LIVING BY THE SPIRIT VII: PEACE

Today’s Passage: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6-7.'

Our next study of the Living by the Spirit series centers on peace. Wikipedia describes peace as “a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict.”  On one hand, this is true.  A time of peace typically follows a time of war.  Certainly, peace would be difficult during violent conflict, and yet, it is not impossible.  One can have peace during extremely unsettling circumstances while another who enjoys all of life’s luxuries may lack peace. 

In Ecclesiastes, we learn that Solomon tried many things to find peace and happiness: building and planting, many servants, wealth, music and many other worldly pleasures.  Yet Solomon could not find peace in these things.  Instead, he noted, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13.)  By reverencing and obeying God, we can find true peace.

Peace is an often sought-after but seldom obtained quality in our world today.  According to the CDC website, data collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys reveals that the use of antidepressants rose nearly 400% according to figures tallied in 2008 as compared to previous survey results tallied in 1994. Note this disturbing fact: \

“Antidepressants were the third most common prescription drug taken by Americans

  of all ages in 2005-2008 and the most frequently used by persons 18-44 years.”[1].

It may not surprise us that the surveys revealed that females were more likely to take antidepressants than males.  It is indeed frightening, however, to learn that the amount of antidepressants taken by children and teenagers had greatly risen over a span of approximately twenty years.  

What is the reason for the increasing lack of peace of mind?  Certainly genetics do play some role in increasing the vulnerability to depression of those with a chemical imbalance in the brain; however, I am personally convinced that sometimes people are led to believe that the reason for their depression is due to a hereditary cause when there are one or two other causes that have been overlooked.  These causes are environment and spiritual health. 

No, I am not a physician or a psychiatrist and am therefore not attempting to provide any medical treatments.  However, as a woman who has suffered from depression and anxiety and who descends from a long line of women with emotional disorders, as well as one who has studied the Bible regarding the subject, I am merely seeking to point out some things I have learned in the hope that these lessons may help others who find themselves in the same situation. 

If you are suffering from severe emotional problems, please by all means consult a physician or psychiatrist to determine the case.  Sometimes, there are very real physical causes such as mineral or chemical imbalances that must be treated medically.  Yet at the same time that you are seeking medical advice for the causes, it is wise to study God’s Word and pray fervently to ensure that you are not merely doctoring the side effects without addressing the underlying cause.  

The first area that may be overlooked is our environment.  Do we surround ourselves with fellow Christians who are concerned for our souls or do we spend time with people who neither worship God nor seek to obey Him?  (2 Corinthians 6:14.)  Do we spend much time in study of God’s Word or watching shallow, immoral movies and TV programs?  I believe that the more we surround ourselves with filth, the less peaceful our lives will be.  

The second area (which overlaps the first) is our spiritual condition.  We cannot be at peace unless 1) we are right with God, 2) we are ignorant of God’s Word and do not know that we are in jeopardy or 3) we have hardened our conscience to the point that our sin renders our hearts impenetrable to the Word of God.  Not everyone who suffers does so due to sin, as evidenced by the crucifixion of Jesus and the imprisonment and murder of Christians in the first century; however, if there is sin in our lives for which we have not repented, and if our consciences are not seared, we can expect that we will not have peace. 

To determine how we can attain peace, let us begin at the source of all wisdom and understanding: God’s infallible Word.  The Psalmist understood where his sense of peace originated.  “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8.)  There is no peace without God, for He alone keeps us safe. Psalm 37:37 teaches us that those who are blameless and upright enjoy a future of peace.  Only by being in a right relationship with the Lord can we truly defeat depression, anxiety and other debilitating emotional unrest.  

Remember the children’s song based on Luke 6:47-49?  “Oh, the wise man built his house upon the rock…”  What happened to the house built upon the rock when the “rains came tumblin’ down”?  The house stood firm.  This symbolizes the stability of a Christian who builds his life on the Rock – that solid foundation of Jesus Christ our Lord.  He will stand firm, regardless of whatever befalls him. 

On the other hand, let us consider the fate of the house which the foolish man built upon the sand.  Though the two houses looked the same to anyone who visited, the house built on the sand had no firm foundation.  Both owners could entertain guests, sleep comfortably and dine upon fancy china in their homes for a time, but when the torrential rains and flood came, only one would survive.

The same is true of us.  We may have it “all together” – a wonderful family, a great job and good friends – but if our lives are not first built upon Christ, our life is a disaster waiting to happen.  When the enormous troubles of life come, we may find ourselves in the midst of a mental meltdown.  It is then that we truly learn we are unable to do anything and we amount to nothing… that is, on our own.  With God, all things are possible, but without Him, nothing is possible for long.  Our lives without Christ are a farce and have no real substance.

We must realize that having put on Christ is not enough if we do not continue in Him.  We must remain faithful throughout our lives by studying His Word, applying it to our lives and seeking to always please and serve Him.  Even when we don’t feel like loving others and doing good, we must do so.  Psalm 34:14 teaches, “Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”  And we are told in Psalm 37:37: “Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace.”

Additionally, we must seek to make peace in order to have peace.  “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:18.)  It is our responsibility to seek peace with others.  Note that “if it is possible” is included, for if our brother or sister in Christ violates God’s commandments and refuses to repent, there can be no peace.  We should feel a sense of grief for their souls.  Peace should never come at all costs, for there is a time when we must stand up for what is right as the apostles did and face ridicule and persecution.  Aside from circumstances such as this, the majority of situations do call for us to keep peace with others even when we must bite our tongue and overlook annoyances.  

If we will constantly strive to always put God first and others second (with ourselves last), I believe we could enjoy a life of peace that we have never known.  Certainly, our struggles would not end because this world is filled with pain.  Because sin exists, there will be heartache, sickness and grief.  But we can look forward to the Home of Eternal Peace – Heaven!  A place where God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit commune with us and we never feel sorrow or pain again.  A place where there will never be “violent conflict” but only peace, harmony and unity.

God wants us to have peace with Him and with one another, but we can only do this by living righteously.  We must become a Christian in the way that God requires and when we sin after we have become a Christian, we must repent and seek God’s (and those who we have hurt)’s forgiveness.  The Psalmist writes, “Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble” (Psalm 119:165.)  And Proverbs 3:1-2 states, “My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.”

Let us always keep in mind that God wants His children to be at peace.  Though we will be rocked to the core at times, our faith and hope in Him can keep us joyful and at peace deep within our souls.  We may bob like a cork in the ocean during troubling storms, but we have an Anchor that keeps us rooted.  He is Jesus Christ, our Solid Rock and Foundation.  God will keep those “in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on” Him.  Why?  “Because we trust in Him. (Isaiah 26:3.) 

On the other hand, “There is no peace, says the Lord, for the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22 and 57:21.)  This is important for us to remember if we find that we have no peace and that our lives are filled with turmoil and anxiety.  Perhaps we are suffering as righteous Job, who was being tempted by Satan through no fault of Job’s.  Or perhaps we have loosened our grip on the Savior and are attempting to handle everything ourselves.  It may even be that sin has crept into our lives and we have no sense of hope or peace but only fear of the Judgment (Hebrews 10:27.)

When we find ourselves being battered on all sides, it may be wise for us to take spiritual inventory to ensure that we are in a right relationship with God.  If we are not, we must get right with Him according to His Word.  If we are in a right relationship, then we must take our worries to the Lord in prayer.  Today’s passage is one of great hope: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7.)

I encourage you to tape this Scripture to your mirror and read it as you are getting ready for the day and brushing your teeth before bedtime.  Remember not to worry about anything, but give all of your concerns to God in prayer, thanking Him for His blessings and love.  Only by giving our troubles to the Lord can be feel the deep, unexplainable peace that can only come from Him.

I pray that the Scriptures shared today have helped give you peace.  May you have a wonderful day filled with peace from Christ!  “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26.)

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[1] http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db76.htm#fig4

LIVING BY THE SPIRIT VI: JOY

Today’s Passage: “And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” I John 1:4

Today’s lesson continues our study of the fruit of the Spirit. Previously, we studied what love is and what it is not. Today our lesson focuses on the precious fruit of “joy”.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes joy as “the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires.” As evidenced by this definition, the world’s view of joy is often linked to physical well-being, financial success or the amount of possessions one owns. While these things may create a temporary feeling of euphoria, they cannot sustain us for long. When a person’s sense of joy is determined by his possessions and wealth, he eventually wants more of both. He may spend his life chasing after material things only to find that he has been “grasping for the wind” as the sinner in Ecclesiastes 2:26: “For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.”

Because material possessions are not eternal, they are subject to disappearing. Property value may decrease or the stock market may crash. Thieves may steal our valuable belongings. Our home and possessions may literally go up in smoke. And our health may decline although we have taken great care to eat responsibly and exercise regularly.

If the Bible’s definition of joy is merely a happy feeling based on one’s lot in life or his possessions, we would find a contradiction in the following Scriptures: “Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” and “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Certainly someone who is poor in spirit or mourning is not feeling happy emotions, and yet the word “blessed” here is synonymous with “happy.” How can we be happy and joyful when we are in the midst of trials? And if joy is directly related to the number of things we have, are all who possess great fortunes happy? Conversely, is joy then unattainable to the poor? .

In order to determine God’s definition of joy, we must search the Scriptures. Jesus warned a man who wanted half of his brother’s inheritance to “take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15.) We see that Jesus’ perception of joy was not related to the amount of earthly possessions one owns.

In Matthew 6:19-20 we learn that we should build up treasures in a place where they will not be destroyed or stolen. We are to store up treasures in heaven and not on earth. By seeking the things of God first, we will receive the things that we need (Matthew 6:33.) While we may not get everything we want (which is likely not good for us anyway), we can be assured that God will take care of our daily needs.

Joy is something that must be continually developed through deep study of the Word of God and through prayer. When we truly love God, we will naturally love the things of God. We must take care that our joy is not a fleeting emotion based on circumstance but that it is built upon a deep, daily, permanent commitment to the Lord. In the parable of the sower, seed was spread along various types of ground. Some seed sprang up quickly as Christians often do when they are excited about the gospel (Matthew 13:20.) Yet if we are not deeply rooted in the Word, Jesus teaches that we will stumble when we face tribulation and persecution as evidenced by the seed sown on stony ground. We will lose our joy and become disheartened because of our trials if our joy is based merely on circumstance.

Spiritual joy is not a quick flash of emotion that just as quickly dissipates in the face of adversity. Instead, godly joy is that which is felt in our core and which sustains us no matter what we face. Paul and Silas modeled tremendous joy when they were beaten and imprisoned in Philippi. In Philippians 16:25, we read that they were praying and singing hymns to God at midnight while their feet were fastened in stocks in a prison cell. They were certainly not in a pleasant circumstance, yet what a beautiful example is portrayed of Christian joy. Paul described his overall outlook during persecutions in this manner: “I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation” (2 Corinthians 7:4.)

Peter and the apostles were arrested not once but twice for preaching about Christ. Yet they continued to spread the gospel “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41.) And Job, upon learning of the death of his children and his possessions and servants in one day, immediately fell down on the ground and worshipped God. Though Job faced the most difficult situation he had ever faced and was in deep mourning, he did not allow the circumstance to destroy His joy and hope in the Lord.

These examples and others from God’s Word teach us that true joy is not based on our physical possessions or our lot in life. We can be joyful no matter how poor or lonely or handicapped or persecuted we are. James wrote, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (James 1:2.) If we stop reading here, we may think this impossible; yet by reading further, we learn how we can be joyful: “…knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Our joy does not come from the emotions we feel during our trials but from the faith that God will help us through our trials and the hope that if we bear persecution for Christ, we will grow in patience and spiritual maturity.

It is good for us to remember that if our joy is based upon God’s promises and we are obedient to His commandments, no one can take away our joy. No matter what happens to our physical body, if our soul is right with God, we will receive the blessings that He has promised for His children. We can say as the Psalmist did: “Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” (Psalm 32:11.)

Dear sisters, if we can believe completely that God is in control of all things and that His promises are true, nothing we face can destroy our joy. We may not laugh all of the time, for there will be days in which we mourn the loss of a loved one or suffer from an illness. Yet we can still feel the joy of the Lord in our lives. Expecting to laugh all of the time is an unrealistic goal. Jesus cried when He saw the anguish of Lazarus’ sisters and friends (John 11:35) and He experienced great agony as He faced the tremendous trial of taking our sins upon Himself at Calvary (Luke 22:44.)

No, joy is not laughing and feeling giddy all of the time. If it were, we would not be encouraged to “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those that weep” (Romans 12:15.) As Christian women, we should care enough for others that we hurt when they are hurting. We must share not only in others’ joy but also in their heartaches.

In closing, let us consider what have we learned about the Bible’s definition of joy. Spiritual joy is the feeling of appreciation for Christ’s sacrifice and the comforting feeling that comes from God’s love for us. Spiritual joy is what keeps a Christian going when it seems that the world is crashing around him. The joy of the Lord makes us rise in the morning after a night of weeping (Psalm 30:5.) And Christian joy is what makes us shout, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalm 118:24.)

If your relationship with God is not what it should be because you have not become a Christian in the manner in which the Bible teaches, I beseech you to be saved and cast off the shackles of sin and the fear of Judgment. No matter how “good” a person is, it is not enough to be saved without obedience to God’s commandments. Jesus Christ said, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6.)

Or if you are an erring Christian who has not repented of the sin in your life, please come back to the Lord and His church. The Father is waiting for you to return, just as the father awaited the return of his lost son in Luke 15 and ran to embrace him when he saw him from a distance. As the woman who found her lost coin rejoiced, so also will our Lord rejoice when you are obedient to His Word. “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10.)

Dear sisters, may you all feel the joy that the Lord freely bestows on all His faithful children. Have a wonderful rest of the week!

LIVING BY THE SPIRIT V: LOVE IS…

Today’s Passage: “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans 13:10

Dear sisters, it has been quite a long time since our last Priceless Pearls devotional series on Living by the Spirit. You may wish to review the previous lessons by clicking on the links below.

Living by the Spirit I – Flesh vs. Spirit
Living by the Spirit II – Lusts of the Flesh
Living by the Spirit III - Fruit of the Spirit
Living by the Spirit IV - Love Is Not

In our last lesson, we studied what love is not. Today our lesson will focus on what love is.

There are many passages in the Bible regarding love and this short lesson will not begin to touch the hem of the garment, so to speak, of this wonderful topic. In the letter to the church in Rome, Paul wrote a beautiful description of love: “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:8-10.)

Let us look at some of the things that love is and does according to the Scriptures:

1. Love covers sins (Proverbs 10:12.) This means that love does not hold a grudge against past wrong that has been forgiven. God forgives us when we seek forgiveness according to His Word, and we must forgive others who seek forgiveness from us as well.

2. Love keeps secrets (Proverbs 17:9.) This passage is very clear: “He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends.” To love one another, we must not repeat secrets to others, for this is gossip. Instead, if we learn of something which troubles us about an individual, it is best to go to that person and ask privately. Perhaps we have misunderstood or have been told something that is untrue. Or, we may discover that the person who is the brunt of the gossip just needs some guidance and encouragement by someone more mature in the faith. We may be able to help a sister correct her sin without being subjected to public humiliation by gossip. No matter how we look at it, spreading hearsay is never the right answer.

3. Love is a debt we owe to others. We owe love as a debt to others because God has forgiven our debt through Christ. Romans 13:8 teaches us that we should owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. How does love fulfill the law? Jesus reveals that the greatest commandments are these: 1) Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind and 2) Love your neighbor as yourself.’ He goes on to say that “on these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40.) If we truly love God and others, we will seek to please them and not seek our own selfish gain. We will not lie to, commit adultery with, steal from or otherwise hurt others because we have love in our hearts for them. We will sacrifice for God and for our spouses, children and those in need. It is by loving others that we experience the greatest joy, for we realize that God has loved us first (I John 4:19) and sacrificed His own Son, Jesus Christ, that we might be eternally blessed (John 3:16.)

4. Love rejoices in the truth and bears, believes, hopes and endures all things (I Corinthians 13:6:7.) Love leads us to forebears others’ weaknesses while recognizing our own. Love believes and hopes and endures because God has promised us eternal life if we overcome (I John 2:25.)

5. Love is the greatest thing. I Corinthians 13:13 states, “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Why is love greater than faith and hope? Because faith and hope are temporary. We have faith in God’s promises and the hope of eternal life, but someday, our faith and hope will be sight! We will no longer need faith in the unseen or hope of the future because we will live in eternity with God. Faith and hope are necessary for our pilgrim journey, but in the land of endless day, we will have pure and perfect love.

6. Love serves others. Just as love is a debt to others, we are taught that because we are under the law of liberty, we are called to serve one another (Galatians 5:13-14.) Jesus demonstrated service to others through the tender act of washing His apostles’ dirty feet (John 13:13-15.) In this passage, He tells them that He has done this as an example of what they are to do to others. He did not literally mean that we must wash one another’s feet as we live in a different culture, but by performing this service to His apostles, He taught us that no matter how great our position is on earth, we as Christians are to be servants. We are to be humble and caring and tender and compassionate to others. We must not be afraid to roll up our shirtsleeves and get dirty or do something that seems “beneath us” when serving others. God values every person on the earth, and we should, also.

7. Love is imitating Christ. Ephesians 5:1-2 states that we are to be imitators of God and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us.” Jesus came to earth as a man not only to die for our sins but also to teach us of the Father. We see God the Father through God the Son of whose example and words of ministry we read in the Word of God (John 14:8-10.)

8. Love is deep and genuine (Ephesians 3:17.) Christ is to live in our hearts through faith and we are to be “rooted and grounded in love.” If Christ’s love is our foundation, we are firmly rooted indeed.

9. Love is always growing in knowledge and understanding. Love does not reach maximum potential maturity level while we live. No matter how much Bible study we have done or how many prayers we have offered in our lives, we can still continue to grow. In the letter to the church at Philippi, Paul writes, “For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment” (Philippians 1:8-11.) The Christians were told to continue growing their love in knowledge and discernment. We do this by meditating on God’s Word and continuing to pray for discernment and wisdom to understand and apply what we read in the Bible. We also grow in love by exercising it in works of service.

10. Love is being united. In Philippians 2:2, the church is urged to fulfill Paul’s joy “by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” Christ wants us to be united in love. We can only do this if our love is genuine and based on God’s Word. Our love cannot be based on how we feel but how God feels about the matter. United love does not mean that we overlook sin and accept everyone as they are in order to keep a sense of peace. This is not true peace, but is instead tolerance of sin. The church can only be united in love if we speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent where the Bible is silent. In other words, we must not add to God’s blessings and likewise, we must not take away from God’s warnings. We must be united in our desire to save the lost, “hating even the garment defiled by the flesh” (Jude 1:23.) We must encourage people to repent and be obedient to God’s Word as many in Corinth did (I Corinthians 6:9-11.)

11. Love is humble, compassionate and recognizes needs. One of my favorite passages is Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” We are to be aware of others’ needs and act quickly to assist. Sometimes we can get so caught up in our own lives that we fail to speak to those outside of our usual group. No one should ever feel isolated or alone in the Lord’s church! It is the duty of every Christian to seek out visitors, those who are sick or lonely. We might invite those who are not often invited out to eat instead of eating with our same favorite friends every week. Certainly, friends are wonderful and we should spend quality time with them, but how wonderful those who have few friends might feel if they were invited to eat out on occasion. Getting to know one another outside of worship services is very important to learn about each other on a personal level and to discover one another’s needs.

12. Love is perfect. “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection” (Colossians 3:14.) Perfection means completeness. We are not complete in our Christian walk without true, godly love. Love is that which should cover us like a garment wherever we go. We are to be filled with love so that it overflows in our hearts and is shared with everyone we meet. Love is not something we do occasionally; love must be who we are.

There are so many more qualities of love in the Scriptures but these are wonderful passages with which to begin. I pray that this study encourages each of us to research more of the love passages and meditate on them. I Thessalonians 5:8, II Timothy 1:7, Hebrews 10:24-25, II Peter 1:7, 1 John 2:10 and I John 3:16-18 are but a few more passages regarding love.

Having read all of these wonderful passages on love, it would be unjust not to mention a warning on love:

We cannot love God unless we obey Him. John 14:15, I John 5:2-3, II John 1:6 are three passages that clearly teach us this fact. We may be “good people” who care about others and do many good works, but if we have not obeyed God’s Word regarding how to be saved and how to live faithfully, then we do not love God. This is what His Word says. We cannot expect to love God on our own terms, but we must love Him by obeying His commandments. He is the great Creator, Sustainer and Savior and He does not accept it when we try to circumvent His laws by thinking that we can worship Him in our own way and contrary to His Word. Let us always read the Word and strive to ensure that our worship is acceptable to Him by the commandments and examples in the New Testament (the law of Christ.)

May each of us glean new treasures from God’s precious Word by daily study and meditation.

Above all, “let all that you do be done with love.” I Corinthians 16:14.

Calling on the Name of the Lord

Today’s Passage: “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” Acts 2:21

On the morn prior to September 11th, my thoughts turn to that fateful day ten years ago when we first learned of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, as well as the crash of UA Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. The reality of the situation was hard to grasp on that terrible morning. Employees were gathered around televisions in break rooms around the nation. People were glued to the TV sets in homes everywhere, horrified at the breaking news and wondering what could have caused so many planes to crash. As Americans, most of us felt relatively safe from wars and terrorism on U.S. soil. And yet, here we had sustained a devastating attack in our own homeland. How could this be?

I remember reading that hospital staff near the Trade Center was on high alert for the enormous amount of victims who would need assistance when the first tower was hit. They headed to the hospitals, ready for action. They waited apprehensively for the influx of hurting patients, imagining the hustle and bustle, the code reds, the life-threatening injuries, the emergency surgeries, the need for more hospital beds. All was ready, and they waited. News of the fall of the second tower came, and they felt the intense fear of the situation, willing themselves not to panic, and waited for an even greater number of trauma patients to arrive than they had anticipated. Still they waited. And they waited…

Then the real horror set in. Their imaginations had depicted the worst case scenario: the mass number of people in need of medical attention; but the reality was much worse. No one was coming. Very few had made it out of the towers alive. Their adrenaline had pumped, their minds were prepared for the task at hand, but all was silent. And this new nightmare was worse than anything they had expected. And so they slowly began to vacate the hospitals and return to their homes, heavyhearted, dejected and sorrowful.

When I think of this, I pause to consider how many people must have called out to the Lord on that day. How many prayers were lifted up for missing family members and friends? How many of us prayed desperately that people would be found alive in the rubble? And how many seats that Sunday were filled in churches across the country that had been empty the week before?

I have heard that natural disasters like hurricane Katrina and tragedies like the September 11th attacks tend to increase church attendance. Bible sales also tend to soar in the wake of great losses. These are certainly some of the positives – the good things – that can come from tragedy. Though we certainly would not choose for people to suffer in such a manner, and do not intend to make light of a tragedy, it is not disrespectful to the victims to realize that in addition to the great heartache and loss, there were some good things that arose from the rubble. Surely many souls were restored that had left their first love, Christ. (Revelation 2:4) After all, Romans 8:28 teaches us that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Though not everything that happens is good, we can be assured that if we are in a right relationship with God, good can come from even the greatest catastrophe.

In Joel 2:32, we learn that “it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the remnant whom the LORD calls.” This great day has come! Jesus came to this earth, lived a sinless life, carried our punishment upon himself and died on the cross. And He arose on the third day, destroying the power of sin over us and giving us the opportunity to call on His great name!

Peter quoted this passage in Joel during his sermon on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. He informs the audience by way of his inspired speech that the glorious day they had awaited had come. When the people realized that Jesus was the Messiah they had long awaited, and that they had crucified Him, they were greatly alarmed. Surely this was the greatest Tragedy of all time. They had killed the Son of God!

What were they to do in order to be forgiven? How could they be saved? As Peter had spoken, they were to call upon the Lord and be saved. But consider what Peter tells them they must do in order to be saved: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38.) How did these people call upon the Lord? We have the answer in Acts 2:41-42: “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” These people responded to the gospel by being baptized into Christ. Also note that after they called upon the Lord by obeying what they were told, they “continued steadfastly” in four things: God’s Word, fellowship with other Christians, the Lord’s Supper (communion) and prayer.

What was Jesus’ instruction to the apostles before He returned to heaven? Often called “the great commission,” it was the command to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16.) And in Matthew 28:19-20, it is recorded that He said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Many may call on the name of the Lord when hard times come but do they truly respond to the gospel call? Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21.) We see here that even by calling on the Lord, we are not saved if we do not obey His Word. The Bible is filled with examples of people who, though they considered themselves religious and in a right relationship with God, were condemned because they did not obey. From Cain, King Uzziah and Nadab & Abihu, who did not obey God’s directions for acceptable sacrifice and worship, to the people on Judgment Day who have not obeyed the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8), punishment came or will come as a result of failing to obey God’s commandments.

So a new question arises. Will merely believing and confessing Christ qualify as obedience? As always, let us see what God says in His Word with an open mind, willing to challenge our long-held beliefs and the things we have been told by men. In James 2:19, we learn that the demons believe and in fact, they fear the Lord. Yet this is not enough. James states that “faith without works is dead” in James 2:20.

Now, does this mean that we are to work our way into heaven, based on the merit of our good works? Certainly not. We can never earn heaven. If we feel that our good works deserve reward, we should carefully read Luke 17:10 in which Jesus warns that “when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ” No, dear sisters, all of the good we can do is merely our duty. For the fact is that we are all human beings, and all human beings sin. We all sin; therefore, we all “fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23.)

God offers the gift of salvation to all of us because we cannot be saved without His gift. Ephesians 2:8 teaches us that salvation is by God’s gift and not as a result of our own work. However, having said that, it is important to point out that works are necessary. Though works will not earn salvation apart from God’s gift of grace, there are certain works required in order to receive the gift. They are God’s stipulations, if you will, for accepting the gift of grace.

We know that we cannot enter into a personal relationship with God except through Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6.) And as we read before, He also said that only those who obey the Father’s will can enter into heaven (Matthew 7:21.) So, we see that obedience is necessary in order to be saved. Again, it is not because of what we have done for Christ, but as a response to what Christ has done for us.

Meditate on the words of Titus 3:4-7: “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” This sums it up so clearly. God offered us the gift through Jesus’s blood. Note that it was through the “washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”

Let us look further at the letter to the Roman church, in which they were reminded that “that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death.” You see, this is how we are washed. Not that the water physically cleanses us of our sins, for the water is not holy. It is our response in obedience to the gospel in the manner set forth in the Bible by which we come in contact with Jesus’ cleansing blood. Baptism is symbolic for the death (dying to the old man of sin), burial (being buried with Christ in baptism) and resurrection (arising from the water, reborn as a new creature) (Romans 6:3-7.)

In baptism, we put on Christ (Galatians 3:27.) We are born again by water and the Spirit (John 3:5), which should cause us to leave behind the old sins and live for Christ. This is a lifetime commitment, and not a whim. Our rebirth must never be based on an urgent fear but then forgotten in the expectation that once we have become a Christian, we can do whatever we want to do thereafter. It must be the beginning of a life dedicated to pleasing God in the manner in which HE wants, and not in the manner which we prefer.

So we return to our consideration of those who call upon the Lord during periods of great trial. Were many prayers offered up on that day ten years ago from some who had never voiced them before? I would venture to guess so. How many people called upon the Lord and yet so quickly fell away and returned to their former lives of sin? Have their wake-up calls turned to a distant memory, as if they had hit the snooze buttons of their consciences? Are their hearts no longer pricked and their fears all but forgotten?

Bringing it closer to home, what about me? First and foremost, have I been saved? Have I been washed in the blood of Christ so that my sins have been forgiven? And if so, is it fair to say that was I fired up for the Lord when I called upon Christ but now my fire has dwindled to a smolder? Did I obey the gospel with the intent on sharing the great news with everyone around me, but after time, allow the fervor to wane into apathy? Do emergencies, tragedies and trouble cause me to temporarily renew my faith but then fall again during times of peace?

I believe these are questions all of us should consider periodically, including and especially me. First, we must put on Christ, and then we must live Christ every day of our lives. Our lives should be such that whether tragedy strikes or not, our prayers and worship continue. And though we may have more fervent, intense prayers at times of great trial, as Jesus did in Gethsemane, the amount of prayers and personal Bible studies should not diminish when things are going along smoothly. In fact, it is at times like these that we must be aware of our attitude. We may grow so complacent that our defenses against the devil’s wiles weaken. Sometimes, when we feel that we are the strongest, we may become confident in our own abilities and lose sight of the fact that God is the reason for our peace. At times like this, we may find that we are most vulnerable to the lure of sin (I Corinthians 10:12.)

In closing, let us remember all of the people who lost their lives. Let us pray for their families and for those who witnessed the horrors of the devastation firsthand. Let us pray for the first responders and medical staff and everyone who helped get the survivors to safety. But let us also remember that there is an even greater tragedy awaiting us if we do not obey the Lord. On that day, there will be no time for reflection and for repentance. That day will come swiftly, like a thief in the night, and we will be lost forever if we are not found in Christ (2 Peter 3:10.) A thief leaves no signs that he is coming. Though we may hear others saying they can tell the end is near from the signs they see, we must remember that “no one knows” the hour or day that the Lord is returning (Matthew 24:36, Matthew 25:13, Mark 13:32.) We must always keep in mind Revelation 2:10 in which Christ said, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” If we do this, it won’t matter when He comes. We will be ready to say “Maranatha!” (Our Lord has come!)

God bless you all, dear sisters. My prayer is for each and every one of you and for your families, that on that great Day of the Lord, we will all be found faithful, in Christ and ready to meet Him in the air!

A New Beginning

Though it does not follow in the outline of the Fruit of the Spirit topic begun previously, today I’d like us to consider something that we all need in our lives.  A very similar devotional was shared with the ladies of a local women’s shelter recently and I hope that you also may benefit from this study.

There are two things that are true for each of us.  Every one of us was born.  And every one of us will die unless the Lord returns first.  But even then we will be transformed into a new heavenly body and will be dead to our old fleshly body.  If these two events are the only things we can be sure will happen in this life, and all that we can count on, then we are without hope and living a life that is shallow and without purpose.  But I submit to you that there is another event in our lives that all of us need (at least once in our lives) which will restore our hope and joy.  This vital event is a new beginning.

The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Not only that, but we deserve to die because we have broken God’s law.  In Romans 6:23, we learn that “the wages of sin is death.” 

Now, if God had left us in this predicament, we would have no hope.  All we have on this earth would be all we have forever.  We would die without Christ, lost, and enter into eternal suffering.  But Romans 6:23 doesn’t end with “the wages of sin is death”.  It goes on to say “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Isn’t that an encouraging promise?  We deserved death because of our sin.  But instead, we were given a gift that we do not deserve: eternal life in Christ. 

Knowing that we can have this precious gift should give us hope.  It should give us comfort from our trials and hardships.  And it should also create in us the desire to know what we can do to receive this gift.

Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3 that “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”   This tells us that in order to be saved, we must be born again.  This is our new beginning!  If we are born of water and the Spirit (which we encounter in baptism), then we die to the old man and are raised with Christ.

Paul, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, puts it this way in Romans 6:3-5: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.”  Our new beginning starts with baptism, when we submit to God’s commands and are buried with Christ.  Then, we are resurrected a new person with a new beginning, a brand new slate!

When we are raised with Christ, I Corinthians 5:17 tells us that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”  We don’t have to be eternally remembered for the evil things we have done prior to becoming a Christian.  We are forgiven and we can begin anew!

Once we begin this new life, we can say with confidence as Paul did in Galatians 2:20:  “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives 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. “

The beauty of God’s gift is that our past is not held against us.  How many people in this world will keep on giving us another chance if we have failed often before?  Not many.  After a limited number of times of making mistakes and repenting, we may find our spouse or friend unable to trust us.  But God knows our hearts and true motives, and when we become a Christian – or after we are a Christian and fall, if we truly repent of our sins, turn away from them and ask for forgiveness – then we are forgiven!  There is NOTHING we can do that is so evil that we cannot be forgiven by God IF we follow the steps to be forgiven which He has set out in His Word.   In  I Corinthians 6:9-11 we read: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”

Now, this seems like a pretty rough crowd, does it not?  Would we want to hang out with this bunch?  Yet if we read on, we learn:

“And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”  These people had done some pretty awful things but God had forgiven them because they had obeyed His commandments to be justified from their sins.  Even the people who responded to the gospel in Acts 2 were forgiven.  These were the same people who had been present at His death, crying out “CRUCIFY HIM!”  and saying, “LET HIS BLOOD BE ON US AND ON OUR CHILDREN.” 

Do not ever think that God cannot forgive you for what you have done.  He loves you so much that He sent Jesus to die for the very sins for which you feel guilt.  He loves you.  He wants you to be saved.   He does not want anyone, including you, to die in your sins.  (See 2 Peter 3:9.)  Never think that you cannot overcome sin in your life.  On your own, you can’t, but “with God, all things are possible” Matthew 19:26.   Even the vilest of sinners have turned away from their sins with the Lord’s help.  Drug addicts, adulterers, murderers and child abusers have changed their ways when they turn to God for help.  It is not easy, and may take a lifetime of fighting dark impulses, but it is indeed possible to turn away from the sin and live a new life.

Sometimes, we need a new beginning more than once.  Maybe we became a Christian once but we later fell away into sin.  We need to repent of these sins, and ask for forgiveness.  We need to change our lives and live like the child of God we should be.  I John 1:9 says that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 

We are not promised another year, another day, another second.  But as long as we are breathing we have been given the opportunity to change our lives, to begin again.  Always keep in mind how much God loves you and is willing to forgive if you will only obey.  We must always strive to live our lives in such a way that when Jesus returns, we will be found faithful.

Praise the Lord that there are wonderful services such as homeless shelters, food kitchens and other support services.  If you are in need, there are many avenues for help.  If you are blessed by God with a good job, there are plenty of people who are in desperate need of shelter, food and clothing so that they can make a new start.  If you are facing spiritual problems such as a lack of faith or the failure to study God’s Word, pray and serve Him in obedience, many in the church are willing to help.  All of us face times when our faith is tested, and much can be learned from others’ experiences.  Whatever the reason for your new start, the opportunity has been given to you to use for good. 

In my own life, I have faced cancer and a transplant that brought me to the brink of death.  This was my wake-up call for a new beginning – a life of greater faith and service to God.  Our experiences are different because everyone’s journey is different.  But Jesus died for every one of us so that we can know a new and better life.  And He wants all of us to know the peace that comes from a life lived in service to Him.

Let us live in such a way that we can say at the end of our lives, “the end of a thing is better than its beginning” as in Ecclesiastes 7:8.  May the end of our lives, whether fifty years from now or within the next minute, be the best times because we are found faithful to our Lord and are eagerly awaiting His return to call us home.  For who can deny that the most beautiful words ever spoken to us will be, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’?”…  “And the righteous will enter into eternal life.” Matthew 25:34-36, 46.

How can we be born again?  How do we start our new beginning?  God has given us the answer in His Word.   We must know and obey the following:

1. Salvation is a gift of God. I cannot on my own attain it. Without grace, I would die in my sins. 
   “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
   
   “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Rom 6:23
    
2. Although salvation is a gift, I must obey God’s requirements in order to accept this gift of grace.
   
   “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matt 7:21 
    
   “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” John 15:10      
        
3. I must hear the Word (read the Bible, study, meditate) and believe that the Bible in its entirety is God's Word.
   
   “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
   
   “… you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” II Timothy 3:15
    
   "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." II Timothy 3:16
    
   "And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:19-21
    
4. I must have faith that God exists and will reward those who obey Him.
    
   “But 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.” Hebrews 11:6
     
5. I must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 
     
   “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” John 20:31
     
   “Then Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’” Acts 8:37
     
6. I must repent of (turn away from) my sins. If I am living contrary to God’s Word, I must stop the sins I am committing. (Repentance is a change of heart that leads to a change of behavior.)
     
   "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." --Luke 13:3
     
   “Then Peter said to them, “Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord will call.” Acts 2:38-39
       
7. I must confess publicly that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
     
   "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven, but whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven." Matt 10:32,33.
     
8. I must be baptized for the remission of my sins as part of the requirement to be saved.
   “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:16
     
   “Then Peter said to them, “Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord will call.” Acts 2:38-39
     
   “…when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype (a like figure) which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” I Peter 3:20-21
     
9. I must live a faithful life or else I will lose the gift of salvation.  Obedience is commanded until our lives end.
     
   “And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” I John 2:17
     
   “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matt 7:21
   Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10
     

If you find that your faith is lacking, your fervor to do the work of the Lord is waning, or you have allowed sin in your life to crowd out your spiritual walk with God, may this study of God’s Word encourage you to make a brand new start this very day.  We should all examine our lives often (2 Corinthians 13:5) to ensure that we are in the faith.

May the Lord richly bless you this day.

Living by the Spirit IV: Love is not...

Today’s Passage: “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails...” I Corinthians 13:4-8a

The first fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22 is love. Certainly, much can be written about love and we will not be able to exhaust the subject in these next two devotionals. The love that comes from God is sacrificial love and is greater than our human minds can fathom. True love means loving those who don’t deserve it. After all, we did not deserve to be saved, yet God through His wonderful gift of grace chose to offer salvation to us. This is not something God had to do, but it is something He chose to do because He loves us. While people were hurting His Son, God was working to provide salvation to all of us through Jesus’ sacrifice (John 3:16). Praise the Lord that we serve such a loving God and that He has revealed to us in His Word how we should love one another.

This study, we will look at what love is not. Then, Lord willing, we will study what love is in our next devotional.

1. Love is not loving only the lovable.

In Jesus’ day, there were many misunderstandings about love. Jesus contrasts the thoughts of the day with His higher form of love. In Matthew 5:38-39, Jesus said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” Here we learn that love is not taking revenge but it is showing meekness (power under control). Jesus was the greatest example of this characteristic in that He could have instantly punished those who spit on Him, mocked Him, beat Him and slapped Him. Yet He did not because He knew His mission. His love for mankind was strong enough for Him to overcome the temptation to punish His abusers.

Continuing on in Matthew 5:40-42, Jesus taught, “If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.” Again, we learn that love is being selfless and humble enough to “lose face” in order to show Christ’s love to those who hate us. Nothing on this earth is more important than Jesus’ love. A replacement cloak can be bought and going further than we are commanded to go in order to help another will surely not kill us. Certainly, wisdom must be combined with these teachings if the person asking for money is addicted to alcohol or other drugs, or if the person asking for our butcher knife is known to be violent. But in the majority of situations, if someone needs our help, we should be willing to help with loving kindness, showing no partiality.

Jesus further teaches in Matthew 5:43-44, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” These teachings are not easy, but Jesus Christ showed us how we are to live these teachings. Christ did not just tell us what to do, but He obeyed the same teachings. How much love would it take to ask God to forgive those who are crucifying you? Certainly, Jesus loved His neighbor and His enemies. We must learn to love those who are hard to love and even those who mean us harm. When we can think of someone who has harmed us, and the first thought that comes to mind is no longer the harm they did, we are well on our way to loving our enemies. This may take much prayer and dedication to learn to replace our negative thoughts of a person with concern for their souls, while petitioning to God in our prayers that he or she will repent and be forgiven.

2. Love is not hypocritical or fake or showing partiality.

We learn in Romans 12:9 that our love must be free of hypocrisy. James 2:8-9 teaches, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” We should not show favoritism or seek personal favors by pretending to love someone. Also, we must not withhold love from those who are not of the same status.  If we say that we love someone but then have negative thoughts about them and do not wish that person well, are we being genuine? Love is not merely an emotion; it is a sacrifice for others because we treasure them above ourselves (Philippians 2:3). We are also taught in this verse to hate what is evil and cleave to what is good. We must learn to love the person and hate the sin. This requires us to want to help the sinner to be saved by showing kindness and love while teaching God’s Word.

3. Love is not envious, for display, arrogant, rude, self-seeking, easily provoked, thinking evil thoughts, the enjoyment of sin or something we do for a short time only.

According to I Corinthians 13:4-6, 8: “love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity…Love never fails.” This passage is a great study of what love is and what it is not. We could spend many hours discussing each of these points!

4. Love is not something we do out of fear of punishment.

We are taught in II Timothy 1:7 that our primary motivation to do good should not be one of fear but one of genuine love. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Though we should have a fear of punishment if we fail to repent of our sins, we should not have such an unhealthy image of God that we picture Him as an unloving and uncaring dictator. He is our loving Father who longs to hold us and protect us (Matthew 23:37) and will wipe our tears away in Heaven (Revelation 7:17; 21:4).  If we do good to others simply to escape damnation, then we have missed the entire teachings of Jesus and the love of God shown to us throughout His plan of salvation.

5. Love is not part of us if we hate a brother or sister in Christ.

John, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, had much to write regarding love. In I John 3:10, we learn that we are of the devil and not God if we do not practice righteousness or if we do not love our brother (or sister) in Christ. Additionally, if we say that we love God but then hate our brother, we are a liar, according to I John 4:20. In order to love God, we must love our fellow Christians, for we are all God’s children and heirs of His promise.

6. Love is not withholding good from others.

If we have the ability to care for others and do not do so, then we do not have love. In James 4:14-17, we learn that if we pray for a brother or sister who needs clothes or food but do not help them when we have the capacity to do so, it profits neither them nor us anything. Also, we read that “whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” I John 3:17-18

7. Love is not overlooking sin in order to maintain peace.

We must not love the world or the sin therein. I John 2:15 teaches us: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Not only must we avoid participating in sin, we must also ensure that we do not seem to approve of it by ignoring it. Ephesians 5:3-7 lists many sins that “must not even be named” among us, but we are also warned that we must not be partakers with them. If we go to a party where others drink and dance, even if we avoid alcohol and dance with no one, what message must it send when we laugh and have fun with those who do? How can we hate sin and yet enjoy ourselves among those who are involved in it?

Romans 1:28-32 is a soul-searching passage. We may say that they do not gossip, are not proud, are not disobedient to parents, violent, unloving and so forth, but do we overlook these sins in our friends? After a list of sins that come from a debased mind, the judgment is passed that “those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” Are we guilty of supporting those whose lives are full of sin? We should be careful to look at our own lives and determine if we allow the sin of the world to lull us into a sense of complacency and tolerance.

There are many more things that love is not, but I pray this suffices for us to begin thinking about our own love. Do we have any of these negative characteristics? If so, my prayer is that we recognize their dangers, repent of these sins and ask the Lord and those we have harmed to forgive us.

In our next devotional, if the Lord wills, we will study what love is.

May the Lord richly bless you and me as we seek to live more loving lives and to shine Christ’s light throughout this dark world.

He Who is In You - Shelter Devotional 1/16/11

Dear ladies,

Though I know that we are in the middle of a study on the Fruit of the Spirit, I thought you may benefit from reading a devotional I wrote to present to a local women's shelter tomorrow morning.  I find the passages of Scripture helpful and pray that you will, too.  Though it is titled the same as one of our own Priceless Pearls devotionals, the Scripture references and devotional differ.  At any rate, it is on my heart to share it so I am doing so now.  I do plan to finish the Fruit of the Spirit study soon.  May the Lord bless you all!  Amy

Monthly Matt's House Women's Shelter Devotional

He Who is in You…


Verse for this Month: “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” I John 4:4

This passage gives me much hope. It tells us that no matter how rough things get, God is stronger than our burdens. No matter how sad we are, God’s love is great enough to give us hope. And no matter how much people ridicule us, Jesus was treated even worse and He has compassion and love for us. We read in Hebrews 4:14-16: “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” This passage teaches us that Jesus experienced many hardships while on the earth. Because of this, He has great empathy for us. If we will trust and obey our Lord, He will take care of us and help us through our troubles.

God never promised us that we would not have troubles here on earth. In fact, Jesus warned that people had persecuted the prophets before Him, they would crucify Him, and they would surely persecute those who follow Him. If we take up our cross and follow Jesus, as we are told to do in Matthew 16:24, then we can expect to be persecuted by those who rebel against God. This may sound depressing and hopeless. Why fight for the Lord if we know that we will be persecuted?

Let us read Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:10-12: “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

The reason that we face adversity and trials in life for Jesus’ sake is because He died to save us from our sins. If we obey Him, and are willing to stand up for Him, then we know that we will be rewarded by living together in peace and happiness with our Lord in heaven!

Sometimes we may start to lose faith and our present troubles weigh us down. We begin to lose sight of God’s precious promises. Paul faced many great trials during His ministry for Christ. He lists some of the things that he faced in 2 Corinthians 11:25: He labored abundantly; he received stripes above measure, was in prison frequently and faced death often. He writes, “From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.” Surely Paul faced great troubles and distress! Why would he do these things knowing that his life on earth would be full of troubles? Paul had already written the answer to the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 4:14-18: “knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

So we see that the things we do for God are remembered by Him and will be rewarded in heaven. The glory of heaven is worth anything we can face on the earth. Paul also wrote another reason for us to face the struggles of this world for the sake of the Lord in Romans 8:16-18: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” We are told here that even the biggest problems we face on earth are nothing compared to the wonderful beauty and glory of heaven! Everything will pale in comparison once we see God in His full glory, and we will be in our own glorious body so that we can live forever there with our God.

People of God have always faced trials and distress. Hebrews 11 is considered to be the Faith chapter of the Bible. In it are listed various men and women of God who were faithful. In Hebrews 11:35-40 we read of the terrible things that some of the Old Testament people faced: some “were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise.” These people were persecuted in horrible ways, even though they had not received the promise yet. Christ was the promised Savior, and He had not come to earth yet. But the people clung to the hope and faith in God that He would save them. Now, we live on the other side of Christ’s earthly ministry and His death, burial and resurrection. We can read in the Bible how everything that was prophesied about Him in the Old Testament was fulfilled by Him in the New Testament. Surely, we should have much faith since we know that Christ has come to save us of our sins and that He will indeed come again.

Yet not everyone will enjoy the great promises of God. Some will not obey God’s Word while others will fall away, unwilling to endure the trials that come with serving God. Jesus said in John 8:31-32: “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” God promises a rest for the weary, but only if we obey Him and remain faithful. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 7:21 that “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven”. And Hebrews 5:9 teaches us that Jesus learned obedience to God by the things He suffered, and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.

How do we know what things we must obey? God revealed His Word by inspiration of the Holy Spirit to several men who wrote the various books of the Bible. These words are the living Word of God – they are not man’s thoughts but God’s thoughts. We can only know what we must do in order to please God by reading His Word and obeying it. Just as we would need to read an instruction manual to know how to put together a cabinet that we receive in pieces, we must read the Instruction Manual of Life, which is the Holy Bible, to know how to live and how to die in the Lord.

We read in the Bible that in order to become a Christian, we must obey the following commands.

* Acts 3:19-20 tells us to confess our sins in repentance: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you – even Jesus.” Here we see that our sins are forgiven if we first repent.

* Next, we must confess our faith in Jesus verbally. Matthew 10:32 says “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge Him before my Father in heaven.” We cannot expect Christ to mediate between God and us if we won’t tell others about Him (“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” - I Timothy 4:5).

* In addition, we must confess our belief in His death, burial & resurrection through baptism for salvation. Rom 6:3-4 states, “Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” We learn in I Peter 3:21 that “…this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ…”

* Furthermore, we must confess Him in daily discipleship. Luke 14:27 states “Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Carrying our cross means to bear the hardship of being Christ’s follower, accept the persecution that we will surely endure and follow Him no matter what the cost. Jesus Himself said he had no where to lay his head – His pillow was a stone. But look at the glory He enjoys now, with God in Heaven. And we can have this joy, too!

* We must also confess Him in fellowship with other believers. Acts 2:42 says “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” The Christians enjoyed fellowship with each other – and we can too. By worshipping with other Christians, we can share in the joy of salvation with others. Hebrews 10:24-25 commands us to “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…” We can see how important it is for Christians to meet together to worship God, partake of the Lord’s Supper and encourage one another.

* We must live faithful lives, serving God and our fellow man. 2 Corinthians 13:5 states, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.” We must continually examine our lives and our actions to ensure that we are living as God wants us to live. And in I Timothy 2:1-3, we learn that we should offer “requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving… for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior…” God wants us to love Him and to love one another, but we cannot do that if we don’t obey Him. Furthermore, God wants us to share His Word with others around us. In I Thessalonians 5:14, we read “and we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” We must help each other to be strong and live faithful lives.”

If we become Christians and live faithfully, there are many promises God has made to us. In I Corinthians 10:13, we are told that God helps us to overcome temptations: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”


We are not left alone to fight. In fact, Christ has already won the battle over sin and death. We just have to remain on His side. One of the most inspirational passages in the Bible teaches us that heaven will be worth it all. "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” - Revelation 21:3-4. Heaven will surely be worth all of our trials and sorrows.

Written: January 15, 2011
For Matt’s House Shelter devotional – January 16, 2011

Contact information:
North Brandon church of Christ
1029 Hwy 471
Brandon, MS 39042
(601) 825-6497
http://www.northbrandonchurchofchrist.org/