Love according to the apostle Paul

Love according to the apostle Paul

The apostle Paul wrote,

"Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: 

faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love."  

                                      1 Corinthians 13:1-8a,13.

For me what the apostle Paul wrote here is strait forward. It defines Christian love. This how a Christian is suppose to Love. As God loved us, unconditionally.

Are you loving this way?

Please think about it.

God and your neighbour

 God and your neighbour

Jesus when asked,

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 

Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 

This is the first and greatest commandment. 

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.'  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.

Jesus couldn’t have been more to the point. Loving God with all your heart and soul and mind. Is the greatest commandment. We should be loving God so much that we are willing to go to the grave for Him.

The second greatest commandment as Jesus points out is love your neighbour as yourself.

Thus the question arrises.

Do you truly Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and do you truly love your neighbour as yourself?

Please think about it.

How to know children of God

  How to know Children of God

The Apostle John writes,

“This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” 1John 3:10.

Here is a simple test to see who is a Christian. John states, “Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.”

Do you know anyone who claims to be a believer in Christ Jesus and does not do what is right? 

Do any of the pastors, evangelist, politicians that you support fail to do right?

As believers in Christ Jesus. As Christs representatives on this earth we have a moral duty to do right at all times. As well as loving our neighbour the way God does, unconditionally.

Do you and those you support do this?

Please think about it.

If You

  If you

Jesus said,

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  

When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46

If you found something of great importance to mankind. Something that would change lives. Would you not want to share it?

That is what we as Christians, as true followers in Christ Jesus believe we have. We believe: 

Jesus is the Son of God

The Saviour of all who believe in Him.

We believe He gave his life for the sins we committed.

The Apostle Paul states,

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8

As believers in Christ Jesus we believe you cannot be good enough to stand before a Holy God. The simple fact being we are far from perfect and sin. Sin meaning falling short of Gods ideal for our life.

Thus Jesus speaking of Himself said,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16,17.

All it takes on our part is to believe Jesus paid the price for our sins. Then confess those sins to Jesus.

The apostle John stating,

 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  

If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." 1John 1:9-10.

It all comes down to what the Apostle Paul wrote,

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."  

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-13.

Please think about it.

Who's your friend, Who's your master?

  Who’s your friend, Who’s your master?

In the book of James we read,

"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." James 4:4.

As believers in Christ Jesus we have two choices. We can follow Jesus putting our faith completely in God. Or we can chose to turn from God and follow the world. We can’t have both at the same time.

Jesus said,

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also....

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money” Matthew 16:19-21,24.

My point here is we must put our faith in God ahead of the things in this world. That’s not to say we should retreat into our church buildings or have only Christian friends. The apostle Paul points out,

"I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters.”1 Corinthians 5:9-10.

Even Jesus sat with sinners in the gospel of Mark we read,

“When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners'?" 

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:16,17.

If we truly believe in Christ Jesus. We will put our faith completely in God letting God direct our paths. Letting God open doors for us to work for Him.

So who’s your friend?

Who’s your Master?

Please think about it.

To all who receive Him

To all who receive Him

In the book of James we read,

"Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."  

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:13,14.

We don’t know what will happen to us tomorrow or for that matter in the next moments of our life. Whether we will live or die. But we can know were we will spend eternity.

In the book of Romans the Apostle Paul writes,

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8.

The apostle John writes,

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." John 1:12,13.

Do you truly believe in The Lord Jesus Christ?

Do you know where you will spend eternity?

Please think about it. 

Asking God

  Asking God

In the book of James we read,

"When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." James 4:3.

I’ve met many who claim to be Christians who ask God for everything and anything they can think about. They ask God for a big house, fancy car, money. The list goes on and on.

There are even evangelist, Pastors, and others claiming to be Christians who say give to God (quite often meaning their ministry) and He will give you much more than you ever give to Him. 

Sadly many are mislead to give more than they can afford. Resulting in financial hardship for the giver.

The apostle Paul states, 

“And my God shall supply all your need 

according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”

                                                             Philippians:4:19

The key words here being “...your needs”.

You may want a huge multimillion dollar home with a Rolls Royce in the driveway and a huge bank account. But do you really need it?

Take a look at what James writes again,

"When you ask, you do not receive, 

because you ask with wrong motives, 

that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." James 4:3

When you ask God for something is it what you need?

Please think about it.

Quick to listen Slow to anger

  Quick to listen Slow to anger

In the book of James we read,

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” James 1:19,20.

Life can get “messy” at times. Quite often we find ourselves frustrated at someone or something. It’s easy to lash out in anger at someone who criticizes us or when things don’t go our way. But as James writes “...man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life God desires”.

If you claim to be a Christian a follower of Christ Jesus, whether you like it or not people around you are watching you. Thus the need for those who believe in Christ to again as James states, “be slow to speak and slow to become angry”. Which for many of us can be hard.

Thus the need for us to get in the habit of praying. The apostle Paul reminding us to,

"Pray continually" 

                                          1Thessalonians 5:17.

I believe we should commit everything to prayer everything from the most mundane things in life to the most traumatic.

I believe that when we get into the habit of praying and asking for Gods wisdom and direction before we take action and listen for His guidance, we will be slow to anger. That anger inside us will turn into love and produce the righteous life God desires.

Are you slow to anger?

Before you act especially in anger, do you pray and take the situation you are in to God?

Please think about it.

Seeking Good

  Seeking Good

“Seek good, not evil, that you may live.”

                                                         Amos 5:14

In the book of Amos God sends Amos to tell Judah that they were being Judged for their idolatry. Their covenantal unfaithfulness. Lack of social economic justice. Perversion of the law and sexual immorality. Along with oppression of the poor.

The simple message God gave to Amos back then is still relevant today. Our society and indeed many calling themselves Christians are committing the same sins Judah was back then.

Anyone claiming to be a true follower of Christ Jesus need to examine their life. They need to be asking themselves “Am I standing up for social and economic justice?” 

They need to ask themselves am I perverting the law and committing sexual immorality?

Am I oppressing the poor?

Not only should they be asking themselves these questions, but they need to ask themselves are the people I support be it pastors, evangelist, priests, or politicians doing things that God does not approve of?

Thus my question to you, Are you seeking good and not evil?

Please think about it. 

Do you take time?

  Do you take time?

The apostle Paul wrote,

“With one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:6.

Do you glorify God in word and deed?

Francis of Assisi wrote,

"The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon

 some persons will hear today" 

                                               Francis of Assisi.

When people look at your life do they see you honouring God without you saying a thing?

Do you take time each day to pray and praise God rather than always asking Him for something?

Does the Church you attend and the Christian friends you have join together and praise God?

Can you take a few minutes right now to say with the Psalmist,

“Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD.” 

                                      Psalm 150

Please think 

Do you confess your sins to God?

  Do you confess your sins?

The Psalmist writes,

“I acknowledged my sin to you.”

                                                  Psalm 32:5

So my question to you dear reader is do you acknowledge your sins to God? When you realize you have fallen short of what God wants for your life, do you confess your sin to God?

The apostle John writes,

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  

If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." 1John 1:9-10.

The apostle Paul reminds us that Jesus took our sins upon Him. Paul states,

"For our sake he (Jesus) made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:20.

The apostle Paul writing to the Romans states,

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  Romans 3:23,24.

Redemption for our sins happens when we confess our sins to God and accept the saving grace that comes through Chris Jesus.

So, do you confess your sins to God?

Please think about it.

Are you bringing hope?

  Are you bringing hope?

The Prophet Isaiah wrote,

"You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!" Isaiah 40:9.

The prophet Isaiah was speaking to the people of God during the time of their exile. During uncertain times. His call was a call of encouragement.

Today we live in uncertain times. Wars, political crisis, terrorism, even global warming just to mention a few.

That being said we as believers in Christ Jesus have good news for the world. The salvation that comes through Christ Jesus.

The apostle Paul wrote,

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life."1Timothy 1:15,16.

If you claim to be a true follower in Christ Jesus, are you telling the world about the hope that can only come through Christ Jesus?

Please think about it.