Let Your Love Increase & Overflow

Our love for ourselves and for other people should be increasing and overflowing as we mature in Christ and in our relationship with Him. Here are some key Scriptures:

A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Mt 22:39 NLT)

We can’t learn to love our neighbor, until we learn to love ourselves—by the grace of God. God loves us as we are, even though He knows all about our weaknesses and our past. God’s love is mature and steadfast and doesn’t accept offense.

And this I pray, that your love may abound more and more [displaying itself in greater depth] in real knowledge and in practical insight . . . (Phil 1:9 AMP)

As the verse quoted above says, our love will display itself in greater depths as the years and our experiences in Christ continue. This will make us better spouses, parents, neighbors, and witnesses for the Kingdom of God.

And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we do for you. (1 Thes 3:12 CSB)

As we grow in our awareness of God’s steadfast and unfailing love for each one of us, individually, the Lord will trigger a yearning in our hearts to show God’s precious and anointed love to everyone with whom we come into contact. May your joy abound and be shared with everyone you meet!

Stay Away from Sin & Darkness

The Lord gives us, in His Word, not only wisdom, revelation, and insight; but He also gives us admonitions, warnings, and advice. Let’s review a few of these admonitions today.

. . . and have nothing to do with the unfruitful actions that darkness produces. Instead, expose them for what they are. ¹²For it is shameful even to mention what is done by these disobedient people in secret. (Eph 5:11-12 ISV)

Not only should we avoid sin and occasions to sin, but we shouldn’t even speak about other peoples’ sin. The reason is because the Bible alerts us to the fact that to do so is shameful. We are called to expose sin as the dark evil that it truly is.

Night is almost over, and day will soon appear. We must stop behaving as people do in the dark and be ready to live in the light. (Ro 13:12 CEV)

We are called by Jesus Christ, who is the bright and morning star (Rev 22:16), to live in the light of God’s love.

Furthermore, 1 Peter 2:9 (KJV) states: But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light . . . We are called OUT OF darkness, sin, and sorrow into the light of God’s salvation, love, and blessings. Glory to God most High!

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints . . . (Eph 5:3 KJV)

Such sins as are mentioned in the verse above should not be participated in by born-again Christians who desire to follow Jesus. They are harmful to us and to the body of Christ.

But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. (Ro 6:21 NIV)

The end of sin is death in many forms. Some of the fruits of sin are shame, guilt, and separation from God. Not one of these so-called fruits is desirable.

From this study we can certainly see that it is for our good that God gives us these counsels. Let us draw near to God and avail ourselves of His grace, love, and goodness.

Our True Daily Bread

Bread is a symbol of many things. In the Old Testament, the Lord provided bread from heaven when His people were wandering in the wilderness after escaping from Egypt. (Ex 16:4, 14, 31) In this context, bread was a forceful symbol of God’s provision for His people.

For decades in America, the husband in a family was referred to, in informal terms, as the breadwinner. Even now, bread is a synonym for money.

Let’s read what God’s Word says about bread.

Give us today our daily bread. (Mt 6:11 NIV)

Give us day by day our daily bread. (Lk 11:3 ASV)

Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say: ‘No one can live only on food. People need every word that God has spoken.’ ” (Mt 4:4 CEV)

In the above verse, Jesus reminds us that we need to know and love God’s Word as much as we do our daily food.

Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” ³²Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” ³⁴They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” ³⁵Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (Joh 6:31-35 ESV)

In John, chapter 6, Jesus clearly declares Himself to be the true bread from heaven. Through faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we become partakers in eternal life. It is vital to maintain an ongoing faith in Jesus and an ongoing relationship with Him because we need to depend upon Him continually for our every need.

The Lord Jesus proved Himself to be forgiving, merciful and loving to those who followed Him. He was a fount of wisdom and grace, and being in His presence provided a powerful blessing. He was also the hand of God who healed the sick, maimed, deaf, blind, and hurting. People received deliverance and miracles and wonders through the ministry of Jesus Christ. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Heb 13:8)

Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? ¹⁷Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. (1 Cor 10:16-17 NIV)

When we partake of the Communion elements, we are remembering the sacrifice and obedience of Jesus. Through the ceremony of remembrance—which is the observance of Communion—we declare our unfailing gratitude to God for the precious gift of salvation that we have received. Praise the Lord!

Control Your Tongue

We all know that it’s important to control what we say, but that doesn’t make it necessarily easy to do! The Scriptures have quite a lot to teach us about this subject.

Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. (Pro 4:24 ESV)

Crooked can mean dishonest, corrupt, twisted or unscrupulous. Devious means sneaky, cunning, or scheming. As followers of Jesus Christ, we can understand why neither of these would be admirable behavior for us. The Holy Spirit would never lead us to act in such a way, particularly in light of Matthew 5:37; Colossians 3:9 and 4:6; and Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. (Eph 4:25 NIV)

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing crooked or perverted in them. (Pro 8:8 NASB)

The psalmist is laying his heart before the Lord concerning the use of his tongue. Let us each remember Psalm 12:6, The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. (NIV) In imitating our Savior, we should speak pure words, full of righteousness. Short of that, we should choose to be silent.

But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. (Col 3:8 RSV)

This Bible verse (above) clearly tells us what type of behavior and conversation that we should reject. And we are given a clear instruction of what we should communicate in Ephesians 4:29, Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (NIV) Our words should encourage, comfort, and bless other people. In this way, we become ministers of the love and presence of the Lord to other people.

If you think you are being religious, but can’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is useless. (Jam 1:26 CEV)

In the book of James, we’re reminded that controlling our tongues is a basic requirement for believers who represent the Lord Jesus and the kingdom of God.

Obscene language, silly talk, or vulgar jokes aren’t acceptable for believers. Instead, there should be thanksgiving. (Eph 5:4 CEB)

Thanksgiving is always appropriate. Having an attitude of gratitude will improve our daily lives and generate a pleasant atmosphere for those around us. Being thankful to other people, as well as to God for His many blessings, is always appreciated.

To sum up today’s article, here is one more Bible passage:

Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit . . . (1 Pet 3:10 ESV) May God give you good days and continual blessings!

Jesus’ Sacrificial Love

A sacrifice is something given up for the sake of others. Anything sacrificial is connected to a selfless act or a selfless course of action.

Jesus’ love for His Father and for mankind was a sacrificial love. In order to obey His Father and to redeem mankind back to a relationship with God, Jesus became the Lamb of God (Joh 1:29, 36) who was slain before the foundation of the world. (Rev 13:8) In Bible times, the animal that was frequently used in sacrifices to God was a perfect, unblemished lamb.

Let’s see what the Bible says about such love.

We know what love is because Jesus gave his life for us. This is why we must give our lives for each other. ¹⁷If we have all we need and see one of our own people in need, we must have pity on that person, or else we cannot say we love God. (1 Joh 3:16-17 CEV)

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (Joh 13:34 ESV)

Live lovingly, just as the Messiah also loved us and gave himself for us as an offering and sacrifice, a fragrant aroma to God. (Eph 5:2 ISV)

If you have a friend who is in need of food and clothing, ¹⁶and you say to him, “Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat hearty,” and then don’t give him clothes or food, what good does that do? (Jas 2:15-16 TLB)

But do not forget to do good and to share. For with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Heb 13:16 MEV)

So not only did Jesus show us what love is, but the Word of God encourages us to model this same type of selfless love back to a hurting and needy world.

We are encouraged to live our lives as an offering and sacrifice which is a fragrant aroma to God. We are urged to do good to others and to share food and clothing with those in need. In this way, we share the love and goodness of God with others. God bless you.

Clothe Ourselves with Virtue

How can we clothe ourselves with virtue? For that matter, how can we “put on love” as instructed in Colossians 3:14? And note that Romans 13:14 tells us that we have “put on Christ,” as does Galatians 3:27.

And what virtues are we encouraged by God’s Word to put on?

¹²Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Col 3:12 NIV)

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. ¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. (Col 3:14-15 NIV)

Your love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰Be devoted to each other with mutual affection. Excel at showing respect for each other. (Rom 12:9-10 ISV)

. . . with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love . . . (Eph 4:2 NKJV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23 NASB)

Wow! This is an impressive list of virtues and good traits to pursue and to practice.

In the natural realm, when we want to be clothed, it is a conscious act of the will. Our clothes don’t fly through the air and attach themselves to us, right? We have to physically maneuver ourselves into the clothes, and then button or snap or zip them into place. And we have to choose exactly what items we want to wear each and every day.

As believers and followers of Jesus, we must be just as deliberate about what virtues we choose to use in every circumstance and situation in our lives. We must decide to be peacemakers, just as we must choose to be kind, humble, gentle, patient, peace-loving, joyful, faithful, and self-controlled.

As we make the decision each new day to follow Jesus, we must make the decision in every circumstance and life situation about how to react to our current challenges or trials.

In answer to our prayers to Him, the Lord will give us the grace and power that we need to weave these virtues into our lives. The Holy Spirit will guide us if we yield to Him in humility and obedience.

The Holy Spirit is the only One who can teach us and transform us into the image of Christ. And best of all, He can be trusted to guide us lovingly and faithfully. Hallelujah!

Hold Fast to Your Hope

We have good reasons to cling to our hope in Christ. First of all, God cannot lie, so we know that we can trust His Word. Secondly, this hope will not disappoint us as Romans 5:5 states (below).

. . . so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to hold firmly to the hope set before us. (Heb 6:18 NASB, emphasis added)

We must ‘hold fast’ [keep hold of; hang onto; grip] the hope set before us by the Lord.

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy . . . (Ps 33:18 NKJV)

God is keeping watch over all those who hope in Him and in His mercy. Glory to God!

. . . because you are my hope, Lord. You, Lord, are the one I’ve trusted since childhood. (Ps 71:5 CEB)

The Lord, who is almighty and never-failing, is the basis of all of our hope. When we base our trust in Him, we have placed our trust appropriately.

My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word. (Ps 119:81 ESV)

We are wise when we put hope in God’s Word because His Word will not fail, simply because He watches over His Word to perform it.

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. (Ps 130:5 NIV)

This also confirms the wisdom of putting our hope in God’s Word.

. . . and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. (Rom 5:5 NRSV)

In this verse, God promises that our hope in Him will never be disappointed or frustrated. What a wonderful reassurance from the heart of the Lord!

A Good Spouse is God’s Gift

A good spouse (whether husband or wife) is a gift and a blessing from God. These next verses mention the blessing of a prudent and excellent wife, but a kind and loving husband is also a gift from God.

He who finds a wife finds what is good, gaining favor from the Lord. (Pro 18:22 CEB)

Houses and wealth are inherited from parents but a prudent wife is from the Lord. (Pro 19:14 NIV)

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. (Pro 31:10-12 ESV – see also verses 13-31)

As the Scriptures teach us, EVERY GOOD THING is from our heavenly Father.

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. (Jas 1:17 NASB)

A good spouse blesses us in so many ways by providing:

Companionship and connection
Attraction, intimacy and passion
A confidant and spiritual partner and
A sense of purpose in having children and raising them together.

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Gen 2:24 NKJV)

. . . and the two will become one flesh.’^[So they are no longer two, but one flesh. (Mk 10:8 NIV) Spouses from the Lord become one body with their partner—united in faith, love and bringing glory to God.

Don’t Criticize Others

Judgement is God’s exclusive privilege. We fellow believers and servants of the Lord are not entitled to come to a “verdict” about anyone. If we are eager to judge, we should judge only ourselves.

Let’s see what the Bible teaches us on this subject:

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. (Rom 14:13 NIV)

Rather than criticizing our brothers and sisters, we should eagerly endeavor to avoid placing hindrances or blockages into the paths of fellow believers.

My friends, don’t say cruel things about others! If you do, or if you condemn others, you are condemning God’s Law. And if you condemn the Law, you put yourself above the Law and refuse to obey either it ¹²or God who gave it. God is our judge, and he can save or destroy us. What right do you have to condemn anyone? (Jas 4:11-12 CEV)

We should never be cruel with our words. We must not think that we are above the Law—but we are called to obey it and to honor it. Only God has the authority to condemn.

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God . . . (Rom 14:10 NIV)

Why should we try to pass judgment on our brothers and sisters in Christ? What justifies us in despising our brothers and sisters? Remember, we will ALL stand before the judgment seat of God.

When we show mercy, kindness, and love to others, we please the Lord because we are actively following His beautiful, holy example. Glory to God!

The Deep Things of God

What is meant by the phrase ‘the deep things of God’?

These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. (1 Cor 2:10 NIV)

In the verse of Scripture shown above, the word “depths” translates the Greek noun βάθη, which is the Accusative, Plural of βάθος (bathos). In this context, Paul is using a word that refers to “deep water” to portray a parallel idea in an attempt to describe the complexities of and the secret and careful plans of our God.

This word that represents the depths of God (the deep things of God), refers to greatness, immensity, profoundness, impenetrability, and mysteriousness. It goes beyond surface considerations and into the serious, innermost study of God’s nature, His purposes and His love.

Let’s continue looking at the Bible:

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (Joh 14:26 NIV)

The Holy Spirit was given to every believer at the moment of salvation. (See Ac 2:38; Eph 1:13) The Holy Spirit teaches us all things and helps us to remember everything that He has taught us. As we obey the Word and walk in faith, our relationship with the Lord grows stronger and more mature.

In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. (Lk 10:21 NIV)

“For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7 NIV)

The two verses immediately above mention that God reveals hidden thing to His people. These are clearly deep things of God that the Holy Spirit shares with the children of God. The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom, insight, and revelation knowledge.

For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Cor 2:11 NIV)

No one can know the thoughts of God other than the Holy Spirit who dwells within every believer. (See 1 Cor 3:16; 6:19; 2 Cor 6:16) This same Holy Spirit will teach us about the profound, loving, and merciful God whom we are blessed to serve. The longer that we are in relationship with the Lord, the more deeply we mature in the faith, and the more familiar we become with the deep things of God. Glory to God!

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Tag: love