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Wednesday,
October 8, 2008
The Love Connection
1 John 4:7-9 Beloved, let us love one
another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth
God. (8) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (9) In this
was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only
begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (KJV)
How does one explain God? Well simply put
in His word, love. Even when we were sinners, enemies of God because of
unbelief, He sent His Son so that the fellowship between Him and a fallen
mankind could be restored. Many wonder, ‘how can I ever love God in
return?’ Simply put, by receiving His message of love through His Son and
walking in it is what will give our Father good pleasure and allow you to
do those things that are pleasing in His sight by sharing His love with His
people.
1 Corinthians 13:1-2 Though I speak with
the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as
sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. (2) And though I have the gift of
prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I
have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I
am nothing. (KJV)
I call this whole chapter in Corinthians
‘the love chapter’, because it gives us a basic outline of how to walk in
the love of God, letting this love to be shed in our hearts and spilling
over unto the Lord’s people. The biggest thing you want to keep in mind is
‘what are the motives of your heart’; in other words why do you do the
things you do? If it is to be pleasing to God and encourage others, then
the words you will be speaking will be Spirit and bring life to those
around you. If your motives are to build up self, and attempt to show
others how spiritual you think you are, then it is all for naught, empty,
vain, and worthless. Oh but they preach from the Bible; well so does the
devil and has been for a long time and his motives haven’t been right have
they? Is the message and the messenger you are giving ear to, there to
build you up and encourage you in the love of God, or are they there to
build themselves up and their own organizations that they created? What are
your motives for speaking today; is it to build the people up in the Lord,
or are you trying to impress them with all things you think you know?
1 Corinthians 13:3 And though I bestow
all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and
have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. (KJV)
By the way, if the Lord does ask you to
do something for one of His people, is He asking you to do it so that you
can make a public proclamation about it? For me personally, I get tired and
bored with these people who keep hitting other people up for money because
of all the good works they claim they are doing. If it is truly something
the Lord is asking, then I can guarantee the Lord isn’t asking you to make
a public proclamation about it, but rather that part of the equation is
your own doing.
Williams New Testament translation
of Matthew 6:1-4:
1."Take care not to do your good
deeds in public, to attract the attention of people; if you do, you will
get no reward from your Father in heaven. 2. So whenever you do your deeds
of charity, never blow your own horn in public, as the hypocrites are in
the habit of doing in the synagogues and on the street corners, to be
praised by the people. I solemnly
say to you, they already have their reward. 3. But whenever you, a follower
of mine, do a deed of charity, never let your own left hand know what your
right hand is doing, 4. so that your deed of charity may be secret, and
your Father who sees what is secret will reward you.
When I look at these verses in Matthew,
this seems to be more the rule than the exception, all these religious
people doing their silly works before people. If one is truly called of God
and desires to do His work effectually, then they will be doing it from the
heart to please Him and not man, which is a true token and manifestation of
His love.
Romans 12:9-10 Let love be without
dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. (10)
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour
preferring one another; (KJV)
The definition of dissimulation means
hypocrisy, so without the right motive for serving our Lord one is nothing
less than a hypocrite, more self seeking than one that is seeking to please
our Lord. This is the difference between religion and a true love for God.
Religion and religious people are a dime a dozen; a bunch of outward
rituals and regulations that are manmade seeking man’s approval rather than
our Lord’s. Many that are called of God end up in dead end religions, while
the few that are chosen of our Lord to be used by Him will break free from
these hypocrisies by knowing the love of God, and motivated by that love to
please Him, and Him only.
1 John 4:16-17 And we have known and
believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in
love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (17) Herein is our love made perfect,
that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are
we in this world. (KJV)
God is love, and sent a message of love
to a fallen mankind so that they could experience this love in their heart
and no longer live in fear; to actually experience a boldness of knowing
who they are in Christ. Now is the accepted time, now is our salvation
nearer than many believe. So if you are willing to boldly enter into the
realm of God today and allow His word to judge you and make the necessary
changes, then come time for the final day of judgment, it will be more of a
homecoming than something to be dreaded. God is love, don’t you just love
it?
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