God’s Love

What are we Praying for?

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3‭-‬4 NKJV

How will the world know that we love Jesus? How will they come to understand that He is a friend and master who is worth giving their lives to. Is it by seeing us going to church every Sunday? Will they be impressed by our degrees in theology or maybe by the title Reverend so and so? Maybe our best message about the love of God in Christ can only be seen by the way we treat others. Maybe they will never see the value of the cross of Jesus Christ until they see it in our attitudes. God gives to each of us today a chance to love someone more than we love ourselves. What better way is there to reach one soul for whom He gave His Son?

Defending with love

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Defend the poor and fatherless… Last week’s scene at nursing home ministry keeps flashing through my mind. “God hates me!” Marie* had said as she held onto my hand with tears coming down her cheek. “No! He could never hate you !” I told her and as I read again John 3:16 its eternal meaning seemed as fresh as the first time I really heard it for myself.

God has equipped every one of His children with a full set of spiritual armor. But our swords shields and breastplates are not given us to display in our living room. We are called to get the tools of spiritual warfare out of our closets and into the battle fields of life! We are called to defend the poor, the sick and the mentally challenged because they are under attack. Why not begin 2018 with the goal in mind of defending our weaker brothers and sisters? God will always hear our cries and come to our aid with His love and power when we take up the cause of those precious in His sight. Then when God has given His comfort through you it will be sweetest to rejoice with them in knowing just how deep and wide it the great love of Jesus!

https://youtu.be/KZJmTVdDyLY

Fearless!

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There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1 John 4:18 ESV

Terror attacks, earthquakes and endless wars dominate our daily headlines. Sometimes family conflicts and crises make it seem as if our world is closing in around us. In his day, the apostle John had seen Jesus crucified, his own brother executed by King Herod and a crowd of ‘religious people’ stone his friend Stephen to death in the middle of the day. John and been in prison with Peter and was arrested again by the Roman authorities then sent to a penal colony on the Island of Patmos.

Interestingly, when John talks about freedom from fear he doesn’t mention a strong army to come to our defense. He doesn’t talk about the confidence of having good legal representation to defend us or powerful friends in places of influence who will stand up for our rights. John tells us that the best defense against any kind of fear is love! John knew that fear is completely stripped of power in the face of God’s love. That love of God as witnessed in the life of Jesus Christ is strong enough to handcuff our fears and put them under arrest. God’s perfect love is so powerful that no army, no terroristic threat and no human enemy can defeat. And the best news of all is that this perfect love is available to anyone who is ready to receive it. We can’t earn His love and we don’t need to wait to figure it out. With arms opened wide on the cross God’s love receives thieves, forgives crucifiers and blesses fearful disciples. His amazing, unending and perfect love overcomes the world and casts out every fear!

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 …if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there… MATT 17:20