Re: Verse reading – 1 Samuel 15:1-35 (day one)
“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel. . . go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them.” (v 2) The basic assumption of our faith is that God speaks and when He does, we are obligated to obey. No protest is allowed for personal or humanitarian reasons. God is judge. He is holy and fair in all that He decides–who can doubt this without placing ourselves above Him? Like the authorities in Romans 13 who are given a “sword” and commanded to use it for good, Saul is obligated to obey and guilty when he fails. “Faith comes through hearing” says Romans 10:17. When we hear God, we have the opportunity to trust him. When we trust God, we have the responsibility to obey Him. Until I hear, I cannot believe. Unless I obey, I do not believe. Hearing =faith. Faith = obedience. Always.
Fearless
Re: Verse reading–Proverbs 17:17; 1 John 4:7-21 (day seven)
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out all fear.” (v 18) “Little children, let us not love with word or tongue, but in deed and truth. We shall know by this that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.” (1 John 3:18-19) What sort of love drives out fear? It is a question that many believers still have. Having come to Christ, we still face a daily battle with anxiety, fear of loss or punishment. Where can we find assurance for our anxious hearts? John teaches us where to find this desperately needed power. Perfect love (fully matured) is required. We must be “all in”, remaining in Christ until His love has its way with us. It must also be practical love, faith that receives God’s goodness and answers back “in kind” by loving others. Only this perfect and practical love has power to liberate us from fear.
Is love a habit?
Re: Verse reading–Proverbs 17:17; 1 John 4:7-21 (day six)
“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:11) Is love a habit? With time and training (from the Spirit) can the human soul become predisposed to unselfish service toward others? We are mid way through a summer study series called, “14 HABITS of Highly Effective Disciples.” Our topic this week is love. So. . .what do you think? The Bible presents love as the expression of worship. Since God loves us, we should love others. Familiar Biblical, moral argument. John’s version. What God is, we should be! If He is holy, we should be holy! If He loves, we have an obligation to do so as well! It goes to the heart of worship–to honor God, to acknowledge Him in all that we do and think, gradually reshapes us into His image. The real habit is worship. (See lesson 14). Love is the best proof. Habit forming. God, please!
Love and Fear
Re: Verse reading–Proverbs 17:17; 1 John 4:7-21 (day five)
It’s been said that the opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference or apathy. This caused me to think about love and fear. What is the relationship between the two? Opposites? Antagonists? Competitors? Seems the scripture describes their relationship as enemies. The bible speaks of a great conflict between the two. 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out (drives out) fear, “. So, maybe they are mutually exclusive (cannot exist together). God’s Love will lead to healthy trust. Fear will demand we have control. Love will cause the human heart to look upward with hope. Fear causes us to look inward with despair. Love brings freedom and optimism. Fear leads to captivity and cynicism. The battle between these two is waged day to day, moment by moment.
Freedom in Christ
Re: Verse reading–Proverbs 17:17; 1 John 4:7-21 (day four)
To know God is to obey Him…to become like Him. There are some who believe that when Christ sets them free, they are free to do whatever they want. Not so! When Christ sets us free, we are free to live a holy and righteous life. Before…we could not live like that. Sin prevented us from righteousness. Now, when we are in Christ, we can become more like Him. Through the Holy Spirit working in our lives, our character matures into Christlikeness. God is love. When we abide in Him, love becomes a hallmark…a badge of identification…in our lives. We can love, because He first loved us. Love is not an option for the believer. Romans 6:18 says, “And having been set free from sin, you become slaves of righteousness.” As slaves of righteousness, we must allow God’s love to work in us. You have been set free to love…exercise your freedom!
Origin
Re: Verse reading– Proverbs 17:17; 1 John 4:7–21 (Day Three)
“Love comes from God.” Life in God’s presence begins with love from him. There is no other starting place. Confidence does not lead to love, it comes from love. Peace does not lead to love, it comes from love. Joy does not lead to love, it comes from it. There are no paths to any longing of the human heart that do not lead through love. If we will know anything at all, we must first learn love from God.
Calvary is the Sea
Re: Verse reading–Proverbs 17:17; 1 John 4:7-21 (day two)
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us. 1 John 4:10. One of my favorite anthems that the Chapel Singers sing is Calvary is the Sea, and I love it most because of the text that says: “No sacrifice I could give to you could match what you’ve given me, for my everything is but a a drop of dew and Calvary is the sea.” He deserves the fullest measure of our devotion, but that could never compare to the act of love that he demonstrated for us. What is more wonderful is that this love is an ongoing, every-filling constant that will never run out. His love is our everything.
This One Thing I Do
Re: Verse reading–Proverbs 17:17; 1 John 4:7-21 (day one)
“This is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son to be an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:10-11) When all is said and done, the one thing that we will either regret or treasure is love. “If I have not love, I am nothing” said Paul in 1 Corinthians 13. Lesson learned by experience. Paul spent years being “right” with a hard heart. He found out (and John agreed) that truth without love is ungodly. With God, for God, at church, in the world, love is our main task and the standard by which the world identifies us. Did I love? Do I? Will I? Scripture defines it. Love is sacrifice made for the welfare of others. (v 10) The opposite of selfishness. The lesson and example of the cross. Brothers, love one another!
Uncommon?
RE Verse reading–Acts 2:42-47; Romans 12:3-13 (day seven)
“They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching . . . the believers were together and had everything in common.” (Acts 2:42, 44) “An UNCOMMON love for God’s word and an ability to teach it.” That’s how the profile describes the Associate Pastor for Young Marrieds at FBCSA. It is a quality the search team is looking/praying for as the Lord leads us in this interview process. Ironic, isn’t it? Our scripture this week indicates that the will of Christ is for such a love to be VERY COMMON among the people of God. Koinos is Greek for “common”. Koinoinia is Greek for those who “share life together, love the same thing, bear the same burden.” Is this uncommon in a selfish and “me-centered” world? Perhaps, but not for those who have experienced the power of Pentecost! I am looking forward to being with you in worship today. May the Lord us uncommon people in His normal way.
Humility and grace
RE Verse reading–Acts 2:42-47; Romans 12:3-13 (day six)
“For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you; do not think or yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” (Romans 12:3) Humility is a blessing. To the humble man and to his friends. “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) It is an important factor in the equation of Christian fellowship. Proud people compete. Humble people recognize the value of every member and make allowances for the needs of all to be met. They join a team and do so gladly. Paul was powerfully gifted as a preacher/missionary. Even so, he knew that the God’s grace gives each of us only “a measure” of the faith that is necessary for the full work of the church. With grace comes humility. In theory at least.