How Does Love Behave?

All that we need to know about life and living, we can learn from the Scriptures. God gives us direct instructions as well as practical guidelines for every area of life. This includes understanding how to demonstrate genuine love.

Here are several Scriptures on the topic:

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant . . . (1 Cor 13:4 ESV)

. . . but rejoices in the truth . . . (1 Cor 13:6b MEV)

It [love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Cor 13:7 NIV)

When we love someone, the greatest gift that we can give them is to love them the way that God loves each and every one of us. Some key points the Bible teaches about love is that LOVE:

Is patient,
Is kind,
Rejoices in the truth,
Always protects,
Always trusts,
Always hopes, and
Always perseveres.

If we FIRST consider each of these statements in light of God’s love for each and every one of us, we will feel humbled and honored by the unconditional love that God offers to each and every believer. Let us rejoice in His love and give Him praise and thanksgiving for it.

Now, we need to look at this truth in relation to how we act toward those whom we love. Do we display these traits with our relatives, our children, our friends? Do we give this kind of love unfailingly to our spouse? We need to take the time to meditate upon this from time to time to make any necessary adjustments to our thinking and our actions.

Let us follow the example that our Lord Jesus gave to us. He loved us so much that He sacrificed everything to reconcile each one of us back to a loving relationship with our heavenly Father God. Praise the Lord!

Accusations Silenced!

Meditate upon this truth: believers are without fault in God’s sight.

Let that sink in for several minutes, and consider what that means for how you live your life moment by moment.

If anyone fiercely attacks you, it will not be from Me. Whoever attacks you will fall because of you. (Isa 54:15 NASB) The Lord tells us explicitly [openly, clearly, plainly] that any type of attack upon us will not be from Him. Wow!

But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken! (Isa 54:17 NLT) God has declared that no plan of attack against His people will succeed. What’s more, our exoneration will come from the Lord, Himself. Glory to God!

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Rom 8:1 NIV) We do not have to live under a spirit of condemnation, for we have been justified through the work and the blood of Jesus Christ.

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. (Eph 1:4 NLT, emphasis added) This Bible verse says we have been chosen in Christ to be HOLY and WITHOUT FAULT in His eyes.

May each and every believer be set free today by this truth. Let us rejoice in the Lord, and praise and thank His Holy Name!

Be Ready to Explain Your Hope to Others

We are called to BE READY! We need to be ready to witness to others; to share our testimonies of answered prayers and miracles that we have seen and experienced. We are also called to be ready to explain our HOPE to other people.

Let’s turn to the Bible:

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear . . . (1 Pet 3:15 KJV)

According to the above Bible passage, we are to bless and praise the Lord in our hearts. We’re asked by the Lord to be prepared to explain to those who ask us why we are filled with hope and the optimism that is a result of faith. And, most importantly, we are to be willing to do these acts in a spirit of humility and deep reverence toward God.

Be pleasant and hold their interest when you speak the message. Choose your words carefully and be ready to give answers to anyone who asks questions. (Col 4:6 CEV)

Any time that we speak with non-believers to testify, we should strive to be pleasant and to engage their interest in what we’re sharing. That means that we should ask the Lord to help and guide us to choose our words carefully, so that we may satisfy those who ask us questions.

. . . correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (2 Tim 2:25-26 NIV)

If we need to correct someone, we should do so with tenderness and kindness. Our goal is to help unbelievers to be set free from the trap of the devil, who has captured them deceitfully.

These are high and lofty purposes set by God for all believers to study the Bible and learn how to “rightly divide the word of truth.” (2 Tim 2:15) God bless you!

Growing Spiritually

The Scriptures make it clear that God wants His children to grow and mature spiritually. We must mature in our relationship and walk with Jesus Christ; but we must also mature in our Christian witness as we live our daily lives.

Let’s read some appropriate verses to our topic:

¹⁴Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Eph 4:14-15 NIV)

Therefore, after you have gotten rid of lying, Each of you must tell the truth to your neighbor because we are parts of each other in the same body. (Eph 4:25 CEB)

And this I pray, that your love may overflow still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰so that you may discover the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ; ¹¹having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, for the glory and praise of God. (Phil 1:9-11 NASB)

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, ⁷rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. (Col 2:6-7 NKJV)

The heavenly Father’s objective for each one of us is to mature and acquire the characteristics of our Savior Jesus, living a life of love and unpretentious service. The Lord has given us fellow Christians to assist us in growing spiritually. Let’s examine that a little.

We have seasoned pastors, counselors, and teachers to advise us and point us in the right paths. Our pastor will teach us sound doctrine, and he will model speaking the truth in love. Other mature believers around us will also serve the same objective.

Every believer must also add individual study of the Scriptures, and the memorization of selected Bible passages to help in their own spiritual development. This practice will help us to evade false teachers, which is very important. Don’t believe and follow every wind of doctrine that confronts you. Seek the Word, and the advice of mature friends and mentors in such circumstances.

We are being equipped by God to do the work of the ministry. Our primary task, as a mature Christian, is to make disciples and prepare others to serve Christ. What a privileged and honorable calling! Praise God!

Don’t Repay Evil for Evil but Repay with a Blessing

Good day and welcome! We’re encouraged by the Scripture to avoid seeking revenge or holding a grudge.

God’s Spirit indwells each and every believer and follower of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit can be relied upon to lead us in the paths of righteousness and holiness.

Here are some Bible verses to consider on this subject:

Those who render me evil for good accuse me because I follow after good. (Ps 38:20 ESV)

When we follow after the Lord, we follow after and seek GOOD solutions and good outcomes. We choose to pursue the path of peace and not strife.

“You are not to seek vengeance or hold a grudge against the descendants of your people. Instead, love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” (Lev 19:18 ISV)

We are reminded by the Lord to love our neighbor (which means: any other human being on earth) as we love ourselves.

See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. (1 Thes 5:15 NLT)

Rather than repaying evil for evil, we are urged to do good to each other and to all people. Only the grace of God, which He pours out upon us every day, enables us to follow the Lord’s teachings.

Do not pay back evil with evil or cursing with cursing; instead, pay back with a blessing, because a blessing is what God promised to give you when he called you. (1 Pet 3:9 GNT)

Don’t repay cursing with cursing or wickedness with wickedness, but instead, respond with a blessing. Rely upon the grace of God.

Our Lord, who is holy, promised to give each one of us a blessing when He called us and introduced us to the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It’s for our benefit that we learn to control our emotions and our responses. Self-control is a genuine fruit of the Spirit. It is a privilege to serve the Lord, and to bring Him all of the glory and honor and the praise as we pursue righteous living through Jesus Christ. God bless you!

Oh! The Riches of God

Various people in Bible days marveled at the depth of the riches, wisdom and knowledge of God. We can certainly understand why.

All revelation of the ways of God leads to jubilation and praise over the wonders of God. Here are some Bible passages for us to review:

O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (Rom 11:33 RSV)

Christ sacrificed his life’s blood to set us free, which means our sins are now forgiven. Christ did this because of God’s gift of undeserved grace to us. God has great wisdom and understanding . . . (Eph 1:7-8 CEV)

To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Col 1:27 ESV)

Only God is the creator of everything that we see here and in all of creation, even into the high heavens. Only God knows all things, from the largest to the most microscopic of details. God alone owns the universe. Only the Lord has power over all. God, Himself, is the ultimate treasure of the universe. Hallelujah!

We who follow Christ are blessed beyond measure to be in a continual relationship with the Lord, and to be growing in our knowledge and understanding of Him. Let us take a few minutes to ponder these profound truths, and to thank and praise the Lord.

God bless you.

Praise a Woman Who Fears the Lord

Did you know that it is completely appropriate and Biblical to praise a woman who fears the Lord and lives in service to Him? Well, it’s true!

When you see a faithful, God-honoring woman who regularly brings glory and honor to the Lord, she should be praised, congratulated, and respected.

Let’s look at a few pertinent Bible verses:

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. (Pro 31:30 NIV)

See? Proverbs 31 clearly teaches that this type of woman “IS TO BE PRAISED.”

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Pro 1:7 MEV)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, as the Scripture above points out. Not only should women fear the Lord, but ALL human beings should live with deep respect and reverence toward the Lord.

. . . but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. (1 Pet 3:4 ESV)

This verse in first Peter chapter three, reminds women that our beautifying efforts should be made to the inner person by demonstrating a gentle and quiet spirit. Such behavior is very precious in the sight of the Lord and it has imperishable beauty. That means that such beauty will never end, but that it is perpetual and everlasting.

God is calling all people, male and female, to live in reverence and devotion to the Lord.

Let’s Be Eager to Do What is Good

It is our honor and our joy to live good and righteous lives on this earth. It is something that we should be happy and even eager to do! For we are called in righteousness (Isa 42:6) to serve the Lord, and to be light to the nations.

Let’s turn to the Word:

Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Tit 2:14 NIV, emphasis added)

In this passage in Titus, we see the teaching that Jesus gave Himself to redeem those who will live for Him, and be eager to do what is good.

This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. (Tit 3:8 NKJV)

This is a clear teaching that all believers should be ‘careful to maintain good works.’ This means that we should be vigilant about doing good, and that we should be meticulous and conscientious in performing good works to bring glory, honor and praise unto the Lord.

God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing. (Eph 2:10 NCV)

Ephesians chapter two teaches us that not only did God create us to DO GOOD WORKS, but He planned ahead of time for us to live this way. This is our service to God, and what a privilege it is to serve God and His kingdom in this way.

Watch for every opportunity to do good to others, and to be a faithful witness of the goodness, mercy, and love of God to all people. Blessings upon you today!

We Must Set Our Hope On God Alone

It is important that we set our hope upon the Lord, Himself—and nothing and no one else.

The seed sown among thorns is the person who hears the word, but worldly cares and the seductiveness of wealth choke the word, so it produces nothing. (Mt 13:22 NET)

We must try to stay clear from worldly cares and worldly desires, which will profit us nothing, spiritually.

Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. (Lk 8:14 NKJV)

The cares and pleasures of earthly life will not bring any form of spiritual fruit to maturity. And we must remember that we live for Christ—to serve Him and to bring Him glory and honor and praise.

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. (1 Tim 6:17 NASB)

Believers should never allow themselves to feel confident in wealth or financial security, for these are fleeting and can crumble in a day or even a span of earthly hours.

But true security comes from placing our hope and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ who has promised that He will NEVER leave us nor forsake us. This means that Jesus will NEVER disown, abandon, reject, or renounce anyone who has accepted Him as their own Savior and Lord.

THAT is true security—now only for the moment but throughout eternity! Hallelujah!

We Must Bear Fruit to the Father’s Glory

How does a Christian bear fruit? If, as believers, we pursue goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love, we will be fruitful no matter where we are called.

This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (Joh 15:8 NIV)

I pray that you will then be filled with the fruit of righteousness, which comes from Jesus Christ, in order to give glory and praise to God. (Phil 1:11 CEB)

I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who abides in me while I abide in him produces much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. (Joh 15:5 ISV)

When we bear fruit, we bring glory to God the Father, and we prove ourselves to be the Lord’s followers. The key to fruitfulness is abiding in Christ and being aware, moment by moment, of His presence and His love at work in our lives.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal 5:22-23) Every GOOD tree bears GOOD fruit. (Mt 7:17) Each and every believer is a good tree, and every believer has been given the fruit of the Spirit.

The Lord tells us clearly in John 15:5:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

We must abide in Christ always, because without Him, we are powerless and can accomplish nothing. But with Him, nothing is impossible! Hallelujah!

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Tag: praise