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"4Children,
you belong to God, and you have defeated these enemies. God's
Spirit is in you and is more powerful than the one that is in the
world. 5These enemies belong to this world, and the
world listens to them, because they speak its language. 6We
belong to God, and everyone who knows God will listen
to us. But the people who don't know God won't
listen to us. That is how we can tell the Spirit that speaks
the truth from the one that tells lies. 7My dear
friends, we must love each other. Love comes from God, and
when we love each other, it shows that we have been given new
life. We are now God's children, and we know him. 8God
is love, and anyone who doesn't love others has never known
him. 9God showed his love for us when he sent his only
Son into the world to give us life. 10Real love isn't
our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the
sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven. 11Dear
friends, since God loved us this much, we must love each other.
12No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other,
God lives in us, and His love is truly in our hearts."
(1 John 4:4-12 CEV).
"The
person who does not love does not know God, because
God is love." (1 John 4:8 ISV).
"For
this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that
we should love one another." (1 John 3:11).
[The
question arises, "How can we express or show love?" The
answer may have been written in part by Gary Chapman's book The
5 Love Languages The Secret to Love That Lasts. He identifies
five languages that may be used to express love in a
relationship. They are as follows: 1. Words of Affirmation, 2.
Quality Time, 3. Gifts, 4. Acts of Service, and 5. Physical
Touch.]
[Just
how can we love God?] "For this is the love of
God, that we keep His commandments; and His
commandments are not burdensome." (1 John 5:3).
[Should
we love others, even our enemies?] Mark12:30-31 "Love
the Lord your God" and "love your neighbor as
yourself" and Luke 6:35 "Love your enemies,
do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get
anything back."
[Love
is the greatest gift God can give to us and He expects us to
return it to Him but also He wants us to use wisdom to pay if
forward to others, including our enemies.]
[1.
Words of Affirmation: It is appropriate that we praise God.]
"37When Jesus was starting down the Mount of
Olives, his large crowd of disciples were happy and praised
God because of all the miracles they had seen. 38They
shouted, 'Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven and glory to God.' 39Some Pharisees in
the crowd said to Jesus, 'Teacher, make your disciples stop
shouting!' 40But Jesus answered, 'If
they keep quiet, these stones will start shouting.' "
(Luke 19:37-40 CEV). And again the
scriptures say, "Praise the Lord, all you
Gentiles. All you nations, come and worship him."
(Romans 15:11 CEV). [Salvation is
offered to all peoples!]
"Oh!
Praise the LORD, all you nations: praise Him, all you
people. For His merciful kindness is great toward us: and the
truth of the LORD endures forever. Praise you the LORD."
(Psalms 117:1-2 KJVR).
[2.
Quality Time: Are we willing to give God Honor on His Holy
Sabbath Day?] (Exodus 20:8-12 KJVR).
"8Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9Six
days shall you labor, and do all your work: 10But the
seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God: in it you shall
not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your
manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your
stranger that is within your gates: 11For in six days
the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is,
and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the
Sabbath day, and hallowed it. 12Honor your
father and your mother: that your days may be long upon the land
which the LORD your God gives you." [The
creation Sabbath day has been sanctified for all humanity!]
[God
is our Father:] "3Grace to you, and peace,
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4I
thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,
5Hearing of your love and faith, which you have toward
the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints" (Philemon
1:3-5 KJVR). [God Almighty is our
only Holy Father and is currently in heaven.]
"19As
many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and
repent. 20Behold, I
stand at the door, and knock: if
any man hears My voice, and opens the door, I will come in to
him, and will sup with him, and
he with Me. 21To him that
overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in my throne, even as I
also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne.
22He that has an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit says unto the churches."
(Revelation 3:19-22 KJVR).
[3.
Gifts: What kinds of gifts may God expect?] "9Honor
the LORD with your substance, and with the firstfruits of all
your increase: 10So shall your barns be filled with
plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine."
(Proverbs 3:9-10 KJVR). [And]
"6But this I say, He which sows sparingly
shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall
reap also bountifully. 7Every man according as he
purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of
necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver." (2
Corinthians 9:6-7 KJVR). [Also]
"But if any provide not for his own, and specially
for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse
than an infidel." (1 Timothy 5:8
KJVR).
"But
be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your
own selves." (James 1:22 KJVR). [And]
"He that says, I know Him, and keeps
not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is
not in him." (1 John 2:4 KJVR).
[Also]
"34A
new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another;
as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35By
this shall all men know
that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another."
(John 13:34-35 KJVR). [Any person
who teaches Sunday worship is a liar!]
"31But
rather seek you the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be
added unto you. 32Fear
not, little flock; for it is your
Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33Sell that you have, and give
alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in
the heavens that fails not, where no thief approaches, neither
moth corrupts. 34For
where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
(Luke 12:31-34 KJVR).
[Each
person should be setting a portion of their monthly income aside
and not spending it; if indeed they plan to worship God at the
annual Feast of Tabernacles each Autumn.] "Therefore
let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with
the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened
bread of sincerity and truth." (1
Corinthians 5:8 KJVR).
"7But
it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day,
nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it
shall be light. 8And it shall be in that day, that
living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward
the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer
and in winter shall it be. 9And the LORD shall be
king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD,
and His name one." (Zechariah 14:7-9
KJVR). [When God brings heaven to
earth, there will be light and no darkness.]
"Blessed
are the
meek: for they shall
inherit the earth."
(Matthew 5:5 KJVR).
"16And
it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the
nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year
to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the
feast of tabernacles. 17And it shall be, that who
so will not come up of all the families of the earth unto
Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them
shall be no rain." (Zechariah 14:16-17
KJVR).
[4.
Acts of Service:] "14What does it profit,
my brethren, though a man say he has faith, and has not works?
can faith save him? 15If a brother or sister be naked,
and destitute of daily food, 16And one of you say unto
them, Depart in peace, be you warmed and filled; notwithstanding
you give them not those things which are needful to the body;
what does it profit? 17Even so faith, if it has not
works, is dead, being alone." (James
2:14-17 KJVR).
"12Take
heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13But
exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest
any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14For
we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our
confidence steadfast unto the end; 15While it
is said, To day if you will hear His voice, harden not your
hearts, as in the provocation."
(Hebrews 3:12-15 KJVR). [Encourage
others to read, believe, and act upon scripture.]
"1I
beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto
God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not
conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing
of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans
12:1-2 KJVR). [Living saints alter
their life goals to please God.]
[No
'jihad'
here!] "18If it be possible, as much as
you are able, live peaceably with all men. 19Dearly
beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto
wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay,
says the Lord. 20Therefore if your enemy is
hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink: for in so
doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head. 21Be
not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."
(Romans 12:18-21 KJVR). ["Payback"
is a wrong human action. "Vengeance" belongs to the
Lord!]
"Take
heed that you despise not one of these little ones; for I say
unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face
of My Father which is in heaven." (Matthew
18:10 KJVR). [Yes! All people have
guardian angles who report to God.]
[5.
Physical Touch:] (Hebrews 12:5-8
KJVR). "5And you have forgotten the
exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children, My son,
despise not you the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou
art rebuked of Him: 6For whom the Lord loves He
chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. 7If
you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for
what son is he whom the father chastens not? 8But
if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers,
then are you bastards, and not sons."
"3So
keep your mind on Jesus, who put up with many insults from
sinners. Then you won't get discouraged and give up. 4None
of you have yet been hurt in your battle against sin. 5But
you have forgotten that the Scriptures say to God's children,
'When the Lord punishes you, don't make light of it,
and when He corrects you, don't be discouraged. 6The
Lord corrects the people He loves and disciplines those He calls
His own.' 7Be patient when you are being
corrected! This is how God treats His children. Don't all
parents correct their children? 8God corrects
all of His children, and if He doesn't correct you,
then you don't really belong to Him. 9Our
earthly fathers correct us, and we still respect them. Isn't it
even better to be given true life by letting our spiritual Father
correct us? 10Our human fathers correct us for a short
time, and they do it as they think best. But God corrects us
for our own good, because He wants us to be holy, as
He is. 11It is never fun to be corrected. In fact,
at the time it is always painful. But if we learn to obey by
being corrected, we will do right and live at peace. 12Now
stand up straight! Stop your knees from shaking 13and
walk a straight path. Then lame people will be healed, instead of
getting worse. 14Try to live at peace with everyone!
Live a clean life. If you don't, you will never see the
Lord." (Hebrews 12:3-14 CEV).
[Correction is mandatory.]
"11In
conclusion, brethren, rejoice! Be perfected; be encouraged; be
of the same mind; be at peace; and the God of love and peace
shall be with you. 12Greet one another with a holy
kiss. All the saints send salutations to you." (2
Corinthians 13:11-12 OOB). [Perhaps
a quick hug or handshake would be more appropriate in today’s
culture?]
"5Blessed
are the meek:
for they shall inherit the earth.
6Blessed are
they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7Blessed
are the
merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8Blessed
are the pure
in heart: for they shall see God. 9Blessed
are the
peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10Blessed are
they which are persecuted for
righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11Blessed are you, when
men shall
revile you, and persecute you,
and shall say all manner of evil
against you falsely, for my
sake. 12Rejoice, and
be exceeding glad: for great is
your reward in heaven:
for so persecuted they the
prophets which were before you."
(Matthew 5:5-12 KJVR). [Our reward
from
Heaven.]
"23But
the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall
worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks
such to worship him. 24God
is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit
and in truth." (John
4:23-24 KJVR).
[Concluding
statements:] "For the law was given by Moses, but
grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John
1:17 KJVR). [New Covenant
dispensation of grace and truth!]
"16For
God so loved the world, that He
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17For God sent not His Son into
the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him
might be saved. 18He that
believes on Him is not condemned: but he
that believes not is
condemned already, because he
has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19And this
is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men
loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20For every one that does evil
hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds
should be reproved. 21But
he that does truth comes to the
light, that his deeds may be
made manifest, that they are wrought in God." (John
3:16-21 KJVR). [Evil doers live a
life of hate towards God's way.]
"For
now there are faith, hope, and love. But
of these three, the greatest is love."
(1
Corinthians 13:13 CEV). [Click
here to read: Charity – Love Reviewed]
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Twelve
Ways to Love
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Listen
without interrupting. (Proverbs 18:13 CEV). - It's stupid and
embarrassing to give an answer before you listen.
-
Speak
without accusing. (James 1:19 CEV). - My dear friends, you
should be quick to listen and slow to speak or to get angry.
-
Give
without sparing. (Proverbs 21:23-27 CEV). - Watching what you
say can save you a lot of trouble. If you are proud and
conceited, everyone will say, "You're a snob!" If you
want too much and are too lazy to work, it could be fatal. But
people who obey God are always generous. The Lord despises the
offerings of wicked people with evil motives.
-
Pray
without ceasing. (Colossians 1:9 CEV). - We have not stopped
praying for you since the first day we heard about you. In fact,
we always pray that God will show you everything He wants you to
do and that you may have all the wisdom and understanding that
His Spirit gives.
-
Answer
without arguing. (Proverbs 17:1 CEV). - A dry crust of bread
eaten in peace and quiet is better than a feast eaten where
everyone argues.
-
Share
without pretending. (Ephesians 4:15-17 CEV). - Love should
always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way
and be more like Christ, the head of the body. Christ holds it
together and makes all of its parts work perfectly, as it grows
and becomes strong because of love. As a follower of the Lord, I
order you to stop living like stupid, godless people.
-
Enjoy
without complaint. (Philippians 2:13-16 CEV). - God is working
in you to make you willing and able to obey Him. Do everything
without grumbling or arguing. Then you will be the pure and
innocent children of God. You live among people who are crooked
and evil, but you must not do anything that they can say is
wrong. Try to shine as lights among the people of this world, as
you hold firmly to the message that gives life. Then on the day
when Christ returns, I can take pride in you. I can also know
that my work and efforts were not useless.
-
Trust
without wavering. (1 Corinthians 13:7 CEV). - Love is always
supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting.
-
Forgive
without punishing. (Colossians3:12-13 CEV). - God loves you and
has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind,
humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive
anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you.
-
Promise
without forgetting. (Proverbs 13:12-13 CEV). - Not getting what
you want can make you feel sick, but a wish that comes true is a
life-giving tree. If you reject God's teaching, you will pay the
price; if you obey his commands, you will be rewarded.
-
Honor
without fail. (Hebrews 13:4 KJV). – Marriage is honorable in
all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers (immoral) and
adulterers God will judge.
-
Love
God by keeping the Ten Commandments (John 14:15 GNB). - "If
you love me, you will obey my commandments."
"The
person who does not love does not know God, because God is
love." (1 John 4:8 ISV).
"For
God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. For God sent not
His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world
through Him might be saved." (John
3:16-17 KJVR).
Matthew
25:31-46 ISV
(31)
"When the Son of Man comes in his
glory and all the angels are with him, he will sit on his
glorious throne.
(32)
All the nations will be assembled in
front of him, and he will separate them from each other as a
shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
(33)
He will put the sheep on his right but
the goats on his left.
(34)
"Then the king will say to those on
his right, 'Come, you who have been blessed by my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the
world.
(35)
For I was hungry, and you gave me
something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to
drink. I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.
(36)
I was naked, and you clothed me. I was
sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited
me.'
(37)
"Then the righteous will say to him,
'Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you something to
eat, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
(38)
When did we see you as a stranger and
welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
(39)
When did we see you sick or in prison and
visit you?'
(40)
The king will answer them, 'Truly I tell
you, in that you did it for one of the least important of these
my brothers, you did it for me.'
(41)
"Then he will say to those on his
left, 'Get away from me, you who are accursed, into the eternal
fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!
(42)
For I was hungry, and you gave me nothing
to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink.
(43)
I was a stranger, and you didn't welcome
me. I was naked, and you didn't clothe me. I was sick and in
prison, and you didn't visit me.'
(44)
"Then they will reply, 'Lord, when
did we see you hungry or thirsty or as a stranger or naked or
sick or in prison and didn't help you?'
(45)
Then he will say to them, 'Truly I tell
you, in that you did not do it for one of the least important
of these, you did not do it for me.'
(46)
These people will go away into eternal
punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life."
Matthew
13:18-23 ISV
(18)
"Listen, then, to the parable about
the sower.
(19)
When anyone hears the word about the
kingdom yet doesn't understand it, the evil one comes and
snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown
along the path.
(20)
As for what was sown on the stony ground,
this is the person who hears the word and accepts it at once
with joy,
(21)
but since he doesn't have any root in
himself, he lasts for only a short time. When trouble or
persecution comes along because of the word, he immediately
falls away.
(22)
As for what was sown among the
thornbushes, this is the person who hears the word, but the
worries of life and the deceitful pleasures of wealth choke the
word so that it can't produce a crop.
(23)
But as for what was sown on good soil,
this is the person who hears the word, understands it, and
produces a crop that yields a hundred, sixty, or thirty times
what was sown."
Matthew
13:34-43 ISV
(34)
Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables. He
did not tell them anything without using a parable.
(35)
This was to fulfill what was declared by the prophet when he
said, "I will open my mouth to speak in parables. I will
declare what has been hidden from the foundation of the world."
(36)
Then Jesus left the crowds and went into the house. His
disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable
about the weeds in the field."
(37)
He answered, "The person who sowed
good seed is the Son of Man,
(38)
while the field is the world. The good
seed are those who belong to the kingdom, while the weeds are
those who belong to the evil one.
(39)
The enemy who sowed them is the devil,
the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the
angels.
(40)
Just as weeds are gathered and burned
with fire, so it will be at end of the age.
(41)
The Son of Man will send his angels,
and they will gather from his kingdom everything that causes
others to sin and those who practice lawlessness
(42)
and they will throw them into a blazing
furnace. In that place there will be wailing and gnashing of
teeth.
(43)
Then the righteous will shine like the
sun in their Father's kingdom. Let the person who has ears
listen!"
Content
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Charity
– Love Reviewed
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CHARITY,
n.
1.
Charity is in a general sense, love, benevolence, good will; that
disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of
their fellow men, and to do them good. In a theological sense, it
includes supreme love to God, and universal good will to men.
1.
See 1 Cor. 8:1-3; Col. 3:11-17; & 1 Tim. 1:3-6.
2.
Charity is in a more particular sense, love, kindness, affection,
tenderness, springing from natural relations; as the charities of
father, son and brother.
3.
Charity is giving liberality to the poor, consisting in
almsgiving or benefactions, or in gratuitous services to relieve
them in distress.
4.
Charity is alms; whatever is bestowed gratuitously on the poor
for their relief.
5.
Charity is liberality in gifts and services to promote public
objects of utility, as to found and support bible societies,
missionary societies, and others.
6.
Charity is candor; liberality in judging of men and their
actions; a disposition which inclines men to think and judge
favorably, and to put the best construction on words and actions
which the case will admit. The highest exercise of charity, is
charity towards the uncharitable.
7.
Charity is any act of kindness, or benevolence; as the
charities of life.
8.
Charity is a charitable institution. Charity school is a
school maintained by voluntary contributions for educating poor
children.
1
Timothy 1:5-6 (KJVR). Now the end (goal) of the
commandment is charity (love) out of a pure heart, and of a good
conscience, and of faith unfeigned: (6)
From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain
jangling;
1
Timothy 1:3-6 (ISV) The apostle Paul speaking to Timothy
said: "When I was on my way to Macedonia, I urged you to
stay in Ephesus so that you could instruct certain people to
stop teaching false doctrine (4)
and occupying themselves with myths and endless genealogies.
These things promote controversies rather than God's ongoing
purpose, which involves faith. (5)
The goal of this instruction is love that flows from a pure
heart, from a clear conscience, and from a sincere
faith.(6) Some people have left
these qualities behind and have turned to fruitless discussion."
Colossians
3:11-17 (KJVR) (11) Where there is neither Greek nor Jew,
circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor
free: but Christ is all, and in all. (12)
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels
of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness,
longsuffering; (13) Forbearing one
another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel
against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you. (14)
And above all these things put on charity (love), which is the
bond of perfectness. (15) And let
the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you are
called in one body; and be you thankful. (16)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
(17)And whatsoever you do in
word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
to God and the Father by Him.
1
Corinthians 8:1-3 (KJV). (1)
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all
have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but charity (love)
edifies. (2) And if any man
think that he knows any thing, he knows nothing yet as he ought
to know. (3) But if any man loves
God, the same is known of Him.
1
Corinthians 8:1-3 (CEV). (1)
In your letter you asked me about food offered to idols. All of
us know something about this subject. But knowledge makes us
proud of ourselves, while love makes us helpful to others.
(2)In fact, people who think they
know so much don't know anything at all. (3)
But God has no doubts about who loves Him.
1
Corinthians 13:1-13 (CEV). (1)
What if I could speak all languages of humans and of angels? If I
did not love others, I would be nothing more than a noisy gong or
a clanging cymbal. [Exercise clarity in
speech!]
(2)
What if I could prophesy and understand all secrets and all
knowledge? And what if I had faith that moved mountains? I would
be nothing, unless I loved others. [Bottom
line: the attribute of love is an essential practice!]
(3)
What if I gave away all that I owned and let myself be burned
alive? I would gain nothing, unless I loved others. [Is
your motive pure and true?]
(4)
Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, nor
rude.
(5)
Love isn't selfish or quick tempered. It doesn't keep a record of
wrongs that others do. [Forgiveness looks
to the future, not the past!]
(6)
Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. [Avoid
gossip!]
(7)
Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. [Praise
God!]
(8)
Love never fails! Everyone who prophesies will stop, and unknown
languages will no longer be spoken. All that we know will be
forgotten.
(9)
We don't know everything, and our prophecies are not complete.
(10)
But what is perfect will someday appear, and what isn't perfect
will then disappear. [Evil and darkness
will be eliminated!]
(11)
When we were children, we thought and reasoned as children do.
But when we grew up, we quit our childish ways. [Have
your matured?]
(12)
Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror.
Later we will see Him face to face. We don't know everything, but
then we will, just as God completely understands us. [Do
you want to see the Father and Jesus.]
(13)
For now there are faith, hope, and love. But of these three, the
greatest is love. [We all need faith, hope,
and especially love!]
1
John 4:8-16 (ISV). The person who does not love does not
know God, because God is love. (9)
This is how God's love was revealed among us: God sent his unique
Son into the world so that we might live through him. (10)
This is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. (11)
Dear friends, if this is the way God loved us, we must also love
one another. (12) No one has ever
seen God. If we love one another, God lives in us, and his love
is perfected in us. (13) This is how
we know that we abide in him and he in us: he has given us his
Spirit. (14) We have seen for
ourselves and can testify that the Father has sent his Son to be
the Savior of the world. (15) God
abides in the one who acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
and he abides in God. (16) We have
come to know and believe in the love that God has for us. God
is love, and the person who abides in love abides in God, and God
abides in him.
Romans
6:23 (KJVR). For the wages of sin is death; but
the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
[Have your accepted God's gift of life or
are you waiting for "payday?"]
Romans
3:23 (KJVR). For all have sinned, and come short of the
glory of God; [Yes, all humans have sinned
except Jesus our Savior.]
Romans
5:8 (KJVR). But God commends His love toward us, in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
[Will you accept the Love of God?]
[A
warning:] Revelation 13:8 (KJVR).
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship "him"
[the dragon gave power unto "him,"
the beast! Rev. 13:4], whose names are not written in
the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the
world.
John
3:16-19 (ASV). For God so loved the world, that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not
perish, but have eternal life. (17)
For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but
that the world should be saved through Him. (18)
He that believes on Him is not judged: he that believes not
has been judged already, because he has not believed on the
name of the only begotten Son of God. (19)
And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world,
and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their
works were evil. [Are your works good
or evil…]
Charity
- Love Reviewed originally written May 31, 2014
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