Trusting in the Lord

17 Monday Jan 2022

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The latter part of 2019 and into 2020 brought a worldwide pandemic into our lives. 2020 was seemingly a year that many wanted to forget due to the COVID-19 virus that swept across the globe. 2021 was a year that the spread of the coronavirus continued, however, it was the introduction of new variants that made life even more challenging.

Now, we are in 2022 and the pandemic has not yet abated, rather, it has seemingly become a part of everyday life. Millions have been infected by the virus, and sadly millions have perished due to the ongoing pandemic. Government officials worldwide have attempted to stem the tide of the plague, and yet we have heard and witnessed mass accounts of confusion.

To be clear, the pandemic we find ourselves in, none of us have faced anything of this sort in our lifetime. However, what do we do when we hear conflicting messages from the media, or scientists and doctors who were once sure that they knew what was coming next only to find that there are continued unknowns?

The answer lies in Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Such a simple passage that was penned by King Solomon, and yet there is so much wisdom in these two verses. First, take note that we are to trust in the Lord with our whole heart. The Hebrew word for trust is “bāṭaḥ” which means to have confidence in or to be secure.

When we are urged to trust in the Lord with all of our heart, that means we are to put our confidence in the Lord and do so fully. It is a signature that our security is in God, rather than placing our confidence in others or the situations that we see around us daily. It is a well known fact that over time, citizens are placing less and less trust in their governmental institutions.

With the increase of political corruption and outright lies that are often told, politicians have become among the least trusted within societal spheres. It further underscores the importance of trusting in the Lord with everything we have, because we cannot trust in what we see or what we hear around us. That is because things are ever changing. However, with the Lord who desires to be in a relationship with us, He does not change and He can be trusted.

Secondly, take note of the next part of Proverbs 3, which says “and do not lean on your own understanding.” Sometimes, we think that we are able to solve our own problems based on human wisdom and intuition. But the Word of God makes it clear that we cannot even rely on our own understanding because it can be faulty. Have you ever made a decision that you felt was best, and yet the decision turned out to be the wrong choice to make?

We all have moments in life when we are in error and we do not make sound judgment calls. That is why we are not to rely on our own understanding, because even as smart as you and I may be, we don’t have the unlimited knowledge and wisdom that only God possesses. So, we cannot look to our own intellect or wisdom to solve Earthly problems.

Finally, notice that the last part of verse 5 says, “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” This means, that in everything that we do, we are to acknowledge God or to seek Him for guidance first. By doing this, we are showing God that He is the first priority of our lives, and that we are laying down the desire to take control and trust in our own intuition. When we acknowledge God first, the promise here is that God will direct our path or make every path straightened.

In other words, the paths that we take, they will be made secure when we follow the Lord’s leading and choose to forsake our own understanding. The world around us will always contain problems and scenarios that are challenging. This is due to humanity’s imperfection and the presence of sin. However, with the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we have a better opportunity when it comes to achieving a more stable and fruitful outcome.

God desires that we come to Him for all things. He uses people and scenarios to provide answers to difficulties in life, but the only way this occurs is when we surrender our own will and we acknowledge God first. It requires that we put our trust (full confidence) in Him, which then translates into God leading us on a path that is secure and directed in righteousness.

As we continue to live in the midst of a worldwide pandemic and other situations we all face, the truth that we can all cling to is that we can trust the Lord in all things. However, for one to trust in the Lord it requires that there is a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. You cannot trust someone you don’t know. Do you know Jesus in the pardon of your sins? If not, today is a great day to accept Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the Cross. His blood was shed for you and for me, and He is alive today and waiting for you to receive Him as Lord and Savior. Trust in the Lord today and begin a new life with Jesus.

What Happens When You Commit Idolatry?

10 Thursday Jun 2021

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Money, fame, fortune, statues, monuments, people, and even oneself. Anyone or anything can be an idol. Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “idol” as the following:

  1. an object of extreme devotion
  2. a representation or symbol of an object of worship

It is quite possible to devote yourself to someone or something to the point where you begin to worship said person or thing. In fact, every single day, idolatry is on full display throughout our world. There are countless forms of gods that humanity has established and engaged in idol worship. We can see the very evidence when we turn on our televisions. Hollywood which is considered to be one of the premier entertainment capitols in the world, it is full of examples concerning idol worship. Or, one can easily engage in idolatry in the form of a romantic relationship.

It is the act of praising, elevating, and even proclaiming that a person or an object maintains our strict adoration and attention. We can do this by how much time we spend thinking about the person or object of our desire. Or, when we speak, our words will often show us exactly what it is that we adore or worship. Whatever has your focus, it has your heart. Matthew 6:21 says (NIV) “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

What you and I treasure the most, that is where our heart will be. That in turn means, that our focus is generally upon the thing or person that we are worshipping. However, what happens when we commit idolatry? Are there any consequences when we worship a person or a created thing? Before examining the consequences of idolatry, it must be made clear, that the Lord God almighty, the one who created the Heavens and the Earth, He is a jealous God.

Exodus 34:14 says (KJV) “(for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),”

God will not tolerate idol worship nor the devotion to anything other than to Him. While yes, we do have things in life that we do, and people that we love, but the key is to place the priority of our love and devotion unto God as #1. If God is not in the #1 position of your life, then there will be consequences for your idolatry. The following is what happens when you commit idol worship:

What you worship you will lose – 1 Samuel 5:1-5 focuses on the Philistines and the people of Ashdod. The Philistines had captured the Ark of God and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. From there, the Ark of God was brought into the House of Dagon (Dagon was a false god/idol) and set it next to Dagon. The people of Ashdod arose in the next morning to find that Dagon was lying face down in front of the Ark of God. So, they put Dagon back in its position as it was before. However, the next day, the people of Ashdod found Dagon lying face down on the ground again. Only this time, the head of the idol, and its hands were found to be cut off, only leaving the trunk or the body of the idol remaining.

The overall point of that scripture is to state that what we worship, we will lose it. God will destroy and remove anything that we begin to devote ourselves to, more than we devote to Him.

God’s hand will be against you – 1 Samuel 5:6 says “The hand of the LORD was heavy against the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory. “ The people of Ashdod not only worshipped a false god (Dagon), but they erected their idol next to the Ark of God. When you and I worship anyone or anything other than God, we put ourselves in a position to have God’s hands against us.

This means that anything that we attempt to do, it will result in destruction. That is because, God does not accept any other god, idol worship, or any other form of devotion. All worship belongs to the Lord Almighty. If that does not occur in your life, then you will find that God will be against you and sudden destruction will be the result.

Confusion is present – Isaiah 44:9 says (NKJV) “Those who make an image, all of them are useless, And their precious things shall not profit; They are their own witnesses; They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed.” This verse makes it clear that those who worship or create idols, they do not have any understanding because they are unable to see. They are blinded by their sin and idol worship, so God puts said individuals into a state of confusion.

Verses 18-20 says (NKJV) ““They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand. And no one considers in his heart, Nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire, Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat and eaten it; And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?” He feeds on ashes; A deceived heart has turned him aside; And he cannot deliver his soul, Nor say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”

The above verses points to what happens when idolatry is committed, and one of those things is confusion. A lack of understanding is produced which makes it difficult to see the coming destruction and even the behavior that one engages in.

In many Bible verses, God establishes the firm foundation that He is a jealous God and that idols are inferior and even illegitimate in His eyes. As a response, God will remove and destroy every idol that we create and worship. You may think to yourself that you have something good in your life. Maybe you are in a relationship or a marriage, and you love the person you are with. To the point that they are your everything.

To be clear, romantic relationships, friendships, family members, and even things that we find momentary pleasure in, they all have their place. God wants us to enjoy our lives within reason and within His parameters. We can do this by ensuring that we are balanced and that the position of our worship is given to God and God alone.

However, God sees even romantic or human relationships in the same way if they portray idol worship. We are not to love anyone or anything more than we love the Lord God. So, if you find yourself committing idol worship, it isn’t too late to eliminate the gods that you are serving. This comes through surrender and reprioritizing the Lord in His rightful position as #1.

This starts with acknowledging your sin and idol worship, and completely releasing what you are devoted to. Repentance means to turn from your sin and to go in the direction that Jesus Christ is calling for. Do you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior? If not, today is a great day to give yourself to the Lord through repentance and surrender. Accept Christ today, lay down your idols and worship the true and living God.

Getting Back on Track with God

13 Tuesday Apr 2021

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We are all participants in this race that is called “life.” It is not a sprint, rather, it is a marathon that finds its destination at the finish line. However, as we all journey on our God given path, we are all meant to run in a lane designed just for us. You may notice that in a track race, you have multiple competitors or runners who are within a specific lane. The reason that there are different lanes is because each lane was created with the individual runner in mind. However, what would happen if one runner veered off their course, and into another lane? It would mean a disqualification of the runner, or it could also mean lost time as a result of not staying true to the course that the runner has been engaged in. It could also result in an unintended collision with another runner.

It is the same when it comes to one’s relationship with God through Jesus Christ. God has given each person a lane to run in which means that He has a purpose for you and I. However, there are times when we can lose our focus, and we begin to veer off the lane or track that God has given for us to run. There are a few things that can cause us to become off track, and also solutions as to how we can get back course.

Causes for Getting Off Track with God

  • Sin – Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV) “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

Sin is what breaks the fellowship or relationship that we have with God. When we engage in unrepentant behavior, it takes a toll on us and our communion with the Heavenly Father. That is because God is Holy, and anything that is not Holy, it cannot remain in the presence of God. If you are in sin, then you cannot properly live out God’s commands or His purpose.

  • Distractions – Mark 4:19 (AMP) “ but the worries and cares of the world [the distractions of this age with its worldly pleasures], and the deceitfulness [and the false security or glamour] of wealth [or fame], and the passionate desires for all the other things creep in and choke out the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

While the above scripture is talking about how the distractions of life begin to cause one’s focus on embracing the Word of God to become fruitless, the principle here is that distractions impede our ability to truly focus on God. The above scripture makes it clear that the desires of the flesh or our sinful nature, it creeps in and it removes the individual’s attention on the Word of God, but also our focus on a steady relationship with Christ.

  • Influence from Others – 1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV) “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

It is important to ensure that your circle of friends are individuals who have moral and even godly character. If those around you are persons who do not push you in the direction that God has for you, then they become blockades to your growth in Christ. How others influence you often determines your direction in life, as well as how you react. The Bible teaches us that bad company or those of immoral character, they have a negative impact upon good morals and Christlike behavior.

How to Get Back on Track with God

  • Commitment to a Life of Prayer – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV) Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

The key part of the above verse is “pray without ceasing.” It is not meant to be literal in terms of praying without stopping. It simply means, one must be in a position of cultivating a lifestyle of prayer. When we pray, we invite the Holy Spirit and the presence of God into our lives. It is communication with God, and it is also an opportunity for God to communicate with us. Prayer fosters a relationship with God that only grows as we spend more time with the Lord.

  • Meditating on God’s Word – Psalm 1:2 (ESV) “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

To meditate upon is to find oneself in a mode of studying or thinking about a specific subject. It is to fix one’s position on the Word of God and to make a constant effort to study it. By incorporating God’s Word into your life, it becomes a part of your lifestyle and you are then able to apply His Word to every situation. You begin to live by the Biblical truths that God prescribes, therefore ensuring that your viewpoint is that of the Biblical worldview rather than the secular worldview.

  • Maintaining Key Relationships with Fellow Believers – Hebrews 10:25 (NKJV) “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Just as one should be mindful of negative influences in one’s life, it is important for every Christian to maintain good relationships with other believers. We should gather amongst ourselves and as the Bible says in the above scripture, to encourage one another. When we get together and we have community among other Christians, it leads us to a deeper relationship with God. That is because, we are being influenced and encouraged to grow in Christ as opposed to isolating ourselves or keeping friends in our lives who are not of the same mindset or belief system.

God wants to bring us all to a place where our focus and our reliance is solely upon Him. Every Christian experiences times in life when their attention is diverted and they are not seeing life or God as clear as they should be. This is why we have the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to keep us accountable and to bring us to a place where we are re-focused on the things of God. If you have lost your way, you can get back on track by following the above steps.

Do you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior? If not, today is a great day to accept the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. God desires to have a relationship with you, and you can experience a life that is abundant and blessed. Get on track with God, for He has great plans in store for you.

Daring to Be a Servant

16 Tuesday Mar 2021

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We live in a world that has become increasingly selfish and self-centered. It seems that many are only living in this life to please themselves rather than to serve others. As a result, there is a devaluation of others, rather than there being a focus on encouraging and esteeming our neighbors. When the object of self is the desire, it becomes difficult to see the needs of those around us.

This can create an entire social structure that is predicated on selfish ambition, rather than civil and collective servitude. But what does it mean to be a servant? What does it mean to be in the mode of serving others?

In John 13: 12-15 Jesus is seen washing the feet of His disciples. As He does so, he has a conversation with them that ties into the concept of serving:

“When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”

Foot washing in the Bible was seen as one of the ordinances of the early and first church. It also symbolized humility and service unto others. If we think about Jesus for a minute, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords which means that He has been given the role of having the ultimate authority by God. In the scripture above, Jesus is asking the disciples if they understand what He has done for them. Despite Him having the role of Teacher and Lord, He makes it clear that He had a distinct purpose for washing the disciple’s feet. Take note that Jesus says that He Himself is the example of servanthood or being a servant. Then He says, that the disciples are to also do the same as Jesus did.

There are really three principles that can be taken from the above scripture:

  1. Serving others is a selfless act – To serve means to take others into consideration and not to esteem oneself so highly. Being a servant is about ensuring that others are cared for and that their needs are being met before yours. It takes very little energy to receive, but it takes more energy and commitment to serve someone else. When a person is a servant, they are producing the fruit of humility and service to others expecting nothing in return. It is not about self, rather, it is about doing good unto those around you first.
  2. Serving others has nothing to do with position – We live in a world that is full of hierarchies. Positions such as President, King, Queen, Prime Minister, and even other leadership positions related to business, they exist all around us. However, regardless of any position, service is an independent act. There are those who believe that their position in leadership causes them to be immune to being a servant. In other words, some believe that they do not need to serve others, that their position of leadership elevates them above everyone else. However, Jesus shows us that even if one is in a prime position of leadership by title, serving is not optional but should be expected.
  3. Jesus is the model for servanthood – Jesus Christ is the model for humanity to follow in all areas, but specifically, He models serving others. In the scripture noted above, Jesus makes it clear that He is the sole example of serving. We as Christ followers should look to Jesus as our example for leading and serving.

So, the question here is, will you dare to be a servant? In a society that postures itself on self-gratification will you seek to serve others instead? Serving is not as easy as it sounds, because it involves sacrifice and a steady desire to fulfill the needs of those around you before yourself. However, there is a reward that occurs when we serve others. It is the fact that we are using our gifts, skills, time, and talent to help someone else. It then means we become fulfilled in our own lives and the cycle of service continues to spread.

Do you know Jesus in the pardon of your sins? If you don’t know Christ, today is a great day to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Once you come to the knowledge of Christ and have a relationship with Him, He will enable you to serve others with a heart that is fixed solely upon fulfilling needs as opposed to receiving for selfish gain. Look to Jesus Christ, as He is our example.

Where Will You Spend Eternity?

23 Tuesday Feb 2021

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Most humans are focused on the here and now as it concerns their day-to-day life. We each have a routine that we adhere to, and some of us do so religiously. However, in the midst of the daily grind as it has been called, there is the inevitable presence of the “afterlife.” In many different religions, the afterlife is a place or a metaphysical condition that follows life here on Earth. Concerning Christianity, the Bible makes it clear that there are two destinations when a person leaves their Earthly body. Heaven is the eternal resting place that all who have given their lives to Jesus will spend eternity in the presence of God. Hell on the other hand is the place where those who rejected Christ and a relationship with God find eternal damnation and torment.

Regardless of what different religions ascribe to as the afterlife, the Bible which is the only authoritative truth speaks clearly as to what two directions are possible concerning humanity. In the Matthew 25:46 it says,

“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Philippians 3:20-21 says, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

Notice the two words mentioned in each of those scriptures. “Eternal life” and “Heaven” are meant to denote the reward and provision that God makes for those who choose to follow Him through Christ. Heaven is by God’s design and it is meant only for those who accept Jesus Christ. It is important to also understand that it is God’s desire that we experience a relationship with Him through Christ, and this also means that when our Earthly lives are finished, we have the opportunity to be present with the Lord.

However, Hell is also a destination only meant for those who refuse to acknowledge and accept Jesus Christ. Revelation 20:15 says “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

Matthew 10:28 says, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Hell which is directly mentioned in the Bible is a place of eternal torment and separation from God. It was not ever designed for God’s creation, but it is a place that many go to due to their choice of rejecting Christ. The reason that Hell was established in the first place was to be a holding place for anyone who followed Satan. According to 2 Peter 2:4, there were fallen angels (who made the decision to defect and follow after Satan during his rebellion against God) who were banished into captivity in Hell. Anyone who stands in opposition against God and dies in that condition will find their same fate in Hell.

The Bible makes it clear that there are two roads that we as humans will find our eternity in. Jesus Christ died on the Cross and rose again so that we could have eternal life with God in Heaven. It is through the bloodshed of Christ that we can have our sins forgiven. However, anyone who does not accept Christ’s sacrifice will be eternally separated from God and fiery torment will be felt. God does not wish that any man or woman perish. Rather, God desires to have a relationship with us through His son Jesus.

Do you know Jesus Christ in the pardon of your sins? If not, today is a great day to give your heart and life to the Lord. Tomorrow is not promised, which means that none of us knows when our time on Earth is finished. You can have eternal assurance in your destination and that can be known through accepting Jesus Christ and living your life in service unto the Lord. Where will you spend eternity?

Life Changes but God Does Not

29 Friday Jan 2021

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There are four meteorological seasons that most if not all are familiar with. Spring, Summer, Winter, and Fall (or Autumn) occur throughout each year. While scientists and the various climates around the world have proven that these seasons are not experienced in the same way everywhere, it is true that the four seasons are typical for many to experience on Earth. With each season, changes such as temperature, precipitation, and even nature (e.g. trees, grass, plants) becomes evident over time.

Changes occur not only during each meteorological season, but change occurs within the human race. We change from birth until death. If one is blessed by God to age, our bodies begin to grow older and we experience the events that comes with moving from one stage of life to the next. Change in life is inevitable, and with it, we must recognize that there are many things that do not stay the same. However, we can be certain that Almighty God who is the creator of the Heavens and the Earth, He does not change.

In Malachi 3:6 in the first part of verse 6, it says “For I am the Lord, I change not;” This is not a mere suggestion, but the Lord is speaking to the nation of Israel & the Priesthood. The dialogue that God was having with the Priests of Israel was centered upon their refusal to keep God’s laws. In addition, they decided to turn away from what God had already established for the Priests to carry out concerning their duties and devotion unto Him. God made it clear that many of the Priests had turned their hearts over to foreign gods (idols) rather than worshipping God and remaining Holy. (See Malachi Chapter 2).

Thus, God made it clear in that verse that although the Priests had turned away to commit idolatry and forsake God’s ways, He had not changed. God’s expectation was that the Priests at that time would remain in union with Him and fulfill their priestly duties. But despite God’s requirements, He overwhelmingly stated to the Priests that He has not and will never change.

Psalm 90:2 says “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”

The Lord God does not change, rather, His character and His being remains and it is everlasting. Time moves onward, centuries, decades, and days pass. However, God has and will always remain the same even when we as humans change. Worldwide events have transpired throughout history, and even the culture at large continues to shift. The truths of Jesus Christ and God Himself, it does not and will never change.

It is important to understand that regardless of how much your life changes or how much the world around us does, we have the everlasting hope that the Lord will remain the same. His Word which is the Bible, it remains etched in human history and it will stand forever. Why is it that even after thousands of years, the Bible remains as the most read book in history? It is because God’s Word and even His presence transcends time and it overflows into various parts of history.

As chaotic as our world is at times, the hope that you and I can have is recognizing that God will never change, which means He can be trusted and He will never fail you. It also means, that God’s standards for Holy living and His expectation of Christ followers does not change. We who are in Christ, are admonished in the Bible to live as God has commanded us and not to stray from that path.

1 John 2:3-7 (ESV)

“And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.”

New doctrines are formed, belief systems are introduced into the world culture, and new religions continue to be created. However, God’s Word and His commandments will always remain unchanged. Anyone who follows Christ is expected by God to follow His way and not the ways of others. By adhering to God’s directions, we are then able to avoid the snares and deception that Satan promotes through various mechanisms.

Knowing that life changes but God does not, we can then have a level of security in recognizing that we have the opportunity to experience an immutable God in the midst of an ever changing world. Even when new laws are proposed, opinions are given, and social norms are no longer what they once were, God’s standard does not bow or cave into the societal pressures that weigh on us. This is why we are to stand firm in the faith according to 1 Corinthians 16:13, because the world system is constantly against Christ followers. For the Christian, we are to stand our ground and rely on the Holy Spirit to show us which way we are to turn.

Do you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior? If not, then this is a great time to experience life through Christ and to have eternal life. Everything around us is constantly shifting and it will always be as such. However, God offers not only eternal life through Christ, but also constant security which means that you can have the assurance that when life and humanity changes, God does not. It means that His love remains even when the love of others may vanish. Trust in the Lord today and experience the unchanging God through accepting Jesus Christ.

What is Love? Part 2

07 Monday Dec 2020

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When a person declares that they have fallen in love with another, usually the description invokes words that are emotionally charged. Some say that being in love gives one the feeling of butterflies dancing around in their stomach. Others, describe it as a constant state of having the person of affection on one’s mind. There are a myriad of emotions that one may feel concerning being in love from the romantic standpoint. However, what are the key characteristics of love itself?

Before getting into those characteristics, it should be known that love is not based on a feeling. While falling in love, being in love, or loving someone brings with it the emotional side, the primary focus of love is not emotional, rather it is a choice. To prove this, there may be moments when our loved one’s disappoint us or they cause momentary periods of discomfort. That is due to the human condition of being sinful and imperfect. Circumstances in life change, people change, which means if love were based on the emotive state, then many would forgo love altogether. Love is a choice, rather than it being based on one’s emotions.

With love, there are also key characteristics that the Bible shows us in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:

(NLT) “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

  • Patience – When a person is operating in love, there is a prominent display of patience for others. Despite the many flaws and challenges that may arise, a loving disposition portrays a steady dose of patience. This means, time will be taken with others, even when they may not be deserving of said patience. However, love suggests that even when others are not patient with me, I will be patient with others.
  • Kindness – Love is also shown through acts of kindness. The world around us has distorted the concept of love. In extreme cases some attribute those who exhibit verbal abuse or even physical violence as being loving. However, neither of those two acts have any correlation to love or kindness. When a person loves another, kindness is revealed.
  • Love is not jealous – When a person achieves something of significance, love does not encompass jealousy or feelings of disdain due to someone else’s accomplishments. Instead, love seeks to celebrate what others have rather than attempting to downplay or minimize their success.
  • Love is not prideful – Arrogance is not a characteristic of love, because one of the primary components to love is that it is selfless. Pride is a position of focusing on oneself rather than desiring to serve others or to put others before self.
  • Love is not rude – This is similarly in tandem with kindness. Insulting others or being rude is not a characteristic of love, because with love, there is a level of care with one’s actions and words. That is because it seeks to truly honor others and promote a sense of respect and admiration unto those who are the target of affection.
  • Selflessness – Demanding one’s own way falls in the category of being selfish or self-centered. Love however, it does not seek to focus on self, but to build others up and seek to fulfill the needs of others.
  • Forgiving and merciful – To keep a record of wrongs can easily be used as ammunition to destroy relationships. Love does not look into the past in an attempt to discredit or use past history against others. Instead, to love is to forgive and to be merciful, despite past sins or imperfections.
  • Focuses on truth rather than evil doing – Another key aspect of love is to discover the truth and to promote it. Love does not center itself on celebrating evil or injustice, but it rejoices in truth being revealed which is often a carrier to justice and fairness.
  • Always faithful – To keep the faith is to be in a state of conviction about a matter. Love always has faith rather than being faithless. It means never losing one’s conviction or belief and always remaining steadfast in said position of faith.
  • Always hopeful – To hope is to have an earnest desire of believing and staying focused on a viewpoint despite physical evidence. In other words, if something has yet to occur, love says that despite not seeing, there is still a solid belief that will be adhered to.
  • Endurance – Despite the circumstances of life, love remains entrenched in the same position, and it endures. It means to withstand and be steady throughout a fiery trial or a periods of challenge. Love remains committed, regardless of external or internal influences that would suggest otherwise.

The list of characteristics that the Bible shows us above is evident when love has taken root in someone’s life. Love cannot encompass the opposite of those characteristics, because then by definition it would not be what love is. However, the primary definer of love is the Lord God almighty. The characteristics as noted above are an extension of who God is, because He is love. Without knowing God through Christ, we cannot adequately love based on His original intention.

Do you know Jesus in the pardon of your sins? God sent Jesus Christ as His only begotten son to be the sacrifice for humanity’s sins. Only through Christ can you and I know what true love is, and begin to portray it earnestly. Give your life to Jesus today by repenting of your sins and turning your life over to the Lord. For God is love.

What Is Love? Part 1

03 Thursday Dec 2020

Posted by in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Church, Faith, God, Inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Religion, Religious, Spiritual

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The word “love” is a common word that is used in a variety of contexts. For example, love is often used to denote the romance and intense feeling of passion between two individuals. It is also used in ways that are not romantic (e.g. I love football). Love is a word that means different things to different people. That is because for one, experiences often shape how we define words.

In addition, the world as a collective has its own definition of what love is. However, what is love truly defined as? 1 John 4:7-11 gives us what the definition of love is.

(NKJV) “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

First, take note of what the first verse says, which is “love is of God.” Love as a concept and as it is meant to be defined comes from God Himself. This is qualified when the writer the Apostle John says, “God is love.” Before we can truly understand what love is, we must acknowledge that love has already been defined by God, because love is who He is. It is God’s character to love, which is why Jesus was sent as a sacrifice to reconcile humanity back to God.

It was God’s love for His creation, that prompted the sacrifice of Jesus so that we as humans could have an unbroken relationship with God the Father. If we do not know who God is, then we do not have a clear definition of love. We are also unable to love properly, if we do not have a connection to God through Christ, because it is required in order to know what love is, and to love others.

To be clear, the world has its varying definitions of what love is. As mentioned, it is often based on what a person experiences or their own world view of the concept of love. What makes the world’s definitions of love inaccurate, is that in most cases, it is not based on knowing God. Rather, it is based on self, or the views of others. Looking to the world as a means to define, will often leave incomplete pictures because the world around us does not take its cues from God. Instead, the Bible makes it clear that the world system is dominated by Satan Himself.

Ephesians 2:2 says (NLV) “
You followed the sinful ways of the world and obeyed the leader of the power of darkness. He is the devil who is now working in the people who do not obey God.”

Since Satan is the one who has influence over the world, he perverts all that is good. Therefore, it becomes altered automatically, which means anything that comes from the world view is taken from Satan first. Since that is the case, that also includes the view of what love is. It should be known that because God is love, then He is the one who shows us what love is and how to love. Without Him, we are left to make up what we believe love to be, and sometimes, there are toxic examples that some have justified to state what love is.

The other part of 1 John 4:7-11 that is important to take note of, is that God loved His creation (us) first. We did not love God, rather, it was His love for us that caused Him to send Jesus as a substitute for the penalty of sin that we all owe. Knowing this, it means that from the very beginning, God loved us, even in the midst of our sinful condition.

Do you know Jesus in the pardon of your sins? If you don’t know Jesus, today is the day to give your life to Christ through repentance, the acknowledgment of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross and Him rising again from the dead. Once you come to the knowledge of Christ, you will be able to truly love and understand what it means to love and be loved. Knowing God through Christ, gives us the correct and only way to understand love as it was meant to be.

What is Your Purpose in Life?

01 Tuesday Dec 2020

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Have you ever wondered why you were born? Is there in a time in your life when you wanted to know why you exist? Each of us, we all have a specific purpose and a destiny that we are meant to fulfill. The fact that you and I are living in the timeline of history suggests that there is a purpose to our being.

If we look at the world around us, we can see the results of every day people, who yearn and even search for their specific purpose in life. The fact that there is a sense of restlessness that we feel when we are not being productive, it speaks to the desire that we all have to fulfill a purpose. It is not by happenstance, rather, it is a gift that God has given to each of us.

Psalm 57:2 (ESV) “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.”

Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV) “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

The two scriptures above points to at least two areas concerning the topic of purpose:

  • God has a purpose for your existence – The Psalmist David wrote in Psalm 57:2 that it is God who fulfilled His purpose for him. The Lord has designed you to take part in not merely existing but to use the gifts and talents that He has given to you for His glory and His purposes. One can think of this in the same way that an automaker designs and produces vehicles.

    Each manufacturer has a specific design and purpose for each vehicle that is produced. The manufacturer already knows the plans and actual functionality of each model vehicle. It is already built in by the manufacturer, which means that the vehicle already has the purpose and capability to operate as intended.

    It is the same with with you and I. God has already given us a purpose to fulfill, but we must tap into who God is, through having a relationship with Jesus Christ.

    When we know who God is, our reason for being is activated because we are then connected to the one who made us and who already knew us even before we were born. Without that connection, we are left trying to figure out why we exist, and we end up never coming to the realization of why we were made, and we are then unable to give God the glory through our functions.

  • God already knew you before you were born – In the scripture of Jeremiah 1:5, the Bible is clear when it points to the fact that even before we were born, God already knew us. This goes back to the example of a vehicle manufacturer. The plans are already in the mind of the manufacturer, even before the vehicle is made. It is the same with all of us. God knows who we are because He created us. Therefore, He has already endowed you with certain gifts, skills, and abilities even before you discover them. This also includes your purpose. 

So, how do you discover your purpose? The only way is to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. If we as God’s creation do not take the opportunity to come to the knowledge of Christ and thereby becoming reconciled back to God, then we run the risk of forfeiting our actual destiny and purpose. Or, we end up claiming an identity that was never intended, which means we begin to operate outside of the scope of our original design. 

The way to have a relationship with God, is to first repent of one’s sins and acknowledge that Jesus Christ died on the Cross, was buried and resurrected again. John 14:6 says (NIV) “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus is the only way to have a connection with God the Father. Do you know Jesus in the pardon of your sins? If not, this is a perfect opportunity to accept the sacrifice of Jesus. Once you do, you will begin the journey to discovering what your purpose in life is. 

Seasons – Everything in God’s Time

27 Friday Nov 2020

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Autumn or Fall as it is commonly known as, brings various changes just as each meteorological season does. One can feel the change in temperature from warmer to cooler, and there is of course the transition in the colors of the leaves on trees.

The shade of colors can range from a deep red, to a bright yellow, and even to orange. It is all a signature of God’s beauty as well as His order concerning time and seasons. Nature speaks to the character of God, and also the natural order that He intended. Even as the leaves begin to change, they also fall to the ground as it represents yet another shift into another season, and that is winter.

In life, there are seasons that we all face and differing times in which we experience changes. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says the following:

(NKJV) “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

The Bible makes it clear that there is a time for everything. We all experience cycles in life, and one of the most prominent for example, is from birth to death. We are all born, and we will all die. How long we live varies from person-to-person, but even the time between life and death is a season. There are other seasons that we experience:

For example, there may be moments in life when we go through hardships. Other times, we may face joyous occasions and periods of victories. There are some seasons that we endure that are more challenging than others, but even in those seasons, it is an opportunity to grow. It also provides the potential for maturity and lessons to be learned.

If we look back at the example of autumn into winter, both seasons (metaphorically speaking) represent a period where nature begins to fade into seasons of death and scarcity. However, after autumn and winter passes, spring time emerges as a newborn with vitality and sense of refreshment. Each meteorological season has its own beauty, but they also represent a set of traits that are a stark contrast from one season to another.

Beauty can be found in every season that we go through in life. God’s hands show us through nature and even in every day experiences that when He is the author of our story, He makes everything beautiful in His time.

(NKJV) 11 “He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”

Where are you in your life today? What challenges or even victories are you currently experiencing? Whatever station of life you find yourself in, it should be known that God’s timing is perfect and He exceeds every expectation that we have for ourselves. It is when we attempt to write our own story that we fall short. However, God has the best plans for your life, and it can only be seen through the lens of obedience and surrender unto Him.

Do you know Jesus as your personal Lord and savior? The best way to understand God’s plans for your life is to submit everything to Him. This is done through repenting of your sins, accepting the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, and acknowledging that He was buried and rose again. When we come to a point of admitting that God’s timing is better than ours, we will begin to see life take on a whole new meaning.

While not everything in life goes as we want it to go, there are things that we can learn and areas that produce growth when we wait for God’s timing and follow His plan. Where you are today, it is only a season, which means that there is yet something more for you and I to see and to learn from.