Tag: love

. . . having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  (Colossians 2:12-14, NASB)

Baptism brings us together with Jesus.  It’s a picture of His death and resurrection.  When we go down into the waters we are buried with Him.  When we come back up we are resurrected with Him.  Paul says that we “were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”  So it’s through our faith in God that renews us! 

Further, Paul tells us that when we were dead in our sins, then God gave us life again through Jesus.  It’s through our faith in Jesus that saves us from our sins, and from God’s wrath.  

Finally, Paul says that we had a certificate of debt that was wiped out when Jesus hung on the cross.  God “canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”  So by accepting Jesus’ sacrifice, God forgives us from all of our sins! 

What a God we serve!  He wants to have a relationship with us.  He loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to the earth to die for us! 

Worship:  “Behold the Lamb,” by Keith & Kristyn Getty 

The Apostle Paul, in his second letter to the church at Corinth (and to us), writes: 

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.  (2 Corinthians 6:14-18, NASB)

God is concerned about with whom we associate.  He wants us to remain pure and clean.  This is the main point in this passage from Paul’s letter.  Paul uses several comparisons to make his point:  “What partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols?”

Paul goes on to say that “we are the temple of the living God.”  Therefore, we must remain clean and undefiled.  We want the Holy Spirit to be comfortable and find real in His home! 

Finally, for those of us who remain pure, God makes these promises:  “I will be their God, and they shall be My people . . . And I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me.”  

God doesn’t want us to hang around with unbelievers.  He’s concerned about the unrighteousness we’ll encounter.  Of course, we need to be around future believers, for we might be the ones who lead them to Jesus!  Jesus frequented with “sinners and tax collectors,” but He is God–He lived a perfect life, free from sin, for this was His mission!  God prefers that His people will fellowship with other believers.  He has promised great hope for His people who remain pure! 

Worship:  “Mercy Came Running,” by Phillips, Craig & Dean

The Apostle Paul , in his letter to the church at Rome (and to us): 

I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.  (Romans 9:1-5, NASB)

Paul is grieved at the idea that his people, the Israelites, have not recognized the Messiah, Who is Christ our Lord.  It’s Jesus Who fulfilled the prophesies of the Old Testament, and Paul is sorrowful that they didn’t see just Who He was.  Indeed, Jerusalem was destroyed, and God’s Temple razed, because of their disbelief.  Paul wishes that he could take their places in hell because of their unbelief. 

Paul says that his people had all the advantages of the knowledge of God:  “The adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever.”  But they failed to recognize their Messiah, Whom God had promised to them, His Chosen People. 

We, as followers of Jesus, should follow Paul’s example, and be grieved at all of the lost people in the world.  God desires for ALL people to be saved although it’s not His mandate.  We should want what God desires.  Whether Jew or Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist, we should do everything in our power to bring the Gospel of Jesus and the Love of Christ to them.  Jesus is Hope! 

SHA’ALU SHALOM YERUSHALAYIM! (PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM!)

Worship:  “The Watchman,” by Paul Wilbur 

The Apostle Paul writes to the Thessalonian church (and to us): 

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness— nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us . . . walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.  (1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, 12, NASB)

Paul says that when he came to Thessalonica, it was after much turmoil.  God gave him the boldness to teach the Gospel to them.  He says that he taught the Truth to them, and with God’s full approval.  Paul & company were not seeking the approval of people, rather of God.  This is hard, else Paul would not have addressed it.  Many of us don’t want to be unpopular, so we go with the flow.  It’s hard to go against the flow and go with God.  

Paul says that they didn’t go to the Thessalonians with ulterior motives, or out of greed, but rather out of love.  This should be our motivation as well.  We’re to love our neighbors as ourselves.  Why, then, should we not share the Gospel?  

Paul compares the tenderness with which he taught them with a nursing mother to her child.  He says that he not only taught the Gospel, but devoted his life to them, such was his affection for them. Finally, Paul exhorts them to “walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”  Everything we do should be devoted to this! 

God calls us to love Him with all of our being, and to love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves.  We should share the Gospel with the same motives as Paul did.  To do so will make us worthy of God’s glory! 

Worship:  “Living Waters,” by Keith & Kristyn Getty

So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.   (Acts 8:39-43, NASB)

Dr. Luke, the author of the Acts (called the Acts of the Apostles, or the Acts of the Holy Spirit), tells of a miracle performed by the Apostle Peter in the port city of Joppa.  A woman called Tabitha (aka Dorcas) has died.  Luke reports that Peter had been summoned to the place, and had cleared the room.  “But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, ‘Tabitha, arise.'”  Tabitha next arises from death.  Luke says that “It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.”

Saint Peter (c. 1610–1612) by Peter Paul Rubens.  Found at Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter

Peter had become indwelt by the Holy Spirit.  For those of us who love Jesus, the same Holy Spirit lives in our hearts!  The Bible says that the same power is available to us.  Peter, who not long ago, had denied knowing our Lord, now had healed the lame, purged evil spirits out of someone, and now raised Tabitha from the dead.  It gives me great hope to know that the Holy Spirit lives in me!

PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM! (SHA’ALU SHALOM YERUSHALAYIM)

Worship:  “I Can Do All Things,” by Twila Paris 

Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.  (John 18:3-6, NASB)

The Apostle John wrote about the encounter that Jesus had on Mount Olivet the night He was betrayed.  Jesus knows all the things that would befall Him that night–after all, He’s God!  The crowd comes upon Jesus, but a curious thing happens when He asks them for Whom do they seek.  Jesus answers, “I AM He.”  I remember a sermon in which the pastor suggested that Jesus answered the crowd with one of the names of God, “I AM!” No wonder they all fall down! 

Jesus was, is, and will always be, God Almighty.  He is Jehovah.  As such, He was capable of just sending everyone in that crowd straight to hell.  Why didn’t He?  I think because this wasn’t the Father’s plan.  Jesus often said that He came to the earth to do His Father’s business, not His own.  Jesus prayed that His Father would remove the cup of all that He was about to go through.  But He also added, “Not My will, but Yours be done.”  

Jesus knew He still had to go to the cross.  He had to die so we could be delivered from our sins.  He had to go through excruciating, unspeakable torture, and the agony of crucifixion so He could forgive those who tormented Him.  He had to die to take away our sins.  This was, and is, God’s plan of salvation.  Jesus rescued me from an eternity in hell.  Instead, I’ll be with Him, forever (that’s a long time!) in heaven!  Do you know Jesus? 

And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.  ( Luke 17:26-32, NASB)

In this account from Dr. Luke, Jesus speaks about His Second Coming.  He compares the time of His glorious return with the times of Noah and Lot, which are very similar.  In fact, they’re very similar to what we see going on in the world right now:  People going about their busy lives, ignoring God; oh, and rampant evil all around.  

In the time of Noah, “they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.”  Sounds like people doing normal activities.  Likewise in the days of Lot:  “They were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.”

But they were forgetting about God.  There was also great wickedness, which is why God “destroyed them all.”  Jesus warns us to be ready for His appearance, and to not be complacent.  Jesus cities the example of Lot’s wife, who turned around while they were fleeing from Sodom.  She became a pillar of salt.  Jesus’ message?  No turning back!

Jesus is coming back for His elect.  While we don’t know the time of His reappearance, we can take comfort in His warnings to us:  Be ready, be not complacent, and no turning back!  For those of us who love Jesus, we’re assured of eternity with Jesus in heaven.  That’s MY hope! 

“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”  (John 3:19-21, NASB)

The Apostle John records the words of Jesus, Who speaks about light.  Jesus IS the Light, and He says so.  In this account, Jesus is speaking with Nicodemus, a Pharisee, “a leader of the Jews.”  (John 3:1)  Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born again for him to receive eternal life.  Nicodemus is rightfully confused.  Nicodemus asks, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”  (John 3:4)   As part of His explanation, Jesus tells Nicodemus, “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.”  (John 3:16) 

Further, Jesus explains that the Light has come into the world, “and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.”  It’s interesting that most of all evil is done under the cover of darkness, so that the evildoers hope to avoid being discovered.  Jesus says the same:  “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” In contrast, “he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

Jesus is the Light of the World.  We saw in Chapter 1 of John that the Light came into the world, and we hated the Light!  The Light was too bright for us.  It exposed our sins.  The Light made us accountable for our sins.  But, wait!  If we would accept the Light, then we shall not perish, but have eternal life. This is good news!  Like Jesus says at the end, if we would walk in the truth,  then we will come to the Light!  Is it dark where you are?  Then come to the Light!