Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
April 22, 2009

The Greatest is Love



And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV).

Faith : Without it, there would be no Christianity, or any other religion in the world for that matter. We talk of coming to faith in Christ, living a life of faith, and often laud those in Scripture and in modern times who are known for their faith. The value of faith cannot be disputed. In fact, Hebrews 11:6 states, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God, must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" Without faith, we couldn't come to Christ, and without faith, we couldn't walk in obedience to Him. Faith is what often gets us through times that are tough. In a sense it is closely related to hope.

Hope is what keeps us going when whatever situation we are facing seems impossible. Hope is the expectation that we will obtain something specific we desire. Think of how life would be without hope. Hope is there for the single mom who doesn't know how she is going to feed her children and keep a roof over their heads. Such a woman desires a better life for her children, and is filled with the expectation of what it will be like to see that dream fulfilled. She might give up, if it wasn't for the hope that some type of breakthrough was right around the corner. Dreamers and visionaries are filled with hope. It is a gift from God that can help bring joy in the midst of very difficult circumstance. Hope encourages us that victory is imminent. Would you want to live without hope?

I wouldn't want to live a life without faith, and I wouldn't want to live a life without hope. However, in spite of how wonderful, important, and life-changing both faith and hope are, they pale in comparison to love. The Bible states that love is greater than both faith and hope.

What makes love so amazing? For starters, it is what motivated the Father to send His only Son to die for us. Without love, there would have been no redemption for mankind. Not only would we be without love, but without the redemption that was precipitated by love, there would also be no faith, and no hope. You see, nothing else matters, without love. It is foundational for every other good thing in our lives.

Father, I pray that You will put within us a spirit of love. Help us to grow in this fruit, so that we can better serve You and others. We thank You for all of the wonderful gifts You have given us, including faith and hope, but we want to specifically thank You for the gift of love that supersedes all other gifts. Amen. special thaks to making money on line


Source http://EzineArticles.com






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April 09, 2009

The Gift of Salvation


God loves each and every one of us so much. He loves us beyond comprehension. He offers us the most beautiful gift. It is the gift of salvation. He offers us the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, His Only Begotten Son.

John 3 : 16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth 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.

Why does man need Salvation?

Romans 6 : 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We have all broken God's commandments and for that reason, mankind is lost spiritually. The Bible says that the "wages of sin is death". What is a wage? It is what you earn. We have all sinned and therefore we all have earned death. The Bible says in Ezekiel 18 : 20, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Man has broken God's commandments. Sin separates man from God.

The Lord God is holy and cannot have sin in His presence. The Bible tells us that even if a person breaks just one commandment, it is like breaking them all. James 2 : 10 tells us: "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." This means that even if you break one commandment, it is as if you broke them all for you stand guilty before the Holy God. That is God's Holy standard. None of us have kept every commandment. We have broken God's Law. We are all sinners. God’s justice requires that sin receive its full penalty.

The suffering and sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus upon the cross satisfied the requirements of God’s justice. Jesus Christ died for our sins. He suffered the penalty of the Law we had broken. Jesus suffered our punishment-- He took our place.

I John 4 : 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

God loves us and He desires to have a close relationship with us but sin separates us from God. The Bible tells us that ALL on this earth have sinned and have fallen short of God's glory. When Adam and Eve first sinned in the Garden of Eden, they brought sin upon all mankind and the close fellowship that they had with God was no longer possible because of their sin.

The Lord instructed man to make unblemished animal sacrifices for their sin. The Bible tells us that "For without the shedding of blood, there is no remission for sin." The blood of these animals covered man's sins but the blood of animals could not actually take sins away. God had a wonderful plan to restore mankind unto Himself. This plan would take away the sins of the world. God sent His only Begotten Son to become a man and to shed His blood and to die for our sins.

The Lord Jesus never sinned and therefore willingly died for us -- being the perfect and holy sacrifice for our sins. Our sins were laid upon Him as He died for us.

It was prophesied in the Old Testament, hundreds of years before Christ Jesus came, that Messiah would die a terrible death and would save His people from their sins and be raised from the dead.

In the Book of Isaiah, we read that Messiah would die for our iniquities:

Isaiah 53 : 5,6 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The Lord Jesus said:
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

There is no other way to Heaven except through the Lord Jesus Christ. We all have sinned but He, being sinless, paid the price for our sins. He died in our place. Notice in the above passage of Isaiah 53 : 6 that the Lord laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all. Hebrews 9 : 26 says, "he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."

The Lord Jesus was the sinner's substitute on the cross. Because He died for sinners, those who receive Him as their Savior, are NOT indebted to pay the penalty for their sin. The wages of sin is death-- but He died for our sin-- and paid our penalty. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christ Jesus paid it all! He has made the way for fellowship back to God. In order to be saved, one must have complete faith in the Savior. Faith in the Lord Jesus is most necessary for we are justified by faith:

Romans 5 : 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

The Lord Jesus said in John 3 : 3: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Because we are all descendents of Adam and are sinners, we must be born again of God's Spirit-- a spiritual birth-- in order to be saved. And this new birth is only possible through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Man has been granted a free will by God and because of this, God will not force Himself on anyone. But He wants His creation to come to Him and be saved.. God's plan of salvation is so wonderful but it is only wonderful to those who receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. Those who do not believe on Him will not have everlasting life. He told us in John 3:36: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Because Jesus never sinned, His sacrifice of His own life paid the price for our sins. That is why He is called the Lamb of God. The prophet, John the Baptist, called Jesus the Lamb of God:

John 1 : 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Christ Jesus died on the Preparation of Passover. He took upon Himself all the sins of the world and He shed His own blood that we might be saved. He died willingly for us:

John 15 : 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 10 : 17-18 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Christ Jesus rose from the dead three days after His crucifixion. By conquering death, all those who receive Him will live forever with Him and death shall haveno power over them. Because of His Resurrection, Christians can walk a victorious life through the power of the Holy Spirit. The true meaning of life begins upon this earth when one receives Christ because all sins are forgiven and the fellowship that man had in the Garden with God is restored once again in the life of the Believer. And when the Christian physically dies, they go to live with Christ Jesus forever. God the Father sent His Only Begotten Son, the Lord Jesus, into the world to save the world because God loves us so much.

The Lord Jesus said in John 11 : 25-26:

I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Salvation is a FREE gift. This means that you cannot earn your way into Heaven. Your good works will not get you to Heaven. Being a good person cannot get you into Heaven. You can never be good enough to get into Heaven because even one sin will keep you out of Heaven. Jesus already paid the price for your sins. To say that you can save yourself is an insult to Him who gave His life for you. The Bible says that our righteousness is like filthy rags and there is no way that we can make it into Heaven by our own works. The Bible says that we are saved by grace through faith and NOT of our own works. Salvation is a gift from God.

Ephesians 2 : 8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

You can accept God's wonderful free gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ or you can reject His gift. God created you with a free will to choose. God will not force Himself on anyone. Those who receive Jesus receive the gift of eternal life and their sins are forgiven. Those who reject Him will die physically and spiritually -- lost in their sins and will have to face the wrath of God at the Judgment.

Every person will face the Lord Jesus Christ someday. He will either be your Savior or He will be your Judge.

Romans 1 : 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Unbelief in Him is a grievous sin against the Savior and will be punished as such. As we read before, the Lord Jesus said, "He that believeth not, is condemned already." The Bible says that those who die in their sins, apart from the Lord Jesus Christ, will go to the Lake of Fire for all eternity:

Revelation 20 : 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

But one does not have to go there...

BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

The Bible says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved." What does it mean to believe?

Believe what the Bible says.
Believe that Jesus is God-- The Second Person of the Trinity.
Believe that He became flesh and was born of a virgin.
Believe that He lived a pure and sinless life.

Believe that God the Father loves you and He sent His Only Begotten Son to die for your sins so that you would not have to go to hell. Believe that the wrath of God abides on the sinner but that eternal life is provided through Jesus Christ. Believe that you cannot save yourself by your own good works.

I John 4:9-10 says, 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. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

Believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and that He is seated at the Right Hand of God the Father.

Romans 8 : 34 ... It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Believe the words that Jesus said in the Bible. He said in John 14 : 6 I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Believe that by receiving Him, you too will have eternal life. John 3 :1 5 says That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

You must BELIEVE that Jesus died for you and acknowledge that your own merits and good works CANNOT save you. You cannot add anything to your salvation. His sacrifice of Himself at the cross is all-sufficient. There is nothing that you can add.

You must trust Him 100% for He saves completely. You must RECEIVE Christ Jesus as your personal Savior-- believing with all of your heart-- that He paid the price for your sins. Give up your pride and your own efforts to make yourself "a better person" and commit your guilty soul and all of its interests into the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ -- asking Him to save you. From your heart, call upon Him. As a helpless sinner, who cannot save yourself, you must receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior and Lord. He has given you His word that He will save you. Believe that He paid the price for your sins upon the Cross and that He rose again from the dead. Remember there is absolutely nothing that you can do to make yourself righteous. Jesus suffered the penalty of the Law we had broken.

When you receive Christ, you receive His forgiveness and you receive eternal life in Him for He is the ONLY Savior. The price of salvation was already PAID in full but you can only be saved by receiving the Savior. He is the Only way to Heaven.

Romans 10 : 9-11 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,t hou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

God says in Jeremiah 29 : 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.


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July 18, 2008

Pursue Love

Read 1 Corinthians 13.


What Love Isn’t


Love isn’t the warm, gushy feeling you get when being romanced by your sweetheart. Love is not a sexual desire or longing for physical interlude with another person. These are examples of mere feelings. While feelings may accompany love, they are not love.

What Love Is


According to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NKJV “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” In addition, we know from 1 John 4:16 “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” These attributes of love are really attributes of God and those who love God.

Steps to Love


We need to realize we have a choice to love. Love isn’t easy or free of effort. It takes a decision to love. It takes determination to continue to love. Most importantly it requires the Holy Spirit to love. As God is love, we can not love without God’s presence. That’s where the Holy Spirit comes into play. For those who believe Jesus died for our sin and rose again for our eternal salvation, the Holy Spirit is given to us and enables us to love.

Results of Love


There is no doubt when someone loves. You can see it in their life. Love exhibits it self in your life and the lives of others around you. Jesus gave us lots of examples to follow: washing His disciples’ feet, feeding thousands, denying His will and following His Father’s will, and laying down His life for His friends, as well as many other examples. Love changes things. Love forgives. It extends mercy rather than judgment. Love builds up rather tearing people down. Love seeks to restore rather than destroy. Just look the relationship of God and His people. Although His people repeatedly sinned and rebelled against Him, He still made it possible, through Christ, to be saved.

Above all else we can choose to do in this life; the greatest of these is the choice to love. Pursue love today. 1 John 4:7 NKJV says “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”


Lord, thank you for loving us and enabling us to love you and others. Help us choose to love and follow your example. Thank you for your Holy Spirit in us to lead us in your love. In Jesus’ name Amen.


Source http://thinkonitdevotions.wordpress.com


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July 11, 2008

Unfailing Love


You have my heart

And I am yours forever

You are my strength

God of grace and power


And everything

You hold in Your hand

Still You make time for me

I can't understand


Praise You, God of earth and sky

How beautiful is Your unfailing love

Unfailing love

And You never change,

God, You remain

The Holy One and my unfailing love

Unfailing love


You are my rock

The One I hold on to

You are my song

And I sing for You



These Lyrics are Beautiful.


These words make my heart happy.



Source http://kristinaruch.blogspot.com/




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To be Loved


Have you ever sat and wondered why?
I have.
Have you ever had no tears to cry?
Often.
Have you ever truly sought to die?
Once.

I see your eyes.
I know that look,
'The Hidden Heart of Pain'.
Running in 'Survival Mode,'
afraid to feel again.
Give it up, to One who heals,
there is nowhere else to go.
Feel His Love, inside your heart.
Radiate His Glow.

Have you ever felt His Grace rain down?
Daily.
A thankful heart where Love abounds,
Mine is.
A reason to live, a reason to give,
for Him.

This is The Love of Jesus Christ.
Who died, so we may live.
Rose again to offer Hope.
How much more can one man give?
He does'nt care from where you came,
or how this world may find you.
He Loved you then.
He Loves you now.
Leave all that pain behind you.

I love The Lord,with all my heart, and am nothing,and have nothing, without Him.


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