He is indeed your Shepherd, my Shepherd, and He is the Shepherd of all that love and trust Jesus as Saviour, for we are the sheep of His pasture and none can pluck us out of His hands.
Surely His grace and goodness and unfailing love and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of my LORD forever.
Our Christian life should reflect His humility and patient endurance and our life should blossom into godly fruitfulness, reflecting the love of God in the face of Christ Jesus our Lord.
He has shone the light of His love and truth into our hearts.
Let us walk in the light as He is in the light so that the fruit of His love will be displayed in all we are.
May we walk as children of light and shine the light of the love of God's goodness and grace into the lives of all we meet, knowing that we who were once lost in darkness, and estranged from the light of God's eternal love because of the inner darkness of our fallen nature, have, by His grace been made light in the Lord.
May we be those that are prepared to correct a Christian brother or sister in LOVE, when we see someone going astray or destroying their testimony through carnality and sin.
Let us seek to know and love the Word of God so that we may come to a deeper knowledge and love for the Person of Christ: In Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
He had already promised one dying thief that he would be with Him in paradise when he acknowledged Jesus as Lord, and He had also made gracious provision for His grieving mother who would be adopted into the family of His servant, John, before His Father turned away from the Son of His love, as the sin of the world was laid on His shoulders.
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son - the Son of His love, to be man's sin offering.
However, the seriousness of his next sentence cannot be overlooked, for if circumcision was required for salvation, the very reason he was being persecuted was void: For the stumbling block of the Cross would have been abolished. But NOTHING, including circumcision, can be added to Christ's sacrifice on the Cross, for in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, for we are saved through faith alone in Christ alone, working through love.
But we, who have been permitted to look down the telescope of time, are able to witness God's wisdom working all things together for good for those that love the Lord - for those that are fitting into His plans.
In order to be worthy of our calling, we are to walk in humility of heart and gentleness of spirit, showing tolerance to one another and godly patience - as we walk in love, bear one another's burdens, and strive to preserve in the unity of the Spirit, in the bond of peace.
Eye has not seen, ear heard, nor has it entered into the imagination of man, the wonderful things that God has prepared for all those that love Him.
Holy is the one and only Holy Father, Holy is the unique Holy Son of His love, and Holy is the singular Holy Spirit of purity and grace.
This One of Whom the choirs of heaven lift up day and night with their never-ending shout of praise, stretched out His holy arms of love on a cruel cross to drink to the dregs full brimming cups of GOD's wrath poured out upon Him, so that all that believe on His name would not be condemned, but have the light of life.
Victorious living is also connected with having clean hands and a pure heart, which is the product of a 'Christocentric' life and is cultivated when we put on the whole armour of God and remain in fellowship with our Heavenly Father, through regular confession of sin and by walking in the light of His love.
Who could have grasped that this sleeping babe, wrapped in that tiny bundle of swathing bands, was God incarnate, the personification of God's love and grace and truth and desire?
The beautiful characteristics of divine love are seen being lived out in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, and God's will is that all His children reflect the love of Christ in their heart and life.
Godly love begins to be evidenced in the life of a believer as the fruit of the Spirit is allowed to grow, but it is often through painful experiences and a willing obedience to abide in God's Word that this exquisite characteristic is enabled to flourish.
And as we live, day by day, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we mature in the love of God and edify the Body of Christ with the perfume of Christ-like love.
Love bears all things by patiently enduring wrongs and evils with a heart of forgiveness.
This love covers over the faults of others with a beautiful graciousness that reflects the Saviour and does not seek for vengeance.
Love believes all things by looking for the good in others rather than suspecting the wrong.
This love seeks out the best in others with a gracious wisdom that does not condone evil, but which trusts God's Word to be both the plumb-line for truth and the standard for godly behaviour.
Love hopes all things by earnestly desiring the best in people as well as in life's circumstances, even when the worst seems to be knocking at the door.
Love endures all things by maintaining an uncomplaining attitude in every affliction and trial, tribulation and temptation, persecution and pain, whether it be for the sake of the saints or for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Let us seek to have this beautiful characteristic of godly love evidenced in our lives, as we willingly and obediently submit to the work of the Spirit within our hearts, until a Christ-like love is manifest in our life.
And the wonderful truth is that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus, and that His faithful to keep all His promises to us.
Hebrews alerts us to the many fleshly dangers, sinful temptations, and worldly appetites that can lure a believer away from a life of faithful discipleship into an attitude of discontent, greed, and a lack of brotherly love towards our fellow believers. It gives a series of warnings against unbelief, which comes from a hardened, rebellious heart as well as providing a portrait gallery of dear saints, whose faith we should emulate, for they simply trusted the word of the LORD and in the end, came forth as pure gold.
We are to be people who radiate the light of God's love and truth into the lives of those with whom we come in contact, even though our message will be rejected by many.
Christian hope shines from the eternal flame of God's burning love for us and does not rest on the flickering candle-light of our scant love for Him.
Christian hope is an ever-flowing fountain of the unfathomable love of God, cascading into our hearts and washing through our lives.
It is the hope of God's love in our heart that is confirmed through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit, Who was given to us.
The gracious gift of hope is secured on the unchangeable and unconditional love of God, which He poured into our hearts by His Spirit, when we first trusted Christ's finished work on Calvary.
The love of God was poured out in great measure when we first believed, and it grows into an ever-deepening awareness of God's great love for us, which remains the same yesterday, today, and forever.
The hope we have in Christ will never disappoint nor put us to shame, no matter what we may be called upon to face, for God has poured His abundant and overflowing love into our hearts and that love remains sealed in there, until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is a love that is constantly being refilled and replenished by the Holy Spirit of love.
Not one of His children is ever deficient of His love, although not all live in the fullness of His love.
None of us are lacking in the love that God has poured into our hearts, but some sadly choose to walk in the flesh or live in legalism, rather than flourishing in the fullness of God's Holy Spirit, which was poured into our hearts at salvation, and which continues to be poured into our hearts as we walk in spirit and in truth.
Never question the length and depth and height and breadth of God's gracious love towards you, for God demonstrated His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
And the hope that comes through faith in Christ does not disappoint, because the supernatural love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, Who was given to us, through time and into eternity.
In the beginning, the accumulated waters on the first earth were called 'the sea' and for whatever reason we are told that there will be no sea in the new earth: Eye has not seen, nor has ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those that love Him.
Indeed, we read in this precious verse that He has collected every single teardrop that has wet our lashes and recorded every single silent groan of our hurting heart, and He has placed each single tear in His bottle of remembrance and recorded each hurt in His book, because of His great love for each of His own.
And the wonderful thing is that through it, we will gain a closeness to His heart of love and a depth of understanding of our God that we never imagined possible (as did Job), for God has promised that the day is coming when sorrow will be turned into joy and tears will be turned into laughter.
Thirdly, His reassurance stretches out His arms of love still wider, with the pledge to uphold us with His righteous right hand and to prevent our steps from slipping by enfolding us up in His arms of righteousness: I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, 'Do not fear, I will help you.'
In the light of the staggering truth of this magnificent verse of Scripture, we should never doubt God's depth of love towards us and the enormous gift of grace He has bestowed on all who trust in the Son of His Love: He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?
Amazing love!
There is no limit to His amazing grace, no end to His unfailing love, and no boundary to His everlasting mercy, which is new every morning.
It was because of His love for us that God gave His only begotten Son to be the propitiation for our sin, and Paul presents us with a question: IF God did not spare his own Son but gave Him up for us all... THEN will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?
There is nothing in the vastness of the universe that compares with the length, and breadth, and depth, and height of God's free and unconditional love towards those that simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.
But God did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for love of us so that His death would pay the full price of our sin, and through His glorious Resurrection we would become a new creation in Christ; removed from the old creation in Adam, placed into the new creation in Christ, receiving newness of life in spirit, soul, and body.
In the light of this staggering truth, should we not praise and thank Him ceaselessly, knowing this was the first step in the journey of His everlasting grace and the first chapter in God's never-ending love story for us: Who did not spare his own Son but gave Him up for us all.
The shocking truth was that faithfulness, godliness, and brotherly love had almost been eliminated from their lives, and Christ's strong criticism was a warning to these spiritually slumbering Christians, to wake up and to reverse the lamentable spiritual demise into which they had fallen - if the church was to survive. The true gospel of Christ, which was once the foundation upon which this church was built, had been eroded, and John was instructed to urge these believers at Sardis to strengthen whatever remained of the faith that had once been delivered to these saints.
He rests in the light of God's love, trusts in His Word, walks in spirit and truth, and faithfully carries out the works that God has before prepared for them to do – in His strength.
In its correct context, this golden rule is a sublime concept that is rooted in divine love which bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Treating others in the same way that we would like them to treat us, is a Christians principle that is rooted in godly love which is poured into our hearts from above - and God's love never, ever fails.
The instruction to treat others the way that we would like to be treated by them, is the final directive to believers in a list which requires us to love our enemies, to do good to those that hate us, and to bless those that curse us.
'The Golden Rule' as so many like to call this instruction from Christ, demonstrates the kind of love that only comes to us from our Father in heaven when we are walking in spirit and truth and remaining in full fellowship with our Heavenly Lord.
In a confused world where love has grown cold and consideration for others has morphed into cruel aggression, there is an increasing need for us to apply 'The Golden Rule' in our own lives... but it can only be manifested in the life of a believer through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
The Lord Jesus is the federal head of the new creation and the very personification of love, for the Man, Christ Jesus was also the eternal Son of God united in one human body.
Christ gave Himself willingly for love of the Church (who is His Body) so that He could make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the Word, and that in so doing He could present her to Himself in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless in the sight of God.
Love was His motivating factor, love for God and love for His Bride, the Church.
Just as Christ loved the Church so much that He gave Himself for her, so husbands are called to love their wives in the same way.
Those that are called to be children of Light and imitators of Christ are also called to live godly lives in Christ Jesus so that through the power of His Spirit, they are enabled to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before God, in love.
What a difference there would be in the Body of Christ today, if we were to apply all that is written in the Word of God in our own lives and marriages; if wives were to submit to their own husbands and husbands were to love their wives as Christ loves the Church.
May we come to a deeper understanding that the self-contained, eternally existent LIFE of Christ which is poured into the hearts of all who are redeemed by His blood, declared righteous through faith, indwelt by His Spirit, and made into a new creation so that we can walk in His eternal light, wisdom, holiness, and love.
He also gave clear guidelines when dealing with those having governmental authority: Honour all people, love the brotherhood, fear God and honour the king, is his comprehensive charge.
A Christian husband is expected to be understanding toward his wife and show her love, consideration, and courtesy.
When a Christian man honours his wife as a fellow heir of grace, he will manifest godly love and will show understanding, patience, kindness, and honour to his spouse.
But this demonstrates that those with this viewpoint, do not understand godly LOVE.
They do not understand that disciplining a child diligently is a demonstration of a parent's love for his offspring, just as God's chastening of His children is a demonstration of God's LOVE towards us, For the Lord disciplines those He loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.
It is not out of hatred that a child is disciplined, but out of love for that child.
It is not out of hatred that the Lord chastens His children but a demonstration of His deep love towards us, for discipline brings growth and builds a Christlike character.
As soon as we are saved, we are released from the bondage to the Law and its deathly consequences and are subjects of a new rule: the rule of Christ and His rule of love and life.
God in His love and justice poured out His undiluted, furious wrath upon His only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in Him, by faith in His sacrificial death and glorious Resurrection, might not perish but have everlasting life.
God will not retain His anger forever because He delights in unchanging love, and that love is not only extended to Israel (His earthly inheritance) but also the Church (His heavenly inheritance).
Praise God that we are not appointed to wrath, for Christ took that punishment on our behalf because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and God delights in us with His unchanging love.
If Christ washed our feet, we ought also to wash one another's feet in love, in truth, in humility, and in grace.
All believers that would grow in grace by dying to self and living to Christ and those who would imitate the conduct of Christ, would have the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit become manifest within their life.
He is the bountiful Giver of all good things and sheds on us the light of His love and purity.
While we were dead in sin and estranged from our Maker, He demonstrated His amazing love towards us by sending Jesus, His dearly beloved Son, to be the propitiation for our sin.
There is no greater love that He could have shown than by giving His Son to die on the Cross for our sin.
There are those who blame God for their problems without realising that we are born to live in a fallen world, where self-imposed sin or the wrongdoings of others, causes mischief and distress in our lives and in the lives of those we love.
He is the immutable God Who is eternally unchanging, never altering in His character, never failing in His promises, and never ceasing in His goodness and love towards us: For every good gift and every perfect gift comes to us from our Heavenly Father of lights, in Whom there is no variation, and no shifting shadows, for as He proclaimed of old, I AM the Lord and I change not.
Paul found his joy in Jesus and 'the joy of the Lord' is our strength too, and whether we live or die, our 'joy in the faith' is one of the many benefits we increasingly access as we abide in His love and He in us.
The apostle is laying out the basic principles of fellowship within the Body of Christ, during times of increasing deception in the wider world, where the love of many has grown cold and Christians are instructed to act as lights in a world darkened by a web of deceit and duplicity.The 'one' in this verse is a believer, and John states that the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness.
John explained earlier that IF we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness – which will return us back into fellowship with Him.John also reiterates the command that Christ gave His followers, just before His death: Love as I have loved.
However, this godly love is only possible as we abide in Him so that His abiding love in our hearts is enabled to flow back to our Heavenly Father in thanksgiving and praise... and out to others as a healing stream of living refreshment.When hatred towards another believer is excited in the heart of a fellow Christian, it is a hindrance to spiritual fellowship and an obstacle to godly growth.
It extinguishes the inner light of Christ's love and grieves the indwelling Spirit of God.Hatred towards a brother is so detrimental to the believer, that it causes him to stumble around like a blinded man who is encased in thick darkness.
Christians who harbour hatred in their heart for other believers, are seriously impaired in their Christian walk.This serious matter is not just limited to those that outwardly detest or criticise other Christians, but those who put on a show of Christian piety and civility while nursing a heart that is blackened by hatred towards their brethren – which equates to murder in the eyes of the Lord.What a shocking state of affairs that believers can be so filled with dislike for another child of God, that they are described as being in darkness, walking in the darkness, and not knowing where they are going because their hatred has caused this darkness which has blinded their eyes.The direct contrast between light and darkness, love and hatred in this passage, is staggering when we realise that this is referring to a Christian – for although saved by grace through faith… their life and witness is being wasted away in their cancerous attitude.Christians are ambassadors of Christ in this world, and everything that we say and do reflects positively or negatively on the Lord Jesus, Himself.
Wives are instructed to be subject to their husbands while husbands are to love their wives.
As born-again believers, our sin was judged at the Cross and we are no longer under God's condemnation, but as born-again children of God, we are to live as God instructs us and to love as Christ loved us - in purity of heart, humble obedience, and for His greater glory.
For three glorious chapters, Paul has been outlining the riches of God's grace towards His people, explaining our privileged position in Christ and reminding us of the love of God which passes all human understanding, before he implores us to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which we have been called, to the praise and glory of God the Father and our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
And Paul's heart-desire and earnest prayer is that we understand the riches of His grace towards us and that we stand firm in the faith, grow in grace, trust in the Lord with all our heart, and become rooted and grounded in the love of Christ.
Our devotion should be to fulfil the will of God and our delight should be to open up our heart to His love.
Our devotion will be a willingness to carry out the will of the Father in all we say and do, and our delight will be to know more and more of our Heavenly Father so that we may become a vessel through whom He pours out His love and grace to all those we meet.
Though we delight in John as the apostle of love and Paul as our chief apostle of faith, we identify Peter as our great apostle of hope.
In this chapter, Peter reminds us about our great inheritance that is being kept for us in heaven, and that this life is our one opportunity to prove our faith, as we walk by the Spirit to the praise and glory of the Father, eventually resulting in praise, glory, and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. And the reason we can so confidently walk by faith today is all because of Christ, our living hope: Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Indeed, we discover that the supernatural love of God is far beyond our understanding, as was demonstrated when God sent His only begotten Son into the world to become the sacrifice for our sins, even dying for us when we were His bitterest foes.
Having reminded us that God is Spirit and God is Light, the apostle John also now reminds us that God is Love, and each eternal quality of God by necessity must be indivisibly and eternally fused together with every other one of His holy attributes.
The love of God must never be disconnected from His righteousness, His holiness, His goodness, and His perfect nature, for to do so is to reduce God to a figment of man's imagination.
But herein is God's LOVE (as well as His righteousness, holiness, goodness, and grace), not that we loved God (for we were dead in our sins and at enmity with Him), but that He loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son into the world to be the propitiation for our sins so that all who believe on Him, would not perish but have everlasting life.
Dear friends, since God loved us so much, should we not also love one another?
As a natural vine-branch should bear sweet grapes, so we who are spiritual vine-branches should bear forth the spiritual fruit that comes from our true Vine: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Once again, the nation of Israel was being called on to repent nationally, turn from sin, follow their Messiah, and fulfil their original calling to tell the world of God's love, and grace, and His plan of salvation.
The calling of God is trustworthy and true, and the nation that God called to be His chosen people, will one day fulfil their calling to tell the world of God's love, and grace, and His plan of salvation.
In Galatians 5, Pauls presents us with a comprehensive list of spiritual fruit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
All who listen to His voice will be blessed beyond imagination, for eye has not seen and ear has not heard the wonderful things God has prepared for those who love Him.
The beauty and goodness of light is always contrasted with the ugliness and disturbing features of darkness, for men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.
There is no greater demonstration of perfect love than that which was shown in the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it was while we were still ungodly and unrighteous sinners who were dead in trespasses and hostile towards God, that Christ died for us.
And the efficacious nature of that sacrificial love-gift is as potent today as it was when Christ shouted out in triumph: It is finished.
The substantial evidence of such love is unsurpassed.
Paul in this passage contrasts this amazing, divine love that staggers the imagination with the very best of human love, for he rightly points out: A person would hardly die for a righteous man; although there is the possibility that one would dare to die for the good man.
And although he adds that it is possible that someone might be prepared to die for someone whom they love or admire, very few would be prepared to give their own precious life, even for the sake of a really good person.
Indeed, the love discussed in this verse is a 'man-to-man' love and can't even approach the love that was demonstrated by God towards us.
If, as Christ reminds us, there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for a friend, the love that is demonstrated by God is beyond human understanding.
Human love requires some motivation for one to willingly give up their life for another, but God's love is so much greater and this demonstration of the love of God on the Cross continues to be a pulsating reality today.
And yet that is what happened, for our amazing and glorious God demonstrates His own love toward each one of us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
The love of God towards you and me is a supernatural love, for His love not only embraced us when we were weak, helpless, and hopeless, but also when we were neither righteous nor good.
God did not wait for us to become reformed characters before demonstrating His love to us, but died for us when we were fallen sinners and at enmity with Himself.
In the light of God's unsurpassed and glorious love, does it not demand utter devotion to the Lord, our life, and our all?
The true nature of fallen man not only delights in evil, but has a predisposition towards giving a half-truth, a distorted truth, a part truth, or a non-truth, and yet we are told that LOVE does not delight in evil but LOVE rejoices in the truth.
If the spiritual fruit of love is to bud, blossom, and mature in our life, we must keep our eyes looking to Jesus and our hearts submitted to the Spirit, as we humbly kneel before the Father and say: Thy will not mine be done.
Throughout Scripture, we discover verse after verse that reminds us that the love of God caused Him to send His only begotten Son to die on the Cross for our redemption, and it was by the grace of God that His free gift of eternal life is given to whosoever will believe on Jesus Christ as Saviour.
God's love prompted Him to save the fallen race of man, and by God's grace, He chose to redeem us at no cost to you or me, but at the inestimable cost to Himself; the life of His only begotten Son.
God has only started to show us the greatness and wonder of all that God has prepared for those that love Him.
The vast expanses of the universe and the intricacy of every facet of His creation is a small reflection of God’s loving-kindness and faithfulness towards those that love Him.
If the One Who flung stars into space also cares for each tiny fledgling sparrow, how much more can we depend upon His love and faithfulness towards us as we pass through life.
Fear, guilt, and shame cannot coexist alongside faith, hope, and love.
Fear and love are a contradiction in terms, for there is no fear in love; because perfect love casts out fear, A confident loving-trust in God cannot cohabit alongside destructive fear.
Fear is the antithesis of love and the person who is fearful has not reached the mature love God desires in His children.
The immeasurable strength from the power-house of God's perfect love overwhelms every negative influence of fear.
In the life of a believer, fear is rendered powerless by love, for there is no fear in love.
Love describes the character of God, for God is love, and when the love of God permeates a soul, no anxious thoughts can overwhelm the love of God within, for the one who fears is not perfected in love - their ability to love others has not reached the fulness of love.
The Bible tells us that if we love one another, then God remains in us, and the love of God is made complete in us.
Those whose love is perfected in and through God's love have no fear of His punishment.
Love is the fruit of God's Spirit, and the fruit of love is not fear.
There is no fear in love, for the perfect love of God drives out all fear.
He is the Lover of our soul, and He loves us with an everlasting love.
The Word of God exhorts us not to fear, and reminds us that, there is no fear in love, for the perfect love of God casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
Guilt and shame is a fuel that feeds the force of fear, but the heart that overflows with the love of God need not fear His wrath.
May we never forget that perfect love is not a selfish, immature, childish love that tries to take advantage of a situation.
Perfect love is a mature, adult, responsible love.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Perfect love is a responsible love, a giving love, a gracious love that disperses fear, perfects the saint, and is the greatest gift of all.
The love of God for the world was so great that He sent His beloved Son to be the sin-sacrifice for the whole of mankind, but Christ's prayer was not for the world, but for the men who would represent Him to the world.
The hour for Christ's betrayal and crucifixion arrived, and so He prayed that we would be united together in doctrine, in faith, in hope, in truth, and in love.
As the second member of the triune Godhead, the Saviour was the only begotten Son of God: A Son is given, for God so loved the world that he GAVE the beloved Son of His love, Jesus Christ, to be our Redeemer.
Our worship, praise, and thanksgiving, will resound throughout the eternal ages to come because God had graciously called us out of the darkness of sin and death, and a life without Christ, into the glorious light of His holy presence and eternal light and love.
But we who have trusted in His holy name have been forgiven of sin, made holy and blameless in His sight, and been given all we need for life and godliness, according to His riches in mercy and everlasting love.
The relationship between a husband and his wife should be one of mutual love and respect, where gender roles and responsibilities complement one another – in line with God’s perfect plan for mankind.James compares the fleshly carnality of a worldly Christian, with the attitude and action of an unfaithful wife who is having an illicit love affair with the world and breaking her sacred marriage vow.
Good governance in the home results where the man is responsible for loving and caring for his wife with the same self-sacrificial, godly love that Christ loves the Church – and gave Himself for her.Similarly, when the wife responds to her husband's leadership as the Bible teaches, and becomes his most responsive and devoted helper, then the relationship between husband and wife reflects God’s initial plan and purpose for the whole of humanity.Sadly, the blurring of the sexes and the demands of the supposedly 'liberated' women of the 21 century, is diametrically opposite from God's plan and purpose for the human race.
It is a divine love that cannot be compared with the inadequate love of fallen man, but is a love so penetrating that He sent the unique and only begotten Son of His love to be the propitiation for our sins.
His love extends into the never-ending, eternal future, for no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor has it entered into the imagination of man, the glories that God has prepared for those who love Him.
Since the eternal God loves us in three, staggering tenses, we ought also to love one another.
How can we say that we love God if we do not show that same love to each other?
May we choose to love one another as God loves us, for in so doing, we will be a blessing to those around us and glorify our beloved Lord and Saviour.
God is also sovereign over all His creation: He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.
He chose us before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.
Some Christians say that our great salvation and God's gracious acceptance of us is too easy, and encourages believers into licentious living and a careless attitude, but I suggest to you that as a believer grows and matures in the faith and starts to see the incredible, glorious grace of God and the staggering truth that is outlined in the first few chapters of Ephesians, it will open your eyes to that amazing love of the Father and compel you to glorify His holy name.
They boasted of their strict religiosity and their works-based piety which was an abomination in the sight of the Lord, yet failed to produce the fruit of righteousness He demanded; they refused to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before God.
James encourages us by explaining that those who persevere under trial, on the journey to maturity, will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him, and He exhorts us to... consider it all joy, when we encounter various trials.There is an urgency in this final letter that Paul wrote before his death, to remind us that ALL who live godly lives in Christ will certainly suffer persecution.
But we have also been supplied with many precious promises which reassure us that His grace is sufficient, His strength is perfected in our weakness, that suffering for Christ's sake is a privilege for the child of God, and that no amount of trials, tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or the sword, is able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.May we grasp this truth in His strength, and remember that in this world we will have tribulation… but that if we fellowship in the suffering of Christ, we will also be glorified with Him Who loved us so much that He died for us, that we might live for Him – forever.
Paul's pressing message was a practical exhortation to walk in holiness, brotherly love, and humble obedience before God, because the return of Christ for His Church was drawing closer.
But for the little remnant of Israel who trust in the Lord and hold fast to the many Messianic promises, the words of Zephaniah should be an encouragement, for despite all the wickedness and evil that is manufactured by sinful men, and the fires of God's wrath that will come upon the whole earth, he writes that God will one day remove His hand of judgement from His chosen nation, and as King of Israel, will live among His people, calm them in His love, and rejoice over them with singing.
Perhaps another important thing to realise is that however great our heart of compassion for those that are lost may be, it can never begin to match the never-failing love and mercy that the Lord our God has for His creation.
His love of money caused him to go away with a sorrowful heart, for he had many great possessions.
But he loved his wealth more than he loved the Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment, which the young man broke, excluding him from the kingdom.
Neither the multiplied wealth of humanity nor the proliferation of man's exemplary actions are sufficient payment to gain eternal life, for the heart of humanity is incapable of ridding itself of fleshly desires and love of the world.
God knows all things, past, present, and future, and in His eternal wisdom He knows all who will choose to trust in the Son of His love, by grace through faith.
His love will never fail, His promises are everlasting, and His truth will endure throughout all generations.Let us beware - for the passing cravings of this life can subtly allure us away from God’s permanent path of purity and His secure way of wisdom.
Whether we are faced with fleshly temptations that rise up from our old sin nature or testing trials that come from above, we know that God takes all things and weaves them beautifully together for good, to those that love God and are called by grace through faith in Christ, according to His good purpose.
Difficult trials and disappointing happenings are used by God to test our trust in Him and to draw us into a deeper dependency upon His faithful provision and His unconditional love.
If we meet endurance with a godly attitude of complete dependence upon God and trust in His unfailing Word, we discover that the end result of that testing trial will be the perfecting of our faith as we grow in grace and draw closer to our Heavenly Father, in love.
The many precious promises, spiritual gifts, and eternal glories that God has prepared in heaven for those that love Him can never be broken, for to do so would discredit His righteous name and contradict His eternal character.
Let us never forget: Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are so much higher than our thoughts, but it demonstrates His divine wisdom - for Christ's suffering fulfilled the righteous requirements of God’s justice and exemplifies the superabundance of His goodness, His grace, His love, and His merciful-kindness.Only the shed blood of a perfect Man was sufficient to satisfy God's wrath against sin.
In order to achieve God's purpose - to redeem mankind and bring many sons to glory, Jesus had to become a Man and live as God created man to live - in obedience to the Father, in submission to God through the power of the Spirit, as He walked in spirit and truth.But to get to the crown of glory, the Lord Jesus had to stretch out His arms of love on the Cross.
He admitted that it is out of love and grace that God's chastens and disciplines His erring children: He disciplines those He loves, just as He did when He allowed His people to be sent into Babylonian exile.
Indeed, songs have been written with the unbiblical words, 'money is the root of all evil' rather than the truth: The LOVE of money is A root of all sorts of evil.Money can be used for good as well as for ill, but it is the LOVE of money which is being spoken of in this verse.
Lusting after money and the intense desire to gain more money and increase worldly wealth, is what is being spoken about here.Similarly, the love of money is not the single source of evil, as is so often implied in the secular song, mentioned above – but that the love of money is one of many ungodly ways that entices us into various sins and wickedness.Indeed, the context of this verse must also be considered, for Paul is contrasting the tranquil attitude of godly contentment and gratitude with a greedy craving for wealth, an insatiable hankering after riches, or the materialist mind-set which is embodied in a fallen world.One of the qualities that Paul lists in a church elder or overseer, earlier in the book, is that he is gentle, peaceable, and free from the love of money, for when godliness springs from a contented heart it is a great asset in a child of God.We should never forget that we came into this world with nothing... and when we die, we will take nothing from it.
Paul is not only talking about the fleshly desire to acquire riches, but the accompanying worries of keeping it safe and hoarding it up.Sadly, the love of money can become a snare with many barbs which plunge men into ruin and destruction – for the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil and some - by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Some have lost their grip on the things of God and foolishly turned back into fleshly carnality, which inevitably causes much grief and heartache, and severs fellowship with our Heavenly Father.These warnings in the Bible about the love of money and desire for wealth should be heeded, but we should also be careful that we do not distort God's Word, by taking a verse out of context or allowing Biblical truth to be distorted by a worldly interpretation, for it is the love of money that is a root of many kinds of evil.As children of God, we have His assurance that He will provide for all of our needs, according to His goodness and the riches of His grace.
He knew that problems and persecutions were destined for all who live godly in Christ Jesus and so, in his prayerful pleadings for the Christians in Thessalonica he prays: May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.
There is no better place for the believer to be than abiding in Christ, and no more secure situation that being covered by the unfailing and abundant love of God for His own, for when all else fails, God is enough; His grace is sufficient.
Paul's prayer for all who have found their eternal salvation in Christ, is that God would direct each of our hearts into the love of God so that in Him we would reflect His patient endurance and steadfast love, as we are being conformed, day by day, into the image and likeness of Christ.
The unfathomable depth of God's love is beyond man's understanding, and that love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has come to permanently indwell our body at the moment of salvation.
Nothing is more precious to the Christian than resting in the love of Christ and abiding in Him so that His love become the greatest portion of our hearts, not only here on earth but in the eternal ages to come.
May the Lord in His grace guide us in all that we say and direct us into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.
But God in His mercy and love looked down in pity on a rebellious race of prideful men, and purposed in His heart that by His grace and mercy, through faith in Christ, He would redeem this lost and dying race.
But to those of us who have been saved through faith, walking in truth and love, and growing in grace through the process of sanctification, it is the power of God.
It tells that Jesus was sent as an expression of the indescribable love of God for us: For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
And so out of love for us, God gave His only begotten Son as the sacrifice for sin and to take the punishment that WE deserve: So that all who believe in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
It was out of love for His creation that God gave His only Son, out of love for fallen humanity who were made in His image, yet who sinned against their Creator God, causing an unbridgeable gulf to be erected between man and his Maker.
But in His goodness, grace, mercy, and love, He gave His beloved Son to live a perfect life and die a sacrificial death so that all who believe in Him will not be condemned, but live eternally.
The enormity of God's sacrificial love should never be underestimated.
If you were to travel to the furthest reaches of the universe, or go back to the beginning of time, there you'll find love for: God is love.
And the most precious thing in the universe is to know the reality of His love, by faith.
Paul knows that unless our Christian walk and spiritual witness is rooted and grounded in love, it is as sounding brass and clashing cymbals.
He knows that unless our Christian life produces the fruit of the Spirit; long-suffering, patience, love, and joy, as well as humility, goodness, kindness, and self-control, it will profit us nothing and will not glorify our Father, Who is in heaven.
God is love, and the qualities of a Christian who is walking in spirit and truth and abiding in Christ, is a fervent love for God and a compassionate love for others.
A profound love for the Lord and benevolence towards brothers and sisters in Christ is not a warm, fuzzy feeling or some romantic, emotional sensation, but an unselfish action that is quietly carried out in sprit, in truth, in reality, and in action.
It contrasts good with evil, right with wrong, love with hate, and even draws a comparison between righteous Abel whose sacrifice to God was acceptable to Him and wicked Cain who secretly slew his brother out of jealous hatred and pride.
He does not simply say: Whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need should not close his heart against him, but poses the question: How does the love of God abide in a believer who has sufficient of this world's goods yet shuts off his heart towards his brother's need?
How is it possible for the love of God to be in someone who claims to be a Christian when they refuse to help their fellow man?
This selfish and uncaring attitude in a Christian does not invalidate their salvation as some like to teach, but it does show they are carnal and out of fellowship with the Father, for the love of God is not being reflected in their life.
This can never be carried out in our own strength, and a fleshly believer will expose his sinful carnality through a lack of love and concern for their fellow believers.
Mary was the blessed vessel that God used to bring forth the Son of His love into the world, and together with Mary we all look to Jesus as the Author and Finisher of our faith: My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour, was her glorious song of rejoicing which was recorded in Scripture - when she praised God that the child in her womb was indeed her own God and Saviour.
May we make it a priority to test all things, to hold fast that which is good, and may we do so in godly love and in humble submission to the Holy Spirit.
And because of our faith in Christ Jesus, God will graciously open His arms of love wide and show us the nail prints in His hands which paid the price for your sin and mine.You see, little children, our sins are all forgiven, forever, to those that believe.
It was for love of Israel that Christ was sent by His Father as the Passover Lamb, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.
It was for love of the world that God sent His beloved Son to earth to be the sacrifice for our sin, so that whoever believes in Him might not perish but have everlasting life.
It was also for love of the Church, which is His Body, that the Lord Jesus willingly gave up His life, so that she might be set apart, perfected, and changed into His likeness, through a lifelong process of 'sanctification'.
Those who rejected God's offer of salvation will reap eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord - they will find themselves excluded from the glory and majesty of God's mercy and love.
Had the believers at Corinth been walking worthy of their calling, there would have been no need for Paul to write this stinging, corrective teaching in the thirteenth chapter of first Corinthians, but all aspects of love were missing from their lives, and their ungodly behavior required Paul's stern admonition: Love as Christ loved us.
The wealth of spiritual gifts given to this body of believers, sharply contrasted an absence of spiritual fruit, for godly love was missing both from their church community and from the lives of individual believers.
When this beautiful chapter on love is divorced from its correct context, it becomes a sentimental sermon rather than a corrective commentary.
And this attitude of selfish greed and carelessness that the Corinthians church displayed was even present at the Lord's Table (their 'love' feasts).
Their unloving attitude towards each other was manifest in many areas of life and so they were charged by Paul to act appropriately: But love does not behave itself improperly, for love seeketh not its own and is not selfish and self-centered.
And he reminded them: Love seeketh not her own and does not demand its own way, but rather in lowliness of mind they should esteem others as better than themselves.
Sadly, the thoughts of the minds of these carnal Christians were continuously evil, for they had reverted to living the way of the world where they were dominated by the old sin nature rather than walking in spirit, truth, and love, being subject to their new life in Christ and yielded to the indwelling Spirit of God.
Let us, in the power of the Holy Spirit, walk worthy of our calling and love others as Christ loved us.
Let us seek to grow in grace and produce the spiritual fruit of righteousness and love.
And let us take every thought captive, being washed in the Word of godly love.
May we continue to grow in grace. May we press on to the high call of God in Christ Jesus. May we be ready to declare the awesome deeds of the Lord to the next generation with hymns of praise, words of wisdom, and a humble heart that reflects the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the sweet fellowship that come from the Holy Spirit.
But it was not until Abraham obeyed God's command: Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you, that God swore this oath to keep His promise.
It was a psalm that expressed David's deep love for God for he confessed, I love You, Lord.
But the Lord is also the object of David's love and adoration, and like David, may we also proclaim, He is the One Who anoints me with the oil of gladness, and He is none other than my GOD - my Father, my Lord, my Saviour, my Friend, my King and my ALL in ALL.the LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, and my stronghold.
We are not the sort of Christians that revert back to the former, legal system that believers followed before the Cross... we are not those who shrink back to perdition. There may be times when a believer does shrink back through fear, lack of faith, leaving our first love, or falling into some fleshly lust but we must never forget that ALL truly born again believers are held securely in the hands of God - and cannot shrink back unto perdition.
We have God's assurance that nothing can pluck us out or His hands and nothing can separate us from the love of God which is eternally ours - by faith in Christ Jesus.
He came into a fallen world that was lying in the hands of the evil one, a world that was in bondage to the evil governance of Satan (a created being who rebelled against His Creator God), and the Son of God did all this for love of you and for love of me so that by His deep poverty we might become rich.
And so we are called upon to be of one mind, having the same love for one another and living in perfect harmony with a singular focus: the Lord Jesus Christ.
Every other good thing that pertains to spiritual life; eternal life, eternal love, eternal hope, eternal joy, eternal peace, eternal prosperity, and eternal grace, is also given.
God, in His grace, not only removes the sin-barrier that estranges man from his Creator God, but He desires His people to rest in His love and to know His own precious peace deep within our hearts so that we may enjoy sweet fellowship with Him.The Lord has blessed us with every spiritual blessing, and all His promises to us are all 'yes' and 'amen' in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paul knows God is able to work all things together, for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose and so he was able to write: I have confidence in you in the Lord, that you will adopt no other view.
The sad bitterness, revengeful thoughts, arrogant attitude, and angry unforgiveness of the ungodly, that so often floods the minds of sinful man, stands in stark contrast with the overflowing loving-kindness, compassionate-mercy, and unmerited gracious-pardon that streamed from the veins of the Lord Jesus, when He stretched out His arms of love to embrace whosoever will.
Your faithfulness and unfailing love, reaches to the skies.
What comfort, rest, and reassurance wash the hearts and minds of believers when reflecting on the overwhelming love of God and the depth and height and length and breadth to which His grace extends.
His love plunges beyond the bottomless depths of the deepest oceans, and His loving-faithfulness, righteousness, and justice plummet to the very depths of our understanding and extend into the farthest reaches of our limited grasp.
May we lift our hearts with the psalmist morning by morning and every moment of our transient lives, by raising our voices in joyful thanks and praise, for God's loyal love reaches to the sky, His faithfulness extends beyond the clouds, and His saving grace spans the eternal ages to come.
Paul instructs them to remain united together with one mind... before committing them into the Lord's safe-keeping with a beautiful benediction that has become beloved by generations of believers: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of God, the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
Indeed, it is often prayed as a parting benediction before brothers and sisters in Christ depart from a time of Christian fellowship and it is often prayed as a beautiful blessing over those for whom we care deeply: May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with YOU.
It is the love of the Father-heart of God that sent His only begotten Son into the world to be the sacrifice for the sin of humanity - so that whosoever believes on HIM would not perish, but have everlasting life.
It was the love that streamed from the Father-heart of God for a fallen race of sinners, that caused Him to give His only begotten Son of His love to be wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, and to die for our sin so that we might live and be clothed in His righteousness.
And may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you ALL - Hallelujah - what a Saviour.
Paul's life had been turned upside-down and inside-out as a result of his encounter with the Lord of glory, and his immense love and eternal thanksgiving to God for his conversion to Christ and his salvation by grace, caused this man to follow the Lord with selfless abandon.
It was his love for Christ that compelled Paul to share relentlessly the ministry of reconciliation through the glorious gospel of grace; whereby Christ died for all so that by faith in Him we should not live for ourselves any longer, but for Him Who died and rose again.
The whole company of believers who trust in Christ for salvation becomes a sovereign love-gift from God the Father to God the Son, through time and into eternity We are also given God's supreme assurance that all who come by grace through faith in Christ, will be given to Him by the Father and none shall pluck them out of His hands, and this is God's sovereign will.
They will support and encourage us, help and counsel us, comfort and warn us, and they will love us no matter what happens.
He is the One who will always support and encourage us, help and counsel us, comfort and warn us - and He is the One Whose unconditional love will be poured out upon us without measure, through time and into eternity.
As Christians, it should be our desire and single intent to love the Lord with all our being and seek, with our whole heart, to be in His perfect will.
But being saved by grace through faith and clothed in Christ is not the end goal but the beginning of our new life in Him, and every day we should strive to know Him more, to love Him better, to listen to His voice, to obey His Word, and to develop an ever-closer relationship with Him. This demands a singleness of purpose, a sole objective – one determined aim.
He will lay aside all other considerations and press on to finish the task the Lord has given him to do – knowing that Christ is his sufficiency and Christ is his strength.If you have met the Lord on your Damascus Road, why not resolutely set your eyes on the final goal and make it your single intent to love the Lord with all your being and seek with all your heart to be in His perfect will – in Christ.
God used His life as a living illustration of Israel's spiritual adultery and gross apostasy, as contrasted with the long-suffering mercy, boundless love, and inexhaustible grace of God.
Despite its shocking storyline and display of human misery, the grace Hosea showed to his adulterous wife serves as a tiny reminder of the length, and breadth, and depth, and height of God's love towards us and His never-failing faithfulness towards His people; for the day is coming when every promise to Israel, the Church, and all who have trusted Christ as Saviour, will be completed, and Jesus will reign on earth as King of kings and Lord of lords.
The fact that these believers displayed the work of faith, labour of love, steadfast hope in the Lord, and joy in the Holy Spirit, despite the many tribulations they underwent, is something we should seek to emulate.
As the body of Christ, we are to be united in love, to walk in the way of the Lord Jesus, and to live the same type of life that He lived.
We are to engage in brotherly love unceasingly and empathise with our persecuted brethren in prison, and we are to care for those that are ill-treated for righteousness' sake, because we are all members of the same Body - the Body of Christ.
Our behaviour should be friendly, congenial, gracious, and welcoming, and we should be free from the love of money and the lust of the flesh.
Loving hospitality to strangers and a caring, Christian love for those close to us, should be the hallmark of all believers, for God may send holy angels, family members, strangers who come to our door, or people we interact with in the street, as ministering spirits to encourage, exhort, teach, correct, reproof, correct, or instruct in righteousness.
Paul's dedication in proclaiming the gospel of God and his deep love for the Christians at Philippi, is very evident in the opening verses of his epistle.
He prayed that their love for one another would abound more and more, and that they would be filled with the spiritual fruit of righteousness - for the glory and praise of God.
Although some were insincere and envious of Paul and taught out of selfish ambition in order to cause him distress during His imprisonment, many preached the gospel out of love and a deep respect for Paul, knowing that he had been appointed, by God, for the defence of the gospel of Christ.
The abundance of spiritual gifts of which they could readily boast, were sharply contrasted with a significant dearth of spiritual fruit, all of which are founded on LOVE.
And so Paul begins to list the enriching and edifying qualities that are found in godly love which were so lacking in the lives of these unspiritual believers.
Long-suffering and patient endurance in the midst of provocation, and a kindness that looks first to the needs of others, are the first two evidences of love that Paul pens to this unspiritual crowd - for love is patient, and love is kind.
He then points out that godly love is the exact opposite of the unspiritual behaviour that had been exhibited by these Corinthians Christians, for love does not envy, love is not boastful or conceited, nor it is jealous, arrogant, argumentative, carnal-minded, discontented, immoral, inconsiderate, unloving, self-inflated, selfish, or critical of others.
This thirteenth chapter is considered by many to be the supreme treaties on love, and indeed as we read through this passage that is beloved by many, we discover that only the name 'JESUS' could easily be substituted throughout for the word 'LOVE'.
When we consider this passage, let us look deeper in the significance of its true meaning, and earnestly pray that Christ may be formed in us so that we are enabled to love as He loves.
May we who have been so blessed by God to be His children, be used by Him as channels of His blessing through Whom the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is poured out in great measure to others, this day and forevermore, AMEN.
But the compassion and grace with which Jesus replied and the expression of love that followed when he touched the leper's diseased body, is not only moving but powerful evidence that His Messianic claims were true.
May we be ready and willing to extend the same compassion and love towards every lost soul we meet as Jesus did to the leprous man when He touched him and made him clean.
What a beautiful truth it is... to know that God is love and that the love that we are called to manifest in our lives, has its source in the divine love of God.
How amazing to realise the outpouring of His unique love flows through us to others because we have become his children.
However, to reverse the sentence from 'God is Love' to say that 'Love is God' as some have chosen to do, is emphatically wrong.
It is unbiblical, totally untrue, and denies the plain truth of God's Word which clearly states that GOD IS LOVE but never that love is God!
Love may be one aspect of God's character and attributes - but to say that love is synchronous with God is false.
This chapter in John's first epistle, is a beautiful exposition of love similar to the famous 'love' chapter in 1 Corinthians 13.
The love of God cannot be humanly produced and those that exhibit this uniquely divine love are a living testimony that they have been born-again - for the one that does not love as God loves, does not know God - for God is love.
Human affection, sexual love, emotional love, and cultural love which emanates from the natural realm, must never be confused with divinely imputed love which has its singular source in God and is exclusively given from God to those that are His children.
Love must be defined by its context, and when we are talking of divine love - it is a love that cannot be produced by man, nor whipped up by human emotions.
God's love flows to us exclusively from Him - and then it flows through us - to others.
Love is a product of the Holy Spirit in the life of a man or woman that is walking in spirit and truth.
The absence of divine love is an established, biblical fact in the life of an unregenerate man or the unsaved woman... although they may be well able to exhibit human affection through parental love, sexual love, inter-relational love or cultural love - it can never correspond with divine love which is a spiritual fruit from the Spirit of God that is manifested in a child of God.
Love is not the outworking of our human emotions, although emotion may accompany biblical love.
What amazing love!!
Since God loved us in this way, His children are morally obligated to love one another - as Christ loved.
Just as God manifested His love through His actions, we too are to demonstrate the love that we have received from above by the things that we do for others and the way that we act towards them.
Godly love should be a reciprocal love that passes between believers, where each considers the need of the others before their own.
Divine love demands that we do what is best for other people in the light of eternity, no matter what may be the cost to us - for divine love is an action that flows from an attitude that seeks to consider what is best for another - to the honour of God - as prompted by the Spirit of God.
God is the source of all love, and herein is love: Not that we loved Him but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. And we who have become part of His family by faith, are obligated to love as Christ loved us and to give our lives in sacrificial service for the benefit of others and to the glory of God.
As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is the difference between the fruit of the Sprit with His gifts, for the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE; pure, holy, unconditional, everlasting, godly love.
The fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, which fragments into joy, peace, patient-endurance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, and these will last forever and ever and into the eternal ages to come, for LOVE NEVER FAILS.
We are told that there are three things that will last forever: faith, hope, and love - but the greatest of these is LOVE.
Being comfortable with our life situation, kindling a heart that is content with our lot, and keeping ourselves from an attitude of covetousness, will enable us to live a positive Christian life and the writer to the Hebrews instructs us in this way: Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He, Himself, has said, 'I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.'
While money can be an excellent servant of man and is able to do much good, the writer to the Hebrews identifies the love of money as a key hindrance to inner contentment. In his letter to Timothy, Paul also warns that the love of money is a root of all sorts of evils and that some believers have so hankered after money as to be led astray from the faith.
When the love of money rears its ugly head, it spawns a covetous heart and gives birth to a soul that is restless and discontented.
May we develop a character that is free from the love of money and may we strive to be content in all things, knowing that He Himself has promised to be with us in all the changing scenes of our lives.
As we consider His never-failing love and everlasting mercy, may we be caused to cry out in joyful unison: Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised. His greatness and His worth is unsearchable.
My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus, is a verse we all love to quote as we rejoice in the abundant supply of our generous God Who is overflowing with gracious-mercy and bubbling over with loving-kindness.
God is no respecter of persons and He is equally willing and able to use our own difficulties, dangers, deprivation, and disappointments to draw us closer to Himself and increase our love and trust in our Heavenly Saviour.
Not only are we to stay true to the never-changing written Word of God, which was inspired by the Spirit of truth, but this glorious gospel of God is to be delivered with faith and shared in love - and should remain our benchmark for truth.
Without faith it is impossible to please God and love, alone, comes through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Faith must never be compromised but the truth must always be delivered in love.
Similarly, the truth must never be compromised BUT the truth should always be shared by faith and in love.
When we start to truly understand the significance and importance of our mutual identity, we begin to understand the depth of the riches of both the wisdom of God and His gracious love towards us.
There are those that love the Lord Jesus with all their heart, but due to traditional influences, denominational leanings, legalistic instruction, exclusive practices, or the lies of the enemy, have been blinded to the gracious liberty they have in the glorious gospel of grace.
Contrary to finding fault with those that are weak in the faith or deliberately entering into arguments with those that are disadvantaged in their spiritual maturity, such brothers and sisters should be welcomed into our fellowship and be received with Christian love and grace.
Let us receive our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ in godly grace, in truth and in love.
Some contend that it refers to the unfruitful carnal believer who backslides in his Christian walk and does not manifest the beautiful fruit of the Spirit, which is rooted in love, while others point the sombre fact of the discipline of physical death, of which Paul speaks in 1 Corinthians 11.
The King of Love was teaching Pilate that everyone who responds to His voice and accepts that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, will not be condemned.
We are to strive to seek a deeper knowledge of the Son of God's love so that we do not become double-minded or are tricked into evil works through man's craftiness, nor tossed about by every wind of doctrine.
He had already been baptised in the Jordan by John and identified as the 'coming One' for John testified: When He came up out of the waters of baptism, I saw the Holy Spirit descending on Him in the form of a Dove, and a voice came from heaven saying, 'You are my Son, Whom I love.
The letter to the church in Thyatira is no exception and despite being commended for their love, faith, service, and perseverance, church members are fiercely rebuked for permitting sexual immorality to infiltrate the Body of Christ, admonished for embracing other pagan practices, and challenged to change their ways.
When we were hopelessly lost to His love and dead in our trespasses and sins, it was God, Himself Who searched us out and found us... for we formerly walked according to the course of this world and lived according to the prince of the power of the air - who is the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
Another problem is internal division which endangers the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and love between believers.
Paul's antidote to most of the difficulties in Christian communion is to be like-minded, having the same love, and being one in spirit.
Humility of spirit, gentleness of disposition, love for each other, and joy in the Lord, are all fruits of the Spirit which burst forth in a life that is centred in Christ.
Let us love one another, for love is of God.
And as we know Christ more intimately, may we love others more deeply and, with humility of heart, value others above ourselves.
He encourages us to love mercy and presents us in this verse with a beautiful, conditional promise: Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
Jesus also came as the sweet-smelling savour to the Lord, for He stretched out His arms to the cross willingly, so that He could give His life for love of the Church.
Let us be careful not to emulate the prideful Jewish leaders whose lust for power, love of money, and craving for control, blinded their eyes by blocking their ears to the truth of the gospel: For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
May we emulate His courage and heart-desire to do the work of God while it is still day, and to rest in His love until He calls us home.
God is not unjust, so as to forget your work and the love, which you have shown toward His name, was the heart-warming statement these Hebrews Christians read: The Lord will not forget all the good work you have already done in ministering to the saints... nor will He overlook the work that you are still engaged in.
The hallmark of true faith is active, Christian love which is carried out in the power of the Holy Spirit.
And the faith of these dear saints was manifested in the ongoing work they performed to the glory of God, together with their selfless labour of Christian love, in ministering to their brothers and sisters in Christ.
What an assurance, therefore, to be told that the eyes of the Lord will never miss any good deed we do for His glory, nor will be unaware of any labour of love that is shown to Him through a tender ministry that is directed towards His people.
What a great encouragement it is to all the people of God - to know that the Lord is aware of the thoughts of our hearts, the words that we speak, and the actions that we carry out in love - for His praise and glory.
In the Christian life, we are commanded to be honest, to be respectful to others, to conduct ourselves with integrity, and to love our neighbour as we love ourselves, for love is the fulfilment of God's perfect Law.
They were to worship Him in spirit, in truth, in love, and in the beauty of holiness.
How blessed are those that are born again in Christ in this dispensation of grace, for we are also chosen as His own inheritance - we too identify as sons of God and joint-heirs with Christ.Jesus is not only the great Sustainer of nature and the generous God of providence, but He is our peace and hope, love and joy, and He is our Comforter, Defender – our Saviour and Friend.
How we rejoice, for this is one facet of the cut diamond of His immeasurable grace with which God has chosen to bless us.It was not happenstance or fate, good luck, or a happy fluke that rendered us so blessed, but a beautiful showering of His wonderful love on all who believe in Jesus Christ, for which we praise His wonderful name which deserves to be glorified into the eternal ages to come.
In Ephesians, Paul opens the floodgates of God's blessing on His people, with the words, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him - in love.He has blessed us with pardon and peace, redemption and adoption, and illumination and truth from His Holy Spirit.
He chose every one of us in Him before the world was created, that we would be holy and blameless before Him- in love.
Man is free to choose to accept Christ as Saviour and believe in His finished work at Calvary... but man is equally given the choice to reject His free gift of grace and unconditional love.
He knows who will resist the convicting work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, and He knows those who will respond to the gospel and trust in the Son of His love - and everyone who is converted was chosen, by Him, before the world began.
And we are called the elect for a reason - so that in Christ we would be holy and blameless before Him, in love.
No wonder Paul exhorts each one of us to live lives that are holy and acceptable before God - in love.
May we be ready and willing to be holy and live blamelessly before Him all the days of our lives - IN LOVE.
The true Light of life, the Lord Jesus Himself Who is able to illuminate the heart and transform the soul, has already come into the world, but men love darkness more that the light because their deeds are evil.
As children of the light, let us not only walk in the light of His love, but be used as His channels of blessing and hope to others knowing that: To all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.
He gave thanks for the good news of their eternal salvation and rejoiced over their work of faith, their labour of love, and the steadfast hope they had in Christ.
Paul knew that the gospel he taught was the Truth that has come directly from the Almighty, Whose never-ending love is supernaturally shed abroad in our hearts by the indwelling Holy Spirit of Christ, Who is gloriously imparted to ALL who believe.
The more we read, mark, learn, inwardly digest, and meditate upon the Word of God, the more real His love towards us becomes and the closer His presence within us is known.
Love is the primary characteristic that we see in the Father's gift of His Son to the world, and in Christ's sacrifice of Himself for His Church and throughout the Church epistles, we are called to love one another in the same way that Christ loved us.
Love is enriching and fulfilling for the one who loves as well as for the one who is loved.
But when the gifts of the Spirit are administered apart from love, they are of no value, either to the one who ministers or to the one to whom he is ministering.
Speaking in tongues without love becomes a clamouring noise, and without love, prophesying or preaching, knowledge or faith, demeans the preacher, dishonours the Lord, and does not edify the saints.
Indeed, should one feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the destitute, tend to the sick, visit prisoners, educate the disadvantaged, or even become a martyr for one's faith - without love - we are told: We gain nothing.
Love of God and His Spirit of love pulsing through our lives and streaming out to others is the most important ministry any one of us can be called to undertake.
The man or woman who sits at the feet of Jesus, drinking in His Word, being filled up with His love, will be those who, naturally and instinctively, love others as the overflow of Christ's love pours into those around them.
Little children, let us love one another as Christ loved us, for love is of God.
The God of Hope - Oh what a glorious title and beautiful theme for the triune God Who, in singleness of purpose, is pledged to fill us with all joy, peace, love, and hope, when we simply trust in the pure gospel of the Son of His love.
Neither the ravages of the old sin nature nor the temptations of the enemy who seeks our destruction, can separate us from the love of God or remove the hope that is ours, in Christ Jesus our Lord.Paul’s dear desire for the Body of Christ is translated into the most beautiful, intercessory prayer: Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
He was a man who walked according to God's will and God's purpose - for as we read in Amos, Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Walking together in the unity of the spirit implies deep friendship and love - a special and intimate relationship, where ongoing communion is maintained.
He reinforces his argument with additional examples from nature: These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.
Jude warned that such men would blemish the 'love feasts' - communal meals that were so common in those early days of the Church, which often included a celebration of the Lord's Supper.
Rather, we are to keep on building up our strength by praying in the Holy Spirit, walking in truth, remaining in the love of God, dying to self, and living for Him.
Many believers like to focus on the love of Jesus because they think that this will cause unbelievers to get saved but they prefer to allow Christ's death, burial, and Resurrection to be side-lined in a blurry background, in case it offends or puts the unbeliever off the Christian faith!
But the shed blood of the incarnate Son of God Who was born into His own creation, and the immutable love of the eternal Father, are inseparably interwoven and irrevocably united together.
It was LOVE that caused the almighty God to send His only begotten Son into the world to become the sin-sacrifice for the entire race of humanity and it was LOVE that caused the Lord Jesus Christ to lay down His life for us.
And it was LOVE that caused the Lord Jesus to be crucified on a cruel cross willingly, so that all who believe on Him might not perish but have everlasting life.
The Lord Jesus offered the supreme example of ultimate love when He laid down His life for friends and enemies alike.
Love is manifest in its highest measure at the Cross of Calvary, and as His children, we ought also to lay down our lives in the same way for our brethren.
Mankind is crumpling under the weight of sin and collapsing under the satanic influence of evil which is suffocating a world in distress, but the true character of the spiritual Christian is based on a godly love and stands in stark contrast with the evil hatred that reigns supreme over this fallen world system.
It was for love of us that God the Father poured out the full force of His holy wrath for the accumulated sin of the whole world, upon His innocent and dearly beloved Son Whom He had loved from before the conception of the universe.
And He did it out of LOVE for the world.
The eternal Creator God demonstrated His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, He laid down His life for us and became a curse and a hissing as the weight of the accumulated sin of the world was laid on His shoulders.
And He did it for LOVE of you and for LOVE of me.
When we look at the Cross of Christ and the blood that He shed for us at Calvary, we see incarnate LOVE, and we know what real godly love is by this: that Christ Jesus laid down His life for us.
In a few short verses, we are shown how quickly a believer can leave their first love, lose their heavenly reward, destroy their Christian testimony, and place themselves out of fellowship with their Father in heaven.
There are certain principles that a spiritual believer is exhorted to put into action, and of all God's holy attributes, the one we are commanded to engage in and develop is love.
Love seems to be both the guiding principle and pinnacle of the Christian life – for God is love. Indeed, it was love for the world that caused the Father to give His only begotten Son to die as our sin-substitute on the Cross, and it was love for the Church that held Jesus to the Cross, for He loved the Church so dearly that He gave Himself for her.
Love is not only a guiding principle, but was a crucial part of the moral commands given to Israel.
Jesus condensed the entire Mosaic Law into one simple instruction: You shall LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbour as yourself.
And He continued by commanding His disciples (and us) to love one another with that same supernatural, godly love with which He loves us.
He also taught that love is the fulfilling of the law and that we are to owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the Law.
It is argued that if love were to become humanity's guiding principle, man could correct all the problems on earth.
But the supernatural, godly love about which Paul is speaking, is the unique, unparalleled love of Christ which is only given to the spiritual believer through the power of the indwelling Spirit of God, and will always be beyond our comprehension.
However, to love as Christ loves is not a suggestion but a command which is only possible as we abide in Him and He in us.
Fulfilling the law of Christ by loving others as Christ loved us, and owing nothing to anyone except to love them, can only be in done in the power of the indwelling Spirit.
May we grow in grace and walk in spirit and truth so that by His grace we may owe nothing to anyone EXCEPT to love one another with Christ's own perfect, supernaturally imputed love.
His epistle is clearly written to Christians, but it also identifies and condemns believers who have chosen to leave their first love and make friends with the world by adopting an ungodly philosophy of life and allowing the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life to engulf their thinking and to shipwreck their Christian witness.
And so, despite some good works, love, service, and faith... the gross participation in pagan practices that persisted in this church at Thyatira continues to this present day.
Yes, the promised peace of Christ is an accurate indicator of ones standing with the Lord and is a guide as to whether or not we are abiding in Christ and resting in His love.
Like all who trust in Jesus Christ, Paul had been given a new nature, a new life in Christ which delighted to spread the good news of the glorious gospel of Christ in spirit and truth, and which loved these believers with a Christ-like love.
Paul's love for these believers was reflected in his deep and earnest concern for them, as he constantly made mention of them to the Lord in prayer.
Only a few verses earlier, we read how Abraham had been called by the Lord: Take now your son, your only son whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.
The burnt offering was not a legal requirement, but a free-will gift of love which is given to the Lord.
This poignant picture of Abraham’s offering of his son, Isaac, is simply a foreshadowing of God the Father and His beloved Son, the sinless lamb of God Who went to the Cross out of love.
He asked them to pray that barriers to the truth would be removed, they would be saved from the influence of evil people, and that God would bring them to a deeper understanding of His gracious love and the endurance that comes through Christ.
As Paul draws his epistle to a close, we see his deep love and concern for the little flock of God at Colossae.
In this section there is a wealth of information about the early Church and some important insights into Paul's deep love and compassion for his fellow believers, and in his closing comments, we also identify a sense of urgency.
Paul makes it crystal clear that, love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilment of the law. We are commanded to do no evil towards the people we meet in everyday life and to love them in practical ways.
Loving the people that cross our path experientially, day by day, living a life of integrity and showing consideration towards others is the mark of a true believer who is walking in spirit, in truth, and in love.
Both secular souls and those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ will often quote, The Golden Rule which is, love your neighbour as yourself. It was first written in Leviticus by Moses and was quoted and expounded by the Lord Jesus, and this command is further referenced in the letter to the Romans.
Knowing that the Church, which began at Pentecost, is NOT under the Law but under grace, begs the question - WHY did Paul appeal to the Mosaic Law when promoting the Golden Rule and saying, Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilment of the law. Well, we need look no further than Christ's closing command to the Church - LOVE, as I have loved.
When the Mosaic Law commanded Israel to, love your neighbour as yourself, the Law laid out a very specific instruction for the people to follow, to DEMONSTRATE that they loved their neighbour.
The people of Israel were legally bound to fulfil each and every Law of love found in the Mosaic Law, and if they broke one of the commands they broke them all.
An Israelite who stole from his neighbour would have broken the 8th commandment, which breaks the law to love your neighbour.
The Jew, who lied about his fellow Jew, would have broken the Mosaic Law, as it shows a lack of love towards his neighbour, and a farmer, who refused to leave stalks of wheat in his field for the poor to gather, would have broken the Law of gleaning - which similarly would break the Mosaic Law on LOVING their neighbour.
Israel were to practice love by obeying all the laws of Moses.
The Church is not given a list of things to DO, in order to fulfil the law of love towards our neighbour.
We are given the broad principle to LOVE, and love does no wrong to a neighbour.
At the end of His ministry, the Lord Jesus gave a new commandment to the Church, which condenses this important law of love, into one simple command, LOVE one another as I have loved you - by THIS shall all men know that you are My disciples.
Paul reminds us that when we love others in the same way that Jesus loved us we fulfil the whole of God's law, for love is the fulfillment of the law.
BUT we can only love as Jesus loves when we are walking in spirit and truth and allowing HIM to lead and guide every word we say, every action we undertake, every attitude we express and every motive of our heart.
And Paul, in his book of Galatians, expresses it this way, bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfil the law of Christ. In a world where the love of many has grown cold, may we fulfil Christ's command to love our neighbour as He loves, and do him no wrong, as we submit to the leading of the Spirit and carry out God's will for our lives.
It was then that Christ revealed that love was the only way that blessings could be received, woes could be averted, and God's grace could flow freely into the lives of those who believed.
Christ's groundbreaking revelation was through love - a supernatural love that only comes from above... a godly and God-given love, about which the world has no knowledge or understanding.
The love about which Paul spoke was a superhuman love that is only possible in the lives of those who are one with Christ, abiding in Him, resting in His grace, and trusting His provision.
But God's love is only given through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Disciples of Christ were to go the second mile, the third mile, and even the fourth mile, to demonstrate the supernatural love that can never be manufactured or brought about in the human heart.
They were to display a godly, God-given love, that only comes from above... in order to treat others in the way that they would wish to be treated.
A supernatural love that mirrors the love of God is the essence of Christianity and can only be demonstrated in a life that is saved by grace through faith.
Love is the primary fruit-of-the-Spirit from which all other godly graces flow.
Only a sinner, saved by grace, has the capacity to love as Christ loved... but he must be prepared to 1) take up his cross, 2) follow Christ, 3) give his life as a living sacrifice, and 4) walk humbly before God.
To transparently bestow kindness and love on one's enemies or to show grace towards those who exploit or exasperate us, is not an action that can be whipped up in the blackened heart of fallen humanity.
The love we demonstrate to others must be a love that flows through us from on high, like streams of living waters.
Let us kindle afresh the gift of God which by His grace we have received, but let us do it in LOVE, for if we function in the gifts of the Spirit without LOVE it profits us nothing, and dishonours our Lord.
Surely the love of Christ compels us who have trusted Him as Saviour to no longer live for ourselves but for to live unto Him Who died for us and was raised again, that we might have life and have it more abundantly.
And it was out of love that God sent His only begotten Son so that all who trust in Him for their redemption are saved by grace through faith: transferred from being a member of the kingdom of Satan through physical birth into Adam's fallen race, into becoming a member of Christ's Body through spiritual birth, a child of God, and a citizen of heaven through spiritual birth into Christ:
It is only as we abide in Him, rest in His love, trust His Word, and look to Him in all things, that we can walk in His ways and bring forth much fruit to His praise and glory.
When first introduced to the believers at Corinth, we find a group of Christians that despite their boasting, their diverse spiritual gifts were devoid of love and wallowed in a divergent range of ungodly actions and attitudes including: quarrelling, envying, anger, bitterness, back-biting, carnal intrigues, and gross spiritual immaturity.
But following his justified correction and legitimate chastisement, we glimpse the heart of Paul the apostle and his unquenchable love for these carnal, Corinthian Christians: I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls, was Paul's yearning outburst towards them.
But they placed their love and respect in other quarters, despite Paul's genuine desire for their spiritual wellbeing.
This false gospel sought the gift in preference to the Giver, and caused these believers to elevate unscrupulous false teachers and glory in their false doctrines in preference to the pure milk of the Word of truth which Paul poured out from his own heart of love.
May we also be willing to be poured out as a drink offering to the Lord and become a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto Him, for love of those who need to hear the truth of the glorious gospel of truth from our lips.
It was through God's grace and love that the Light of salvation, which had been promised in the garden of Eden so long ago, was ready to pierce the deep darkness of the world.
He is the reviving Light Who alone gives life and hope and peace and love.
He came to pay the price for sin and to seek and to save all who would believe on His name, for He alone was God's acceptable ransom price for sin, and He alone could bear witness to God's truth.He came to do the will of His Father and to demonstrate God's incredible love to humanity, by being a light to the darkened world so that all who believe on His name would not abide in darkness but receive the glorious light of His abundant life.
He trusted the word of the angel who came from God in answer to Paul's prayer, and this child of God knew that even the raging ocean and the loss of the vessel on which he was travelling would be used to fulfil the plans and purposes of God: All things work together for good for those that love God, for those that are called, according to His purpose.
Greater love has no man than this - that a Man lays down His life for His friends.
Love, as I have loved you.
Love for one another was a very important part of Christ's command to his loyal, yet confused disciples, for He knew that they would be persecuted for righteousness' sake and hated by the world because they were His followers.
It is demonstrated by one who believes God's Word and applies the royal law of unselfish and impartial love in every area of life: love of God and love of one's neighbour through the supernatural love of Christ within.
May we take to heart James' exhortation to be patient in the difficult circumstances we face when life seems unfair, to love as Christ loved, and to be rich in faith.
May we be ready and willing to persevere under trials and tribulation and allow patience to blossom in our lives, knowing the day is coming when those who are approved will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
But perhaps the most precious 'takeaway' from this story is the closeness of our heavenly Lord to all those who love Him, in every season of life and at every moment in the day.
May we never be engaged in spiritual slumber or allow the passing of time to dim our desire to know Him more intimately and to love more passionately, with every passing day.
This letter to 'The Chosen Lady' as she is called, covers some vitally important information because it teaches those who desire to walk in spirit and truth how they may develop Christian love and grace as they journey through life.
The love and grace He showed to us when we were lost sinners, is to be reflected in our own lives as we arm ourselves with the same Christ-like attitude and a corresponding godly purpose - as we travel through life.
There must be a depth of love between the members of the Trinity at which we can only wonder, for Each loves the Other with a divine love that always has been and will continue to exist forever.
It is a godly love that will reach into the eternal ages to come, a deathless love that will never end, for God is love.And yet, that continuously existing communion between Father and Son was broken at Calvary's Cross, as the Lord Jesus Christ was made sin for you and for me.
No wonder He screamed, My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?God turned His back on the beloved Son of His love.
It is as we abide in Him and rest in His love, that the Lord endows us with His perfect peace which passes human understanding, and gives us the assurance that He is with us - even to the end of the age.
We are to rest in His love and to trust in His Word, even during those difficult times so that we may live godly in Christ Jesus.
Although we may face physical suffering, financial hardships, material deprivation, other deep losses, and even death, we have God's absolute assurance that nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus, including tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, poison, the sword... and even the perils of the 21st century.
There is no one that can harm us and nothing that can separate the born-again child of God from the eternal promises that are ours in Christ Jesus our Saviour: Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come... nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Nothing is able to harm us or separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul therefore desires that we are constrained by a grateful heart and a deep love for our Father, to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to the Lord.
And here in this particular verse we are called to abhor what is evil, to cling to that which is good and to be careful that we show godly love that is not tainted by fleshly hypocrisy.
Only godly love that comes directly from the heart of our Saviour is truly sincere.
The love that we are called to exhibit in our lives is the foremost fruit of the Spirit, which can only be ministered to us by the Holy Spirit Himself as we die to self, abide in Christ and He in us.
Human love is flawed and too often exhibits a selfish streak or it is hidden behind some hypocritical pretence.
But godly love is sincere, unaffected and never ever fails.
unbecoming or easily provoked - love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things.
love never fails and is patient and kind..
In this thorough treatise of our faith, Paul insists that the man or woman of God should demonstrate in their lives a godly love, which shows forth deep reverence for the Lord and a tender affection for those that are in the household of faith - according to the gifts and ministries that we have been awarded by the Spirit of God.
and a heart that overflows with the love of God Himself - a love which surpasses all human comprehension.
Simply reading these inspired words of Holy Writ which are part of God's eternal love-letter to human-kind, causes us to kneel in humble reverence before the throne of grace.
As we meditate on the written Word of God's eternal love-letter to human-kind, we see the wonderful face of Jesus and we start to reflect His beauty and radiate His grace, to the glory of God.
And so it seems that Paul bravely chose to write this second, biblical epistle, before visiting the church once more, to ensure that any misunderstanding on their part, or any bad feeling they may still have towards the apostle, was addressed: It is out of much affliction and anguish of heart that I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.
Paul wanted to explain that the correction or chastisement of a brother-in-Christ should not come from a bitter or mean-spirited heart, but out of love for that person.
Reproof of a fellow believer should be delivered out of deep concern for their spiritual well-being and needs to flow from a heart of deep concerns and godly love, not from a critical or condemnatory spirit.
In this verse, Paul gives a beautiful insight into his fatherly heart of love.
Proverbs reminds us that faithful are the wounds of a friend, and whether we are giving Christian counsel to a brother who has strayed from the narrow path or receiving a righteous rebuke from a concerned brother in Christ, it should be carried out in love or recognised as a restorative nudge from the Lord, Himself.
May we give and receive correction in love, and speak the Word of God in truth.
Perfect love casts out fear, so let us replace fear with faith and let us reflect upon, think about, mull over, ponder, contemplate, and simply consider the lilies of the field and how they grow, they neither toil nor do they spin; but not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.
But God in His love, pity, mercy, and grace sent Jesus, His beloved Son, to be the propitiation for our sins, and all who believe on His name are saved by grace, through faith.
The Lord Jesus warned us that as servants of God who have been born from above, we will be hated by the world in the same way that the world hated Jesus when He walked this earth: If you were of the world, He explains, the world would love you - because the world loves its own.
In his first epistle, he reminds his brothers and sisters in Christ that being hated by unsaved men and women should not ever surprise us, because the message of redemption is an offense to prideful men: If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as one of its own.
The world is filled with two groups of people; the saved and the unsaved; sons of the light and the sons of darkness; children of God and children of the devil who refuse to practise the righteousness of God but love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.
Throughout history, believers have been persecuted by those of the world because their hope and values are rooted in Christ and truth, love, and grace.
Rather, he encourages us to continue to show forgiveness, love, kindness, and grace towards those that hate and revile us, just as Jesus did when He told is to pray for those that despitefully use us.
May we walk in the light of Christ and not in the darkness of this world, and speak the truth in love to those of this world who are perishing.
The Corinthian Christians were a group of believers who delighted in their outwards gifts and talents... to the exclusion of an inner spirituality which centred on Jesus Christ and which would produce in them, the beautiful fruit of the Spirit... which is rooted and grounded in love.
There are many gifts that are given through the Holy Spirit as He chooses, but unless those spiritual gifts are ministered to one another through love, they are of little significance and of no spiritual value at all.
But unless a spiritual gift is administered in love, it is like a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If the gift of prophecy, faith, knowledge, or understanding is not ministered in love, it means nothing.
Even if we were endowed with prophetic utterances, enabled to understand all God's secret purposes, obtained all knowledge, or endowed with enough supernatural faith to move mountains, it is of no consequence without love for one another.
The Word of God teaches that we are to deny ourselves by keeping 'self' in the place of death so that we may love and serve the Lord our God in spirit and truth, and encourage and edify our brothers and sisters in Christ.
We do this by allowing the love of God to flow into us, through us, and out to others.
Let us love one another in spirit and truth, for love is of God, and he who loves as Christ loves, will both edify the Body of Christ and glorify our Father Who is in heaven.
There are some that consider Christians should use 'imprecatory' prayers against their enemies and invoke the Lord for justice and vindication, while others consider that calling down judgement on their enemies is not appropriate because we have been called to love our enemies and pray for those that despitefully use us.
Just as we are reminded: There is a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace, we also have to be aware that there may be a time to plead for God to avenge us of a terrible wrong.
And Hosea was calling the errant nation of Israel to repent of their sins, return to their first love, and seek the Lord with all their heart, if they were to avert the rapidly approaching judgement that had been prophesied by so many holy men of God.
The instruction Christ was giving us in this request was about developing dependent faith in the child of God, and the prayer requests that we make to the Lord are designed to increase that faith and to enlarge in us a loving trust in our Heavenly Father and a trusting love for our gracious Lord.
Jesus knew that He would soon be departing out of the world to return to His Father in heaven, and would have to leave behind the dear disciples whom the Father had given to Him, all of whom He loved so dearly. The infinite and eternal love that Christ had for them, and has for all His blood-bought children, is far beyond our comprehension.
Nevertheless, as the Lord Jesus looked at the men that had walked with him for over three years, His divine heart of love reached out to each one of them and yearned for them with a depth of love that stretched into eternity and a breadth of love that reaches beyond infinity.
As part of the same Church, members of the same mystical Body of Christ, and disciples of the same divine Saviour, that eternal, infinite love continues to travel down the corridors of time to embrace all who have been saved by grace through faith in the Him.
In the midst of the most shocking miscarriage of justice, when hatred against God and His Christ reach the pinnacle of humanities evil, we have a glimpse into the Father-heart of God and the infinite passion and love of the Son with these eternal words: Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.Despised, rejected, and dying on the Cross with outstretched arms of love to redeem mankind from their sins, the first thought on the mind of our Saviour was not hatred, revenge, or self-pity, but eternal forgiveness.
He demonstrated a depth of forgiving love that passes our understanding.There was no resentment or anger, no bitterness, no feelings of hostility or damaged pride in this statement, but it encapsulated a depth of divine forgiveness that was able to lovingly embrace the crude Roman soldiers that greedily envied His bloodied garment and cast lots for his seamless cloak.It included the governor and his cowardly compromise, and it encompassed the false witnesses with their fabricated allegations and false testimony.
The love that flooded from the heart of the Father, and the blood that streamed from the body of the Saviour was a demonstration of divine forgiveness and love divine so that all who believe on His name are forgiven - forever.
There are many stories in the Bible that God uses to paint a striking word-picture of His love for His people Israel, and the lives of various characters in Scripture are used in different ways to illustrate God's message of redemption, and teaches us some important lessons.
One of the most touching illustrations is seen in the true-life love story of Hosea, his wife, and his family.
Despite the love Hosea had for his wife (Gomer) and the gracious care he showed toward her, Gomer prostituted herself with many lovers.
His renewed love and blessing for His people and the reaffirmation of His vows and promises to His holy, covenant nation is beautifully exemplified through the restoration of Hosea's own marriage.
He rejoiced that we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, are blameless in the sight of the Father, and will one day stand before Him in love.
God in His kindness placed us in a special relationship with Himself - a relationship of love and responsibility.
The name of the garden was 'Eden' and is often referred to as the garden of 'Delight'. 'Eden' is sometimes translated as 'Paradise' or 'Royal Park' and must surely be regarded as a gift of love from God Who desired to provide all we need, according to the riches of His grace.
By grace, He initiated a special and unique relationship with Israel who were called to fear Him, to love Him, to serve Him, and to keep His commands - which were designed for their good and not for evil.
Indeed, the proof of Paul's deep love towards these Christians was that he lifted them up, in continuous, fervent prayer to God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
What an example we see in Paul of genuine affection towards his brothers and sisters in Christ and how important it is, in this fallen world, to be devoted to one another in love and to honour one another above ourselves, for though we are many, we are one Body in Christ and are called to love one another, just as Christ loved us.
It is by the lives we live, our love for one another, and the grace of the Lord Jesus reflected in our lives, that others will know that we are His disciples.
Let us be those who love each other deeply, fellowshiping with brotherly affection for the Body of Christ, and shining the lovely, life giving light of Christ into this sin soaked, darkened world.
And let this outpouring of the love of Christ, draw many into a saving knowledge of our Saviour.
What incredible love God has shown to us that we should be called His children.
Being born of the Spirit through faith in Christ and cleansed of our sin through His shed blood, demonstrates the incredible love and generous grace that the Father has lavished upon us - His children.
Should we not... in astonished wonder, deep humility, and reverent praise, behold the matchless love and compassionate grace that has been poured out by the Father in such generous abundance on us - even making us His children simply because we have trusted the Lord Jesus as Saviour?
What amazing love has been bestowed on us that we should be called the children of God, and what an amazing hope we have in Christ: Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has the human heart imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.He is, indeed, the hope of our calling and He is our blessed hope, for there is laid up for all His children a heavenly heritage.
And when our hope is in Him, and by faith we have trusted Him as our Saviour, we become increasingly like Him through the power of the Holy Spirit.Like the Lord Jesus, we too are despised by this pagan world system and increasingly have become targets of ridicule and ill-treatment by a world which does not understand what manner of love the Father has towards you and me... who by faith in Christ have become His children and been made joint-heirs with Christ.
We are not to guess how we should live, but are taught in this passage (and elsewhere) that we should act towards one another in humility of heart and with a gentle and patient spirit. We are to demonstrate tolerance and lowliness of mind to one another, and to do it in godly love.
We are to bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things for Christ's sake, and by God’s grace we are to bind our hearts together in love with our brothers and sisters in Christ, for the honour and glory of our Lord, for He is the only Sovereign God.
It was not a lack of love that caused His delay, nor was it fear of the Jews who were motivated to kill the Lord Jesus if He ever showed His face in Jerusalem again.
The more we reflect on the amazing truth that sin and death has been swallowed up forever, through Christ's victorious Resurrection from the dead, the more we marvel at the length and breadth and depth and height of God's love for each one of us, and the more we should express our own love for Him, in all we are and say and do.
We should not allow our attitude, actions, comments, or clothing to be adversely influenced by the pagan culture of our day, lest we are tempted do develop a careless attitude towards godly behaviour and neglect our spiritual development - or lest we leave our first Love, the Lord Jesus, and adopt the profane values of the society in which we live.
Let us seek to broaden our own perception of God and see Him for Who He is: the eternal, infinite, holy God of love, justice, grace Whose mercy is everlasting; Whose Word stands fast forever and ever; Who set aside His heavenly glory to reside on the earth for a season so that He could freely lay down His own precious life.
They had run into the arms of God's enemies and sought sustenance from them, instead of standing on the Rock of their salvation, trusting in His bottomless provision, drinking from the still pools that freely flowed from His never-failing promises, or hiding in the secure shelter of His love - which is under the shadow of His protective wings.
Paul urges us to live a holy life, to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God, to be separated from the world, to be transformed into the likeness of Christ through the renewing of our minds, and to use the gifts, talents, abilities, and works (which God has foreordained that we should do), wisely, diligently, cheerfully, and in an attitude of love.
It is this attitude of godly love towards one another that comes to its climax with Paul's exhortation to us all: Love one another with brotherly affection and seek to outdo one another in showing your brothers and sisters in Christ, honour and respect. All who profess to be Christians are called and commanded to love in the same way that Christ loved us.
This is not a human love that we have to pump up from deep within ourselves, but is a supernatural love that is external to human emotions.
It is the very love of God Himself, which is freely available to all believers and is freely given to those who are prepared to die to their own human natures, to take up their own cross daily, and to live the only life that is wholly acceptable to God – a spiritual life – a sacrificial life.
Such a life is available to us by means of the Holy Spirit and expressed through our new life in Christ, but only those who choose God-dependency over self-dependency can avail themselves of God's love.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God.
Let us love each another with brotherly affection and seek to outdo one another in showing honour and grace to all.
This law in Leviticus states: You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself - I am the LORD.
It gives direct and straightforward instruction on taking revenge, when one's rights have been abused: You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, is the clear directive from the Lord, But you shall love your neighbour as yourself.
They were to love their neighbour as they loved themselves.
God's instruction was clear to all His people: You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but INSTEAD you shall love your neighbour as yourself; I am the LORD.
Loving one's neighbour in the same way that we love and care for ourselves was an instruction Christ gave to Israel many times during His earthly ministry, and both Paul and James quoted this instruction in their respective writings to Christians.
However, as members of Christ's Body, we have been given an even more astonishing (and impossible) commandment, that we love one another AS CHRIST LOVED US.
May we seek to fulfil this worthy directive in the sustaining and almighty power of the Holy Spirit of God, for without Him we can do nothing, but in His sufficient strength we can demonstrate godly love to others in the same way that Christ loved US.
He was further saddened to see the rich young ruler, whom He loved so deeply, abandon the eternal riches he could find in Christ, for love of his earthly wealth.
They quickly changed their tune from rebuking him to reassuring him, when Jesus said, call him here. They were more excited at the anticipated healing miracle they were about to witness, than a sudden surge of brotherly love for this noisy beggarman, who was causing such a commotion at the roadside.
Christ died for us, not as an example of what we should do, but as a demonstration of God's unconditional love for us. There is no other way to gain salvation but through faith in Christ. We must never forget that our whole salvation - body, soul, and spirit - our justification, sanctification, and glorification ALL rely on Christ's finished work.
Praise God that when we receive His grace, we acknowledge His love and our lives are transformed.
We can trust in the gift of grace that God has given us and accept the love He offers us.
As believers, we are astonished to discover that it is not the Law of Moses nor even the Word of God that pronounces men as sinners in this passage, for not all people have had access to God's written Word, and yet from Adam onward, we discover that all are under God's condemnation because men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.
While all our sins, past, present, and future, were forgiven the moment we trusted Christ for salvation, we need to confess any post-salvation sin to our Heavenly Father in order to be returned into fellowship with Him - for sin is the cause of broken fellowship.God is love and peace and hope and joy – and God is purest light.
He knows that the perfect place of protection and joy for all His children is to remain in fellowship with Him and to walk in the light of His love, just as He is in the light.
When a sinner who has been saved by grace, chooses to live in the light in the same way that God is in the light, he has made a wise decision, for he will not only enjoy blessed fellowship with His Christian brothers and sisters who are also living in God’s light, but will enjoy unbroken fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, and sweet communion with the great Father of light and life and hope and love.
Love is of God, and the fruit of the Spirit is love.
Love is the primary theme that weaves itself throughout this passage, and Christlike love is the identifying mark of a Christian, for we are God's children.
Love is manifest in practical righteousness and is closely linked with truth and hope, life and light.
Love is sharply contrasted with the dark and deadly evils of sin and rebellion, deception and destruction which are the bitter product of the enemy of our soul and the identifying mark of those that practice lawlessness.
Love, hope, obedience, and truth are the Christlike characteristics that identify us as God's children.
The outworking of love in thought, in conscience, in word, and in deed, are the distinguishing marks by which we know we are of the truth, and which give us certainty that we are honouring our God and Saviour.
To KNOW that we are walking in love and in truth, is not an outward show of benevolence to impress others.
We will know we are of the truth when we love others in word and in deed as Christ loved us.
May the love of Christ flow through us to others, such that Christlike love becomes the identifying factor in each of our lives.
May the words we speak, the acts we perform, and the motive behind all we do, be rooted and grounded in love for the Lord and a true devotion towards our fellow man.
We have been given every spiritual blessing in Christ and we are charged to know Him more, to love Him better, to walk in His ways, and to love others as He has loved us.
We have already put on the breastplate of faith and love by trusting Christ as Saviour, and as a helmet to protect our thoughts and mind, we have the hope of salvation.
Faith, Love, and Hope are three of the most important elements that are ours in Christ.
Faith in our Heavenly Father and love for His beloved Son is our eternal protection, both inwardly and outwardly, while the blessed hope we have in our salvation will guard our minds from the wiles of the evil one who would seek to flood us with fear, ship-wreck our mission and ministry, and destroy our testimony, through worry of what is coming on the world.
Let us support our church leaders and live in love with one another.
But as in past prophetic utterances, the burden of Malachi was a call for Israel to respond to God's unfailing and unchanging love and a warning of their refusal to do so.
But it is only by the work of the Holy Spirit within the life of a Christian who willingly bows to His guidance through love and deep gratitude, that we are enabled to live a godly life.
We can leave our first love and flirt with the agents of darkness, but this is not practicing the truth and God has no heavenly intercourse with the carnal Christian, even though he remains His child.
And this great show of His omnipotent strength, divine power, and gracious love, was used by God for centuries as a reminder to Israel that He is the Lord their God and their trustworthy Deliverer.
The Lord could easily have done all these great things without informing David - but in His grace and love, and according to His knowledge and wisdom, the Lord shared this information with the shepherd king of Israel who recognised the loving-kindness of his Creator in giving him this information.
In many church assemblies today, there is much emphasis on the gifts of the Holy Spirit and though the gifts of the Spirit are wonderful and exciting, if they are not administered in love, they are of little worth and can even become abused and destructive.
Gifts must flow from the fruit of the Spirit, which is rooted in LOVE and which overspills into joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control.
Like all Scripture, 1 Corinthians 13 must be read in its correct context, which stems from Paul's deep concern and lengthy instructions to the carnal Christians in Corinth, for unless all the gifts of the Spirit are administered in love, they degenerate into a noisy gong or a clanging symbol.
Let us walk in the spirit, live in the spirit, pray in the spirit, and let us administer the gifts we have been given in spirit, in truth and in love.
Let us seek to honour God in the way that we practise whatever gift or gifts the Spirit has graciously bestowed upon us - and let us do it in LOVE.
The unutterable love of God had been poured forth as refreshing streams of living waters to all who came to see Him, and that same unutterable love continues to be poured forth into our hearts today.
He is the Light, the Light and the Love of our lives.
Israel is not the only group that needs to be reminded of the God in Who they believed, and Who should command their loyalty and love.
Many in the Church today are leaving their first love for the more modern idols of bricks and mortar, gold and silver, fame, fortune, and the praise of man.
We should consider marriage as a binding union and unbreakable pledge before the Lord, where two lives are so knit together in love, that they become united as one, such that the fruitful fulfilment of their hallowed union is the heritage and gift of children.
Rather, He stretched out His hands of love and blessing to them, knowing their innocent little hearts reflected back the deep love He had for them... a godly love that the Lord Jesus has reserved for all His own.
We are told that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in the same way, pride is a germ that disseminates into all kinds of sin and strife.
Nothing is more thrilling for a Christian parent, or a believer who has been influential in pointing one younger in the faith to the truth of the gospel, than to see them living according to the truth, walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus, living in submission to the Holy Spirit's guiding hand, living under the influence of the new man in Christ (and not the old sin nature), and reflecting the grace, truth, love, and humility that flows to them from their Saviour.
Through faith in His indescribable act of love, our sins are forgiven, our certificate of debt is cancelled, and He has disarmed the rulers and authorities that enslaved our soul.
This verse in Ephesians is only the first part of an amazing and powerful prayer, for Paul's prayer continues: So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Humankind is a race of guilty sinners, but God in His love and grace gave His only begotten Son to be born as 'Jesus' Messiah of Israel and Saviour of the world.
Christ's great concern was truth and love, but His truth exposed their hypocrisy and His compassion unmasked a cold indifference to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and a disdain for the Gentiles who were dead in their sins and without God in the world.
May our love for the Lord be shown in the words that we say, and let us never forget that a wholesome tongue is a tree of life.
But in His great love for all His children, the Lord continues to plead with every one of His born-again children to yield to the call of his voice and live godly in Christ Jesus: Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
Early in His sermon, Jesus called His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who mistreat or persecute them.
The Jewish leaders taught them to love their fellow man and hate their enemy - but Christ taught them to love their enemies as well as their neighbours, and to lift them up to their Heavenly Father in prayer.
He acknowledged his own lack by acknowledging the supremacy and sufficiency of God: Who preserves His covenant and loving-kindness with those who love Him, and keep His commandments.
Paul's desire was that Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith, and that each one might be rooted and grounded in love: So that they may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width, and length, and depth, and height of God's amazing love, and to know the super-abounding love of Christ which passes all understanding.
John is often called 'the apostle of love', and here he expressed his Christian love in a short letter to the 'elect lady' and her children because they were all born of the Spirit, children of God, one with the Lord, positioned in Christ, and part of His Body which is the Church.
But John was also an apostle that held fast to the unchanging and unchangeable truth of God's Word and the love that he expressed for this woman, and all who would read this short epistle, is one of godly concern that none of us stray from the truth of God's Word, together with a reassurance that the Word of truth which abides in us will be with us through time and into eternity.
We are called on many occasions to love others as Christ loved us, and the aging apostle John demonstrated deep love for all believers by speaking to them often of the gospel of Christ, encouraging them in their Christian walk, reminding them to hold fast to that which is good, and warning them of against straying from the truth of the gospel of Christ.
John knew that God has placed His Word above His holy name and so John could boldly proclaim to this sister in Christ: I love all of you in the truth and not only I, but also all who have come to know the truth, because of the truth that remains in us and will be with us forever.
Reconciliation for the Christian, who has left his first love or has become carnal in his earthly life, is to walk in the light as He is in the light, to separate from the world system, to die to self and to live for Christ, in order to be presented holy, blameless, and above reproach before Him.
Instead of the mutual love, a united interdependence, and the corresponding respect that husbands and wives should have for one another, this relationship has become distorted by sin.
Women not only seek to dominate their men but often desire to replace and remove them, while the love that men should have for their own wives too often finds an alternative and willing recipient.
Scripture outlines the way that love, honour, self-sacrifice, submission to one another, and mutual respect, can be maintained between a husband and his wife - in this fallen world.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church - and gave Himself up for her.
Those forty blissful days that followed the Resurrection must have been wonderful for Christ's disciples, because the sorrow and anguish they felt when they thought the Saviour was dead and buried (following the gruelling time of His arrest, trial, and crucifixion), must have blossomed into a time to ecstatic gladness and joy as Jesus presented Himself to them alive and gave everyone His gracious reassurance that even the terrible act of denial cannot separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!
were words that sound harsh and unloving to our ears, and yet while dying on the Cross only a few years later, the Son of God demonstrated His love and deep compassion for the woman who gave Him birth, as He lovingly handed her into the care of His beloved disciple.
The Song of Solomon has nearly always been interpreted to represent Christ's great love for the Church, for He is identified as the Bridegroom and we are His Bride.
This book paints a beautiful portrait of the never-ending love story Christ has for His Church, and permits us a peep behind the scene of Solomon's household, the Shulamite woman he woos, and the love she has for her absent shepherd-lover.
Like so many of Scripture's love stories, we discover a Gentile bride who become espoused to her Jewish bridegroom.
we read expectantly as the love-story begins to unfold: Listen!
She recalls that to be with him was like being in a great banqueting hall, where his banner of love would surround and overspread her.
There is no doubt about the intensity and depth of love this young couple have for one another as she excitedly describes his excellent qualities and manly attributes.
There is much that has delighted generations of Christians who have recognised, in this narrative, Christ's great love for the Church, but there are others who view this from the perspective of Israel.
Two further interpretations portray the Shulamite woman as the little faithful remnant of Israel who stays true to her first love, the true Shepherd of Israel.
Whichever interpretation is preferred, there are many lessons for both Israel and the Church to reflect upon, about God's love for His people, Christ's love for the Church, and the importance of fidelity in our own, Christian marriages.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Peter's protest, which attempted to save Jesus from being handed over to the Gentile nations and crucified to pay the price for the sin of the world, may have been born out of deep love for his Master, but ignorant of God's perfect plan of redemption.
However, we may be sure that whether or not our problems are removed, God has purposed that all things - however grievous they may be - will work together for the good of those that love Him.
The experience of these followers of Christ is too often repeated in our own lives, despite the clear teaching of Scripture that God is in control and that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms, and His love for us is everlasting.
We are exhorted to be kind-hearted to one another, showing brotherly love, gentleness, goodness, and grace.
We are to be humble in spirit, not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, rather we are to offer a blessing to those that insult us in the same way that Christ's self-sacrifice showed love for us.
He is our Sovereign Lord Who has given us the ultimate example of love and sacrifice.
Believers relied heavily on the teachings of the apostles and... although it was not commanded by God, many chose to sell their goods and property and adopt a communal style of living out of love for their brethren and as a thanksgiving to God.
However, it should not be out of fear of reprisal that we live an honest, honourable, and truthful life, but out of love for our Heavenly Father Who loved us so much, that He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever believes on Him would not perish, but have everlasting life.
Those that believe will kneel before Him out of love and gratitude for their gracious Redeemer Who died and rose again, while the unsaved will be forced to bend the knee before their great and awe-inspiring Judge – the Man, Christ Jesus, at the terrible Great White Judgement Throne of God.
But his prayer was also presented as a love-offering to the Lord - a sacrificial prayer and offering of praise, and David wanted his sacrifice of prayer and praise to be holy, and acceptable to the Lord.
Christ demonstrated that God's children are to live in spirit and truth, to walk in spirit and truth, and to pray, praise, worship and reverence our Heavenly Father in spirit and in truth, in love and in grace.
And because of the great love with which He loved us, He sent Jesus to be the propitiation for our sin: But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
How blessed we are to know that our Heavenly Father so greatly loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son - the Son of His love Who was in the bosom of His Father from eternity past so that everyone who trusts in Him will not perish, but may have the Life of Ages.
Not one of God's children is exempt from the tests and trials that overshadow the lives of all His children, and although the burdens that we are obligated to bear may seem to be of greater weight and of a steeper incline by comparison with others, the pressure is carefully weighed in the balance of God's deep love for each of His own.
Praise God that all who persevere under trial for Christ's sake, will be approved of Him and receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to ALL who love Him.
Offerings and oblations that are simply following an established routine are unacceptable to the Lord Who desires that His people serve Him out of devotion, obedience, and love.
Today, we live in a world that is spiralling out of control, where evil is multiplying, the poor are oppressed, the love of many has grown icy cold, and a deep-seated hatred of both Israel and the Christian Church, is escalating out of control.
Oh, his quick reply came directly from perfect Law of Moses and with keen enthusiasm this clever lawyer was proudly able to respond with the correct answer: You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and you must love your neighbour as yourself.
Indeed, this bright young lawyer even expanded on the written Law of Moses by including that our love for God must also include 'all of your mind' as well as our heart, soul, and strength.
Love the Lord your God with ALL of your heart, ALL of your soul, ALL of your strength and ALL your mind, and love your neighbour as you love yourself, and if you DO THIS you will live.
But in our fallen, sinful state we realise that we can never, ever love the Lord our God as He requires.
For who in this world can honestly say that from birth to death that they love the Lord their God with ALL their heart, ALL their soul, ALL their strength, and ALL their mind?
That light shines in the darkness, but darkness and evil cannot quench the light of His love.
He is that gracious Light, that streams eternal love into the broken lives of Adam's fallen race, and He is the pure Light - the redeeming Light, Who speaks new-life into the one who is dead in trespasses and sins.
Christ is the true Light of the World, but we who have received His new-life have been entrusted to carry the testimony of His light, His life and His love into a darkened world, and He has commanded us to live out our lives in a manner that is well-pleasing to Him.
He was born into this fallen race so that the saving light of His truth and love could shine into the recesses of man's blackened heart and rekindle a spark of hope in the soul of men - so that whosoever believes on Him by grace through faith, would be removed from the kingdom of darkness, and placed into the brightness of God's eternal kingdom of light.
But each promise of God and every Word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord is true and honest - and instead of contradiction, contrast, and confusion, we see complementary Scriptures that harmonise beautifully with one another - and which draw us closer to the God of grace Who loves His children with an everlasting love.
And this question will always receive the same answer: You shall love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, and with ALL your soul, and with ALL your strength, and with ALL your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.
The Colossian Christians exemplified a little group of believers who were walking in spirit and truth and who had brought forth the spiritual fruit of faith, hope, and love in abundance, and Paul rejoiced to hear that individually and collectively they were growing in grace and in a knowledge of their Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
The faith of this little church had spread far and wide, and their heartfelt love for the Lord Jesus and for each other was similarly known to Paul.
The Colossians Christians sincere, selfless love came from God, for God is love and genuine love comes from Him alone.
And their love bore witness to their great salvation in Christ, for everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God; everyone who is walking in spirit and truth is knit together in Christian love.
He described a time when men would be: Lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.
Paul's first epistle to the Corinthian church concentrated on teaching and correction, whilst his second letter is more pastoral and exposes the deep love Paul has for these people.
And in this section he is seeking to comfort them in the pain they had to endure, and to re-establish their close communion and mutual love by commending them for their changed behaviour, and empathising with the hurt and suffering they had endured.
Paul's earlier correction may have pained these believers, but it did not stifle the deep love he had for this little flock.
These initial qualities describe a virtuous man or woman who is desirous to walk in righteousness and in equity in every area of life, and to speak the truth in love, not only with our lips, but in our lives as we die to self and live for Christ to the praise and honour of our heavenly Father.
And yet, in grace and love He stooped down from His high kingly throne to raise us up and seat us together with Himself in heavenly places, and open up His Word to us.
But we must never forget that Israel is the nation to whom Isaiah is speaking specifically, and although there is much that we can apply to our own lives and Christian walk, it was Israel who was given the command to sing forth the greatness of God to the surrounding nations. Israel was given the command to tell all people groups, who were dead in trespasses and sins, of God’s gracious character and His redeeming love.It was Israel that was called to proclaim to all people that their promised Messiah of Israel was the coming King of kings and Prince of Peace – and to Israel was given the responsibility of being a light to lighten the Gentile nations.
Their desire was salvation from the Roman empire rather than the salvation of their souls - and so the Lord called the Church into being to sing forth the greatness of God to the sea of humanity in the unsaved nations, and to tell of the gracious character and redeeming love of Israel’s rejected Kinsman-Redeemer.
It is a song of love and comfort, that travels directly from the mind of the Almighty and Everlasting God into the depth of our fragile being, because it reminds us that it is God Who made us and not we ourselves, and that He is the One Who knew us from the beginning when we were hidden in the secret place of our mother's womb – long before we became aware of His presence and power, His wonder and majesty.
David cried out for God to search his heart and prove the depth of his love for his Lord.
He wanted Him to test his love and loyalty, to try his heart as a refiner tests the purity of silver or gold.
May we come to a deeper awareness of the beautiful attributes of our glorious God, for He is the only source of grace and truth, mercy and love, peace and hope, salvation for the soul, and life eternal.
No matter what ceases from view and no matter what is blotted out from our memories, the exceeding riches of God’s amazing grace in His kindness towards us, through Christ Jesus our Lord, will stand firm as an everlasting memorial of God’s astonishing grace and His unconditional love.Our elevated position, our heavenly possession, and our redeemed person, are trophies of the incredible kindness that God has shown to each of His blood-bought children, in saving us by grace through faith in the sacrificial offering of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross.
May we grow in grace and in a deeper knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Saviour so that we may reflect His love and beauty to others and become a conduit of His grace.
Whenever the apostle uses this phrase, it is designed to spur his readers on to an important duty, which should be freely acted upon, based on love and genuine concern.
His greeting to these believers and his fervent prayer for their spiritual development, godly discernment, and increasing depth of love for one another, seems contradictory to the chains that confined him, but Paul rejoices for this great opportunity to share the gospel of Christ with condemned sinners.
He wants the Philippians to know that this imprisonment has been a great cause to advance the gospel of God and has enabled him to have a renewed impetus in sharing the truth of Christ's love for mankind, His sacrificial death, and His glorious Resurrection, so that all who believe on Him might not perish but have everlasting life.
Christ was made an offering for sin, the sin of the whole world, but He willingly went to the Cross as a freewill offering of love for his friends who are His Body, the Church.
And Christ loved and cherished the Church so dearly that He gave Himself for it: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down His life for His friends.
We are to abide in Him, reflect His love, and to love others in the same way that He loved us.
It is only as we experience a deepening love for Jesus and all that He has done for us, that we can begin to allow His love to flow into us and through us to others.
While the world delights in the wisdom of man, we discover that the wisdom of the wise is foolishness to the Lord, while spiritual illumination is the treasure that is poured into the heart of the man or woman of God, and biblical revelation is reserved for those that love the Lord and delight to do His will.
Let us always approach the Word of God with a teachable spirit and heart of love that seeks to know more of our God and Saviour, so that we do not lose the wealth of glory and truth that is contained within their pages.
But whatever the reason we are being encompassed about, trampled over and oppressed, we have an assurance that God will avenge our cause and those that hate us will know that He has loved us with an everlasting love.
Let us trust in His love, rest in His promises, and believe the truth of God's Word which tells us that He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds, and He is able because He went to the Cross on our account, and shed His blood to become our substitute.
And so, along with their faith, he encouraged them to diligently seek after moral excellence, self-control, perseverance, and godliness in all they said and did so that their lives could be a mirror of Christ's own character, and they could be a reflection of His brotherly kindness and godly love.
And each one of us are called to consecrate ourselves to God as we walk with Him, day by day, in the light of His love.
And let us never forget that the best is yet to come, for we have also been told, that eye has not seen, and ear has not heard the wonderful things that God has prepared for those that love Him.
What a glorious confession of love and devotion we see in Ruth's words to Naomi: For whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.
Not only did she love her mother-in-law with a deep and tender love, but confessed her inner longing to unite with the people of Israel and to forsake all so that she might follow after the God of Abraham, Isaac, Israel, and Naomi.
Let us like Ruth, in humility of heart and self-confessed love and devotion for him, follow after the perfect Kinsman-Redeemer Who loved us so much that He gave Himself for us.
Having prayed very specifically that the Thessalonian believers would increase in faith, abound in love, and live blamelessly before the Lord, Paul urged each one towards practical sanctification and godly living: For this is the will of God, he writes, even your sanctification that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality.
He exhorts each of us to live holy lives that are well-pleasing to the Lord and specifically identifies the importance of maintaining sexual purity and developing brotherly love.
Paul always kept the believers at Thessalonica in his prayers because he was well-aware of their work of faith, their labour of love, and their patience in hope.
But although we are called to put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, and long-suffering, where gracious consideration and genuine forgiveness of others are identified as vital qualities of the believer, it is love ruling the heart and peace protecting the soul that is given the main emphasis here: But above ALL, put on love which binds these things together the unity of the Spirit, and let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Love is the quality that binds all godly characteristics together in Christ.
Love is the preeminent fruit of the Spirit from which all other virtues flow: Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails, in God's economy.
Other virtues may be manifest and different gifts may have been bestowed on a believer, but if godly love is lacking, then the Christian character is deeply flawed.
Love is not the sugary emotion that coats the world's understanding of this godly quality.
True love is firmly secured to a committed affection and respect for the Person, Character, and Work of God and a wholehearted desire for the well-being of others.
Love places God at the centre and circumference of our lives and gives Him the honour and respect that is due to His holy name.
And the inflow of God's love into the life of a spiritual believer is transferred into an outflow of that love to others in a bond of unity and peace, and such is manifested in life who is walking in spirit and truth.
Love cannot be taught or acquired through study, nor can it be worked up in our emotions or rooted in any romantic feelings.
Godly love flows into our very being from the God of love Himself, and that same love of Christ is poured out from us into the lives of others for His honour and glory.
John has often been called 'the apostle of love' and many of his writings express the depth of God's love for man.
In his Gospel, we discover the amazing things God has done to demonstrate His immense love towards us: In that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
And he also reminds us that there is no greater love than this: That a Man should lay down His life for His friends.
Here in his first epistle, LOVE is the divine attribute upon which John trains our attention: For God is love, and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in Him. By studying John, we come to know and understand the deep love which the Lord has for us and how important is it that we, in turn, mirror His love in our lives.
Love is one of God's perfect and eternal attributes, and John explains that the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him.
However, John also warns: If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.
Christ is our example and pattern for life, and the practical outpouring of godly love on others is the outward demonstration of an inward change.
Only believers are privileged to have the indwelling Spirit of love in their hearts, and that divine love can only be manifest in the life of one who is born from above.
It is only the one that is walking in spirit and truth that can obey His command to love others as Christ loved us.
Not only does love cover a multitude of sins, but man's God-given conscience also exposes the darkened heart that is walking in sin.
The more we emulate the Lord Jesus Christ and follow His example of love, the more the love of God is perfected in each of our lives.
The more the love of God is allowed to permeate our heart and soul, the greater will be our confidence in the day of trouble, and any fear of judgement or punishment will be eliminated, for as John reminds us: There is no fear in love, for perfect love casts our fear. Fear is manifested through the threat of punishment and judgement, but we who have God's love within are being perfected in love and can live in His victorious peace, day by day.
And so as John explains, if someone says they love God but hate their brother, he is a liar and a deceiver.
The person who says they love God with their lips but demonstrates hatred towards another in their attitude or heart, is not being truthful.
John stresses in this verse, the fruitless vanity of professing to love the Lord when there is hatred in their heart for their brother.
The more a true believer is being conformed into the image and likeness of Christ through the process of ongoing sanctification, the greater will be his love towards his brother - and his enemy.
John argues that the closer we are in spirit to Christ the more we reflect the love of God in our words and actions, our attitude and behaviour, our motive and mind, for how can someone say, I love God, and hate his brother?
He has identified himself as a liar: For how can the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, love God whom he has not seen?
Through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God, let us love in spirit and in truth - in word and in deed - in motive and in mind.
Naturally, this rich young man was distressed by Christ's reply, because Jewish mindset of his day believed that wealth denoted favour with God, and yet the Lord Jesus could see into his proud heart and saw that love for his possessions was greater than love for God: Go and sell all you have and give it all to the poor, was Christ's answer, because this young man had great earthly possessions that meant more to him than his relationship with God.
What encouragement to discover that enduring suffering and faithfulness to the point of death, would also secure for them the coveted Crown-of-Life - which the Lord has promised to all that love Him.
May we be those that not only trust in Christ for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting, but continue to trust him throughout our Christian life and love Him with a holy love... prepared and willing to take up our cross and follow Him in spirit and in truth - no matter what difficulties and dangers we may face.
The words of John to the elect lady and her children are as meaningful to lovers of truth today as when he wrote his epistle: I love ALL of you in the truth-and not only I, but also all who have come to know the truth.
Let us seek to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the truth of God's Word and align ourselves with lovers of truth who are submitted to the Spirit of truth and Who binds us together in a bond of peace and love.
And God's interest in Jerusalem and His love for this particular city is the focus of Psalm 87.
Jerusalem is founded on the holy mountains of Israel, and the Lord's love for Zion, its gates, and its walls, is greater than for any other city because Jerusalem is the foundation and focal point of God's redemptive work of salvation.
In the passage under consideration, the Lord explains that true righteousness is revealed by love - the love of Christ in-filling us and then overflowing into the lives of others, whom we may meet.
Love your enemies, do good to those that hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you, we are instructed.
Though God is a God of justice and must punish all sin, nevertheless He is a God of love and mercy, kindness and compassion, long-suffering and of great goodness, and as His children, we are instructed to display the same godly qualities and merciful attitude that He has shown to each one of us who has been saved by grace through faith in Him.
It is the witness of the written Word which unveils God's amazing grace, His great mercy, His unconditional love, and His never-failing faithfulness to the children of men.
And so Paul calls us all to reflect on what it means to be in the family of God; to know His grace, His affection, His compassion, His love, and to experience the benefits of the indwelling Holy Spirit (God's gift of grace to all Christians).
IF there is any consolation of love in Christ (and there is), then we are to let it be shown forth in godly living.
Paul knew that we could only respond to that little word 'IF' in a positive manner, for ALL believers have found encouragement in Christ, ALL have known the consolation of God's love, ALL have benefitted from the fellowship of the Spirit which is in Christ Jesus, and ALL have access to God's grace and mercy, His affection and love, and the compassion, joy, and hope which we share in our heavenly Bridegroom.
Although there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord, and although there is no sin that cannot be forgiven, we must be acutely aware that any one of us may be tempted to fall into sin - and should we become over-confident in our spiritual walk, the danger of falling into sin is significantly increased.
However, those that lust in their heart have exchanged the truth of God for a lie and will suffer the eternal consequences for their rebellion against the Almighty and their rejection of His eternal love.
Just as God the Father and God the Son work together in unbroken harmony and perfect love, to fulfil their unique functions within the Tri-unity of the Godhead, so also God the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, works the work of God in flawless synergy with Father and Son, as each fulfil their respective roles and co-authored responsibilities.
Hosea was used by God as a human picture of the incredible love of the Lord towards His people.
It beautifully contrasts Hosea's godly love and steadfast faithfulness with his wife's rebellious, ungodly adultery.
We need to examine where our loyalties lie and what motivates our actions and attitudes, and we need to check to see if we have turned away from our first love towards the fluff and flitter of this filthy world system.
May we all take to heart this touching picture of the incredible love of the Lord towards His people, and if we have in any way indulged in ungodly actions or attitudes towards the Lord or simply left our first love, may we turn from our sinful way and return to the Lord.
We are to grow in grace, walk in newness of life, live in willing submission to the indwelling Holy Spirit, and love as Christ loved us, which can ONLY be carried out when we remain in fellowship with Him.
And He continues to lead each one of us into the way of everlasting grace and peace, righteousness, and love.
Our great Shepherd of the sheep will not lose one of us, however much we stray from Him, for we are protected in the powerful palm of His pierced hand and we are covered by the caring love of our heavenly Father.
Like many wonderful promises throughout Scripture, these beautiful words, which have comforted countless millions of believers, assure us that restoration, guidance, protection, and peace is His promise of love to us all, for HE restores our soul and HE leads all His children in the way of goodness and peace.
However, Paul did not bewail his confinement, for he knew that all things work together for good for those that love God and are fitting into His plans.
We all love to think of the apostle Peter as the blustery young fisherman whose energy and enthusiasm often caused him to make rash promises which, all too often, brought him crashing down into the traumatic reality of his own inability, sinfulness, and pride.
The deep love and responsibility he felt towards the whole Body of Christ, is seen in this second letter to the Corinthians.
Purity, understanding, patience, kindness, sincerity, and love are just some of the spiritual fruit that are likely to blossom in the life of a believer who suffers such hardships for righteousness' sake.
It is not a Spirit of fearfulness and timidity that has been given us, but One of power and of love; a Spirit of self-discipline and a controlled mind.
May we never forget that suffering is part of the course, and that there is laid-up for us a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, our righteous Judge, will give all who love Him and long for His return.
He will open up the Scriptures to our understanding, as we walk with Him by the way; commune with Him in our homes; work alongside Him in the duties of the day, respond to His still small voice, and simply rest, moment by moment in His love.
John is often referred to as 'the apostle of love' and as with so many of his writings, his thoughts turned to love as he penned his short epistle to this beloved lady: Now I ask you, lady, he wrote, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.
And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments.
Yes, John knew that the heart of the gospel is love; that God loved the world so much that He gave His beloved Son to be our Redeemer, that God demonstrated His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, that nothing is able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, and that love is the fulfilment of the law.
And in his Gospel, John recorded Jesus' new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you.
John knew that love for God and love for one another is an essential element of our Christian faith, and he recognised it in this lady's life, but biblical love can often become distorted when formalism, legalism, mysticism, socialism, and other 'isms' are added to the pure gospel.
And John wanted to warn this lady that discernment is also very important in our Christian walk, for love without discernment can cause a believer to be deceived by a smooth-talking false teacher.
John says those who do not present the gospel of Christ as it was presented by the apostles, are liars, and while we should always speak the truth in love, we should not compromise the truth by ignoring deceptive teachings and practices.
If we leave our first love, grow weary of well-doing, fall into legalism, compromise the truth, become lukewarm in our faith, or allow false doctrine to shipwreck our testimony, we will not lose our salvation, but we will forfeit any rewards that God has prepared for us to do.
In the previous chapter, Paul reminded us that because of God's great love for us, He is rich in mercy, for despite being dead in our transgressions, He made us alive, together with Christ.
God the Father is going to use Christians as an everlasting demonstration to the angelic hosts and generations of human-kind, of His love, mercy, goodness, and grace.
We are to do His will and glorify His name, and may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of us evermore - so that in the ages to come we may show forth His glory in the Church, and in Christ Jesus, to all generations, forevermore.
Disciples are those that are enabled, by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, to produce spiritual fruit like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This fruit is only produced through a life of obedience, a life that abides in Christ, a life where Christ is permitted to abide in us.
May we be ready and willing to preach the Word boldly, speak the truth in love, and be ready to give an answer for the hope we have in Christ.
We are to love those that hate us and pray for those that persecute us for His name's sake and the glory of the Father.
Peter and all who believe on Him will suffer persecution, but Christ won the victory at Calvary, and there is laid up for Peter and all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ a Crown of life which the Lord has promised to them that love Him.
He recited the words of the covenant that God made with Israel, in the hearing of all the people. 'The Song of Moses' is a long, but beautiful poem, that contrasts the love and loyalty of God to His people, with their wilfulness and waywardness.
We begin our Christian life by getting to know Him as our Saviour, but as we grow in grace and deepen our knowledge of Him, we come to know Him better, to love Him more, and to acknowledge Him as our Lord and our God.
At the end of their long, 40-year trek in the wilderness, Moses repeated the words of the covenant that God made with Israel, which began, Hear O Israel, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. But this appears to be an impossible command for fallen man to attain.
God alone is perfect... so He alone is able to fulfil the command to love with every fibre of His being - for God alone is love.
It is humanly impossible to love the Lord in the way He commands and to love others with that same godly love.
No one can love God every moment of the day and in every circumstance of life.
Irrespective of the sin we commit on a daily basis, we break this particular command continuously... for it is not humanly possible to love God with all our heart.
Indeed, it is impossible to love as Christ loved us - which was the new commandment He gave to each member of the Christian Church.
Only He was capable of loving God with a perfect love.
Only in Christ can we be forgiven of sin and only in Christ can we be imputed with His nature and love as He loved us.
Only in the power of Christ can we love the Lord our God with all our heart.
Only in Him can we love God with all our soul, and with all our might, and with all our mind, and with all our strength.
For it is only as the very love of Christ flows into the heart that has been washed and cleansed by His sacrificial blood, that we can love with a Christ-like love.
It is only as we abide in Him and continue to be filled with His Spirit of love, that the very love of God is poured into our heart from His Father-heart of love.
Only as we are filled with His supernatural love from above, are we able to reciprocate that love. Only as we walk in spirit and truth, can we love the Lord our God with all our heart, and mind, and soul, and strength - and thus, become a channel of His love to those that are hurting.
To love the Lord our God with a Christ-like love, is only possible as His love is continuously poured into our heart.
The more we imbibe Him, the deeper our love for Him will become.
Indeed, as we witness the faithfulness of God in the difficult struggles of life and experience His tender mercies in the painful circumstances through which we must inevitably pass, our love for God can only deepen and strengthen - as we grow in grace and in a knowledge of Him.
May our heart-cry become; 'that I may love the Lord my God, with every fibre of my being, as I die to my own self-interest and live for Him alone'.
Keep them rooted and grounded to Your name-the name which You have given Me, so that they may be one, even as We are one, united together in godly love, unified in the unity of the Spirit.
The first thing that Christ prayed for His disciples was that the Father would keep them 'in His name' Christ's prayer was that God would keep them secure in the truth of the Word, which would unite them together in godly love.
He would later pray for their protection in the world through the power of the Holy Spirit, but He first prayed that they would stand firm on the truth of His name, united together in love.
Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus, and nothing can break our union with our living Lord, but sin breaks fellowship with the Father.
He is the object of God's love; the One with Whom the Father is fully, finally, and eternally satisfied, and thirty-five times we are told in the book of Ephesians that we who believe in His name are IN CHRIST.
For God has lavished on us the unfathomable riches of his grace and the inestimable riches of His glory, the eternal riches of His salvation, and the unconditional riches of His love.
Because of Christ's costly sacrifice of Himself in order to redeem the world, the Father has made the Lord Jesus Christ the fixed and final object of his love.
For all of eternity, Christ is in the bosom of the Father, exchanging love and being loved.
The mutual love within the Trinity is incomprehensible to mere human beings, and yet for three very significant hours of deep darkness, Christ was separated from the Father He loved so dearly, and the Spirit Who had been the ever-present Lover of His soul throughout His earthly life.
He was excited to discover that he would sit on a throne in Christ's kingdom and judge the 12 tribes of Israel, and Peter was the one who declared that his love for Jesus was immovable and unshakable, yet immediately denied Him three, terrible times.
They were to love one another with the same, supernatural love He loved all of them.
From the beginning, both men and women have borne the image and likeness of the Lord, where voluntary submission to one another, not only honours the Lord but is a beautiful expression of godly love for Him and a Christ-like love for one another.
And when we doubt, we become tossed to and fro in a sea of uncertainty: But blessed is the man who endures such trials and tribulations, in the power of His might, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to all who love Him.
The difficulties we face in life can trip us up and tempt us into doubt and despair, but blessed is the man who endures these trials and tribulations: Because when he has passed the test he will receive the magnificent crown of life, which the Lord our God has promised to all who love him.
The enemy often uses false teachings, demonic doctrines, a love of the world, sexual impurity, and a compromise of the truth to ruin the testimony of a child of God.
Mary had a great love for her Lord, for He had cast seven demons out of her body, some years before.
Mary may have had a problematic past, but she also had a great love for the Lord and her past sins did not disqualify her from being the first person, recorded in Scripture, to see the risen Lord Jesus Christ, in Person.
Mary's love for Jesus is something about which we rejoice greatly.
Love for our Lord and love for others is the new, and better commandment that Christ has given to all who are saved by grace through faith in Him. But I wonder how different things would have been if Mary, and the other disciples, had lived through those three days - expectantly waiting for Christ's prophesied resurrection from the dead, just as He had told them beforehand.
May our own, personal love for the Lord grow and develop and increase, with every passing day, but may we also take to heart ALL that is written within the Word of God, trust all that He has told us, and live our lives by faith in His Word and not by the circumstances that surround us.
John was an eyewitness to the lovely life of Jesus Christ the righteous, and he saw and testified to the truth, that in Him was everlasting life, and love, and light, and hope.
John was a man who knew the deep love that the Lord Jesus had for the children of men and who himself enjoyed sweet fellowship with Him for three precious years.
The love of earthly treasure is a root of all kinds of evil, which can cause the believer to wander from the good news of the gospel of grace It can cause us to forfeit many of the rich blessings that God desires for each of His children to receive.
Let us treasure the things of the Lord, and unrelentingly pursue after righteousness and godliness, faith and love, perseverance and gentleness, humility of heart and joy in the Lord, for when our treasure is rooted and grounded in Jesus, then our heart will be anchored to the Rock of our eternal salvation.
We are accepted in Christ as children of God, and we are called to love others as Christ loves us, and to live and move in the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit.
It is amazing to realise that our salvation is part of a never-ending plan - a love-story that that stretches from eternity past, into the eternal ages that are to come.
God's gracious love is demonstrated through this astonishing plan of redemption and His everlasting mercy is eternally secured in His sovereign will.
Generous giving should not be motivated by a selfish heart, which places God under the unbiblical 'obligation' to reward us for our hypocritical 'generosity', but should be prompted out of love for the Lord.
Let us offer our love to the Lord as well as our finances.
Gentleness is one of the fruit of the Spirit that is manifested in a life that is abiding in Christ, walking in the Spirit, trusting in God, demonstrating His love to others, and obeying His Word.
Unlike many of his other epistles, there are no controversies to correct or false teachings to refute in this book. 1 Thessalonians is characterised by its simple, yet clear biblical teaching, together with instructions which attest to Paul's obvious love for these believers and tenderness towards them.
Timothy was a godly man who had a genuine concern and Christ-like love for his Christian brethren - seeking their good above his own.
How quickly we can allow the cares and excitement of this world to drown out our concern for others, and cause us to leave our first love - the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul indirectly praised Timothy's gracious character, his godly disposition, and his Christ-like love, because he chose to send him to encourage the Christians in Philippi, in preference to others who, seek after their own interests, and not those of Christ Jesus.
May we be those with a genuine concern and Christ-like love for our Christian brethren and sisters, and seek after their interests before our own - not for the praise of man, but out of love for our Saviour - and to the praise of His holy name.
Peter's heart desire was to establish believers in the gospel of Christ so that we diligently add virtue to our faith and supplement our virtue with moral character, perseverance, godliness, kindliness, and brotherly love.
How important, therefore, that we too should have a godly love in our heart towards all our brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter where we find ourselves, and irrespective of what our situation happens to be.
Surely it is right for all who are God's children to have love in our hearts for every other member of His Body, for we are all partakers of God's amazing grace.
We are under the Law of love - the law of grace - the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus - and we are to love as Christ loved and consider the needs of others before our own.
ot because of any imposed laws, but out of love for our fellow man and reverence for our God and Saviour - Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Psalmist expresses his love for the Lord because God hears and answers His children when they call to Him.
The Psalmist knew, as we do, that there is nothing that we can do to repay the Lord for all His grace and love towards us.
We can tell others of the wonders of His grace and mercy, and we can seek to do His will with a willing and obedient heart that is overflowing with love for our gracious Saviour.
There is nothing we can do to repay the Lord for all His goodness and loving-kindness He has shown towards us, but we can live a life that is pleasing to Him by trusting His Word and seeking in all that we say and do to live a godly life, to walk in spirit and truth, submitted to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and letting the love of Christ shine through us in thought and deed, to the glory of the Father.
Christ is the Head of the Body and we are all members of His Body, which means that JESUS is the One Who is building us together in Himself and knitting us together in His love.
Joseph's life is a wonderful example of Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Jesus is the personification of love, and the message of the Cross is written in His blood.
Christ's sacrificial death at Calvary is the greatest demonstration of the love of God for mankind, for God demonstrated His deep love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. The Son of God was made sin for us and the great design of the gospel of grace is full and free reconciliation; unconditional peace with God.
God in His love clothed Himself in mortal flesh so that through the surrender of the unblemished Lamb of God on the altar of sacrifice, we could be fully identified with Him, becoming the righteousness of God in Him and being declared holy in the sacred sight of God.
God in His grace, mercy, and love, adopted us as His children and made us joint-heirs with Christ.
God the Father treated the Lord Jesus like a condemned criminal, pouring the full force of His anger and wrath on the Son of His love, as He bore the accumulated sin of the whole world on His sinless shoulders.
What joy it must have been to have been a member of the Ephesian congregation, and to read: I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints.
And the Lord also expects that each member of His Body has a depth of love for one another that staggers the imagination.
Indeed, Christ's parting word to His disciples was: Love one another - love, as I loved You - by this shall all men know that ye are My disciples.
We are not simply directed to love our neighbour as we love ourselves, as were saints in Old Testament time, but we are to love one another with the same love that Christ loved us, when He willingly came to earth to be born into the human race so that He could give His life to pay the price for our sin.
Such love passes all comprehension, and yet this is how we have been commanded to live: LOVE as I have loved you.
When we consider the mystery that was hidden from ages and generations, but which has now been made known to us, should we not trust our faithful God in all things, and follow His command to love one another in the power of the Spirit, Who works within us all?
The fruit of a holy reverence for our Lord develops our deeper understanding of His beautiful attributes and eternal character and will burst forth into praise and thanksgiving, worship, and reverential love from those that fear Him.
A reverential love for the Lord and a holy fear of our God also translates into willing obedience to God's will.
The inexpressible depth of God's love towards condemned mankind was demonstrated when He sent the Lord Jesus to be our Saviour, Who took the punishment for our sin on Calvary's cross.
Having laid out the most comprehensive presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Paul finally reaches his joyful conclusion with the most astonishing promise and wonderful truth that is given to all who believe - that nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord - nothing visible or invisible, nothing in the physical realm or the spiritual sphere, nothing in the heavens above, the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth can separate us from God's gracious and everlasting love.
Nothing past or present or future can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Nothing created by God and nothing imagined by man has the power to remove His blood-bought children from God's inexpressible love and His eternally secure promises, which are all 'yes' and 'amen' in Christ Jesus our Lord - and I am persuaded too!
Some foolishly suggest that we can lose our salvation, by disengaging ourselves from our Father's hands and stepping away from our position in Christ - but the Bible makes it very clear that nothing - absolutely nothing, created in the mortal realm or spiritual sphere... including ourselves, can separate us from God's love for His blood-bought children.
NOTHING can separate us from God's love.
Even when we turn from our Lord, leave our first love, or are unfaithful towards Him - HE remains faithful to His promises, for God cannot deny Himself.
He cannot contradict His Word, which reminds us that nothing can separate us from Him - For I am convinced, Paul wrote, I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And our hope in the Lord will never, ever be disappointed because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by means of the indwelling Holy Spirit, Who was given to us the moment we trusted Christ for salvation.
He points to the Lord Jesus as the perfect example of a life lived in gracious humility, godly self-sacrifice, and with a deep and genuine love for others; a life that was lived to the glory of God.
We discover that this godly man, who also had a heart of love for the Philippian Christians, became so ill during this time that he almost died.
Epaphroditus displayed the spirit of Christ in his self-sacrificial service to Paul and his love for the Philippian Christians, and we should seek to live a similar self-sacrificial life, not simply for the praise of others, but to the glory of God.
Paul and the other apostles were humbled by God's wonderful grace, and His wonderful sacrifice on Calvary's Cross which was given on our account because of the wonderful love Christ has for the Church, which is His Body.
He had recently received an encouraging report about these believers through Timothy, who brought good news about their developing faith and the spiritual fruit of love they were now bearing.
Despite their obvious growth in the faith, Paul knew that all Christians, however mature they may be, must press on to the next level of faith, and so he encouraged them by writing: I pray that God the Father Himself and Jesus Christ our Lord would direct our way to visit you… and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you, so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.
Solomon gives specific warning against the oily allurement of the prostitute or adulteress, and delineates the enormous price of infidelity, while commending the delights of monogamous matrimony and loving loyalty between a husband and his wife who pledge to love, honour, respect, and cherish one another, 'until death separates this God-ordained union'.
And there is a message of hope for all who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour: that even when we are faithless He remains faithful, and that when we are weak and fail Him, He remains strong and His love and grace towards us is never changing.
We are not to love the things of the world nor to be conformed into the practices and standards of the world, for the things of this world are deceitful and deceptive, and flirting with the world system is both dangerous and futile. We have been given God's wonderful Word, which is light and life, health and joy.
Jesus calls His disciples to love their enemies and to do good to those who hate them.
Love is displayed in selflessly giving to others and the ministry in which we are engaged should manifest the sacrificial grace, compassion, and kindness that Christ has shown towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Jesus died for US.
With Jesus as our pattern of godly living and the model of divine love, should not we seek to imitate His goodness and grace?
There, before this elderly apostle of love, stood the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last - the Beginning and the End - the King of kings and Lord of lords.
ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the imagination of man, the wonderful things that God has prepared for those that love Him. No wonder Paul was able to confirm that, our light, momentary troubles, are achieving for us an eternal weight of glory.
It was a permanent aide-memoir that, without Christ I can do nothing, but that, His grace is always sufficient, and, His love is everlasting.
And no matter what difficulties, dangers, or 'thorns' we may encounter as we journey through life, may we do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before our God so that our lives may be a living sacrifice to Him, and a faithful testament of His sufficient grace.
But spiritual blindness, the hypocrisy of their leaders, and disobedience to God's written Word, would result in Christ's rejection by the nation He love, and a gracious invitation being extended to all who would hear His Word and accept His free gift of salvation, both Jew and Gentile alike.
He came as Man born of a woman – God of God yet Man of man, born into our sinful race as one of us so that He could be the propitiation for our sins and demonstrate the love of God towards us.
When we are clothed in Christ's righteousness, it is His dignified strength and His gracious love that shines through - (it is: Christ in you the hope of glory).
And so, He looked at the dear woman who had been chosen to bear the Lord's Anointed, with tenderness and love, for she was standing by the Cross with her sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene: And when Jesus saw His mother and the disciple He loved standing there, He said to His mother, 'Woman, here is your son.' Then He said to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
But Christ not only identified with our sins so that in-Him we could walk in the light of His love by faith and be imputed with His own righteousness, but He is also our heavenly Advocate Who continuously pleads our case before the Father.
To preach the truth in love may require us to patiently and compassionately correct a brother or sister who has been led astray from the Word of truth.
God is indeed a God of love and compassion for all men, for He gave His only begotten Son to redeem the world through the shedding of His innocent blood.
We are urged to recognise that the love of money is a root of many kinds of evil, which can encourage envy, engender covertness, and tempt us toward sin.
Not one secret sigh that crosses the portals of our minds, nor one stabbing pain that cuts deep into our hurting hearts is missed by our gracious God of love - for He is our great God of comfort and Lord of life.
Jesus came to heal the broken-hearted and set the captive free and His Holy Spirit understands - He knows, He loves, and He cares for each one of us, so draw closer to His arms of comfort, and trust in His love today, for a day is coming where there will no longer be any mourning, crying, or pain.
What an example this little group of down-trodden souls are, to the lukewarm Christian Church of today who, in many respects, have left their first-love for the few passing fancies this fading world has to offer.
The Lord Jesus said, If you love Me you will keep My commandments, and one of the tests of a real love of God is willing obedience to His Word, a genuine trust in what He says, a readiness to believe His precious promises, and a desire to obey His commandments.
As the Cross of Christ loomed ever closer, we find the Lord Jesus saying to His disciples, A new commandment I give to you - that you love one another as I have loved you.
What a sublime and impossible command, for in so doing the Lord Jesus commands us to display the same depth of love to one another as He Himself demonstrated to us.
How bound up and interlinked in this test of love is our love for God, our willing obedience to do His will, and a genuine love for our brothers and sisters in Christ - for love of the brethren and keeping His commandments encapsulates the test of our love towards God.
If we are to keep the new commandment He gave to us all, we will love God's children with the same depth of love that Christ Himself loved us, and Christ loved the Church so dearly that He gave himself up for her.
If we walk in the way of His love and live a life filled with His love, we will be following the example of Christ Who loved us and gave Himself for us as a willing sacrifice, a pleasing aroma to God.
But only the life that is walking in spirit and truth, a life lived in humble submission to the leading of the Holy Spirit, can love others as Christ loved us.
Only when the old self life remains nailed to the Cross and the new life in Christ feeds on Him in our hearts, by faith with thanksgiving and praise, can that love of Christ be manifested towards others: And this is the way that we will know that we love God's children, if we love God and obey His commandments.
All judgement has been given into His hands, and in the first few chapters of Revelation, Christ is extending a warning to Christians in this age of grace, to ensure that our consciences are right with the Lord, that we wake up and return to our first love, eschew every kind of evil, hold fast to His Word of truth, and that we listen to all that the Holy Spirit says to the churches.
Remember, He is not only with you in the parched and weary land, but He will guide you through all those scorched and burning places for a purpose - to draw you closer into His outstretched arms of love and to take you deeper into an undertaking of Who He truly is... until you can say with Job, I have learned all about You Lord, but now I have come to a deeper understanding of Who You truly are - I have come to know You in a more intimate and precious way, than ever before.
The spirit-filled believer should be a reflection of the holiness and love of the Lord, and should walk as children of the light in His wisdom and grace.
But only when these relational principles are put into place by God's grace and carried out in practice, will these vital relationships reflect the holiness, love, wisdom, and grace of God.
It is a beautiful reflection of universal harmony where Christ is the head of the Church Who loves His Bride so dearly that He gave His life for love of her.
In the marriage union, both are equal in the sight of God and yet maintain His perfect order in their marriage and home-life, where the wife submits to their own husband and the husband love his wife with a Christ-like love.
Not because we are instructed to do so, but out of a deepening love for our Heavenly Father and our glorified Saviour.
Peter encouraged us to maintain unity of mind, empathy one with another, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind, while John said simply: Little children, love one another.
He had heard of their genuine faith in the Lord, their deep love for one another, and their joyful hope in that which was laid-up for them in heaven.
Paul's prayer was a prayer of thanks and rejoicing for their faith, hope, and love, and it was a request to their Heavenly Father that they might be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom, grace and spiritual understanding.
He prayed that they would bear fruit in every good work and daily increase in their knowledge of God and their love for their Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The gospel is so simple and yet so few are prepared to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God and believe on the only begotten Son of His love for the forgiveness of sin.
He was chosen to receive God's grace and apostleship so that he might shed abroad the wonders of His love.
This lovely psalm explodes into a song of thanksgiving to God, because His mercy and love endures forever.
Although this is a psalm that lists the many ways that God responded to their needs and sheltered them from their enemies, it also targets in on the truth of God's steadfast love.
This is not only a psalm of the past that celebrates Israel's grateful thanks to their faithful God Whose steadfast love endured forever, but it is a hymn of praise for the present, it is a song of thanksgiving that the Church age can chorus with equal gusto and grateful hearts.
Not only does this lovely psalm explode into a song of thanksgiving, but concludes with the pronouncement that all who are wise will see that God's steadfast love toward Israel is the same faithful love, yesterday, today, and forever.
It was Paul who encouraged us to give thanks in everything – so let our hearts and voices explode into a great hymn of praise and thanksgiving to the LORD, for He is good and His steadfast love endures forever, for His faithfulness extends throughout time and into the far reaches of eternity.
He recognises that this will be a time when the Davidic Covenant he received from the Lord in 2nd Samuel 7 will reach its fulfilment, and Israel will repent of their sin in rejecting their Messiah and declare, both nationally and individually, their love and loyalty to Jesus Christ, their God and King.
And in a world where the love of many has grown cold, may we delight to meet with our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus our Lord, and take every opportunity to rejoice with them that we are one in Him and that our names are written in heaven.
The Lord Jesus came into the world as the incarnate WORD of God, to reveal to the depraved mind of man, the truth of God's eternal love and His perfect holiness.
Only in Him is Hope, and Joy, and Life everlasting, for God the Father decreed that God the Son should come to shine the Light of God's Life and Love into the world so that all who believe on Him could be enlightened by the truth, reflect the light of His love, and be enlivened with His life, but He was rejected as a result of man's sin.
Christ Jesus is that LIGHT that has been shining from eternity past, and it is only through Him that God's light, and life, and love, and hope, and joy, and peace will flow, for God has decreed that Christ is all in all.
May we bathe in the glorious light of His love for the eternal ages to come, and may we reflect His light in this darkened world and permit His love to flow through us to others; until I am nothing, and He is everything.
In His prayers, Nehemiah pleaded for God's mercy on his nation, his city, and the people of Israel, reminding the Lord of His never-failing faithfulness, and precious promises to His people: You are a God Who preserves His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments.
Boaz had expressed his love for Ruth, through the many gifts and abundant kindnesses, he showed her, and she in like manner sat at his feet until dawn as an expression of her love for him.
His love for her was acknowledged when Boaz covered Ruth with his mantle, which was an honourable expression of his good intentions towards her.
Just as Boaz bestowed love and grace on his bride, so our Bridegroom has given us many tokens of His great love.
In His absence He has encouraged us to abide in Him, to rest in His love, to wait for the fulfilment of His promises to us, and to watch for His any day return.
As we look back to the consummation of God's greatest gift of love in our lives - Christ's finished work on Calvary's Cross, we see that Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, Saviour of the world and only begotten Son of God is our own perfect Kinsman Redeemer, and like Ruth, we are to look forward to the coming of our promised Kinsman-Redeemer as we sit quietly and wait.
They deceive the heart of young, inexperienced believers, who love the Lord, by weaving error in with the truth, and they disrupt the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace, within the Body of Christ.
Despite their commendable works, praise-worthy witness, and patient endurance in times of deep distress, these Ephesian Christians were given a blaring wake-up call and were severely scolded for leaving their first love.
Their first flush of love and deep devotion for their Lord, was quickly dampened by a flurry of frantic service and self-imposed religious tasks.
They were to repent of their careless attitude towards their Saviour - and they were to return to the devoted service that characterised the early days of their new life in Christ... to return to the days of their deep love for their Lord. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
How sad that only a short while later, they had to be rebuked about their lack of love and receive this blistering warning from the risen Lord Jesus, Himself.
We have not been given the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind, for we have the indwelling Holy Spirit of wisdom and understanding.
The dimensions of Christ's love for His Church are unfathomable and enfold all those who will trust in His name for salvation, whether they be Jew or Gentile, bond or free, male or female, black or white, young or old.
But Christ's love for the Church was a mystery that was hidden from past generations, and yet it was revealed to Paul on our account so that we might know for certain the incomprehensible love of Christ.
This love which far surpasses all human knowledge, entitles and enables us, through our union with Him, to be filled up to all the fullness of God.
The dimensions of Christ's love for the Church have been described as vast as a mighty ocean without shores, and as lofty as the highest mountain without a summit.
And although this knowledge is too wonderful to comprehend, it is nonetheless Paul's dear desire that we KNOW the riches of His grace towards us and that we UNDERSTAND the length, and depth, and height, and breadth of Christ's love for us, which surpasses human knowledge.
Love is a theme that threads its way through all the writing of John, but it is in the later chapters of his first epistle that he brings the important theme of divine 'love' to the very forefront of our attention: God IS love, John reminds us, and He manifested that love towards us in the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It was love that caused God to send His only begotten Son into the world to be the propitiation for our sins so that we might be born of the Spirit and empowered to live a life of godly love through Him.
And it is this same divine love which is the preeminent fruit of the Spirit, and is displayed in the life of a spiritual man or woman.
the love of God is indeed patient and kind, as Paul pointed out in first Corinthians: It is not jealous, boastful, arrogant, or self-seeking.
Christlike love does not act unbecomingly or selfishly and isn't easily provoked.
Love does not take into account wrongs that have been suffered, nor does it celebrate unrighteousness.
John makes it increasingly clear that all Christians are commanded to love others as God loves us because we are His children, and that the one who loves God should love his brother as well.
However, he points out a serious truth that if a professing believer says, I love God, but hates his brother, he is a liar.
While Paul lists the amazing qualities of godly love, both he and the apostle John insists that only those who are born of God are enabled, by the power of His Holy Spirit, to manifest His supernatural love so that they are enabled to love others in the same way that Christ loved us: Indeed, this is the commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should also love his brother.
Love comes from God, is given to us by the Holy Spirit of God, is manifested in the Person and work of the Son of God, and as His blood-bought children we are to love our brother also.
John's argument is that IF God so loved us, should we not also love one another?
He works in the lives of those who are living by faith and not by sight, and His love is perfected in the lives of those that are growing in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
John is calling all born-again believers to live their lives by faith in Christ, and not through works of the flesh, for in so doing we will remain in fellowship with God Who will provide the sufficient grace and power to love others as Christ loved us.
Only when we are growing in grace, maturing in the faith, and walking in spirit and truth, will we be empowered to carry out this command that we have received from Him: That those who love God will love his brother also.
James reminds us: God has chosen the poor in the world to become rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that He promised to those who love Him. Our love for the Lord is demonstrated in the way that we honour all our brothers and sisters in Christ, and consider them before ourselves.
We can leave our first love and fall into foolish sin.
And let us in everything, by prayer and praise, rejoice in the Lord and abide in His love, for the joy of the Lord is indeed our strength, through time and into eternity.
Purity of heart, love for one another, and doctrinal truth that stems from the Word of God alone, which was the hallmark of the early Christian Church, has deteriorated into Christian mud-slinging and hostility against brothers in Christ OR has resulted in a watering down of the gospel of grace to accommodate any slight variation from the truth of the glorious gospel of Christ.
If, in love, we could but grasp, believe, and act on the deep significance of Christ's simple, yet profound statement, our troubled hearts would be stilled, and our joy would be full.
May we become like those that are on fire for the Lord and in love with our precious Saviour, exhibiting the characteristics of Christ in our daily life, walking in Spirit and truth, bearing much fruit-of-the-Spirit for His praise and glory.
Once we are in Christ, we are commanded to abide in Christ, to remain in Christ, to stay in fellowship with the Lord, to enjoy communion with Him, to rest in His love.
He is not only perfect love but also consummate justice.
There is a reluctance in the churches of today to admit that our God of comfort, hope, joy, and love, is also a jealous God, Who avenges evil, judges the wicked, and destroys His enemies.
There is no solitary place to which we can go, nor a single state in which we find ourselves, that is able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
These men were not sent as 'lone-ranger' witnesses, for we are members of one Body... who need the support of our brothers and sisters in Christ and should be united together in love - in this increasingly God-hating, Christ-rejecting, sinful world.
We are to have fervent love for one another, knowing that love covers a multitude of sins; and we are to extend gracious hospitality to all those with whom we come in contact, and to do it without complaining.
He encouraged Timothy to rekindle the passion for Christ he had, in bygone days, and to remember that God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but one of power and love and discipline.
A humble believing heart, a surrendered submissive will, a focused mind, and a life that is dependent on Him in all things, are vital factors in the life of every believer, and James knows that only those who have an unwavering faith in God are the ones who will do what is right in the sight of the Lord - for they will love mercy and walk humbly with their God.
Having died to sin, we are called to grow in grace and in a knowledge of Him, for we are no longer dead in our sin but alive to Christ: For we have died to sin. We are no longer estranged from God but reunited with Him, in love: For we have died to sin.
As an outpouring of their trust in Christ Jesus as Saviour, this little band of believers demonstrated a deep love for all the saints of Christ.
The hope upon which their faith was founded and their love expressed, was the mystery of Christ and the Church, which is His Body.
May our faith in Him overflow in love for our brothers and sisters in Christ, knowing that our hope in Him is reserved for us in heaven, for this is God's message of truth to us all.
Now flee from youthful lusts, was Paul's serious warning to Timothy, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on the Lord, from a pure heart.
Paul also encouraged Timothy - and us, to pursue the spiritual fruit of virtues - righteousness, faith, and love.
Flee from youthful lusts, was his sombre warning, and pursue righteousness, faith, and love, is Paul's earnest plea.
The action to pursue righteousness, faith, and love, is a definite decision of the will which can only be achieved as one purposes in one's own heart to turn away from every kind of fleshly pursuit and craving for self-recognition - and follow after righteousness, faith, and love.
Faithfulness towards our Father and fidelity towards our fellow men, is reflected in a sincere and energetic confidence in the Lord and an unswerving trust in His Word - while the divine love of Christ is manifested through the words we speak and the actions we carry out.
A deep love for God and consideration for the needs of others before ourselves, is the criterion that marks a person who is a man or woman after God's own heart.
Let us earnestly pursue righteousness, faith, and love, and live in peace with those that call on the Lord with a pure heart - for the honour of His holy name, and for our own eternal benefit.
Not only should we guard our mouth and be careful that we speak the truth in love and with grace, but we should also bridle our tongue so that we prevent ourselves from speaking hastily or without due thought or consideration.
Humility, grace, peace, and love are the precious spiritual fruit that should be evident in the life of all God's children who have gained wisdom and been given godly understanding.
Peter knew that the spiritual qualities of godly living are all rooted and grounded in a life that is saturated with the Word of God, totally submitted to His will, and passionately in love with their God and Saviour Jesus Christ.
And as simple faith is exercised, it will become increasingly grounded in the Word of God and will be supplemented with a generous supply of godly qualities such as moral excellence, self-control, patient endurance, gracious godliness, brotherly affection, and love for all.
While Jesus still is the God of love and grace and will eventually return to Jerusalem as Prince of Peace and King of kings, He is also the God of justice and righteousness.
This, then, is the judgment:- The Light has come into the world, and people love darkness rather than the Light because their deeds are evil.
Knowing the tremendous price that God the Father had to pay in sending the Son of His love to become our Kinsman-Redeemer... and knowing the terrible agony the Lord JESUS would have to endure and the incredible sacrifice He would have to make in order to redeem the human race, should cause each one of us to glorify Him with every fibre of our being - every moment of the day - and to spread abroad the glories of His holy name, without fear or favour.
In consideration of the great goodness and mercy that has followed us all the days of our life, should we not be those that in-Christ, demonstrate godly mercy and kindness towards others, for in so doing we not only reflect the mercy and love of God but we will receive God's bountiful blessing: For blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy, pressed down, filled up to the brim and running over.
God commended His love towards us in that while we were still sinners and estranged from Himself, Christ died for us, forgave us of our sins, removed us from condemnation, came to take up residence within our hearts, and abide within us.
May God's abundant grace and incomprehensible peace continue to be multiplied towards all His children as we seek to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk in humble submission before Him all the days of our life, in love.
No doubt, Peter recalled His Master's personal command to, feed my sheep, and provide food for My little lambs, as he sought to remind his readers to persevere in life's trials and grow in brotherly love, to be fruitful in their knowledge and understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to make their calling steadfast and sure.
God demanded total commitment to both His commands and His covenant which could be summed up in a few words: You shall love the Lord Your God with Your whole heart, and soul, and mind, and strength.
Obedience to the command of the Lord would demonstrate a genuine love for God, and result in close communion with Him, while disobedience would exhibit an unbelieving heart and unacceptable contempt for the Lord, His Word, and His will.
Every good parent corrects and trains their children because they love them and want the very best for them.
But when a parent is trying to impart godly discipline from a heart of love for Jesus and for their child, they will yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness: For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
As God's children, we too will be disciplined and trained by our Lord, for our good and for His glory. We should never forget that all God's correction and chastisement flows from His Father-heart of love.
Let us never forget that there are no rites or rituals to which members of Christ's Body are bound, other than to love the Lord our God with all our heart, and soul, and mind, and strength, and to love others as Christ loved us.
And what a wonderful example he is, of a man whose love for the Lord Jesus was demonstrated through his caring concern for those who had been brought to a saving-faith in Christ.
How wonderful it would be if we would all cultivate the same love for the saints and compassion for the Body of Christ that we see in Paul.
Memories of Christian brothers and sisters should be bathed in love and grace, forgiveness and faith, care and compassion, joy and thanksgiving.
The hatred Saul of Tarsus had for the Body of Christ (whom he had once persecuted), had been transformed into a deep love Paul the apostle had for Gentile believers by the power of the Holy Spirit.
With this in mind: Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Because when even two or three faithfully assemble together, we are assured that He is in our midst.
He shows in his illustrations that all things work together for the eternal good of those that love the Lord and are fitting into His plan, even when we fail or are going through difficult times.
Paul opens his epistle to the Colossians expressing his profound joy and grateful thanks for them all, because of their sincere faith in the gospel of Christ, the deep love which they showed for one another and because of the obvious future hope they possessed: Which is laid up for us in heaven.
Paul rejoiced that in the past, these believers had come to a knowledge of the gospel of grace; in the present, they were demonstrating the love of Christ in their lives; and they looked to the future with joyful hope, knowing that one day they would: Ever be with the Lord.
It was because of their sincere faith in the gospel, their future hope in God's promises, the abundance of fruit being produced in their lives, and the deep love they had for one another, that Paul did not cease to pray for them and to ask that they might be filled with the knowledge of God's will, in all spiritual wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
May this prayer be answered in our lives and the lives of those we love.
May we live as unto the Lord - with sincere faith, godly love, and a glorious hope that is laid up for us in heaven.
But when a believer is disciplined or chastened by the Lord, we often imagine that God does not love us anymore, or that He is inflicting some cruel punishment on us, from which we make every endeavour to escape.
But chastening from the Lord is a sign of love that comes from the Father-heart of God: For the Lord disciplines the son whom He loves.
But too often we become fretful, angry, or discouraged with the chastening we receive from our Heavenly Father, and yet the Lord chastens every son including you and me, out of His deep and unconditional love for each one of us.
Paul’s love for the body of Christ was a deep love that reflected the love he had for His Saviour and Lord.
He grieved when they were slow of heart to learn, reprimanded them when they fell into sin, corrected them when they were lured into error, rejoiced with them as they grew in grace, and instructed them so they would become increasingly mature in the faith.Paul’s great desire for the saints at Philippi was that they become rooted and grounded in the Word of truth, so that their love for God and their love for one another would continue to grow and multiply.
And this I pray, he wrote in the opening section of his epistle, I pray that your love may abound still more and more, in real knowledge and in all discernment.The love of God is as unfathomable as it is eternal, and yet the Lord Jesus commanded us to love as He loved, and Paul prayed that love would overflow in our hearts.
Rather, he recognised that in all things, God, in His gracious-love and tender-mercy, was using them for good.
God's love is everlasting and indestructible.
His love is infinite and without measure, and however much love has been poured into our hearts from above, there is always more room for His over-abounding love.
His love flows from His well-spring of life and is a never-ending source and supply of all that is needed for life and godliness.
But it was not simply an abundance of love for which Paul prayed, but that their love would abound more and more in real knowledge and discernment.
He prayed that the love in their hearts would be endowed with godly wisdom, and a knowledge of the holy that is able to approve things that are excellent, so that they may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.
And so Paul was enabled to pen godly insights and instructions as to the true meaning of abounding love.
Paul knew that godly wisdom and spiritual understanding have their root in the love of God and his prayer is as much for us today as it was for the Christians at Philippi.
Indeed, this should also be our continuous prayer for our brothers and sisters in Christ – that our love increases and abounds, as we worship our heavenly King, grow in grace, and develop a more intimate knowledge of God.
O gratefully sing His wonderful love.
O measureless might, ineffable love, while angels delight to worship above.
But he continued by strongly commending these dear believers for the wonderful growth of their faith in God and the abounding love they had for one another, which was being demonstrated in their midst.
We too can trust in man governments, place our hope in a hero, leave our first Love, and wander far from the Lord Who bought us with His own precious blood.
As we read this chapter, we discover the overflowing riches of God's grace and the tender love that the Father has bestowed on all who trust in Christ as Saviour, for we are accepted in the Beloved and have become eternally united with our Saviour, by grace through faith in Christ alone.
Like so many of Paul's epistles, this second letter to the Thessalonians opens with a prayer of thanksgiving and praise for the faith, hope, love, and patience of these believers, amid the serious trials and tribulation they were facing.
Christ's great sacrifice demands our willing and joyful love, but godly love and our love for God is incompatible with our fleshly desires and a lust for the things of this world.
He examines spiritual growth, sound doctrine, the practice of righteousness, love, and obedience, and the importance of hiding God's Word in our heart, but he also warns us against the many influences of the world and our own fallen sin nature: For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
Just as the Father has loved Me, He told them, so I have also loved you - abide in My love.
The love about which the Lord Jesus was speaking was not the ordinary love that flows from the heart of a human soul.
He was not speaking of a mother's love for her newborn, a husband's love for his bride, or the patriot's love for his country.
The reciprocated love of the Father and the Son is unfathomable in human terms, for it has no beginning and will never end.
The Father's love of the Son, and the Son's corresponding love toward His Father is fathomless and unchangeable.
It is an inexhaustible love.... an immutable love that knows no limits and has no boundaries, for it is an unfading love without measure, reaching beyond the extremity of everything.
The mutual love of the eternal Father and His beloved Son is inestimable, bottomless, fathomless, unceasing, unflagging, interminable, constant, and pure.
As we consider the never-ending love that flows throughout the Godhead, we can recognise that this is not a love that we ourselves could comprehend, for we are fallen creatures who are limited in our understanding and whose paltry love can fluctuate with time and change with the seasons.
We are surrounded by the ebb and flow of human emotions, where love can grow cold, relationships can become tired, and ardour can subside as circumstances march on.
Yet the deep and incredible love the Father has for His Son is the same deep and incredible love that Jesus has for His people - for YOU and for ME!
He made a point of telling His disciples that His love for us is as passionate and full and glorious and unending as the love that flows between Him and His Father, Just as the Father has loved Me, SO I have also loved you... The way that God the Father adores His beloved Son is exactly the say way that Jesus treasures each of US.
He loves us with a love that is inestimable, bottomless, fathomless, unceasing, unflagging, interminable, constant, and pure.
For love of US, Jesus chose to be born into His own creation, so that He could pay the price for our sin, by being nailed to the cross in our place.
This is the sort of love that baffles the human mind for this is the sort of love that fallen humanity is incapable of reproducing.
AND YET - Christ finished his brief statement with one, simple instruction for each of us, abide in My love. We are to remain in His incredible love and rest in His unfathomable love.
We are to allow the deep, deep love of Christ for us, to penetrate every fibre of our being - and soak into every sinew of our understanding.
Christ knows the only way to live a victorious life is to abide in His love.
The only way to overcome the pressures and pain that pursue each one of us is to abide in Him, to remain in Him, to rest in His love.
Just as the branch of a vine remains healthy and strong as it remains attached to the great vine that provides its nourishment, so we will remain spiritually healthy and strong as we remain in Christ - the True Vine, and abide in His love.
When we abide in Him, we discover His love is stronger than life and more powerful than death.
As the Father has loved Me, so I have also loved you - abide in My love. If we who are saved by grace through faith in Him would take to heart this simple truth and obey Christ's simple command to Abide in my love, we would discover its transcendent significance and its unfathomable benefit.
The wise man is the one that pursues peace and speaks the truth in love, while the tragedy is that those who wallow in interpersonal war and chase after conflict have their roots in sin and self.
During His time on earth, the Lord Jesus gave us a beautiful demonstration of what it means to abide in the Lord and rest in His love, for throughout His life, the Lord Jesus did only things that He saw the Father doing.
May we hate sin with a godly hatred but love the sinner in need of redemption, and may our hearts be filled with compassion and love for those that are lost as we plead with God for their salvation.
We are to flee from worldly pursuits and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness, which is honourable in God's sight.
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;Thy justice like mountains high soaring aboveThy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.
Having matured in our faith and having grown in our spiritual walk, we should never forget what we have learned, nor should we turn away from the fount of all knowledge or leave our first love, Christ Jesus, our Lord.
When the cares and concerns of this world are given to the Lord in humility of heart, He pours into that life His peace that passes understanding, and we discover we have a godly wisdom, an enlarged faith, supernatural love, and His sufficient grace, despite the circumstances that hem us in on every side.
Once we start to recognise that we are sinners, we start to understand the amazing love of God, the forgiveness of sins, and His over-abounding grace which is ours by faith in the sacrificial death and glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus set aside His own desires and needs because of His love for His Father in heaven, but He also had to suffer the reproaches of men because of His relationship to His Father.
He only said and did those things that He heard from His Father and suffered reproach for His love of God and the people of God.
Let us seek to live as He lived, in total obedience to God, only doing those things that we hear from Him, showing a zeal for His Word and a deep love for the Church, which is His Body, knowing that it is fitting and right that we should live as unto the Lord, for His greater glory.
Christ, the eternal Son of God, set aside His pre-incarnate glory and was born into a race of sinners, to live and to serve, to suffer and to die so that fallen man might be given eternal life by believing on His name: God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Any misgivings we have in God's power to help or any doubts that arise, concerning His ability to save and defend us, stem from a pride in our own abilities and a lack of understanding of His generous character, faithful love, and gracious goodness.
And when those we love reach the end of this mortal coil, we should not grieve like unbelievers do, for we have a secure hope and a future inheritance that is kept for us in heaven.
And a dutiful son obeys his father's instructions out of sincere love and deep affection, while a servant obeys his master's commands out for fear of his master's displeasure.
As believers on the Resurrection side of Calvary, the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit and in the power of His sufficient strength, we are enabled to love others as Christ loved us.
The love and devotion that spills out from this beautiful verse, in Psalm 16, warms the heart of all weary wanderers, as David joyfully displays his compelling confidence in His Lord, and writes of his utter trust in the God of his salvation.
As we focus our hearts and minds on the loveliness of our risen Saviour, we receive His fullness of joy, love, and His peace, not only in the world to come, but every day of our earthly life.
John is often called the apostle of love but He is also the Gospel writer that focusses on judgement.
John knew that the salvation of mankind was initiated out of love for fallen sinners, but also that judgement is the inevitable result of those who choose to reject His gracious offer of salvation by grace through faith in Christ's sacrificial work at Calvary.
The breadth of God's love is universal in its reach, and the purpose of God's salvation is as broad as His love which is to save mankind from condemnation, for it is not God's will that any should perish.
But sadly, there are those that do not believe in the love of God, nor do they not obey the will of God, but live in rebellion against God.
The man who faces God's righteous judgement has rejected the Love of God, the Grace of God, the Gift of God, and the Light from God.
They are endangering their spiritual growth and encouraging spiritual regression by leaving their first love, falling into unbelief, disbelief, or discouragement.
And so we are exhorted not to forsake assembling together as the Body of Christ, but motivating one another towards godly love and good works, and encouraging each other in our Christian walk.
But as believers, we are also instructed to be concerned about our brothers and sisters in Christ and to stir up one another unto love and good deeds.
We are to care for each other and consider how to stimulate one another to love as Christ loved us, and to produce good deeds that God has prepared for us to do.
We as believers are instructed: To provoke others unto love and to good works.
As fallen creatures, it is all too easy to provoke each other to anger and strife through unkindness and criticism, but as believers we are instructed to provoke one another unto LOVE.
And it is through unchanging love that love is provoked.
It is by means of loving another that they become stimulated to love in return.
It is through an unchanging attitude of never-failing Christ-like love towards our brothers and sisters in Christ, irrespective of their attitude towards us, that love can be motivated within them (as they see Christ living in us and loving through us).
And just as love begets love, so too provoking others to good works by our own demonstration, will promote good works in them as well.
And so we promote love and good works in others, in spirit and in truth.
How blessed we are if we can reflect on our own lives and identify those that by God's grace, patiently and lovingly provoked us to love and good works, by grace through faith in Christ.
Paul calls us all to be like-minded, having unity in the spirit and the love of Christ in our hearts, being of one accord, encouraging the saints, and demonstrating tender-compassion in humility of heart towards one another.
But mercy, truth, and unity, only comes when we have the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Spirit flowing through our inner beings, for it is only as we are yielded to the Holy Spirit, that He is enabled to conform us into the likeness of Christ.
In his letter to the Philippians, Paul gives this vital challenge to all believers: If we have received any consolation in Christ, if we have any comfort of love, if we have any fellowship of the Holy Spirit, and if we have any bowels and mercies in Christ, then we are to demonstrate this in our lives by being of one same mind.
If we, as children of God, have received His goodness and grace, comfort and hope, we are to maintain the same goodness, grace, comfort, and love, and be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the body of peace.
The challenge to all believers is to faithfully and committedly develop a Christlike character, demonstrating the same love that He displayed.
We are to be united in spirit and fervent in love, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
May the patience, humility, gentleness, and love we show to each other be known to all, as together we draw near to God.
It is those who mirror the Christ-like character of our Lord Jesus in their everyday living and who bear each other's burdens in godly love, that are bound together in the unity of the Spirit - in the bond of peace.
Paul was not unaware of the petty squabbles and unnecessary disagreements that permeated the different churches in his care, but he was also quick to condemn such disunity in the Body of Christ and stressed the importance of Christian unity - where any differences of race, colour, nationality, culture, language, gender, and status, are brushed aside in love.
But Paul's love for his brothers and sisters in Christ overspills into earnest prayer for them all.
Paul prays that their love for God and their love towards each other might expand and overflow in all knowledge, discernment, and spiritual maturity.
He prays that godly love would be the outward display of an inner heart, in love with Jesus and mindful of the needs of others.
It was not simply an emotional love or a feeling of benevolence towards one another for which he prayed, but true Christian love that considers the needs and desires of another, before considering one's own necessities.
His prayer was for the blossoming of an over-abounding love in each of their hearts and for the manifestation of deep spiritual discernment in each of their lives.
Paul did not pray a vague prayer of 'blessing' over the saints of God, but beseeched the Lord for their abounding love and spiritual maturity (for a specific purpose), so that in Christ, they would be afforded the wisdom to make the right choices in their lives and approve those things that are good and excellent in the sight of the Lord.
Paul knew that only the divine love of God that flows into our hearts from the indwelling life of Christ can effectively abound in godly love towards others.
He encouraged us to be holy and blameless before the Lord, in love.
This grace of God is so abounding and precious that there are neither words sufficient to describe, nor songs sufficient to sing of His amazing love and the gracious gift that has been poured into our hearts, through the finished work of our Saviour, Jesus Christ our Lord.
It is marrow to the bones, honey to the taste, the wellspring of light, life, love, and hope.
The one who places their faith in the Lord does not seek help from those that are proud and deceitful, because the faithful love of the Lord surrounds them, protects them, and underpins their lives.
God allows all the troubles and tribulations of life to work together for good... to those that love the Lord and for the eternal glory of His holy name.
The manifestation of God's love towards the fallen race of man at Calvary as the entire floodgates of God's wrath was poured out on His dearly-beloved and only-begotten Son, was beyond Peter's comprehension at that time, but by the power of the Holy Spirit he would later receive illumination.
It all comes back to trusting our lives and our futures into God's hands, knowing that ALL things work together for good, to those that love God, and are called according to his purpose.
And although the Father was caused to turn away from the Son of His love as He became sin for you and for me, the Lord inclined His ear, heard His cry, and brought Him up from the terrible pit of destruction and the miry clay so that He could become the Rock of our salvation upon Whom we can stand firm, through time and into eternity.
Never forget that somewhere in the Bible there is always a resounding, 'BUT GOD...' Never allow any fear that is being conceived in your mind to be birthed into a terror that destroys the inner peace that God gives to those that love Him.
How often our trust in the Lord falters and we allow our hearts to fail within us, for fear of what is happening in our lives and the lives of those we love.
God most certainly proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!
God proved His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God foreordained all this for us, before the foundation of the world - proving His love towards us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
And can it be that I should gainAn interest in the Saviour's blood?Died He for me, who caused His pain?For me, who Him to death pursued?Amazing love!
how can it beThat Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?Amazing love!
We are not to allow the world to squeeze us into its mould, but are to serve one another in love, through our spiritual giftings, and by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
The life of Jesus was the demonstration of a Man Who lived His life in a spirit of dependant humility, goodness, and grace, Who would not compromise the good news of the gospel of God, but spoke the truth in goodness and love.
Christ may be a Saviour Who is common to all believers and a God that is universal in His love for each of His own, but He does not divide His love, segment His peace, or sub-divide His grace between us.
He pours out all of His love on each of us.
Let us rejoice as David did, and thank Him for His undivided attention, His undiminished love, His undiluted grace, and His unending salvation.
Our labour should not be in perfecting the things of this world which will one day all be destroyed, but perfecting our relationship with our substitute and Saviour – to know Him more clearly, to love Him more dearly, and to follow His more nearly, day by day.
Let us share the life saving news of salvation to all we meet; let us love one another as Christ loved us; let all we do in the days we have left on this earth be to the glory of God.
The blood of Jesus saved us, and it continues to cleanse us from all sin, and if we abide in Him and walk in the light of His love, we have fellowship with our Heavenly Father.
When we walk with God in the light of His love, we enjoy mutual fellowship with the Father.
He never fails to satisfy our days and years with good things - for moment by moment we are kept secure in His love.
But he chose to use the love and compassion of a caring and considerate human father towards his child, in order to convey the love, compassion, pity, and grace of God towards those who believe in Him.
The disobedient child needs to be chastened, and the child that is wounded and afraid needs the loving compassion that can only come from the heart of a father who truly cares for the child of his love.
The glorious love of God has been poured into the very person of Christ, for He is the exact representation of the invisible God, Who not only reflects the beauties of the Lord, but is Himself the Source of all light, the Fountain of all life, and the bottomless Reservoir of all love.
Men love darkness rather than the Light of lights, because man is a fallen being who is dead in trespasses and sin, and at enmity with God Himself.
God in His mercy and love has provided all men with a knowledge of the true Light, through the external witness of nature and the inner witness of our conscience.
The heavens may declare the glory of God, their voice may echo throughout all the earth, and their words be shouted to the end of the world, but only the God-breathed Scriptures communicate God's heart of love to a world of lost sinners.
And so we discover that the weight of his sorrow and the traumatic grief that hung so heavily on the heart of this weeping prophet, was interspersed with echoes of hope and whispers of God's amazing love and grace.
God does not need you nor me, and yet in His grace and love, He chose to pay the penalty for our sin, break the power of sin in our lives, and permanently unite us with His only Begotten Son.
The world at large and man, in particular, has for thousands of years been on a desperate search for meaning in life – for love and health, for peace and prosperity, for youth and beauty, and for a perfect dwelling place of eternal bliss and over-abounding happiness.
The only salvation that can bring the world in general, and sinners in particular, back into fellowship with the only source of life, light, love, and peace, is found in the one name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved – the Lord Jesus Christ.
They knew that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the living God, and that in Him were the words of eternal life, and light, and truth, and love.
It is when we arrive at the epilogue of this important letter, with its comprehensive warnings to live righteously in Christ Jesus, not to fall short of the grace of God, and to avoid the many pitfalls into which Israel fell... that we arrive at the final section which offers some very specific instructions on brotherly love, suffering in adversity, and holy living at home and in the wider community.
God's never-ending love-story for His people continues... but today, as the Body of Christ, we wait for that glorious event when we shall be taken into heaven to be His Bride... for His love-story for the Church is equally wonderful as His love for Israel... and is deserving of our praise and worship.
Although love is an essential quality of God, He is also a God of justice Who must punish all who fall short of His own perfect standard of righteousness.
But from his own incarceration in a Roman jail, the apostle Paul was able to encourage His timid labourer in Christ, by reminding Timothy and us: God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power; of love; of a sound mind and godly judgment.
But like him we need to remember who we are in Christ, and that we have not been given a spirit of fearfulness and timidity, but one of power, love, sound judgment, and a disciplined mind.
We all need love in our lives, but true godly love is not something that we struggle to produce through our own fleshly efforts, but can only be produced in us as spiritual fruit as we abide in Christ and He in us.
They were about to face the most traumatic few hours in the history of the universe, when the Son of God and Son of Man willingly spread wide His arms of love to embrace whosoever will with His everlasting forgiveness, and crown all who would believe on His name with His gift of life eternal - His own, righteous Life in exchange for our sad, sinful lives.
There are many mansions in my Father’s heavenly home and because I love you, I am going to prepare a place, especially for you.
Each soul seeks some hidden wisdom or spiritual illumination that would bring in its wake light and life, salvation and peace, fulfilment, love, and hope.
God has set out His unique way of life and salvation, peace, fulfilment, love, and hope, in His Word of Truth.
No surprise that His Name is called Wonderful Counsellor, for His deep love fills angels and men with awe-struck admiration, and His wise counsel generates stunned amazement.
Who but the Mighty God of love and justice, could have imagined that the shame and humiliation of the Cross would result in the shattering forever of hell's deep darkness and it's terrifying eternal damnation.
God has promised in His Word to be an ever-present help in times of trouble and to work all circumstances of life together for the good of those that love Him with all their heart, fit in with His plan, and do not lean on their own understanding.
The unbroken fellowship and eternal bond of love that exists between the Father and the Son was to be broken for the first time at that pivotal point in history when, as perfect Son of Man, Jesus was to pay the purchase price for the sin of the whole world.
Our God of grace is willing to extend His arms of love and forgiveness to all Who will trust in Jesus, for He is not willing that any should be condemned but that all come to a saving knowledge of the Lord.
We are the children of our gracious Heavenly Father, and we are called to be God's witnesses to the unsaved in a dying world - for God is merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and longs that all men are saved.
Let us in His strength, keep our eyes fixed on Jesus so that we become a true reflection of His grace and compassion, His patience and love.
May we be temperate, dignified, sensible, and sound in faith, while demonstrating love and perseverance, like the elders and older men in Paul's letter to Titus.
We are told that these three, spiritual fruit of God’s amazing grace will continue and will remain and abide into the eternal state - faith, hope, and love.In this earthly life, faith must remain a high priority.
Faith is vital, for we live by faith and not by sight, and the blessed hope we have in Christ, and His soon return, does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, Who has been given to all who trust in Christ for salvation.
While faith and hope will certainly continue throughout the eternal ages, for our faith and hope will always be in our heavenly Father, it is love that will increase and multiply when we see Jesus face to face - for we see Him as He is and we shall be like Him.
The eternal God is perfect love and the perfect love of God has been eternally poured into our hearts, through faith in Christ, for we have been made His children, through faith.
But in this present world, we are taking our first steps on the pathway of love - a journey of love that will only increase through time and into eternity, as we bathe in His presence and gaze into His lovely face.
Both faith and hope are a beautiful manifestation of the love of God in the life of a believer, because we live by faith and not by sight; and we live in hope of our promised, eternal state...for we live in incorruptible bodies.
But love is the greatest of all, for it will not only remain but it will enlarge and expand,.
But love is a gift of God, and love is the primary a fruit of the Spirit that will continue to grow and expand, beyond our wildest imaginings.
The eternal love of God that has been poured into our hearts will continue to increase and multiply - for the love of God is eternal.
The love of God is broader than the measure of our mind.
But love is the loveliest grace of all, for during our sojourn on earth we are being conformed into the lovely image and likeness of the lovely Lord Jesus Christ, Who is incarnate love.
And it is by reflecting His love that we are to resemble the Lord – for God is Love and the love of God is broader than the span of our greatest imaginations, and the fondness of our Father towards us goes beyond our wildest dreams.But this life is the first step into an eternity of love with God; the love of God and our love for God, and these three graces of faith, hope and love must of necessity all continue beyond this mortal sphere, for the attributes of God are incomparable in their beauty, His perfections are unlimited in their number, His excellence is everlasting in its duration and splendour is absolute in its span.We, who have been saved by grace are to enter into the glories of the celestial sphere and our understanding and knowledge of God must continue throughout the ages to come.
But it is the love of God that He has for us that will move us ever closer to the love that we have for Him – as we abide in Him and He in us, through time and into eternity.
And yet God has taken those apparently useless, insignificant human forms and poured into them a revelation of the glorious gospel of His only begotten Son.God has poured into our hearts the divine light of His love and glory, the glorious truth of His salvation and grace, the rich treasure of the good news of Christ, Who alone can save a sinner from the penalty and power of sin, death, and hell.
The almighty Creator, Who caused light to shine out of darkness, is the One Who has shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ – so that His life may dwell in us and His love may shine into our hearts, so that we may be made ministers of His grace and show forth the excellency of His power to those that remain dead in their trespasses and sins.There is no merit in us that we should be so honoured, as the contrast between our frail, feeble, perishing bodies and His divine strength and eternal light demonstrates – but by His goodness and grace, this heavenly treasure has been placed in earthen vessels - our human body, which is Christ in us the hope of glory, so that the excellency of that power may be shown forth in our lives.We are the earthen vessels into which the glorious truth of the gospel of God has been poured, causing our mortal bodies to become the temple of the Holy Spirit, Who uses this gospel light to guide us into all truth and as we proclaim the glorious gospel of grace to others.
Many long years passed, and the Lord was silent in his love towards this man of God, and Abraham may have thought that this happy state of affairs would continue on - but his life was soon to be shattered by the next communication he received from the Lord, for we discover in the following verses, that God instructed him to, Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.
A burnt offering is not a compulsory, sacrificial directive, demanded by God. A burnt offering is a voluntary, free-will love-gift, that is presented to the Lord willingly.
It is a precious love-offering to the Lord, as a token of a man's deep affection and reverence for his Lord and Saviour.
In His grace, God has promised those who remain faithful in trials and tribulations, will one day receive a crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Abraham believed God when he left the pagan city of Ur, but his faith was tested and deepened when he was commanded by God to set out for Mount Moriah to offer his one and only beloved son of promise, as a love-offering to the Lord.
Some like to focus on the love of God, preferring to pretend that the judgement of God is rather inappropriate to mention to non-believers or young Christians, in case they are offended.
The Lord Jesus told us that if we keep His commandments, we would abide in His love – we would remain in His love – we would rest in His love.
He gave us one commandment – a new commandment – a commandment that incorporates every other godly command and gracious act – the only command upon which the spiritual life of a believer must be founded: A new command I give you, Love one another as I have loved you, so love you one another.
Christ's command to us is to love one another in the same way that Christ loves us, His Body, the Church.
And HOW did Christ love us?
How did Christ love the Church?
Christ's love is a divine love that emanates from the womb of God to His children.
Christ's love is far beyond our fallen human ability to achieve in our own imperfect nature.
It is only as Christ's loves flows into us that His love flows out from us to others.
We can only love others as Christ loved us, when He loves them through us.
It must not be I that love others, but Christ that loves others through me.
Christ said, If you abide in my love you will keep my commandments, but He could as easily have said, If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, for it is only as we abide in His love that we can keep His commands, and we can only love others as He commands when we are abiding in His love – remaining in His love – resting in His love.
The intimate communion of love that flows between God the Father to God the obedient Son, is a picture of the beautiful communion that should from Christ to His Church, as we individually and corporately we abide in Him.
Paul was a man who appreciated his Christian friends and also showed great love and affection for fellow believers.
Paul rejoiced when he considered the love and faith Philemon had for the Lord Jesus, and made reference to the joy, comfort, love, and refreshment he readily supplied to many other saints in the Lord.
He petitioned his friend to receive the fugitive back, with love and forgiveness, and to regard him as a fellow member of the body of Christ, who was clothed in Christ's righteousness.
Similarly, Paul's appeal enabled Philemon to not only forgive his slave, but also to receive Onesimus back into his service with Christlike love, and regard him as a beloved brother in Christ.
Like Philemon, we are all sinners, saved by grace, and it behoves each one of us to act towards those who do us wrong or cause us harm, with Christlike love, and demonstrate the grace of God by forgiving our adversaries when we are wronged.
Jesus wanted to show that anxiety about their daily needs demonstrated a shocking lack of understanding of the tremendous love the Father has for those that are His children.
He also used great exaggeration and extravagant and colourful examples to remind us of our heavenly Father’s never-failing care, His unconditional love, and His superabundant faithfulness towards all His children.
How often we need to remember His loving provision and tender-mercies towards us ALL.What could seem less significant than a broken reed, a tiny sparrow, a widow’s mite, or a little wayside flower, but God takes and uses such insignificant, everyday, mundane things and then He contrasts them with the opulence of the wisest, wealthiest man that ever lived in order to demonstrate His unconditional love and superabundant grace towards us – reminding us that He knows us personally, loves us unconditionally, and cares for each of us individually.When the Lord Jesus takes such care to get His point across to us, perhaps we need to take note of what He is saying.
In order for believers to be united together in love, joy, peace, and harmony, we are to let the mind of Christ dwell in us richly and to display the same beautiful disposition that Jesus displayed in His earthly life.
No wonder Paul's joy would be complete if his brothers and sisters at Philippi were united together in love, having the same mind and being in full accord with one another.
Hebrews reminds us to assemble together, and John gives a stern exhortation that anyone who says they love God but hates his brother is a liar.
And Jesus Himself exhorts us: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
It is not always easy to repay evil with good, but His grace is sufficient to enable us to love our enemies and to do good to those that despitefully use us; to feed a hungry enemy and provide him with a drink when thirsty.
If he is thirsty, give him something to drink, and to do it in love.
we are also condemned for our prideful thoughts, works of the flesh, self-righteous attitudes, and failure to love the Lord our God with all our heart, and honour Him as we ought.
They were unswervingly righteous in their own unenlightened and petty little eyes, yet failed to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before God.
This practical outworking of his faith demonstrated Christian love in action, as he 'gossiped' the gospel of grace with all he met... and sent travelling preachers on their journey, in a way that honoured the Lord.
While the beloved apostle rejoiced greatly about Gaius' faithful work, his sincere testimony to the truth, and the love, friendship, and grace, he demonstrated to his Christian brothers and sisters, John needed to warn him about men like Diotrephes, and to exhort him not to follow his ungodly ways and teach him the godly way to live.
Paul had a deep love for this beloved brother, and felt called to expose the egotistical person in their congregation, and warn Gaius not to entertain men like Diotrephes.
Godly love for our brothers in Christ, is a demonstration of the grace of God, the love of Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, to whomsoever we come in contact.
May we, who have passed from death to life, love others as Christ loved us, and imitate the grace of God in our lives, knowing that the one who does good is of God, while the one who does evil has not seen God.
Paul desires that the spiritual awareness of the saints of God is all-embracing, such that we are able to comprehend the supernatural, multi-dimensional, breadth, length, height, and depth of God's love - through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son.
He had personally experienced this immeasurable love of God himself, for despite his cruel persecution of the Church, God in His grace had chosen Paul to be His own mouthpiece.
Paul understood that the more we comprehend the love and the grace of God - and recognise that the righteousness and justice of God is underpinned by His goodness and grace - the more we grow in understanding, mature in the faith, and are strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit in our inner man.
Paul longed that we all start to comprehend the multi-dimensional breadth, length, height, and depth of God's love - through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son.
God's great love reaches to the extremity of the earth.
His love stretches from eternity past, where the interactive, mutual love of each member of the Trinity united to formulate God's amazing plan of redemption - and it stretches on into the eternal ages to come, for God's love is everlasting and remains forever.
The depth of God's love is expressed in Christ's death on the Cross... for God loved the world so dearly, that He gave His only begotten Son to be the sacrifice for the sin of the whole world, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
And His love reaches into the heights of heaven above, where we have an inheritance kept for us by the power of the living God.
Oh yes, Paul desired that all believers are to be rooted and grounded in love, so that they may be able to grasp the multi-dimensional love of God, along with all those that are sanctified by faith.
May we, like Paul, bow the knee before our Father in heaven from whom every family in heaven and earth derives its name, and let us pray that with us, they may be granted to know the riches of His glory so that they too may be able to comprehend with all the saints, what is the breadth, and length, and height, and depth of God's love and to know the love of Christ, which surpasses all knowledge.
Although He is shrouded in a cloud of unknowing, He is the knowable God of grace Who has made Himself intimately acquainted with His creatures in the face of the Son of His love.
There were those who believed the Word of the Lord and were credited with righteousness, but they had left their first love.
We are charged to eschew all forms of evil, to walk in the light of His love, and to present our bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and acceptable to the Lord. However, like Israel, we are God's people and can expect Him to chasten us when we leave our first love, participate in carnal pursuits, go astray in our Christian walk, or engage in fleshly activities and worldly ways.
One such law touched on the treatment of a slave who preferred to remain in service to his master, rather than becoming a free man. But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out as a free man', then his master shall bring him to God.
This simple ceremony within the Mosaic law demonstrated a relationship between a master and his servant based on love, rather than obligation, humiliation, dishonour or defeat of a man under satanic control.
And that same beautiful, relational picture should be of the Christian's love for our Lord and Saviour - our God and our Father.
The freedom He gives every born-again child of God is EITHER, an opportunity to choose to remain Christ's bond-servant, out of love for all that He has done for us, and to be protected by His mighty power to save, as we face life's ongoing difficulties and dangers... OR we are left free, to wander through the wilderness of life relying on our own abilities and our own power instead of His supernatural ability and all-powerful strength to keep and to save.
May we choose to have our spiritual ear pierced with His holy awl and consecrate the rest of our lives to His service out of deep love for the One Who purchased us with His own precious blood, and sealed our life into His protective care forever.
May we be careful not to fall into the careless ways of Israel, but to learn from their waywardness, so that we may live godly in Christ Jesus... in our words, in our deeds, and in our manner of life, in love, in faith, and in purity of heart, to the glory of God.
Peter exhorts us to give all diligence to add moral excellence, godly knowledge, and self-control to our faith, and to strive after patient endurance, brotherly kindness, and godly love.
May we all strive after patient endurance, brotherly kindness, and godly love, so that we do not lack those qualities which are pleasing in the sight of God.
Christ did not give them a 5-point lesson on the art of praying but a demonstration of the deep, deep love, honour, and trust that the Son had for the Father and of the beautiful communication that flowed between them like the ebb and flow of waters, as they kiss the sand of the sea-shore.
The unbroken love-communion between the triune Godhead became a live recital before the wide-eyed disciples, whose understanding of prayer had been restricted to the principles and practice of the Hebrew Scriptures and priestly benedictions as exemplified throughout the Old Testament - much of which had deteriorated into vain repetition.
Paul was ready and willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice for love of the Lord Jesus, and he considered his life-breath which was soon to expire on the executioner's block, as a drink-offering that was about to be poured out to the Lord he loved so dearly.
It was Isaiah 64:4 about which Paul was referring to when he wrote: But as it is written, eye has not seen and ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him and wait for Him.
God in His grace has revealed to us that He has prepared amazing and wonderful things for those that love and trust Him.
The Bible reminds us that we cannot even imagine what they could be, for God in His wisdom has said that eye has not seen, ear has not heard, and the imagination of man is too limited to envisage what God has prepared for those that love him..
As it is written by Isaiah: Since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what He hath prepared for him that keep on waiting for Him. And this is confirmed by Paul in his letter to the Corinthians: Eye hath not seen, and ear has not heard, neither has entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.
But God in His love and grace gave His only begotten Son, to be born into the human race so that His sinless life would become the one and only payment to fully and finally satisfy the righteous requirements of God's perfect Law.
We are all born in sin and the consequences of sin reign within our mortal frame. But God chose to expose the wickedness of Satan, and in His mercy, love, and justice, purposed to save mankind from the terrible consequences of sin by taking the punishment that we justly deserve upon Himself – through the sacrifice of His dearly beloved Son.God communicated His Own eternal plans and loving purposes to all humanity throughout the pages of Holy Scripture, at the centre of which is His amazing plan of salvation whereby the sinless sacrificial Lamb of God would pay the full redemption price for all who would believe on His name.
The Lord Jesus, Himself, explained the distinguishing qualities of this 'law of the spirit of life' which is found in John 13:34 where we read: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.
Love for God and love for our brothers and sisters in Christ is the fulfilling of the law - but it can only be carried out by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit in the life of a spiritual believer i.e.
Let us die to self and live our life to the glory of God so that we may mature in the faith, grow in grace, live a spiritual, God-honouring life, and become a living testimony to the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
IF a fallen human parent, who has a sin nature is capable of showing love, care, and consideration to their child who asks them for something, how much more will our holy, Heavenly Father Who loves us with an everlasting love, bestow His gifts and graces on His blood-bought children?
Throughout the Word of God, we are reminded of His great love toward us; a never-failing love that passes human comprehension.
But once saved by grace through faith in Him, we are reminded of the great love the Father has lavished on each of us, that we should be called children of God.
We KNOW that all good and perfect things come to us from our Father Who loves and cares for each one of us with an everlasting love.
If we are to abide in Him, we will adhere to Him in every way - we will be united with Him in mind and motives; resting in His gracious love; abiding in the arms of the beloved Son of God – and having a deep, trusting dependence on Him, in every area of life.
The love that Christ has for each one of His children is compared with the mutual love that God the Father has towards His dearly beloved Son.
Such a thought staggers the imagination – that Christ loves each one of us as dearly as the Father loves Him – and the Father loves each of His blood-bought children with the same depth of love that He has for His only Begotten Son.
But if a Christian obeys Christ's command to abide in Him and He in us, he will bring forth much fruit - 10-fold, 50-fold and maybe 100-fold, and he will hear Jesus say, well-done good and faithful servant.To abide in Christ and to rest in His love is to know, with absolute certainty, that He alone is life’s sufficiency and to act on this knowledge.
Wonderful though “abiding in Him” is to the believer, it is only half of the equation, for as we rest and abide and remain in Him, so He abides in us.As our hearts cleave closely to Him and our minds are flooded with His beauty, so His Spirit abides within each one of us, teaching and training, leading and guiding, helping and comforting with an ever-increasing intimacy, as we grow in His grace and in a knowledge of our precious Saviour.Let us seek to rest in His love and abide in Him, moment by moment and day by day, for He will take each burden and all the pain of life and provide for each of us, the wisdom and strength we need to face the future, until abiding in Him and He in us becomes as natural as breathing.
As we go through our days, let us have an attitude of thanksgiving to our wonderful Saviour, deepening our love and understanding of Him, to His praise and glory.
Just as true wisdom is spiritually discerned so godly love is only possible in the life of a believer, who is walking in spirit and truth.
Godly love is very different from the selfish, self-seeking human love of the natural man or the carnal Christian.
Godly love is a love that transcends human understanding..
a love that has died to all self-centered, human motivation.Godly love is a love that allows the supernatural love of Christ to be freely manifested within a believers life.
One of the many astonishing things that Christ taught His disciples was to love their enemies and to do good to those that hated them.
He taught that they should not return evil for evil but should exhibit godly grace and divine love..
Just as true wisdom is spiritually discerned so godly love is a divine characteristic, which is only available to the child of God, who is walking in spirit and truth.
Human love is influenced by emotions, whereas divine love is a matter of the will - a will that is guided by the indwelling Spirit of God and a heart that is content to say, 'Thy will not mine be done in my life'.
But the supernatural love of God is an incredible weapon in the Christian's armoury.
It is only as the love of Christ is manifested within our heart..
that we are enabled to love our enemies, to do good to those that hate us, to pray for those that despitefully use us and to return nothing but kindness to those that mock us and ridicule us - hate us and kill us.
Godly love is a divine characteristic that is outside the nature and understanding of unregenerate man.
Godly love is not something that we can learn through education or develop through a training programme.
The divine love of God flows from an attitude of heart that places Christ in the centre of every aspect of their life.
I really do wonder whether we have even started to grasp the enormity of our position in Christ; the incredible love, the peculiar privilege, and the gracious gift that we have received from our Father in heaven: That we should be called His children.
The glorious plan of salvation starts with God's love and grace and continues into the eternal ages that are to come, for all His children: For eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, the wonderful things which God hath prepared for those that love Him.
Amazing love, how can it be that Christ my God should die for me?
Jesus told His disciples to remember the word of life, the light of Christ, the love of God, and the blessed hope we have in Him - which He taught them during His sojourn on earth.
Like those murmuring men and wilful women who died in the wilderness and did not enter the promised rest in Canaan, we too can forgo some of the rest and rewards that God has promised to those that love Him.
We have been given eternal life and have been told that eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has man been able to imagine the wonderful things that God has prepared for those that love him, and the gift of the Holy Spirit to all believers is God's unbreakable surety to us.
He spoke the truth in love but did not compromise His speech or language.
They will not be designed to embarrass or hurt, ridicule, or humiliate others, but will speak the truth in love.
But a life that is lived seeking the Lord with all their heart - a life that is submitted to the leading of the Holy Spirit– a life lived with ears open to hear His Word and eyes open to see His truth, will be a life that speaks the truth in love, with gracious speech and seasoned with salt.
True righteousness and godly love are two sides of the same coin, but neither are possible by human effort, strict training, mortifying of the flesh, or self-denial.
True righteousness and unconditional, godly love is the supernatural enabling of a child of God by the Spirit of God, through faith.
To love our enemies and to do good to those that hate us, is impossible in our own strength.
Blessing those that curse us and praying for those that mistreat us... without retaliation, is such a distinctive love that it is rare and beautiful and only exhibited in the lives of those that die to their own desires and live for the glory of God.
But living a life of practical righteousness and transmitting the unconditional love of God to others, which demands that we bless those that curse us and pray for those who despitefully use us and persecute us, is a human impossibility.
Godly love is only possible in those that have the indwelling Holy Spirit and it can only be expressed when that life is completely submitted to the Lord in thought, word, and deed.
The unconditional love of God should be manifested in the lives of all who trust in Christ, because we are united together with Him.
Godly love is the fulfilling of the Law, and it is one of the greatest weapons in a Christian's spiritual covering.
The unconditional love that comes from above is the divine life of Christ being manifested through the physical life of a spiritual believer.
The result is - that in His power, we are able to love as Christ loved; to love our enemy, to bless those that curse us, to pray for those who mistreat us, and to do all for the glory of God.
And God in His mercy, grace, long-suffering, and great love intervened in the chronicles of history when He sent His only begotten Son to die on the Cross so that all Who believe on Him would not perish but have everlasting life.
They were to heed His Word, obey His commandments, trust in His faithfulness, circumcise their hearts, and love the Lord with their whole being.
We are to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.
Let us ensure that our hearts are circumcised and in right standing with the Lord - lest we become stiff-necked and forfeit the blessings that God has prepared for those that love Him.
They love to quote: To the pure all things are pure, in an effort to condone their ungodly practices, but although they profess to know the Lord, their actions and attitudes deny Him.
The stark truth is that much of today's mother-love is far from that which is mirrored in this touching picture – but the comparison that the Lord is building-up in our imagination is that of a devoted mother – one that in all things does only what is good and beneficial for her tiny babe.
If for nine long months a woman, as imperfect as she is, has protected the tiny form growing in her womb, suffered the agonies of labour and child-birth, and then has drawn the tiny form to suckle nourishment from her breast, how much more will our loving Heavenly Father love, protect, and cherish us who are His blood-bought children.
It was our gracious Saviour Who suffered such agonies and laboured, in love, on the Cross for us, to redeem us from our sins and make us His Bride.
And it was the Holy Spirit of love Who wooed us and challenged us, convicted and finally breathed new life into our fallen frames, birthing us into God's family, and enlightening us with the abundance of His life.
No matter what difficulties you or I are experiencing in our lives, let us take to heart the truth these gracious words remind us that there is nothing in heaven, on earth, or under the earth that can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus - nothing that will ever cause the Lord to forget you.
Paul offered many prayers to the Lord on their behalf and wrote an instructive letter to encourage their hearts, develop their spiritual understanding, guide them in the truth of the gospel of Christ, warn them of the dangers of false teachers, and unite them together in love.
And as we allow Christ to live His life in us, we are enabled to reflect the light of His love and to share the glorious gospel of grace with others in a lost world of deep darkness.
As we look down the periscope of life to the birth of the Lord Jesus, we are reminded in Luke's gospel that the love-story that blossomed between Ruth and Boaz - which is recorded in the final chapters of the book, was beautifully orchestrated by the Lord in the progressive unfolding of His wonderful plan of redemption, for we read that the Lord Jesus was, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz....
May we adopt such an attitude of faith and live in active dependence on the Lord - Who has promised that eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the mind of man the wonderful things that God has prepared for those that love HIM.
Nevertheless, Paul had a deep love for the believers and determined in his heart to visit them.
It is by believing in Christ that we are saints, for we have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ and become the object of His good pleasure and His divine love.
We should never waste the circumstances of life, but ask for His wisdom as well so that we may grow in grace and spiritual understanding, knowing: All things work together for good to those that love God and are fitting into His plan.
We are urged to live a life that is becoming of one that has been saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, and upon whom our Father in heaven has lavished so much grace and favour, forgiveness, mercy, and love.
And we are called to bear with one another and make allowances for our brothers and sisters in Christ, for in so doing we demonstrate the love of Christ, being lived through us.
Let us leave the self-life nailed to the Cross and live out our new-life in Christ (which we received at salvation), in humility and gentleness, patiently enduring with grace, tolerance, and love.
The chastening of the Lord is carried out in love and wisdom and for our best interest, in order that we might be partakers of His holiness.
No matter what form the chastening of the Lord takes, and no matter how much pain and hurt we may experience, His correction is always carried out in love.
The wonderful love of God for those that trust in Him is once again laid bare in this first epistle of John.
Perfect love casts out fear, and our relationship with our heavenly Father, which is founded on Christ's finished work at Calvary, should give us inner joy and a profound peace.
Fear causes our heart to become tormented, and as John rightly points out in the previous verses, the one who fears has not been made perfect in love.
The love that God has for the world and the love that Christ has for the Church, was written in blood... on a wooden Cross... 2000 years ago, and the future day of judgement should not hold any fear for those who have been saved by the blood of the Lamb, for there is no fear in love because perfect love casts out fear.
The very character of God is love.
He is divine love and He initiated love in our heart and inner soul.
It is only because of His love for us that we are able to love Him back.
But the love that He gives is not the broken human love that was tainted by sin, but the love of Christ that is placed within.
How wonderful to know that we are not only the object of God's divine love, but that His desire is that we reciprocate His love.
By His grace He has poured the love of Christ into our inner being so that we can love with the same supernatural love with which we are loved.
We are therefore called to love Him because He loved us first.
But do we simply express our love for the Lord as a required obligation or Christian duty, (as do unsaved tax-gatherers and sinners, who only love those who reciprocate their love), or is there a deeper level of loving God because He loved us first?
God's love for us streams from the perfection of His character and the eternal excellencies of His attributes.
Oh, we are indeed intensely thankful and eternally grateful that He loved us enough to die His ignominious death on the Cross to save our damned souls, but God's Own love must be the foundation upon which our love for Him is firmly secured and His compassionate, perfect love in us, must be the fountain-head, through which our love streams-out into the lives of others.
Perfect love, divine love, the holy love of God which, first loved us, is surely established as the ultimately highest pinnacle of our Christian life and the capstone in our relationship with the Lord, for as Paul reminds us in Corinthians... the greatest of all is love.
We are commanded by Jesus to emulate this love, love as I have loved you, so that Christ is seen in us.
Let us not only reflect in deepest gratitude, our love for the Lord, Who willingly sacrificed His life to save us all, but let us also contemplate in reverent awe and hushed wonder His amazing grace, His eternal perfection, His gracious character, and the immeasurable excellencies of the God whose nature is pure Love.
Yes, indeed, we love Him because He first LOVED us.
Paul's love for all the Christians at Philippi is very evident, for he keeps them in his thoughts, in his heart, and in his prayers.
Paul was convinced that the work that God had started in the believers at Philippi would continue until the day of Christ Jesus, and yet his deep desire for these men and women was that their love for the Lord, and for one another, would overflow in great abundance and that they would keep on growing in knowledge and godly wisdom.
We are to be God's representatives on earth... and before He ascended into heaven, the Lord Jesus gave us a new commandment, that we love one another in the same way that Christ loved us and gave Himself for us.
In Ephesians 5, Paul exhorts all of us to walk in love.
Indeed, the time that the Lord Jesus lived on earth can be described as a life-walk of love - a life which from start to finish was exercised in love.
Christ exemplified the walk of love, which we are exhorted to follow, for His life was one of supreme surrender to the Father.
His was a life of self-sacrifice for the whole world. He demonstrated a depth of love for the Church we will never fathom - for Jesus gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God.
But Christ also was the perfect picture of the beautiful, free-will, burnt-sacrifice - the voluntary love offering which was a precious thank-offering that poured forth a sweet-smelling perfume that found favour in the eyes of the Lord.Christ’s sacrifice of Himself was His peculiar walk of love for you and for me.
He demonstrated His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners He died for us.
And we are called to walk in love, just as He walked.
But Christ's sacrifice was also a voluntary offering to God, as He walked to the Cross in love.
Jesus became a willing victim and a sweet-smelling fragrance before God, and like Him, we too are exhorted to walk in love in the self-same way.
God wants the love of Christ to shine forth from our hearts.
He wants love to thrive in that secret place of our heart, and within those private thoughts where no other has access to our inner mind and motive, save the omnipresent God.May we so walk in the spirit of Christ, that like Him, our visible walk as well as our hidden ways, may become a sweet-smelling aroma to our heavenly Father.
May we walk in love... just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us - an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
Their close, brotherly relationship, their singular passion for the gospel of grace, their fervent intercessions for their brothers and sisters in Christ, and their deep love of the brotherhood of the saints, appear to be areas that united Paul and Epaphras in their individual ministries, and bonded them together in a spirit of love - in the unity of the faith and in the bond of peace.
Rather, we are to imitate the beautiful life that Christ lived by living our life in the same way that Christ did – by walking in spirit, sharing the truth in love, growing in grace, and learning obedience through the things that we suffer.
Like all God's children, these worldly-minded believers are loved with an everlasting and jealous love by God Who wants the best for them, but Who knows that their current value system will harm them.
God's discipline towards all of His children is an evidence of His great love and should NEVER be interpreted as punishment.
Chastening from God is not punishment, but an expression of His deep love for us and God will discipline any of His children that He sees straying into the wrong values, wrong attitudes, and wrong focus.
Paul earnestly exhorted his brethren in Rome to pray for him and to strive earnestly together with him in prayer: I implore you, brothers, he writes, through the Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to agonise together with me in your prayers to God, on my behalf.
If we had to endure unimaginable trials every day of our earthy life, for Christ's sake, it would pale into insignificance, by comparison with the glory that God has prepared for those that love Him.
It was this dear saint who informed Paul of the great love the Colossian Christians had for one another and for the Lord Jesus.
He told Paul of, their great love in the Holy Spirit of Christ.
The incredible love of these saints of God, as described by Epaphras, was not mere human affection.
This 'love-in-the-Spirit' which thrilled the apostle Paul, was a deep, godly love for the Lord Jesus Christ.
The love for one another manifested a depth of affection for one another that only comes from above.
The love about which Epaphras spoke, was a love that surpasses human understanding.
He was describing the supernatural love of the Lord Jesus that comes from above.
It was not the sort of human love that can ebb and flow with the seasons or be influenced by fluctuating feelings.
It was a supernatural love that was created and fuelled by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God.
The love about which he wrote brings to mind the new commandment the Lord Jesus gave to all His disciples, as He prepared to face Calvary's Cross, Love one another, as I have you. He charged them, by this shall all men know that you are My disciples.
The new commandment Jesus gave - to love as He loved us, as demonstrated in the lives of the Christians at Colossae, did not negate the original commandments given to Moses - to love the Lord our God with all our heart and to love our neighbour as ourselves, for it is only as we love the Lord our God with all our heart that we are enabled to fulfil His new commandment.
To love as Christ loves can only be carried out in the supernatural power of the indwelling Spirit of Christ.
To love as He loves includes a godly love for our enemies.
It exhibits a compassionate heart and forgiving love for those that despitefully use us - even when others say all manner of evil about us falsely for the sake of Christ.
It appears that the love that was exhibited by the Colossian Christians was a godly love that honoured the Lord, a love that would bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things.
Such love is long-suffering and kind.
It is not easily provoked and rejoices in the truth - and it is a love which never, ever fails.
The fruit of the Spirit starts with LOVE and Paul was informed by Epaphras of, their love in the Spirit.
The badge of a child of God that is walking in spirit and truth, is the love of God pouring through them and out to others from the throne of grace.
We are called to love one another with brotherly affection, to be kind, compassionate, hospitable, and gracious towards one another, forgiving one another and honouring each other above ourselves.
We are entreated to be devoted to one another in love and to let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her.
Christian love, when correctly carried out, bears one another's burdens and can cover a multitude of sins.
Christian love seeks to encourage one another towards godly living and spiritual growth, and Paul gives us biblical guidance on what to do when a brother or sister in Christ is caught up in any trespass or sin.
We are exhorted to be spiritual believers so that if anyone is caught in any trespass or sin, we will be equipped to restore such a one, in a spirit of gentleness and love.
We live in a world where the love of many is growing cold.
But the one that is truly spiritual is not concerned with dragging down their brothers or sisters in Christ, but in encouraging, edifying, and restoring the one that has trespassed - in a spirit of gentleness and godly love.
In the end, Job came forth as gold and was able to say with authority, I know in Whom I have believed: I know that my Redeemer lives, and that one day He is going to fulfil all the plans and promises made to those that love and trust Him.
It acknowledges His authority, it builds up our own faith, and deepens our personal relationship in our God and Saviour Who died for us and rose again - to demonstrate His great love towards us all.
All that He desires of us is that we listen to His voice, hearken to His word, trust in His love, rely on His sufficient grace and let the love of Christ guard our heart... so that every step we take may be directed by Him – for our eternal benefit and for His greater glory.Christ is the Way and Christ is our Guide.
He is the Rock of our salvation - our Defence and our Deliverer, but the enemy has set traps on the left and laid snares for us on the right, as he pummels our ears with doctrinal falsities and entices us away from the highway of holiness, with tempting ‘treats’, deadly doubts and ungodly desires.Let us learn to listen to the Word of the Lord and hearken to His voice behind us - leading us, guiding us, directing us, and telling us which is the way that we should go, so that we are not tempted to turn to the right hand nor to the left – but keep our eyes on Jesus and our ears ever open to His still, small voice of love.
Prayer is the combining of man's helplessness with his faith in God's gracious provision, and prayer translates into a heart that trust in His never-ending love.
Spiritual growth is evidenced through the precious fruit of the Holy Spirit, but it takes time to mature and there is a clearly defined process of development and growth if we are to grow in grace and show forth the spiritual fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
The first steps toward spiritual fruit, Christian maturity, and a heart that reflects Christ's love for the Church, are moral excellence in our inner thoughts, righteousness in our outward expression, and purity in the secret motives of our heart.
To patience we are to add godliness, so that we can continue towards the ultimate goal that God has for each one of His children, which is brotherly kindness, Christian love, and Christlikeness.
And finally, may our patient endurance grow into godliness, brotherly affection, Christian love, and Christ-like behaviour, knowing that the more we grow in these virtues, the more productive and useful we will become in our Christian life as we grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
As the Word made flesh, Jesus dwelt with His creation who despised and rejected Him, and yet in love He went to the Cross to pay the full price for our sins (for only the shedding of His righteous blood would satisfy the righteous requirement of a holy God).
May we abide in Him and He in us, moment by moment, and may we respond to His call to 'COME AWAY' to a deserted place by ourselves with JESUS, knowing that He will provide the nourishment for our souls and the sufficient strength to live holy lives - as we take time to rest in His love and enjoy sweet fellowship with Him.
He sent His only begotten Son into the world to be the sin-sacrifice for mankind, and the Father accepts every sinner saved by grace through faith in the Beloved Son of His love.
Our acceptance in the Beloved is as sure as His sovereign character, as extensive as His infinite strength, and as glorious as His unconditional love.
And He has pledged mercy on all that love Him and keep His commandments - to a thousand generations.
All that is asked of us is to trust Him as Saviour and hand everything over to Him so that in His power, strength, and love, He can work in us and through us, as He slowly yet surely conforms us into the likeness of His Son, to the praise of His holy name.
When we truly KNOW this, then we start to know HIM and to love Him, for we KNOW that His tender mercy is extended to ALL who love Him and keep His commandments - and all we need to KNOW is recorded in Scripture.
Paul's love for Philemon and his high regard for his fellow-believer is reflected in his warm, introductory remarks to him, where he praises God for Philemon's love, faith, and integrity.
Paul asked him to receive him with the love and respect that brothers-in-Christ should always have for another.
One of the identifying characteristics of the early Church was the deep love that each Christian had for their fellow believers.
Both the gospels and the epistles give multiple examples of the call to love one another, as Christ loved us, and to think more highly of our brothers and sisters in Christ, that we do of ourselves - no matter what their station in life.
May we demonstrate to others the same love and faith that Paul identified in the letter to Philemon, and obediently, willingly - and for the sake of Christ Who died for us so that we might live - carry out all the principles and practices of Christian love.
We are all part of the Body of Christ and are joined together in love.
How wonderful to realise that in Christ, our ministry and mission is to show forth the fragrance of His love, not only with our lips but in our lives by giving up ourselves to His standard and service.
We have a positive responsibility to obey His Word and apply it in our everyday life, for when we walk in the unity of the Spirit and live in holiness of heart, we mature in the faith, grow in grace, and produce the fruit of humility, patience, gentleness, and love.
Paul knew that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and an understanding of the passing nature of the material world, is an effective method which God uses to teach us this life-changing truth.
Paul discovered that by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, God's promises are sure, His Word is true, His grace is sufficient, and all things work together for good to those that love the Lord their God with all their heart and are fitting into His plans and purposes.
Perhaps the one that most typified the life of Christ and the life of the apostle Paul, was that of the burnt offering which was a freewill offering - given to the Lord out of love and not out of duty.
In a God-hating, Christ-rejecting, wicked world that has bowed to satanically inspired evil and the sinful practices of the world, the divine institution of Christian marriage (which mirrors the love that Christ Jesus has for His Bride, the Church), needs to be a faithful witness to the world of the wisdom of our God.
The gracious words of the Lord Jesus are light and life, health and wholeness, truth and love, and they are words of great comfort for all His children.
The gracious words of the Lord Jesus are light and life, health and wholeness, truth and love, peace and comfort, and these words are spoken to you that you may be kept from stumbling.
Let us take this severe warning to heart, live our lives to His praise and glory, and to be prepared to suffer for love of our Saviour Who bought us with His precious blood.
His letter was not only written on behalf of Onesimus, but has become a lesson for us all in Christian living, love, and grace.
Before beginning his appeal for mercy which restated several Christian doctrines on grace, forgiveness, servanthood, and our imputed righteousness by faith in Christ, Paul reminded Philemon of their own, close Christian intimacy and the mutual love and respect they had for one another: For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
The apostle had heard news of his generosity and self-sacrificial love during his imprisonment which caused him great joy, for Philemon was also a son in the faith and Paul rejoiced in his spiritual growth and the fruit he was producing.
But He is full of tender-love towards His creation, and in His mercy and grace (and at the enormous cost of the life of His only begotten Son), God set in motion His amazing plan of redemption to save mankind from eternal separation from Himself.
But as a demonstration of the amazing love that God has for Adam's fallen race, He sent His only begotten Son into the world so that whosoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life.
It was out of love and not cruelty that God sent His only begotten Son into the world to die for the sin of the world, and once a sinner believes this simple truth, he is immediately saved and is NOT condemned.
While earthly parents may try to teach their children obedience, kindness, and other important character-forming attributes, the Lord's discipline brings a rich and fruitful harvest of spiritual graces... peace and patience, faith and submission, goodness and grace, righteousness and love.
But love and respect for our parents is an important part of being human.
How much more, therefore, should we love and respect God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who saved us from our sin on Calvary's Cross.
The very first of the six graces that we should all seek to develop in our lives is love; godly love; a self-sacrificial, deep concern for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
And so we are exhorted: Let brotherly love continue.
Our inner resolve and heart-determination should be to consider the needs of our Christian family before our own personal needs, in order to provoke others unto love and good works by the gracious example we set in our own actions, attitude, words, and motives.
How easy it is to let brotherly love become our watchword with those that are strong in the faith, and how delightful it is to enjoy godly fellowship with those who are walking in spirit and truth, but we are exhorted to love all our brethren in Christ, not only those that are spiritual.
Let us take to heart the wisdom and warning in the book of Hebrews so that by grace we are enabled to let brotherly love be the distinguishing mark of our own Christian walk.
Yes, the first principle of the spirit-filled life is for brotherly love to continue.
We are to love as Christ loved us; to live as Christ lived and to show forth the love of Christ to all our brothers and sisters in Christ as we minister to them in love, without compromising the truth of the glorious gospel of Christ.
We are to hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering so that we may stimulate one another to love and good deeds as we seek to develop the love of Christ in our heart to His praise and glory.
Nevertheless, through it all Jeremiah came to understand that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases and His mercies never come to an end.
He discovered that divine chastening is an evidence of God's perfect love towards His people, even though the intense pain it often produces is deeply distressing.
Should not we who are the unworthy recipients of His saving grace and unfailing love, give glory to our Creator God and sing praises to the God of our salvation?
They were those who eschewed the evil works of darkness, resisted the advances of Satan, refused to participate in immorality, rejected apostate teachings, and were walking in the light of His love.
Some discovered Him to be the Word made flesh, in Whom is eternal life and love divine, and they gladly acknowledged Him as Lord and Saviour - but most remained in unbelief.
Only the spilt blood of the Lord Jesus Christ was sufficient to satisfy God's righteousness judgement on sin, death, and hell, and permit forgiveness to flow from His pure heart of love to all who would believe on His name.
Despite the many trials and tribulations that all who live godly in Christ Jesus will inevitable have to face, Paul concludes his inspired writing with these wonderful words: 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 created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
May we take to heart all that we read in this glorious book and rejoice that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Every one of God's children are called to offer their own particular 'Isaac' to God, and each one of us may have to go through a similar test, where we are called to offer up our own beloved 'Isaac', to the Lord, when we hear the voice of God asking, Do You love Me more than your own, special 'Isaac?' May we be ready and willing to say, Thy will, not mine be done.
In his advancing years the apostle John pleaded: Little children love one another.
Paul continues this theme of unity: Be of the same mind toward one with another, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, and intent on one purpose, and one Person.
In all our dealings there should be a godly spirit of unity and love.
There should be a patient, kind, gracious love that comes only from the indwelling Spirit of Christ Who is our life, for in Him our soul is refreshed and we are equipped to edify others, which glorifies our Father in heaven.
Christ was the one and only uniquely begotten Son of the Father, and all that trust in the beloved Son of His love, are begotten of God – born of God - born-again into newness of life – saved by grace through faith.
Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God, and the sure proof that we love the Father Who saved us is that we have a love for the whole Body of Christ - a love for all believers who have been begotten of God and saved by grace through faith.
Everyone that loves the Father also loves their brothers and sisters in Christ, for His love spills out from Him to all who trust in His name.
It was the constraining love of Christ that motivated Paul to proclaim the gospel of God and present the glory of the Christian faith to the people of his day.
He was a true example of a man in love with his Lord and in submission to the Holy Spirit.
In his life, he reflected the love of Jesus and was identified as a godly man who could be trusted.
He was filled with the Holy Spirit of God, was faithful to boldly preach the gospel of truth and demonstrated a thorough knowledge and deep love for the Word of God.
Paul did not found the church at Rome, but being a chosen servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, an apostle appointed by God, a preacher of the glorious gospel of grace, and a missionary to the Gentile nations who had been commissioned by God, he expressed his deep love and genuine concern for the spiritual well-being of the Christians there.
When we live and move and have our being to the glory of God, in submission to the Holy Spirit, and with Christ as our central delight and joy, the indwelling Spirit of Christ DWELLS in our heart as we ABIDE in Him and REST in His love.
It was the Father's love that Christ came to display, for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
And as His children we are to reflect this holy love of God in our lives.
God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
God is Love, and by this..
the love of God is manifested within us, in that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.
From the start of His ministry to His cruel crucifixion on Calvary's Cross, Jesus taught His disciples to love one another, with a godly love.
Love one another as I have loved you, by this shall all men know that ye are My disciples.
The love of God for us is displayed, from the beginning of Christ's ministry - it is displayed from His birth in Bethlehem to His sacrificial offering on the Cross and glorious Resurrection.
Our love for the Lord has nothing to do with our goodness.
If His amazing love for us is the glorious truth of our reconciliation to God..
Love is the essence of God which permeates His character and John is explaining here, that he was not calling us to adopt a new and different commandment.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another.
As I have loved you - you are also to love one another.
By this, all men will know that you are My disciples... if you have love, one for another.
However, that beautiful, old command that the Lord Jesus gave to His disciples only hours before His death, to love as HE loved you, is as fresh and new today as it was when first spoken to His disciples in the upper room - or written by John, many years later, in his first epistle.
The supernatural love which was demonstrated in Christ's life towards His beloved disciples, can equally be manifested in our lives, for Jesus is the Light of the world, Who was sent by the Father to dispel the shadows of darkness.
We are to shine as lights in the world and reflect the love of God in our lives.
We are to love as Christ loved us and be used by Him to dispel the darkness by proclaiming the truth - because JESUS, the True Light has come into the world and is already shining forth the truth.
We have the power of the indwelling Spirit shining in our hearts, and we are to act as gleaming mirrors of Christ's beauty, reflecting His love and grace - as we abide in Him and He in us.
Let us never hide behind self-inspired excuses, for we have been enabled to love as Christ loved us, through His Holy Spirit.
However, we are only enabled to display this supernatural love, as we appropriate ALL that is ours in Him.
The love of God is demonstrated to believers through the glorious inheritance that is ours in Christ.
God's love is evidenced by the glorious position that we have in Him, the glorious future that we have been promised, and the glorious hope we have as His precious possession, for we were bought with a price.
In His love, God's wants us to KNOW what is the surpassing greatness of His mighty power towards us who believe, and He demonstrated this by raising Christ from the dead, receiving Him into the dwelling place of God, and seating Him on His heavenly throne of power in heavenly places.
How could we not trust in this eternal God of grace Whose grandeur is unlimited, Whose power is unrivalled, Whose tender mercy is everlasting, Whose grace is sufficient, and Whose deep, unconditional Love is unsurpassed.
Just as His promises to Israel will all be fulfilled one day, so His precious promises to the Church are all 'yes' and 'amen' in Christ Jesus, our Lord, Who loved the Church so much that He gave Himself up for love of her, and He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us.
The new instruction He implemented was to love one another, in the same way that Christ loved us, and gave Himself for us.
The love we have for one another should mirror the love that the Lord Jesus demonstrated towards us - in that while we were yet sinners, at enmity with God and without hope in the world, Christ set aside His heavenly glory to be clothed in mortal flesh - and died, to save us from sin, Satan, slavery, death, and hell.
The love of Christ is a godly love, which is far greater than the human love we attempt to show to parents, spouses, children, friends, and others.
Such love can only be manifested in the life of a believer, who is walking in spirit and truth.
However, it would be through this freely-given, supernaturally imputed love, that all men would know that we are His disciples.
The old command was to love our neighbour as ourselves, but the new command of Christ eclipses the glory of the former, by raising the standard of godly love into impossible heights.
The beautiful, spiritual fruit of godly love, can only be manifested in our lives when imputed to us by God Himself - as we walk in humble obedience and total dependence before Him.
John, who is so often referred to as 'the apostle of love', wrote at the sunset of his life, Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment, which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. (through the ministry of Jesus Christ our Lord.)
Christ did this in love, so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John not only taught others to love as Christ loved, but he became a living example of what it meant to love in this way.
He was not writing a new commandment in this epistle, but reinforcing the need to love others as Christ loved us.
He is God incarnate, Who came to earth to show us the love of God and to demonstrate His love for mankind, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
John understood the importance of obeying Christ's new commandment - which was the same old commandment that had been taught from the very start of Christ's ministry - a love that started before the foundation of the world and can be traced throughout the entire Word of God.
A love that stretches from eternity past into the ages to come, and resides in the heart of God.
The love of God is a multi-dimensional love. The breadth of God's love embraces all who are saved by grace through faith, and embraces Jew and Gentile, young and old, male and female – all people, climes, and tongues.
The length of God’s love spans from the foundation of the world and reaches into eternity.
He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight - in love, so that in the ages to come, He might show the surpassing riches of His love and grace in kindness toward us in Christ.
The depth of God’s love and grace delivers whosoever will believe, from the depravity of evil and the most sordid sin.
The depth of His gracious love excludes no-one who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ – for the love of God stoops to the pit of death to encompass all who trust in His only begotten Son.
The height of God’s love reaches into heaven itself, where we are seated with Christ in heavenly places.
It is found in Christ Jesus our heavenly Lord and King - for God, being rich in mercy and love, has raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus.
It is only those that walk in spirit and truth, daily abide in Him, hold fast that which is good, and remain in fellowship with the Father, through humility and obedience to the Word of truth, that are enabled, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to demonstrate the same supernatural love of Christ, in a world of sin and shame.
What a privilege to realise that when we are born from above and anointed by the Spirit of truth, He will teach us what we need to know, as we abide in Him, rest in His love, and trust His Word, in every area of our lives.
Our love for our Saviour and trust in His Word is not based on our physical sight or supernatural experiences.
Our love for Him must be founded on the truth of His holy Word.
And because the love of God has been poured into our heart by His Holy Spirit, we rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory when we read: Christ died for ours sins, according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised again on the third day, according to the Scriptures.
Too often, we try to short-circuit this godly child-training in our lives and escape God's chastening and discipline, correction and instructions, avoiding the fact that God is dealing with us as His sons and His fatherly training and correction is a reflection of His deep love for us and not some angry response or kill-joy attitude.
How important, when we are tested and tried through the many difficult and disappointments in life, that we recognise it for what it is: an evidence of God's love for us and His perfect child-training programme which is designed to perfect us.
Let us rest in the truth of the incomparable, immeasurable, unsurpassing greatness of our omnipotent God and His grace and love towards us, who believe in Christ.
Although they were gifted with the tongues of men and of angels, prophetic utterances, knowledge, and many benevolent actions, they lacked godly love and did not exhibit spiritual fruit.
As Paul wrote in Ephesians, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ, from whom the whole Body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the Body for the building up of itself in love.
YES, the Lord Jesus is the Head over the Body, and His supreme command is that love should prevail in the hearts of all His children.
She knew the command: Love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, and to hold fast to Him. She had done this from her mother's knee and was among those that were looking for the consolation of Israel.
We are called to be doers of God's royal law of love and not to become judges of the law.
It is the royal law of love, which calls us to love our neighbour as we love ourselves.
It is the command of Christ that we should be applying in our lives, love one another as I have loved you. To judge the motives of a fellow believer's actions equates to judging the law.
I wonder if we have the same intense love for our Lord Jesus and as deep a desire to maintain sweet fellowship with Him as we see in the life of Moses.
It helps to maintain our hope in Christ and encourages us to love the Lord our God with all our heart and mind and strength and soul - with thanksgiving.
It causes us to reflect on the love of God and what Christ's crucifixion and resurrection means for our own eternal salvation... and own lives, personally.
Let us be ready and willing to yield to his moving in our life and not seek to control His work so that the love of Christ bears the fruit of the Spirit in each of our lives.
God is so gracious that He devised a plan that would demonstrate His own deep love for ALL mankind, without compromising His own pure, righteous justice so that instead of the wrath of God being justly poured out over the heads of all sinners, He would give His only begotten Son as the only possible perfect Sin Offering to pay the price of the sins of the whole world: And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
While proclaiming Israel's need to cleanse their heart, mend their ways, and obey the Law given through Moses, Malachi assured them of the never-failing love God had towards them, and that His promised blessings would start to flow to those who trust in Him and obey His Word.
The man who fears the Lord and shows reverence for His name has come to an understanding of what God's holiness, justice, peace, love, goodness, and grace really means in relation to sinful humanity and this fallen creation.
The man who reverences the Lord is the one who esteems His holiness, regards His justice, experiences His peace, and rests in His love.
He begins to explore the depths of God's grace and the profound love to which He stooped, when He set aside His glory and came to earth as man's Kinsman-Redeemer in order to bring fallen humanity back into a right relationship with Himself.The man that fears the Lord trusts Him as a Father, worships Him as Saviour, submits to the leading of His Holy Spirit, and serves Him in reverential praise and godly fear.
He is the one who rejoices to keep His commands, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light.The man who fears the Lord and trusts in His love is blessed indeed, for he is a sinner saved by grace. He will never be disappointed for God will guide him in the way he should take and teach him the path that he should choose and set His feet on the highway to holiness.
We are to live as Christ lived... in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life... and we are to love and serve one another in the same way that Christ loved us and gave Himself for us.
No surprise that Paul so forcefully reminded them, You were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
And when Scripture is twisted so that the love of God is divorced from the justice of God, we are left with a benevolent old man in the sky or an evil despot who dispenses fire and brimstone at His whimsical will.
What a day that will be, for we shall behold His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace, truth, and love.
As that day approaches, may we tell abroad the wonderful gospel of grace to all we meet, and as His love fills us, may it overflow into the lives of those around us, to Your glory.
First, he advises them to be submissive, chaste, and respectful towards their men, because godly behaviour and a gracious attitude will win love, respect, and praise, rather than paying meticulous attention to having beautifully braided hair, adorning oneself in golden jewellery, or dressing-up in expensive clothes.
He redeems our life from the pit and crowns our head with faithful love and gracious compassion.
Let us never forget ALL that God has done for us, for He is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and full of faithful love.
Indeed, eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the imagination of man, the wonderful things that God has prepared for those that love Him.
And for love of you and me, Christ Jesus became sin so that all who believe on Him would not perish but be clothed in His righteousness and made joint-heirs with Himself so that in the ages to come we might show forth the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Have you noticed how often we are called upon to do good, to love mercy, to forgive, and consider others as better than ourselves?
It is through faith in the Lord and submission to the Spirit that we can feed on His Word by faith with thanksgiving, be nourished with the gospel of His great salvation, and rest in His love.
May we take to heart these warnings from Zephaniah and act with justice, treasure the Lord's gracious love, and walk humbly in the company of our God and Saviour, for His greater praise and eternal glory.
To have the mind of Christ gives us a taste of heaven, a glimpse into His glory, an understanding of His heart of love, and the amazing truth that God the Father desires to save mankind from their sin, and bestow on us privileges that are beyond our understanding.
He went to the Cross to redeem His people Israel... and for love of His people, and all who would believe, He prayed, Father forgive them for they know not what they do.
He went to the Cross for love of the Church and He went to the Cross and endured the pain, for the joy that was set before Him.
The Son of God - Who is God the Son, despised the shame and stretched out His arms of love, embracing ALL who will believe on His name.
But the Lord Jesus was abiding in the Father and resting in His love, despite the ordeal that the little crew were facing, because the peace of God was secured in the heart of Christ.
We are called to abide in Christ, to rest in His love, to depend upon Him in all situations, and to give Him our concerns and worries no matter what tempestuous circumstances or dangerous situations we discover ourselves to be in.
Let us join together with the psalmist and cry: How I delight in Your Word, I love Your Word and I will meditate on Your Word day and night, for Your Word it is health to my body, and comfort to my soul.
However, unlike the spiritually weary old Eli whose eyes were dim and love for the Lord had grown lukewarm, the young man heard God's voice clearly in the night hours, and responded quickly and obediently.
To do something other than His Father's will would have been a shocking impossibility, for the Son of God loves the Father and the Father loves the Son with a love that is unfathomable and eternal, and so whatever the Father does..
God knew that sinful man and his fallen prodigy was far beyond the capacity to act justly, love mercy, walk humbly, and live in utter dependence upon God in their own strength.
We are saved by the grace of God, and that grace proceeds from the Father-heart of divine love.
It is the love of God that causes the Father to give His only begotten Son to die as the one and only perfect sacrifice for our sin.
It is the love of God that caused the Lord Jesus to willingly stretch out His innocent hands and have them driven through with cruel nails.
It is the love of God that sent the Holy Spirit to be our ever-present, indwelling heavenly Comforter.
And it is the love of God that has bestowed on all that believe on Christ Jesus as our sin-bearing Redeemer - to be called God's children.
This is a wonderful love, a perfect love, a unique love, a divine love, a love that bewilders our meagre understanding, but a love that is the eternal inheritance of all that believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
The old apostle John, who is so often referred to as the 'Apostle of love', in simple terms says: See what an incredible love the Father has given us: that are should be called God's children.
But this is what we are, and this is what we remain, and none can ever pluck us out of this secure love of the Godhead, for we are accepted by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Who is the Beloved Son of His love.
We are God’s children and that is what we are, – sinners, saved by the grace of God through faith in His Son, and that grace proceeds from the Father-heart of a wonderful, perfect, unique, divine love.
Following his customary greeting of, grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul started to express his deep gratitude for the growing faith and abounding love of these precious believers, towards one another - and also towards Paul himself, and his fellow-labourers in the Lord - (Silvanus and Timothy).
These older ladies who have greater life-experience, are directed in verses 3 and 4 to encourage younger women to love their husbands and also to love their children.
It is the recurring reminder, that God's love and grace touches every facet of our lives, O give thanks to the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endures forever.
The repeating, melodious heartbeat, that caresses every part of the created universe, rejoices that His loving-kindness is everlasting, His steadfast mercies endure forever, His faithful love is never-ending, and His unwavering goodness, stretches into the furthest extremities of eternity.
He alone is the God of all gods for His love is eternal, His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever, and He is faithful to fulfil all that He has said.
His faithful love is never-ending, and His unwavering goodness stretches into the outer limits of the universe and the furthest extremities of eternity.
You have heard of the endurance of Job, James writes, before reminding us that all things work together for good for those that love God and are fitting into His plan. You have heard of the patience of Job - and how he persevered under great pressure.
But those that love the Lord Jesus and are saved by the blood of the Lamb are hated by the enemy of our soul, and His cruel attacks on the children of God can be sustained and dangerous.
We are to walk in the love of the Lord and live in the light of His lovely presence, for with the privileges of sonship there come immense responsibilities.
Because we have been declared righteous by God and imputed with the righteousness of Christ, we are to live in the Light of His love.
We are to walk in love and keep on walking in the light, endeavouring to please the Lord as He works in our lives to conform us into the image and likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Light of the world that lights every man that comes into the world.
God is love and perfect love casts out fear, which is why this angel began His good news with the lovely words, Fear Not. God knew that man would sin and bring upon himself, and his progeny, the wages of sin - which is death.
During our sojourn on earth, we are called to mature in the faith and to grow in grace, and God takes all the circumstances of life as an opportunity to develop our trust in Him so that we may discover a little more of His gracious character, His omnipotent power, His omniscient wisdom, His unfailing righteousness, His unapproachable holiness, and His unconditional love.
Christ had finished the work of salvation that the Father had given Him to do in every aspect of His life as God incarnate; glorifying the wisdom of God, the faithfulness of God, the holiness of God, and the love of God.
The judgements of the Lord are founded on His righteous character and gracious love... and for that reason, we discover the Lord withholding His inevitable judgement on both the children of Israel and the Gentile nations - giving each one an opportunity to repent of their sin and turn to Him.
Ephesians, Philippians, and this book of Colossians were all written from a prison cell, and the theme of this beautiful verse together with Paul's earnest prayer for all the saints, was that their hearts may be encouraged, comforted, and knitted together in love.
Paul knew that a divided heart is more susceptible to embrace wrong doctrine, and so he prays they the Church may be knitted together in love and sweet fellowship so that they would be better equipped to stand against the onslaught of wrong teaching.
Paul's stated purpose in this verse should be the motivation for all of God's children in these increasingly evil days in which we are living, so that in Christ we may encourage one another in the faith and be united together in a godly love of the truth.
The first important step in addressing such as issue it to go to the person privately and explain the fault or wrongdoing while speaking the truth in love.
First, we should go and correct a Christian brother in private, but our words should be seasoned with salt, and our attitude should reflect a Christ-like humility, a godly gentleness, and Spirit-filled patience so that we are enabled to give and to receive correction in truth and in love.
May we learn to speak the truth in love to our brothers and sisters in Christ in a godly and biblical way.
For three whole chapters, Paul rehearses all the amazing benefits that God has, in His grace, showered on those that love Him – as the apostle opens to our understanding our position and privileges in Christ, and the inheritance that God has secured for all His blood-bought children.Having taken us to the heady heights of grace upon grace upon much more grace, Paul begins to tell us how we should live as children of God and how we should behave as inheritors of the many benefits and privileges that God has prepared for each of us who have simply trusted the Lord Jesus.Because of our position in Christ we are urged to live our lives in a manner that is befitting our heavenly calling.
We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us.
God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
As Christians, we are participators in the love of the Father, through the witness of the Spirit of His Love.
The Holy Spirit of Love has been given by the Father of Love to reveal the Son of His Love.
This glorious truth provides us with wonderful reassurance and binds our heart to His eternal heart of love, for we have known and believed the great love that God hath to us.
We know and we believe that the truth of God's Love and our knowledge of Him, is simply a matter of fact through faith in Christ.
It is a matter of faith, which pleases the loving heart of our gracious God of Love, and secures our hope in Christ Jesus our Lord.
It was the fiery 'son of thunder' who in his twilight years, penned the precious words in this verse, God is Love.
And it was the same beloved disciple who increasingly discovered the amazing truth that, God is Love - as did the dynamic apostle Paul, who disclosed that love is the greatest of all the gifts of the Spirit..
and love is the greatest spiritual fruit - for the fruit of the Spirit is grounded in LOVE - the love of God for His people.
We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us - God is love, he wrote, And we know that the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him.
John, like all Christ's apostles, came to KNOW that Jesus Christ, the incarnate WORD, was incarnate LOVE.
In Him was eternal love - a love that can never fail.
The love of God reaches into every aspect of our lives and touches every 'jot and tittle' of our need.
Behind the black clouds of sin, shines the Son of redeeming love.
Submerged beneath the woes and troubles that weary our soul and swamp our mind is the everlasting Spirit of love.
Hidden in the dusty desert of despair we are given streaming rivers of living water that are brimming to overflowing with the Love of God, and Jesus Christ Whom He sent to reveal Himself to us.
And Jesus invites all to come and drink deeply of His refreshing Love, and to wrap ourselves around this never-failing truth.
Perhaps this verse, which so simply states that God Is Love, encapsulates the very essence of God, and should be increasingly stirred-up in our heart, knowing that those that rest, remain, abide, and dwell in His love, by keeping their minds on Jesus, are assured that the Love of God will rest, remain, abide, and dwell in their hearts - encouraging, providing, upholding, leading, refreshing, comforting, and supporting - for God Is Love.
He knows how quickly we can become neglectful of our spiritual growth and leave our first love: For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.
As a result of Christ's redemptive work at Calvary, God gave the beloved Son of His love His full sovereign authority over all humanity, which qualifies the Lord Jesus to bestow eternal life on all whom the Father has given to the Son.
Is there a more beautiful expression of worship than to lift up holy hands in humble adoration and love for our Lord while singing songs of praise to glorify His name?Let us join together and sing unto the LORD a new song of praise and thanksgiving, and proclaim to the earth His wonderful salvation.
Yet again, this amazing 'BUT' subdivides into a further token of His love towards us, for He vows to keep His children from the evil of sin and the ploys of the evil one, who seeks to sift us as wheat and to pollute our witness.
What an incredible scheme and what a demonstration of God's goodness, grace, and love that He should conceive and carry-out such an awe-inspiring plan so that whoever believes on Him would be redeemed, forgiven of their sins, made part of His new creation, receive His resurrected, eternal life, become an heir of salvation, and be given power from on high to live a life that is honouring to God.
Jesus said: So that the world may know that I love the Father; I do exactly as the Father commands; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Love as I have loved You.
In order to carry out that commandment of love, we first need to live our life on earth in the way that God created man to live.
Let us love as Jesus loved us and live a life that walks in sprit and truth and that always seeks to glorify God and to carry out His will, both prayerfully and joyfully.
To those like King David, who love the Lord with all their heart and turn their face towards Him, His glorious person becomes ever more real with each additional glimpse of His beauty, as He unveils more and more of His character.
The more we come to know the Lord, the more He develops in each of us a deepening desire to know Him more and to love Him better, for He has proved Himself to be compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in loving-kindness.
He is always there to lavish upon us such compassion and mercy, such love and grace.
It is believing as fact that Christ has gone to prepare a place for us and loves us with an everlasting love.
Blessed is the man who embraces these two gifts of grace, which abide forever - for faith and hope unlock our understanding of the Father-heart of God's pure love for all His children.
Nehemiah prayed, I beseech You, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant He made, and shows lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments.
Although it should be evidenced in the life of all believers who are learning to walk in spirit and truth, 'the golden rule' is only one element of the man or woman who is growing in grace and learning to love as Christ loved us, and gave Himself for us.
Let us seek to walk in spirit and truth and to love as Christ loved us so that whatever we do in word or deed, we do all to the glory of God.
What a wonder of divine love and grace that we, who were once at enmity with God, have been so favoured by the Father that we should be called 'sons': and because we are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba!
What amazing love that He should pour out the wrath that we so justly deserve upon His dearly Beloved Son.
Though once children of wrath and disobedience, all who have trusted Christ for salvation have been positioned in Him as children of His love.
Over and again, in His infinite grace and everlasting love, we find Him to be our ever-present Helper in difficult days and times of trouble.
The whispered plea of dependent helplessness, rejoices the heart of God, and His immediate response is, fear not, my child, I created you and purchased you - I died for you and I love you.
In an outpouring of love, her sister Mary came to Jesus and breaking her costly alabaster oil of spikenard, she anointed His feet and wiped them dry with her hair.
While Judas and the other disciples criticised this young woman for this foolish extravagance, Jesus defended her act of love and explained that she had anointed His body for the day of His burial.
He encouraged each of them to be on their guard, to stand fast in the faith, and to let everything be done in love.
Paul appealed for them to abandon their worldly ways, cease from any internal disputes, reject the aberrant doctrines of false teachers, and live in a bond of peace and brotherly love.
In his closing comments, Paul speaks a word of encouragement, while exhorting them toward sound doctrine, maturing in the faith and developing Christ-like love, and made a solemn pronouncement, If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be anathema.
If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus, let him be accursed, were Paul's stern words to these believers, while he concluded his epistle with the wonderful entreaty, Maranatha - Come Lord Jesus!!
'Anathema', is a Greek word that translates into 'accursed', 'condemned', 'damned', and 'bound under a great curse.' The terrible consequences of false teaching and demonic doctrines, percolating into the body of Christ, cannot be over-emphasised, which is why Paul made this shocking invocation on all who do not love the Lord with all their heart and soul and mind and strength.
Love of God can never translate into deceiving His children with false teachings, aberrant creeds, and demonic doctrines, and so Paul proclaimed a curse on all who peddle such ideas.
It was JC Ryle who said: 'Paul allows no way of escape to the man who does not love Christ.
But if a person does not love Christ, he is not in the way of life.
Ryle continued: 'The judgement on false teachers and those that do not love the Lord is tremendously severe, which is why Paul used the word 'anathema', to label such a person.
There are many who make a commitment or claim the label of 'Christian' without a deep love for the Lord, but Paul makes it very clear that a genuine love of Jesus should shine from a heart of love and should be mirrored in the words we say and the things we do.
Our love for the Lord Jesus should reflect the deep love that Christ had for His heavenly Father.
In His farewell discourse to His disciples, Jesus reiterates the importance of Christian love.
A new commandment I give unto you that you love one another with the depth of divine love that I have for you. And in response to a question from one of His disciples, He explained that the one that loved HIM with divine love, is the one that will keep His Word.
Love is not steady-state that can be attained, once for all.
The love about which Paul speaks is an ever-growing intimacy with Jesus, that expands and develops through time and into the eternal ages to come.
Let us examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith and secure in the truth of the Word of God, and let us study to show ourselves approved unto Him... and to love the Lord with all our heart and soul and mind and strength.
Money can certainly be put to many good uses when used in a righteous, God-ordained manner, but the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil which can cause some believers to wander away from the faith, resulting in much sadness and sorrow.
When materialism and a love of money takes hold of a life, that person's desire for money will eventually take precedence over their love for God.
When we choose God over mammon we die to self and our selfish desires so that the Spirit of Christ may dwell in us richly and lead and guide us into all truth. Wealth can be used for good when God is placed in His rightful position, but we need to always be on the alert lest the love of money starts to affect our thinking and infect our heart, for the love of money will eventually become our master and devastate our Christian walk.
And so God in His wisdom and love constructed the glorious plan of salvation to demonstrate His righteousness and grace, His love, and His justice.
In an act of grace and love, God JUSTIFIED the sinner, declaring him to be righteous, covering all who believe in Christ with the pure righteousness of HIM Who bore the punishment that we so justly deserved.
The blessed Lord rejoices over His children with singing, proclaiming His unconditional love towards us while pouring out His eternal heavenly grace over all that believe on His name.
One of the characteristics of the early Church is their love for one other and the fellowship that believers enjoyed together.
Early writings about the Christian Church are reported to have said, see how these Christians love one another.
Genuine love for one another is the distinguishing mark of the children of God, which stands in stark contrast to the cold attitude displayed by the children of the devil.
Indeed, we discover that anyone who does not practice righteousness and demonstrate godly love is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
John sets the highest possible standard for Christian love and service in his epistle and identifies the love of our Father in heaven as the primary pattern for our own Christian behaviour.
Love emanates from our God of love, for it was God Who loved us before we loved Him.
It is only as the love of God is poured into our hearts by faith in Christ, that we are identified as His children, for Jesus is our blessed Hope - and all who have this godly love, joy, peace, and hope in our hearts, are purified.
It is by applying the principles and practice of love which comes to us from our heavenly Father, that we can be identified as the children of God and not as the children of the devil.
By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious - anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
By this, the contrast between the children of God and the children of the devil is very evident... for anyone who does not practice righteousness or love his brother is not of God, nor does he know God.
It is as we show forth the love of God in all we do and in all we say, that the character of Christ is identified in us.
Those who have not been born from above are incapable of practicing the righteousness that comes from God - and this lack of godly love is what identifies them as being children of the devil.
May we who have been born from above, mature in the faith, walk in spirit and truth, grow in grace, and abide in Christ Jesus our Lord, day by day... so that His life and love, goodness and grace, may pour into our hearts from Him, and stream out in love to others.
Love, forgiveness, and fellowship is what the world seeks most, and yet true love, true forgiveness, and true fellowship is only found in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Jesus alone opened up the way for unconditional love, true forgiveness, and beautiful fellowship with the Father, through time and into eternity.
He knows those who believe in His free and unmerited gift of salvation, trust in His gracious and unconditional love, reverence His eternally holy name, and take refuge is the overshadowing protection of His mighty wing.
The eternal storehouse of God has been filled, shaken together, and continues to overflow into the hearts and lives of those that love Him so that their lives become a witness of God's goodness to children of men who have spurned His gift of grace and refused His offer of salvation.
At the end of the Psalm, David concludes with a wonderful exhortation: Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints!
Paul rejoiced, because their service in giving gladly to the saints in Jerusalem was a proof of their love for the Lord Jesus, and demonstrated caring, godly concern for one another, and through it the Lord was honoured.
And although He promises to bless those who trust Him, He does not promise that evil will never befall them, however, in this age or in the ages to come, He will turn evil to good for those that love Him because He works in our lives from an eternal perspective.
None of us get from God what we deserve, instead we are given what we do not deserve: God commended His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
We are to speak the truth in love and hold fast to the Word of God.
ALL are called to grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and all are called to speak the truth of the glorious gospel of grace in love to one another.
He is the Life within and the Truth we are to speak - and it is He Who causes each member of His Body to grow in grace and build itself up in love and respect for one another.
And let us look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him, and for love of the Church, endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is seated on the right hand of the Majesty on high... until that wonderful day when He will come in the clouds of glory to take us to be with Himself forever - praise His holy name.
How amazing to discover that because of God's love and justice for the human race, which He made in His own image and likeness, God Himself preordained in His grace to present His only begotten Son as the unique and prefect atoning sacrifice Who alone would be the propitiation for our sins.
Paul describes this amazing grace and perfect love in his letter to the Ephesians: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
What an amazing demonstration of the love and justice of God meeting in the Person of Christ Jesus, Whom God presented as our propitiation.
God's love is so great that He sent His only begotten Son to pay the ransom price for our sin, and Paul understood that the enemy of our soul had many nefarious strategies to prevent a sinner from being saved and many shrewd schemes to shipwreck the faith of a believer.
However, we are those that teach, support, and defend the truth of the glorious gospel of grace - and we do it for love of the Lord Jesus and for the praise and glory of His holy name.
We read, the Lord thy God will circumcise your heart to love the Lord with all your heart and soul, so that you may have life - that you may have salvation.
In the final verses of the book, we discover the depth of God's love for Israel, who are urged to repent of their sins and finally to benefit from God's gracious blessings and everlasting faithfulness - just as Gomer finally repented of her adultery and unfaithfulness.
Nevertheless, we continue to be astonished by Israel's long-term ingratitude towards their Saviour, and are ashamed to recognise some similar failings in our own lives, when we have left our first love, erected idols in our own lives, or wandered far from the God of our salvation.
It was love for the little nation of Israel that caused God to take Abraham out of his pagan country in Chaldea, and it was by grace that God promised to make him into a great nation - through whom all the families of the earth would be blessed.
It was out of love that God chose Israel to become His peculiar people and chosen nation.
It was out of love for His people and by the grace of God that He brought them across the Red Sea and into the promised land of Canaan.
It was out of love that God determined that Israel would be the people by whom the Scriptures would be written and through whom the promised Messiah would be born.
And love for His chosen nation caused God to reveal, to Pharaoh himself, that Israel were His special nation, His adopted son - His chosen heritage!
Although Israel rejected their Messiah and crucified their King, it was love that caused the Father to send His only begotten Son into the world, to redeem mankind from their sin..
and it was love that caused the Lord Jesus to set aside His heavenly glory, and be born into the fallen, human race, so that He could shed His own life-blood on Calvary's Cross for the sin of the world - which alone has the power to forgive the sin of ALL who believe on His name for salvation.
Praise God that by His grace and love we have been given the right to be called His sons.
His hatred towards Christians was starkly contrasted with the Lord's great love, and Paul became acutely aware of God's amazing grace towards him personally... and to the Jewish and Gentile nations.
However, this attitude seems to be sadly lacking in these end times, when the love of many has grown cold and a critical posture appears to have become the norm in the lives of many Christian.
They were to be good stewards of Christ; not self-willed or over-bearing, not quick-tempered or arrogant, not addicted to wine or given to drunkenness, not pugnacious, quarrelsome, or violent, and they were not to be greedy for money or involved in pursuing dishonest gain: They are to be hospitable to others, and people who love that which is good.
The human spirit is born dead in trespasses and sins, but once the Life and Light of Christ has flooded into our hearts by grace through faith in Him, we become His hands to help, His feet to go, His heart to love, and His Light to shine forth His Life in our human frame.
The lamp is not that Light of God, but the vessel through which the Light of Christ may shine, illuminating our hearts and shining forth the Light of Christ and the Love of God to a lost and dying world.
But his prayer continues, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length, and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
It is the Holy Spirit of the anointed Son of God's love that desires to inhabit this hidden place, deep within the heart of men.
as we abide in Him and rest in His love.
It is according to the riches of His glory, that we are strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith; and that we are rooted in love and grounded in the love of Christ.
He is the One Who convicts us of our need of Him, and draws us with cords of love to drink of the living water.
We are also commanded to abide in Him, trust His Word, and become rooted and grounded in love.
And it is as we immerse ourselves in His Word, walk in spirit and truth, submit our lives to Him, and seek to do His will, that we discover that we are being rooted and grounded in Christ's supernatural love.
The ultimate reason, and final result of being rooted and established in the indwelling Christ is love...the unbreakable, threefold love of the triune Godhead.
Redemptive love was the first thought of the Father when He covered our fallen, guilty parents in the bloody skins of animals in the garden of Eden..
and redemptive love is the reason He convicted us of sin and the need of salvation.
Love is the preeminent, greatest, never-failing first-fruit of the Spirit, against which there is no law.
Love for the church was the reason the Lord Jesus went to the Cross of Calvary.
And when we are rooted and grounded in Christ we are rooted and grounded in HIS love.
Love was one of the reasons that blood and water streamed from His wounded side, and being rooted and grounded in CHRIST's love was the new commandment entrusted to the body of believers - who are the church, the temple of the living God... for we have been commanded, Love others as I have loved you.
God had ministered to Paul's need through this gracious gift of love, which the Philippian church had sent to him through Epaphroditus, one of their members.
And so in humility of heart and with a deep love for his Lord, Paul abandoned His philosophical training and spoke to the Corinthians simply, in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
Hannah's beautiful song of rejoicing not only reflects her delivery from bareness but is a trustworthy witness to the glory of God, the greatness of His power, the majesty of His name, the wonder of His love, and His faithfulness towards the children of men.
May we rejoice in the joy of our salvation and may we become so rooted and grounded in Him that we may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length, and width, height, and depth of God’s love, and to know the love that surpasses knowledge - so we may be filled with all the fullness of God.
We are to put on a heart of compassion and bring forth the spiritual fruit of kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, and we are to bear with one another in love, forgiving each other with grace, just as God in Christ has forgiven us.
We are instructed to abide in Christ, rest in His love, and submit to the work of the Holy Spirit within our heart so that we too may be part of that glorious cloud of witnesses that are being used by God to continue carrying out the acts of Jesus Christ in our lives, to His praise and glory.
Reverence and respect towards our heavenly Father, a Christlike love towards others, and inner peace, is often identified through the godly works, pure thoughts, and sound speech, that flows through our daily life.
God demonstrates His own love toward each one of us in the same way that Christ showed love for this simple Samaritan woman, in that while we were yet sinners and dead in our trespasses and sin, with no hope in the world, Christ died for us.
We are to love the Lord with all our heart, and soul, and mind, and strength, and we are to love one another as Christ loved us, and gave Himself for us.
He trusted God to complete the good work which was started in each of their lives the moment they trusted Christ Jesus for salvation, and it was this deep love and intense yearning towards all that are united together in Christ, that caused Paul to cry out to them all: God is my witness, of how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
The apostle Paul had discovered how to love his brothers and sisters in Philippi in the same way that Christ loves us and gave Himself for us.
And Paul's overflowing love, great affection, and constant yearning for all his brothers and sisters in Christ, is demonstrated in his affectionate and encouraging greeting to them all.
This same heart of love is evident in the apostle John who also reminds us: We know that we have passed from death to life because of our love for the brethren.
It was out of love for the Lord Jesus Christ (and his affection for them all) that Paul embraced his imprisonment with joy, and viewed it as a demonstration of his love for them all.
The love of Christ that was demonstrated in the life of Paul is not a love that can be fired up through the emotions, achieved through training, or developed by strictly following man-made rules.
Christlike affection is not a love that we work up for ourselves.
It is the love of Christ Himself being poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit being manifested in our lives so that the love of Christ in our hearts, may stream out from us to others with whom we come in contact.
When we abide in Christ and willingly submit to the good work that the Holy Spirit started in our life at salvation, then the love of Christ grows in our heart as spiritual fruit and we are enabled by Him to love one another as He loves us.
When the love of Christ is manifest in our heart, we discover a love for others that is not of ourselves and a willingness to forgive and forget, which can only be rooted in Christ's love for us.
When the love of Jesus is genuinely filling our hearts, we discover a joy in the Lord that is inexpressible and a peace in our heart that passes human understanding.
Christ had promised to send the Spirit of comfort into their hearts after His departure into heaven; the Spirit of love, and life, and joy, and patience, and hope, and wisdom, and grace, and peace.
And yet, as we consider Christ's letters to the seven Churches in Revelation a few years later and realise the speed with which so many left their first love, embraced false teachings, defiled their white garments, and became lukewarm believers, we are challenged with the thought of how quickly we can turn from the truth and tarnish our witness, unless we stand firm on the Word of truth.
But Paul knew that nothing could separate him from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, and that no one could pluck him out of God's hands - and he wanted the saints at Rome to know the same truth in their heart, and to encourage these believers to hold fast to the faith, and stand firm on the truth of the gospel of God.
Understanding the perplexity in their hearts, the gracious Saviour offered words of compassion and comfort as He compressed His eternal love for them into a brief season, starting with these dear words of reassuring peace, comfort, and tender encouragement, Peace I leave with you.
God placed eternity in the heart of man as well as a freewill, for God wanted Adam to serve Him of his own volition - not out of duty but out of love for his wonderful Creator.
Would Adam pass the test of love and loyalty or would he rebel?
He would willingly choose to obey God out of love for His Father..
Christ would readily submit to His Father's commands and live His life as God intended that all man should live - in utter dependence upon the gracious Creator - in humble submission to His Father, out from a heart of love that passes human understanding.
He was a man with a servant nature who cared for God's people, and a man who feared the Lord but who, despite much opposition from many quarters, sought to restore the joy of the Lord to a people who had left their first love.
To love life in the midst of trials is a deliberate act of the will and is honouring to the Lord, for it expresses an attitude of faith in God, it demonstrates a spirit of trust in Him, that He is in control and will work all things together for the good to those that love Him.
Peter expanded on his advice to love the life that God has graciously given us, and to make the most of time that we have on earth, by faith with thanksgiving; by commanding us to keep our tongue from speaking evil and our lips from telling lies.
But at the end of his life, we discover him to be a gracious old man of God whose desire was to build up the Body of Christ and teach us more of the love of God.
He took time to reiterate the principles of Christian fellowship and to encourage each one of us to practice godly love.
Paul had a deep spiritual burden for the believers in Corinth, and this letter was written soon after he wrote his first, disciplinary epistle, where petty arguments, sexual immorality, spiritual immaturity, worldly carnality and an absence of godly love were vigorously addressed.
The boundless love of God is such that His promises never fail in Christ, and we can rejoice with exceeding great joy, and say Amen, to the glory of God.
As we contemplate the terrible events of Christ's unjust sentence, scourging, and crucifixion, let us also recognise the incredible love that Christ has for us - for Christ loved the Church so much that He willingly gave Himself for her.
May our deep love for Christ and reverential trust in our heavenly Father give us the freedom and courage to speak the truth in love, and to stand firm on the glorious gospel of God.
May we be ready and willing to speak the TRUTH in LOVE to those that are lost in their own, self-importance, and by God's grace may some be snatched from the broad path that leads to destruction.
Men are encouraged to be sober, respectful, temperate, and sound in faith, love, and patience, while older women are urged to exhibit reverent behaviour, be circumspect in their demeanour, and be careful to curb their tongues.
Rather, they are exhorted to teach that which is good: So that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible and pure, to be industrious at home and kindly to others - being subject to their own husbands, so that the Word of God will not be dishonoured.
And yet, if every believer were to follow the wise instructions that we find in Paul's directive to wives and women in his various epistles... the Body of Christ would be enriched with godly women who would teach younger ones to exhibit the qualities of the virtuous woman in the book of Proverbs... by encouraging them to: Love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the Word of the Lord will not be dishonoured.
Our hearts should be so in touch with our Father and so in love with the Lord that it is our delight to filter every thought that comes into our mind through the Lord Jesus, to offer up every situation in which we find ourselves, and to bring whoever we are with or whoever crosses the path of our thoughts, to the Lord in prayer.
Our love is not based on what we see of Christ with our physical eyes.
Our love for Christ is founded on all that we know of Him in our hearts by faith with thanksgiving.
We love Him for all that He suffered on the Cross for us, for the life that He gives us through His Resurrection, and for the glory that He is preparing for us in heaven.
We love Him because He first loved us.
Though we have not seen Him in person, we love Him passionately.
The theme of love dominated much of John's writing, including one of the most famous verses in the Bible: For God so loved...
He identifies himself several times throughout Scripture as the disciple whom Jesus loved, and historically, he has been dubbed the 'apostle of love'.
So why did this 'son of thunder' place so much importance of love?
Well, as John spent time with Jesus, walking with Him in the way, being taught, and cared for, and experiencing the love of the Father being poured out through the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit, he witnessed the very essence of the character of God - love.
Love is the source and the summation of righteousness, and love is the new commandment that Christ gave His disciples as He prepared to leave them to be His witnesses upon the earth: Love as I have loved you.Love flows from the heart of God to us, and love is to flow through us to others as we are filled and replenished with His love in our hearts. Love for the world emanated from the heart of the Father to a world of lost sinners, and love breathes new life into the dead spirit of all who believe on His name.
Love is the very nature of God and from Him bursts forth the fruit of His Spirit, which is rooted and grounded in love.
John knew how important love would be in the lives of all who believe on the name of the Lord, and so he exhorted us: Beloved, let us love one another because God is Love and Love is of God.
God's people are to be a praying people, united in Spirit and love, for we are one body with one hope, one faith, one gospel, one Lord - one God and Father of us all.
God's people are still to be a praying people, united in Spirit and love.
We are to pray without ceasing, rejoice evermore, give thanks in everything, and love our brothers and sisters in Christ, as we watch for the Lord's soon return.
Such sacrificial love demands our complete and undivided love, not as a legalistic requirement but as our own, pure love-offering to the One Who was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, and Who willingly bore the punishment on the Cross for our sins.
Christ's finished work on the Cross demands our everlasting thanks and praise, for although we have not seen Him, we love Him and greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, knowing that it is through Him alone that we have obtained: As the outcome of our faith, the salvation of our soul.
Instead, we are to speak the truth in love so that all may become doctrinally literate and grow up in all aspects of our faith into Christ Who is the Head of the Church and the only foundation upon which our faith must rest.
The heart is the storehouse for wisdom and all that influences the life and character of an individual, and Jesus reminds us that we should love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, with every part of our inner being.
At Christ's first coming He called Israel to repentance, He preached the gospel of the kingdom, and He reiterated the sovereign decree that the Almighty Father declared to the Son of His love: You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
Love is reflected in unity, just as envy and strife are the opposite sides of the same coin.
He did not harbour bitterness against those that oppressed and opposed him, but demonstrated godly love and a desire to see the gospel of God spread far and wide, whether it was preached from a heart of goodwill (that reflected the spirit of Christ) or taught due to envy, contention, and jealously of Paul's God-ordained ministry.
When a man or ministry is founded on godly principles that lifts up the Lord Jesus Christ, and when earnest prayer, that reflects the love of God in the unity of the Spirit is offered, Christ will be magnified and the gospel will be preached.
The grace of God is never terminated because His compassion never fails, His tender mercy and loving-kindness are new every morning: Even though He may permit suffering, He will show compassion according to His abundant and faithful love.
Even when we walk in carnality or drift away from our first love through disinterest or sin, He remains true to His Word.
But what manner of love the Father demonstrated in that He chose to subject the beloved Son of His love to the cruel punishment that fallen man individually and sinful humanity collectively deserves?
May we determine in our hearts to earnestly desire the greater spiritual gifts within the Body of Christ, so that together we may grow in grace and learn to LOVE others as Christ loved us - which is the more excellent way to live our Christian life, as we wait for the any-day return of the Lord Jesus.
Here we read a highly personal directive to Timothy: Let no one look down on your youthfulness, was Paul’s emphatic instruction to his young protégé, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.
May we seek to display the same godly characteristics of Timothy and like him, have a teachable spirit that seeks to honour the Lord in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, and may we show ourselves to be a godly example of those who believe.
The joy of the Psalmist is contagious, for when we spend our days reflecting on the eternal faithfulness of the Lord and turn our hearts to meditate on the beauties of His name, we will also rejoice in His wonderful works, His grace and mercy, His wisdom and might, His faithfulness and love, as like the Psalmist we will blend our voices with the heavenly choir that proclaims, Holy, holy, holy.
In this glorious passage, our eternal security is reiterated, we are assured that there is no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus, and we are told that all things work together for good to those that love God and are the called according to His good purpose.
He is breaking up the fallow ground within our own hearts and He is sowing His seeds of love and grace, humility, kindness, and patience, as He weeds out the thorns and thistles of Self-interest, Self-importance, and Self-dependence - which is the ugly fruit of the old sin nature.
No surprise that the apostle Peter urges us to make every effort to supplement our faith with goodness, which leads to knowledge, self-control, patient endurance, godliness, and brotherly affection, and this in turn brings forth a Christ-like love that is beyond human comprehension.
The book of Titus gives brief but thorough guidance on living a consecrated and virtuous Christian life that is holy to the Lord and displays grace and love to others.
And there is nothing more important than to live our lives in a way that honours the Lord and displays grace and love to others.
God's highest expression of love and kindness towards mankind, is rooted in His eternal plan of redemption.
God, the Son, came to earth as the Son of Man, to lay down His life for His friends - displaying a supernatural love that is beyond our human comprehension.
There is no shadow of change in the Godhead, but it was the gracious plan of salvation that manifested the depth of His tremendous love towards us, which stands starkly silhouetted on time's horizon and the orbit of eternity.
The demonstration of God's infinite love, divine character, and perfect justice, is manifest in the Person and Work of Christ.
Divinity's love stands in naked contradistinction to the dismal picture of man's insufficient and twisted love.
The love of God for mankind, appeared in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who laid down His life for the sin of the whole world - so that ALL who believe in Him might not perish, but have life eternal as a free gift of God's indefinable grace.
The love of Christ begins to permeate our bodies and transform our nature following our great salvation.
It is as we grow in grace and in a knowledge of Him, that we discover our new-life-in-Christ exposes the old sinful nature we received from Adam's fallen race. It contrasts what we were, with all that we are becoming, as He works His work in each of our hearts and pours the love of Christ into our very soul.
How very different from humanity's pathetic, philanthropic love, women's stupid, selfish love, or man's hackneyed, obsessive love, or dominating lust.
Christ's life-giving, divine love, streamed out to all mankind through His blood - as He hung on a wooden cross, 2000 years ago.
Because of the greatness of God's love for humanity, He stretched wide His everlasting arms of love and willingly gave up His life for His friends - for you and for me.
In the light of His great love, how silly to contemplate that any of our 'good deeds' or 'righteous living' could contribute so much as one droplet to the overflowing fountain of God's eternal, life-giving salvation and everlasting love for His children.
Salvation in all its guises comes through Christ alone, for He was appointed by the Father of love, to fulfil God's wonderful plan of salvation through the justification, sanctification, and glorification of ALL - who simply trust in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
But he was also much encouraged by a report, from Timothy, of their continuing faith and love, and their hope in the soon return of Christ for His Church.
We are also called to willingly, graciously, and fervently pray for each other, for as we lift up those who may have wronged us to the Lord in prayer, the fellowship of His love will stream into our hearts and minds, removing any nagging bitterness or residue of unforgiveness.
Paul grew in grace from the wretched man that we see in Romans chapter 7, to the liberated man of Romans chapter 8, and his life ministry was sharing with others the open secret of how to grow in grace and in the wisdom of God, and how to grow in love and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is no self-centred, superficial form of worship, but a yearning desire deep within that is overwhelmed by Who God is and what He has done for all who trust in the Son of His love.
What a comfort to know that the Lord Who created us, loves us with an everlasting love: But from everlasting to everlasting, the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him.
When we consider our wonderful Creator, our heart is filled with awe and wonder at His mighty power and the vastness of His great wisdom; but when we consider the nails that pierced His hands and feet, the crown that tore His head, and the sword that thrust His side all for love of His own, and when we consider that Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her to sanctify her, to make her holy, to cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word, is it not our glorious privilege to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness, bow down before Him with our whole body, soul, and spirit, and praise our mighty Saviour and King for ever and ever?
He forgives all my sins.He heals all my diseases.He redeems me from death.He crowns me with love and tender mercies.He fills my life with good things.He renews my youth like the eagle's.
When chastening and punishment comes from the Lord, it is always an indication of His love for His children and an urgent call to come out from among those that have rejected the truth or have become indifferent to the gospel.
Should we not rejoice that God has not only commanded us to be perfect as He is perfect, but in His love and grace He foreordained that through faith in Christ we may be perfect, entire, and lacking nothing, simply by an act of saving faith and an obedient life of sanctifying faith, trusting Him to finish the good work he started in us - in Christ.
And it was the Lord Jesus Himself Who gave His life as a free-will offering and oblation, out of love for the Father, to pay the price for the sin of the world.
Jesus knew that the pure, unbroken communion He had enjoyed with the Father from eternity past was soon to be severed, while the floodgate of sin was to be poured over Him and His Father would have to turn away from the Son of His love.
And God has promised even more wonderful blessing to follow, of which we are incapable of imagining: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.
And as we look to Jesus by faith, and trust in His work at Calvary, He returns us into fellowship with the Father and will open the eyes of our hearts to know Him more and to love Him better.
God is not only a God of mercy and goodness, grace and love, but He is also a God of righteousness and justice where sin must be punished and His wrath must be poured out on a world that deliberately disobeys His voice, rejects His offer of redemption, and refuses His free-gift of salvation through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son.
I doubt that we will ever fathom the depths of God's love for us, for His love is infinite and we are finite.
But nonetheless, the love of God is rich in mercy towards us who were born dead in trespasses and sins.
Salvation is the love-gift of God, it can never be gained by our works so that no one can boast.
The love of God is one of His many intrinsic attributes for, in and of Himself, God is love, but when this inherent characteristic of God's love is demonstrated towards humanity, it exhibits itself in mercy and grace, kindness and compassion.
It is because of the immeasurable length, eternal breadth, incalculable height, and abundant depth of God's love, that He demonstrated His love towards us by means of His grace and mercy, when He sent His only begotten Son to die for us so that we might live eternally.
A wise and virtuous wife understands that her willing submission to her husband's leadership role is a beautiful example of godly love and respect that will influence her children from infancy.
Children have the right to be treated with love and respect, but they also have the responsibility to be obedient to their parents.
And so, the words that the Lord Jesus spoke were not from Himself but from the Father of love.
Everything that He said and all that He did was commissioned by the Father, in order that we might know and love the Father through the Son.
Jesus came as the final and visible representation of God's love for humanity.
He died and was resurrected so that we might live, but His love was despised and His words were rejected.
And even though they may not have been aware of this fact, those that despised the love of Jesus and rejected His salvation, also despised and rejected His Father in heaven, for the words that Christ spoke were from the Father, and the life that He lived was directed by the Father.
Rejection of Jesus is an indirect rejection of God the Father, and the one that does not love the Lord Jesus and keep His Word is also one that does not love the Father nor keep His Word.
No wonder as the Cross loomed ahead, Christ would say, The one who does not love Me does not follow My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me.
But whoever keeps God's Word demonstrates that the love of God is in Him, and God's love is very different from human love.
His love is a godly love, a pure love, a perfect love, and it is this godly love that is being perfected in us as we keep His Word.
The love that is being perfected in us is the love of Christ, and His final command to all of us is to: Love as I have loved.
The only way that we can keep God's Word is to let the love of Christ dwell richly in our hearts.
He who keeps (treasures) His Word [who bears in mind His precepts, who observes His message in its entirety], truly in him has the love of and for God been perfected (completed, reached maturity).
Always remember, when you keep His Word, His love will be perfected in you as He guides, directs, checks, and corrects your daily walk, and then others will know that we are His – and He is ours forever.
Jesus came to the Jew FIRST, to fulfil God's unconditional covenant to Abraham, and His coming to Bethlehem in the land of Judah was one of numerous prophecies given to Israel, so they would recognise the eternal Son of His love - Whom God gave to be the Child, born of a virgin, so that whosoever believes on HIM would not perish but have everlasting life.
Jesus started to lay the foundation of Church age doctrine with a new commandment - to love as He loved and to understand that although He had to leave them, He would not only send the Holy Spirit of truth to indwell them, but that His own resurrected life and perfect righteousness would be imputed to them and they would learn what it means to: Abide in Me and I in you.
God's love for us is astonishing in that: While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
The whole glorious plan of salvation, which was purposed before the foundation of the world, is a testimony to the grace of our Heavenly Father and His amazing love for each one of us.
We who were dead in trespasses and sins and without hope in the world, have been covered with His love, forgiven of our sins, saved by grace through faith in His only begotten Son, in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit, accepted in the Beloved, given an eternal inheritance, and are today seated together with Christ in heavenly places.
When we look at the ever-mounting circumstances and troublous times that are overwhelming our lives, or watch in horror as the world situation continues to spiral downwards with increasing rapidity, too often we consider in our hearts that things are out of control, that this is too mighty a task for God to manage, that He is too impotent to intervene, or perhaps too distant to even notice that we are hurting and those we love have all but been swamped with fear and discouragement.
But trust in the Lord should not only be confined to the bad times – we should fear Him, trust Him, love and serve Him in spirit and truth, in times of ease as well as seasons of pain.
When the eyes of our heart are focused on the Lord Jesus Christ, in love, and all we desire is to know Him more, and to please Him in everything we do, then it matters not which path you take, for He will be there leading you, and He will be there guiding you, no matter what path you choose.
Acknowledging Him in all our ways, means to take note of His instructions in the Word of God and to apply each principle to our own life - not in a legalistic way but simply because we love Him and choose to acknowledge Him in all things.
When our love for Him becomes the single, central longing of our hearts then it matters not which way we choose to take, for we will find that He is there leading, directing and communing with us - in love.
But when a member of the Body of Christ has been hoodwinked by the enemy or strayed into some cunningly devised fable from false teachers, unbiblical teachings, or worldly philosophies, we are exhorted to preach the Word in truth and to speak that truth in love so that together we may grow is grace as we mature in Him Who is the Head of the Body, even Christ Jesus our Lord.
The sorrow that accompanied His departure would be short-lived by comparison with the everlasting bliss and joy that all who have trusted the Lord Jesus as Saviour will one day experience: For eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for those that love Him.
We must never forget that our God is a God of LOVE, Who became a MAN to redeem this cursed world and save the fallen race of humanity from their sin, through the sacrificial death of His only begotten Son.
As the elderly apostle wrote this epistle to God's elect people who had been chosen according to the foreknowledge of the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, it must have gladdened Peter's heart to know that these saints had purified themselves - which was being manifested to the world through their deep love for one another.
May we have the same desperate grief and uninterrupted pain in our heart for the lost, Jew and Gentile alike, and be ready and willing to speak the truth, in love.
As the time for this to happen draws ever closer, the division between good and evil is becoming greater with every passing day and those who love and trust the Lord are called to practise righteousness: Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, John was told, for the time is near.
We learn that this evil enemy influences the actions of the wicked against the righteous, but the devil's actions are always subject to God's permissive will Who, in His goodness and grace, uses all things, including our own personal suffering, to work together for the good to those that love and trust Him and for His eternal glory.
It is the story of the Creator and His creature; it tells of the battle of the ages, but it also tells of an everlasting love story between Christ and His Church, the Bridegroom and His Bride – the Bride and her Beloved.
His right hand of love and grace tenderly embraces His Bride.
Christ's earthy ministry, His sacrificial gift on Calvary, the establishment of the Church, which is His Body, Her future role as Bride of the King in the coming kingdom of Christ, and her elevated position in the eternal ages to come when she will show forth God’s gracious love to principalities and powers for evermore, were all part of God's eternal plan for her.
During the time that Peter was called to be a fisher-of-men, he developed a deep love for his Lord and confessed, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
However, He contrasts spiritual praying with the sanctimonious prayers of hypocrites: Who love to stand and pray in the synagogues, or on street corners, so that they may be seen by men, and receive their approval.
They love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, was Christ's blistering accusation, so that they may be seen by men.
And in the previous verse, John summarises Christ's command to New Testament believers: This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.
This sublime commandment to love as Christ loved us, is given to those in the Body of Christ, for only by believing on Christ are we placed in union with Him, and only as we abide in Him and He in us can we fulfil His sublime instructions to the Church as recorded in John's Gospel: This is my will that You believe on ME - this is My commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.
There are many that seek to impose the Mosaic Law and legalistic liturgy, Church-age codes and charters, or self-imposed rules and regulations back onto Christians in this Church age, but the superlative commands of Christ to the Church by comparison with any legalistic requirements, are of the highest possible standard and unattainable by human effort, for both the perfect Law of God and petty man-made regulation too frequently place believers back under some form of legal bondage, for we cannot love as Christ loved unless He loves others through us, as His love pours through us and out to other people.
It is by abiding in Christ that we are enabled to keep His commands to love as He loved.
We can never love in our own strength or by means of our own human effort.
The one who abides in Christ and does not rely on the self-life, is able to rest in the love of Christ and He in him.
Paul's prayers were filled with thanksgiving for his Christian brothers and sisters at Colossae because of their faith in Christ, their love in spirit and truth for one another, and their heavenly hope in their eternal inheritance; a heritage in Christ's kingdom of light which is kept for us, in heaven.
The Father's love for mankind was so great that He sent His only begotten Son to be our substitute for sin.
Christ loved the Church so much that He identified with our humanity, became our Kinsman-Redeemer, and gave up His life for love of us.
Let us watch with eager anticipation for the any day return of our Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds so that we too may receive the crown of righteousness, which is laid up for all who love His appearing.
They were lacking in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, and as a result we discover them to be the most carnal believers to whom Paul wrote; and carnality results in a stunted Christian life.
Much as we gravitate towards teachings about humility and reconciliation, brotherly love, Christian unity, and God's 'golden rule', we are all fallen creatures and too often Christians whiplash their souls through petty arguments, unnecessary contentions, bitterness of spirit, or an attitude of self-righteous pride.
As we reflect on this passage, we see how God works all things together for good for those that love Him, even when certain decisions we make are influenced by our own fleshly passion or strongly held principles.
When asked what was the greatest commandment during Christ's earthly, pre-Cross ministry, one scribe gave the perfect answer: Love God with all your heart, and he added, love Your neighbour as yourself.
Indeed, Paul reminds us that such godly love is the fulfilment of the Law.
But John takes this truth and combines it into Christ's new command: This is My commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you.
It is during this post-Cross period that we who are saved by grace through faith in Christ are commanded to fulfil this sublime instruction to 'love' in the same selfless way that Christ loved us.
John is often called the apostle of love and throughout His Gospel and Epistles, we see him explain how to obey Christ's singular and impossible commandment to the coming Church; how to live as Christ lived, how to love as Christ loved, how to the fulfil the all important instructions that Christ gave to the early Church through His New Testament apostles and prophets, for it is only through the new, born-again life in Christ, which we receive at salvation, through which His love can manifest itself in our lives.
It is only a man who walks in spirit and truth and in utter dependence on the leading, guidance, training, and correction of the indwelling Holy Spirit that brings forth this spiritual fruit of godly love.
This is His commandment, John writes in this verse, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ AND love one another, just as He commanded us.
We are to be saved by grace through faith, and then live by grace through faith in Christ (abide in Him and He in us) in order to be able to love as Christ loved and thus fulfil His commands.
I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much spiritual fruit (godly love), for apart from Me you can do nothing.
Apart from me You cannot love as I have loved And the one who does this, abides in Him and He in him.
When kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and grace is sprinkled over the root of bitterness, the bitter root will shrivel away and allow us to love in the same way that Christ loved us and gave Himself for us.
But Paul in his final epistle to Timothy, admonishes us to avoid arguments and disputes that cause friction and discord, and to speak the truth in love.
We are to be equipped by the Spirit to give wise instruction and biblically based truth to all who oppose us, and to teach that truth in love.
Rather, may we be gentle, gracious, kind-hearted, and patient to everyone, including those who oppose and ridicule us, as we seek to teach the truth in love, to the glory of God.
As we search the Scriptures with the leading of the Holy Spirit Who will guide us into all truth, our understanding of God will grow, our love for our Redeemer will deepen, and our faith will be strengthened. We will never be shown all the secret things that belong to the Lord in this life, but we will be shown exactly what we need at the right time and in the right way.
It is desiring to know Him more, and a yearning to love Him better.
How important therefore to keep ourselves in the love of God as we look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.
How wise is the one who abides in Christ, rests in His love, prays in spirit and truth, and maintains close communion with God the Father, for the judgements of such a man or woman are sound.
Let everything you do be done in love, are some of Paul's closing words to these believers in Corinth.
This faithful servant of Christ and steward of the mysteries of God demonstrated much love to these carnal Christians through correcting them of their waywardness, challenging them to change their ways, and teaching them the godly way to live.
Christ Jesus is the incarnate Son of God Who came to earth to reveal the love of the Father towards fallen man so that by grace through faith in His death, burial, and Resurrection we might be forgiven of our sins, be brought back into fellowship with our Heavenly Father, and be given God's life, light, love, and compassion in our heart as we abide in Him and He in us.
When we are saved by grace through faith in Him, we are given His resurrected life: And we know that we have passed out of death and into life because we love our brothers and sisters in Christ.
It is the love of Christ that is shed abroad in our heart, and it is the love of our Heavenly Saviour that is manifested in our Christian walk.
It is God's love that has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, and it is His love that flows through us to others.
And we know that we have passed from death to life simply because we love one another, for he who does not love as Christ loves continues to abide in death, but when Christ is our portion: We love because He first loved us.
But decades passed, and God wanted to test his servant, Abraham, so God said, Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.
But we are all called to offer up our own Isaac in one way or another, and it is because God is testing your love for Him and your trust in His Word, for when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow and your hope and trust in the Lord develops and matures.
In this verse, Moses gives the listening congregation his concluding exhortation, which is a call to total commitment to the Lord their God, all the days of their life: And now, Israel, Moses concluded, what does the Lord your God ask of you except to fear the Lord your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul?
And so they were given a definitive call: To fear the Lord, walk in all His ways, to love Him, and worship Him with all their heart and soul.
Secondly, he mentioned the love this little group of believers had for the Lord Jesus, as they 'laboured in love' and served Him willingly because of their dear devotion to Him and not simply out of duty.
Three of the most important Christian virtues are expressed in these three spiritual fruit; faith, hope, and love, and together, they embody the essence of godly living, and illustrate the virtuous way that every believer should seek to live in their Christian life-journey.
Paul's own great love for these brethren is also seen in this opening section.
Christ's whole life was the perfect example of a man that only said and did those things that He heard from His Father in heaven, while at the same time demonstrating a depth of love for His fellow-man that is unsurpassed.
Love of the Lord Jesus and obedience to His commands are the focal points of John's writing so that all who believe on the name of the only begotten Son of God would know, without question, that they have eternal life in Him.
Paul had a great love for all who had heard and accepted the gospel of grace through his ministry, and longed to see them again and to fellowship with them in person.
There was a time when Christians were not a special group of people, but because of our faith in Christ, we have become the people of God and obtained His mercy, grace, love, and forgiveness.
It is for this reason that John exhorts us to honour all men, to love the brotherhood, to fear God, and honour the king and those in authority.
Love the brotherhood.
Similarly, in this modern society where Christians are increasingly maligned by their brothers and sisters in Christ for minor matters, the importance to love the brotherhood cannot be overstated.
Naturally there are issues of conduct or doctrine that may need to be addressed in a local fellowship by the eldership, but how sad when caustic words and unacceptable behaviour occurs within the Church, and how important that we seek to love the brotherhood, and as far as we are able to be at peace with one another.
May we seek to honour everyone in truth, love our brothers and sisters in Christ, fear the Lord in the beauty of holiness, honour the emperor and those in authority, be on our guard against the enemy, stand firm in the faith, be strong and very courageous, and trust in the Lord with all our heart without leaning on our own limited understanding.
Satan's charge against God remained, as did his insistence that Job retained his integrity and served God because he was highly favoured by the Lord, not out of love for Him.
Be humble and gentle, patient and tolerant with each other, he exhorts us: Make every effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, and do everything in love, for the sake of Jesus.
Having presented the godly Christian conduct we should all embrace daily, our unity in the Spirit, and the love we should have for one another, he points out our position in Christ: We are one body and one Spirit.