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Love Each Other Deeply

06 Jun

1 Peter 4:8 – 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

So what is love?  Ah, I see some of you shimmying your heads sideways.  C’mon, don’t hurt me.  No more. 

Love isn’t just telling everybody what they want to hear.  Love isn’t agreeing with what everyone has to say. 

Love is about truly about caring for others in a way that causes you to go out of your way to make sure they are taken care of.  It’s about looking out for their well being.

I look up to people who are strong at this.  Probably because I have to work at it with people I’m not really close to.  It’s easy for me to Love others I’m close to, but the Lord wants us to love our neighbor.  He wants us to show love and kindness to those that it doesn’t come natural. 

Think about those people.  We all know a few.  Their love because of God shines through and it’s genuine.  God’s love is powerful.  Who are we close to?  I know I’m drawn to people who look out for me, love me, and we have things in common.

Above all, love isn’t about letting people slip into eternity into Hell without sharing the Gospel and Jesus as much as you can while you or the others are still alive.  A little here and little there is all it can take.  Understandably there are those who will never accept Him, but we don’t ever want it because we never shared it enough.

The devil loves to have people take the attitude that their faith is a personal thing and they don’t need to share it.  Wow!  Someone share that verse with me?  We’re to be a light on a hill.  Salt that loses its saltiness is only good for throwing in the river.

Matthew 5:13-16-13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

   14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

We need to let our light shine and love each other deeply!

I had a reflection that came to my mind when reading the last part of 1 Peter 4:8.  We know that it is the blood of Jesus that covers our sins.  The thing that I got from the fact love covers over a multitude of sins is much sin comes from our selfish desires.  If one loves deeply for others and concentrates on that, they are probably staying away from more areas that lead to sin.  That’s not a breakdown from the concordance or anything, but just something that came to my mind.

To end this post;

 Jesus feels that loving God and your neighbor are pretty important.

Matthew 22:36-40-   36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

 
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Quote – Keith Green

05 Jun

If your heart takes more pleasure in reading novels, or watching TV, or going to the movies, or talking to friends, rather than just sitting alone with God and embracing Him, sharing His cares and His burdens, weeping and rejoicing with Him, then how are you going to handle forever and ever in His presence…? You’d be bored to tears in heaven, if you’re not ecstatic about God now!
Keith Green

I would like to add that the fast paced, pleasure seeking country we live in has really brought this quote to life.

If God made this earth and everything that is in it, including us, how can man feel this way that Keith was referring to? 

I see most people feeling this way and that’s why they are chasing after this world. 

To think that the world would have more to offer than our Lord is just a matter of not seeking Him.  I can look back on my own life and before I turned the reigns over to Him, I made things unhappy, stressful, and my life was nowhere mess. 

Don’t buy the lie.  The lie has been for sale for 6,000 years.  The serpent and Devil has been selling this untruth for anyone willing to buy.

What are going to seek?  The other lie is that you can live one way and still be fine in the other.  The New Testament warnings do not indicate that.  Either to not know Him at all;

Matthew 7:21-13 –  21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

or to be saved, but all works burnt up, can’t be the goal Christians will want to have come the Judgment.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 – 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

Seek the Lord!  You will find that the more you seek Him and truly know Him better, the more you will understand what Keith Green is saying.  You will also find the true reason you were created and will get back on the path God had intended for you.

If you take time to seek Him, he’ll still give you some time to enjoy those special things you enjoy.  You just won’t be making them the priority of your life and forgetting the most important.

 
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Psalm 51:1-2

03 Jun

Psalm 51:1-2 – 1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

The Psalm was written by David after his adultery sin with Bathsheba.  David knew the importance of having his sins forgiven and washed away long before Jesus came onto the earth.

God’s redemptive plan in the Bible starts in the first book of the finishes with the last. 

It’s so important that Christians know the Word the best they can.  We always have to be studying it and staying in it.

We’re all sinners.  That means we all start on the same playing field. 

His sheep listen to His voice.

John 10:27 – 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

He doesn’t want any to perish, but those that don’t listen to His voice are listening to another one. 

You want to hear His voice?  It’s in the Word.

 
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Philippians 3:7-8

02 Jun

Philippians 3:7-8- 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Do you want to why people can become missionaries and follow God while appearing to be sacrificing their own personal lives?  This scripture tells the story very well.

They found the true treasure.  They found the meaning of life.

We were created to voluntarily worship and serve the King.  However, we were created with a free will to either do so or not.  Either way it doesn’t change the fact of why you were created.

Those who find Jesus and make Him their King are sheep that have found their way back home.  Those who choose to continue to live life the way they see fit and their own way are listening to Satan which has deceived man to rebel against God from the beginning.

We need to find Christ like Paul is talking about.  You’ll know your getting closer to Philippians 3:7-8 when your goal isn’t how big your possessions are or how quickly you can retire, but rather what can I do for the King?

 
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Live A Holy Life

01 Jun

1 Thessalonians 4:7 – 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

Once we accepted Christ as Savior, we have been called.

The Lord has shared the Holy Spirit with us, but the Holy Spirit isn’t comfortable in living in a corrupt house.

We are called to live a holy life.  What does that mean?

The problem is we know deep down what that means.  It means not living in sin.  It means not living like the world lives.  It means dying to our own selfish wants and living for the Creator who loves us and died for us.

The Bible is full of reminders of how to live holy.  Funny that when were not living right, we don’t seem to have time to crack it open.

When someone cleans up their house they do it one room at a time, one job at a time.  However, if you never make an effort to clean it up, you have a disaster.

Grace is what saves and without we are lost in our sins.  It is not by works.  However, too many of us sin and use grace as a tool to keep on doing what were not supposed to be doing.

We’re called to do our best to live a holy life for the Lord.  He knows if we are trying or not.

 
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Reflection Of A Song

31 May

Today I just want to reflect on the song that was copyright by Brian Doerksen in 1998.

Come, now is the time to worship.

What an awesome song.  The lyrics are only 8 lines long and yet they tell a story.

We are encouraged to come and worship the Lord now.  We are also encouraged to give our heart over to Him.  Just as we are, we need to come and worship our God.

We then are reminded of the scriptures Philippians 2:10-11.

Philippians 2:10-11- 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
   in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
   to the glory of God the Father.

It finishes with encouraging us that rewards and treasures are given to those who love and obey and gladly choose Him now.   Gladly is a very important word.  He needs to be our first love.  Now is the time worship.

Rather than put a link to one of the versions of the song I want you to encourage you to Google the song and listen to it.

 
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Quote – Dwight L Moody

30 May

Faith takes God without any ifs.
Dwight L. Moody

 

It means complete TRUST.  We need to trust the Lord that He knows what is best for us, more than we think we know what’s best for us.

That trust happens by letting go and following God!

How do we know which way the Lord wants us to go? 

Read the Word and seek His truth.  The Holy Spirit then guides you from there.

There’s only two ways to run your life.  There’s your way and then there’s God’s way.

Proverbs 14:12 – 12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

Psalm 18:30 –  30 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless.  He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

 
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Memorial Day

29 May

Monday is a day to remember all those who have given the ultimate price for their country.  It is truly a wonderful sacrifice for their generation and those who have enjoyed the freedoms we have today.

I want to also remember the ultimate sacrifice that has allowed us the opportunity to live our Lord forever.  Thank you Jesus for dying for us all.  It’s because of that sacrifice that allows all who accept it to never perish.

John 15:13 – 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

 
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Submission And Repentance To The Lord Brings Results

27 May

Jonah 3:1-10 – 1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

 3 Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city—a visit required three days. 4 On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

 6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh:

   “By the decree of the king and his nobles:

   Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”

 10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.

They believed God and made a true change.  Do you see that in this land right now?  I see it just getting worse and worse.  Most Christians won’t even vote for a man of God if he runs for President.  They have a million excuses, but that’s what they are.  Our problems are not economic, they’re spiritual.  The reason we have economic problems is our love of money and overall very little love for God.

God doesn’t like to judge and destroy lands and people.  They just become so evil and stray so far away from Him that He has no choice but to rid them of the land.  Yes people become worse as they get further away from God.  That’s why God didn’t have the Jews go into certain lands until the appointed time.  They hadn’t become evil enough yet.

He spared Nineveh and they were an evil people on their way to judgment just from turning from their ways.  How much more will He rapture the church before the wrath comes down on the earth?

America became great, because it focused on the God of the Bible as #1.  Now its main focus seems to be trying to push Him out of everything.

 
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Lawsuits Among Believers

26 May

1 Corinthians 6:1-11 – 1 If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother goes to law against another—and this in front of unbelievers!

 7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.

 9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Amazingly nothing appears to have changed as Paul was talking about it almost 2,000 years ago.  The faces change but things seem to just revolve round and round.  The sins of the world 2,000 years ago are the same ones today, it’s just that technology has taken it to a different level.

God is love and God is just.   Doing right matters. 

Crime won’t pay.  Sometimes it works out now, but it definitely won’t later. 

How you handle disputes matters.  How you treat people matters.  It’s not a preference or a matter of taste.  There is a right and a wrong.  The One who created us created the rules.  

He reminds us that’s what we were.  That’s an encouragement not to go back, because some do go back.

 
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