Mat 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Whatsoever you want others to do to you…do to them.
We hear this all the time don’t we? The saying- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It's a good saying, it's a very good saying and a good creed to live by, isn't it? You wouldn't hurt someone - mentally, emotionally, or physically if you knew you would be hurt that way in return, would you? So many people do hurt others and not just in tiny ways, but in huge ways. No matter that hurt it's senseless pain. Sure there might be those out there that believe in hurting those who hurt you. There might be those who believe in doling out pain to punish someone. There are even those who like to live by the old- hurt them before they hurt me, regardless of whether or not they were ever going to hurt you at all. Some will go so far as to say that some people hurt others because it's the only way they can show they love them. I just have to shake my head at that, I really do.
If ALL people treated others as they want to be treated what sort of world would we be living in?
Strangely enough just recently I've been catching myself (by the grace of God of course) feeling anger at other drivers around me. It's nothing new of course but lately what is new is the thought that comes immediately after I catch myself- 'what if that was me'.
What if it were me there slowing down looking for something?
What if it were me there needing to back out suddenly?
What if it were me there waiting for the light to change and confused over who is going to go first?
I have done all those things and yes, I could console myself by saying 'well the people around me had a right to be mad at me', but that's a cop out, right?
Do we have a right to that road rage, or if not rage, road ire? Anyone would have it, right? It's instinctive, reflexive, it's normal, it's … wrong. Yes, it may be all those things but it doesn't make it right. Our flesh nature is instinctive towards anger, towards evil and it's the flesh nature we have to deny, that we have to surrender to our Savior so that the spiritual nature in us can dominate.
Lashing out at someone has become reflex for so many. They get irritated and this they believe gives them the right to act on that irritation and lash out. We are going to be irritated. Too many believe that they are not right in their relationship with our Savior when they even get irritated. Too many wish to believe they can transcend all the irritation, all the angst of life and this would prove they are truly Christ's. All that proves is they've succeeded in fooling themselves that they are a *GOOD* person. We can't concern ourselves with *being good to be God's*. Yes, we must shun all evil, we must live in Christ with Him as our example, but we have to let our righteousness be Christ's righteousness. He has to live in us and His righteousness must come through, nothing that we can call OUR righteousness, OUR goodness. We have to accept that we are being tried in fire, we are being refined constantly and that refining is never easy. We need to ALWAYS do unto others as we WANT them to do to us, whether that is excuse our mistakes as we're driving, or forgive our forgetfulness, or be understanding as we fumble with our notes, have patience towards us when we mess up our pin number at the atm and hold up the line, even be forgiving when we have to take a cellphone call and our hushed conversation is bothering you. It doesn't matter what it is WE need to treat others as WE want to be treated when we are in their shoes. When we anger them we want them to be understanding. When they anger us we NEED to be understanding. When they slap us we need to realize that we didn't like being slapped and we shouldn't slap back. When they revile us it's hurtful and if we revile them back we are giving hurt back, we are giving something WE wouldn't want to have- if we had the choice. It's not easy, no one said it was.
Mat 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
We should do what we want done to us. We have to put ourselves in the shoes of others at all times not just when it's convenient for us to do so.
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Thou shalt LOVE they neighbor as thyself.
This is one of the COMMANDMENTS!
A COMMAND for us to follow, not for us to ignore, not for us to sometimes follow, not for us to disregard as we do sooooooooooo often! We do it all the time! We've STOPPED loving our neighbor. We've stopped and we've done so for many, many reasons and not all of those reasons are horrific to us. We stop because we are scared for our safety. We stop because we just live in our own little safe sphere of influence and to step outside it makes us feel vulnerable in many ways.
Next time you step outside of your house and spy a stranger- ask yourself if you love them. Seriously, ask yourself if you love them. Love isn't that sentimental business we call it, love is caring above and beyond yourself for another, undeservedly. We don't wait for the strangers to become our friends then become our close friends until we decide we love them. We must love our neighbors, we must love all those around us as our God would love them and does love them.
Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
By the grace of God my we learn this, may this become part of our lives through our Savior. Help us God to love as you would have us love, as You love.
By Your LOVE, Your mercy and grace, Your righteousness now and forever!
Amen.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
The Lord will not hear me
Psa 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me
Why doesn't God hear us? If we regard iniquity in our hearts. If we keep sin in our lives why should we expect God to hear us? Why? It is true that our Savior came to save the sinners (which is all of us) but even He told one man He healed--
Joh 5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
And a woman accused--
Joh 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Sin no more. Jesus knew all about our propensity towards sin and He did not say this-- 'go and TRY to sin no more' . He plainly stated, 'Sin no more'.
When we purposely sin we are shutting ourselves off from God. Every sin we commit estranges us from our God. Sin brings up a barrier between us and God as sure as a thick prison wall slamming down between us, no bars to see through, no windows, completely cut off. It's true. If it weren't true we would have had NO need of a Savior.
Sin was not eradicated when our Savior came and died for us. Sin in a person's life wasn't forever taken away after they were healed, or forgiven. They were told to sin no more. There would be future choices they'd have to make, they weren't inoculated against sin. Opportunities to sin would come again and again and again- and they'd have to choose whether or not to succumb to the sin each time. Just as we who have accepted our Savior can still choose sin. When we do sin the same thing happens that happens every time any one sins… we cut ourselves off from God and until we seek forgiveness, repenting of that sin, we are cut off.
If we regard sin in our hearts, if we hold onto our sins cherishing them, God cannot hear us. I'm not saying God isn't ready and willing to forgive us of our sins, He is! But as long as we love the sin in our lives, as long as we cling to our sin and refuse to repent of it there is no reason for God to hear us. He hears the cry of the repentant, but not that of the unrepentant.
Make no mistake, God knows our hearts. He knows.
1Jn 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
1Jn 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
1Jn 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
God is GREATER than our heart and knoweth all things.
Psa 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me
Can we assure our hearts before God if they are filled with sin? No. Not if the sin is not repented of.
Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
If our heart is not contrite but regarding iniquity, we CANNOT expect God to hear us. We tell people to confess and repent of their sins, accepting Jesus as their sacrifice, accepting Jesus' forgiveness, but we can never tell a person to keep on sinning and Jesus will forgive you, we just can't. People will jump up and accuse us of making it a salvation by works when we say stuff like that, but it's true. Jesus preached this message of repentance and forgiveness. We can tell someone caught up in sin's evil grip to repent and forsake the sin and to do so every day, every hour, every minute if need be as they seek forgiveness through our Savior.
God knows our hearts and He is GREATER than our hearts. God will forgive knowing the heart of each and every one of us. God knows that the genuine cry of a sinner is much different from the cry coming from one who cherishes the sin in their hearts. Is it any wonder we must pray--
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
As long as we keep from surrendering ourselves fully to God, giving up the selfishness inside us, we can't expect God to hear us.
When Jesus told those whose lives He touched with His miracles to go and sin no more, He was telling them that sinning isn't something they should do. Just as we can sit here and say sin no more- that sinning has a consequence. Jesus wasn't telling them to sin no more on a whim. Jesus wasn't telling them to sin no more in a half-hearted manner. Jesus wasn't saying to sin no more just to hear Himself speak. These were important words, very important words.
Sin separates us from God. The first sin committed by a human begin separated us from God. When we stop trusting God in all things, when we look to ourselves for salvation we will NEVER find it. We only save ourselves by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior, constantly.
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Psa 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me
If we cling to sin not repenting of it, not seeking the victory over it through our Savior, if we knowingly hold onto anything that would separate us from God - we can't expect Him to hear us.
If someone you love does something to hurt you, you expect them to stop doing that thing and to apologize in order to keep peace between you. If that person you love keeps doing that thing that hurts you and is unapologetic do you really believe they love you? Many abuse victims will stay in an abusive relationship because the abuser apologizes over and over and promises not to do it again, not to hurt them again. Often the abuser is very apologetic and sincerely so, not wanting to hurt but seemingly unable to keep from doing so. When there is very little or no repentance on the abuser's part they can of course use other things to get their victim to stay with them- emotional, mental torture. However, a lot of times that abuse causes a separation between the two. When a spouse cheats there is often a separation after that abuse. Divorce between a man and woman happens for many reasons, but we can look at those reasons and sin is at the root of them. Even when someone says they divorce because they *grew apart*, the sin lies in the neglect that caused that to happen. When a person is separated from God it is because they are regarding sin in their heart. When that separation occurs God will not hear us, not until we've genuinely repented of that sin and found forgiveness in our Savior.
We can believe God when we are told that He will take care of us. We can believe God when we are told to ask and we will receive. What we can't believe is that sin doesn't matter. Our Savior died for us because of sin- sin matters. We live in a world that will try and convince you at every turn that sin doesn't matter. Sins have become acceptable. We call darkness - light. Sin isn't acceptable and we really need to examine our lives to find out where we might have conformed to the world because as long as we are conformed to the world we are NOT with God. And yes, the world has convinced millions that they can be conformed to the world and still be saved- that's a deception Satan has excelled at.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord may we be wholly His! May we not be conformed to the world! May we not accept sin just because the world has!
By His love may we NEVER regard sin in our hearts and may He always hear us!
Amen.
Why doesn't God hear us? If we regard iniquity in our hearts. If we keep sin in our lives why should we expect God to hear us? Why? It is true that our Savior came to save the sinners (which is all of us) but even He told one man He healed--
Joh 5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
And a woman accused--
Joh 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Sin no more. Jesus knew all about our propensity towards sin and He did not say this-- 'go and TRY to sin no more' . He plainly stated, 'Sin no more'.
When we purposely sin we are shutting ourselves off from God. Every sin we commit estranges us from our God. Sin brings up a barrier between us and God as sure as a thick prison wall slamming down between us, no bars to see through, no windows, completely cut off. It's true. If it weren't true we would have had NO need of a Savior.
Sin was not eradicated when our Savior came and died for us. Sin in a person's life wasn't forever taken away after they were healed, or forgiven. They were told to sin no more. There would be future choices they'd have to make, they weren't inoculated against sin. Opportunities to sin would come again and again and again- and they'd have to choose whether or not to succumb to the sin each time. Just as we who have accepted our Savior can still choose sin. When we do sin the same thing happens that happens every time any one sins… we cut ourselves off from God and until we seek forgiveness, repenting of that sin, we are cut off.
If we regard sin in our hearts, if we hold onto our sins cherishing them, God cannot hear us. I'm not saying God isn't ready and willing to forgive us of our sins, He is! But as long as we love the sin in our lives, as long as we cling to our sin and refuse to repent of it there is no reason for God to hear us. He hears the cry of the repentant, but not that of the unrepentant.
Make no mistake, God knows our hearts. He knows.
1Jn 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
1Jn 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
1Jn 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
God is GREATER than our heart and knoweth all things.
Psa 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me
Can we assure our hearts before God if they are filled with sin? No. Not if the sin is not repented of.
Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
If our heart is not contrite but regarding iniquity, we CANNOT expect God to hear us. We tell people to confess and repent of their sins, accepting Jesus as their sacrifice, accepting Jesus' forgiveness, but we can never tell a person to keep on sinning and Jesus will forgive you, we just can't. People will jump up and accuse us of making it a salvation by works when we say stuff like that, but it's true. Jesus preached this message of repentance and forgiveness. We can tell someone caught up in sin's evil grip to repent and forsake the sin and to do so every day, every hour, every minute if need be as they seek forgiveness through our Savior.
God knows our hearts and He is GREATER than our hearts. God will forgive knowing the heart of each and every one of us. God knows that the genuine cry of a sinner is much different from the cry coming from one who cherishes the sin in their hearts. Is it any wonder we must pray--
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
As long as we keep from surrendering ourselves fully to God, giving up the selfishness inside us, we can't expect God to hear us.
When Jesus told those whose lives He touched with His miracles to go and sin no more, He was telling them that sinning isn't something they should do. Just as we can sit here and say sin no more- that sinning has a consequence. Jesus wasn't telling them to sin no more on a whim. Jesus wasn't telling them to sin no more in a half-hearted manner. Jesus wasn't saying to sin no more just to hear Himself speak. These were important words, very important words.
Sin separates us from God. The first sin committed by a human begin separated us from God. When we stop trusting God in all things, when we look to ourselves for salvation we will NEVER find it. We only save ourselves by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior, constantly.
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Psa 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me
If we cling to sin not repenting of it, not seeking the victory over it through our Savior, if we knowingly hold onto anything that would separate us from God - we can't expect Him to hear us.
If someone you love does something to hurt you, you expect them to stop doing that thing and to apologize in order to keep peace between you. If that person you love keeps doing that thing that hurts you and is unapologetic do you really believe they love you? Many abuse victims will stay in an abusive relationship because the abuser apologizes over and over and promises not to do it again, not to hurt them again. Often the abuser is very apologetic and sincerely so, not wanting to hurt but seemingly unable to keep from doing so. When there is very little or no repentance on the abuser's part they can of course use other things to get their victim to stay with them- emotional, mental torture. However, a lot of times that abuse causes a separation between the two. When a spouse cheats there is often a separation after that abuse. Divorce between a man and woman happens for many reasons, but we can look at those reasons and sin is at the root of them. Even when someone says they divorce because they *grew apart*, the sin lies in the neglect that caused that to happen. When a person is separated from God it is because they are regarding sin in their heart. When that separation occurs God will not hear us, not until we've genuinely repented of that sin and found forgiveness in our Savior.
We can believe God when we are told that He will take care of us. We can believe God when we are told to ask and we will receive. What we can't believe is that sin doesn't matter. Our Savior died for us because of sin- sin matters. We live in a world that will try and convince you at every turn that sin doesn't matter. Sins have become acceptable. We call darkness - light. Sin isn't acceptable and we really need to examine our lives to find out where we might have conformed to the world because as long as we are conformed to the world we are NOT with God. And yes, the world has convinced millions that they can be conformed to the world and still be saved- that's a deception Satan has excelled at.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord may we be wholly His! May we not be conformed to the world! May we not accept sin just because the world has!
By His love may we NEVER regard sin in our hearts and may He always hear us!
Amen.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss
Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
We ask but we don't receive. Remember talking about asking for *good things*? People do it all the time, yes? We ask for good things like healing for a sick friend, that's a good thing to pray for, isn't it? We do it all the time, don't we? I see it on facebook often… various people fall ill or have loved ones who fall ill, or friends, and even friends of friends asking for others to pray for them and this is good, yes? Recognizing that God is the giver of life, the giver of healing, that God has this power that we lack. Is there anything wrong in asking God to bring healing to someone? Not if we are praying for His will to be done, right? Is it possible that STOP praying for God's will and start praying for our will to be done? We might not actually say those words, in fact we might mouth the word's 'Thy will be done', but are they sincere? We HAVE to ask ourselves these questions, we really do. We are told plainly-
Ye receive NOT because ye ask amiss and you're asking amiss because you want to consume the answered prayer upon your lust. Your lust being your selfish purpose.
Do you suppose a person can pray selfishly for another person to be healed? I do. I believe that a person can want to claim glory for the mere fact they prayed and THEIR prayer was answered. All glory is to go to GOD, none to ourselves. Yet we all too often take glory to ourselves.
I also believe a person can want another to be healed because selfishly they can't imagine life without that person.
We want people to be healed because not to want them healed means we want them to suffer and if we want someone to suffer that would just plain be cruel, and wrong.
There ARE good reasons to want people healed, there really are. Jesus went about healing thousands with many miracles. Jesus healed and these miracles made those healed, and those witnessing the healing much more receptive to the message our Savior had to give them. The hearts of many were softened by the healing touch and many accepted the Savior - the way, the truth, and the life- the bringer of eternal salvation. To want healing for others or even for ourselves is not wrong, but we can want healing for others selfishly and anything done from selfishness is never a good thing.
Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
God knows our hearts and He know when we ask something amiss, we can't fool God. Seriously, we can't fool Him.
Our Savior was God become man all because He needed to do so in order to bring us salvation in Him so that we may one day live with Him eternally in love. This is why our Savior lived. So if our Savior lived to save us, we too need to live in order to point the way to our Savior and salvation in Him. This is why we live.
We were created for GOD'S glory.
Isa 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
We were created for our LORD'S pleasure- For our Lord's will, for our Lord's desire- for this we were created.
Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created
We are given to Christ who wills that we be with Him.
Joh 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
We live, but the selfish part of us does NOT live when Christ lives in us!
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Our LUSTS are crucified if we are Christ's.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
If we live for Christ, if we live with Christ in us, if we live for what Christ lived for- eternal life IN HIM- then ALL we pray for will be centered solely around Him, for Him, for all that He is- HIS WILL.
Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
We receive not from God when we ask selfishly.
When a loved one dies after being ill when we've been praying for God's healing it is very easy for us to believe God did NOT answer our prayer. And we ONLY believe that way when we are being selfish, right? Seriously. Selfishly we refuse to believe that God's will could be anything other than ours- that the person be healed. We don't like to imagine it is God's will that a person we love- die. Remember it was the Father's will that Christ die for us. We think of death as something horrible, something to be shunned at all costs, something to dread, and fear. Very few of us believe death is something to welcome because that sounds very morbid and really it is, unless you are suffering horrifically and then death is a welcomed reprieve from the pain. We are not to SEEK death, but at the same time we are not to FEAR death either. And when death enters our lives - and it does in many ways- we need to understand that God who sees far beyond our mortal sight allows death and will continue to allow death until it is swallowed up in the victory of Christ- at the last trump- at Christ's return.
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Death is allowed and all we can do is pray that God's will be done in our lives and in the lives of those we pray for and before death takes any of those we love, before death takes any we pray for, that they die as Christ's so they will rise again from the dead when Christ returns.
When we 'ask amiss' we are asking for our will, our selfish will to be done. This is true not only when praying for the ill, the dying, but in all we pray for. This doesn't mean we are not to ask for things, we are but ALWAYS with God's will first and foremost in mind. Do you want to pray for a safe journey? Do you believe God wants you to be safe- it's hard to believe otherwise, right? But when the car breaks down, or you're caught in a traffic jam, or you're in a car accident it's NOT because God didn't want you to be safe. It is ALLOWED to happen ultimately for our good when we believe God is in control of our lives. We can't understand why bad things happen, but we have to trust God even in our darkest hours and if you haven't had any darkest hours yet, you most likely will eventually, very few are spared them.
Every single prayer we pray is answered, every single prayer we pray is heard by God when He is our Lord of Lords. The answers we receive might not always be what we desire and we need to do some self-reflection when that happens. Are we asking 'amiss'? Are we praying selfishly? If we fully believe we are not praying selfishly, that we are not asking 'amiss', then we must leave it all in God's hand for Him to work out according to His will in the ways He knows are best.
By His Grace!
Amen.
We ask but we don't receive. Remember talking about asking for *good things*? People do it all the time, yes? We ask for good things like healing for a sick friend, that's a good thing to pray for, isn't it? We do it all the time, don't we? I see it on facebook often… various people fall ill or have loved ones who fall ill, or friends, and even friends of friends asking for others to pray for them and this is good, yes? Recognizing that God is the giver of life, the giver of healing, that God has this power that we lack. Is there anything wrong in asking God to bring healing to someone? Not if we are praying for His will to be done, right? Is it possible that STOP praying for God's will and start praying for our will to be done? We might not actually say those words, in fact we might mouth the word's 'Thy will be done', but are they sincere? We HAVE to ask ourselves these questions, we really do. We are told plainly-
Ye receive NOT because ye ask amiss and you're asking amiss because you want to consume the answered prayer upon your lust. Your lust being your selfish purpose.
Do you suppose a person can pray selfishly for another person to be healed? I do. I believe that a person can want to claim glory for the mere fact they prayed and THEIR prayer was answered. All glory is to go to GOD, none to ourselves. Yet we all too often take glory to ourselves.
I also believe a person can want another to be healed because selfishly they can't imagine life without that person.
We want people to be healed because not to want them healed means we want them to suffer and if we want someone to suffer that would just plain be cruel, and wrong.
There ARE good reasons to want people healed, there really are. Jesus went about healing thousands with many miracles. Jesus healed and these miracles made those healed, and those witnessing the healing much more receptive to the message our Savior had to give them. The hearts of many were softened by the healing touch and many accepted the Savior - the way, the truth, and the life- the bringer of eternal salvation. To want healing for others or even for ourselves is not wrong, but we can want healing for others selfishly and anything done from selfishness is never a good thing.
Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
God knows our hearts and He know when we ask something amiss, we can't fool God. Seriously, we can't fool Him.
Our Savior was God become man all because He needed to do so in order to bring us salvation in Him so that we may one day live with Him eternally in love. This is why our Savior lived. So if our Savior lived to save us, we too need to live in order to point the way to our Savior and salvation in Him. This is why we live.
We were created for GOD'S glory.
Isa 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
We were created for our LORD'S pleasure- For our Lord's will, for our Lord's desire- for this we were created.
Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created
We are given to Christ who wills that we be with Him.
Joh 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
We live, but the selfish part of us does NOT live when Christ lives in us!
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Our LUSTS are crucified if we are Christ's.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
If we live for Christ, if we live with Christ in us, if we live for what Christ lived for- eternal life IN HIM- then ALL we pray for will be centered solely around Him, for Him, for all that He is- HIS WILL.
Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
We receive not from God when we ask selfishly.
When a loved one dies after being ill when we've been praying for God's healing it is very easy for us to believe God did NOT answer our prayer. And we ONLY believe that way when we are being selfish, right? Seriously. Selfishly we refuse to believe that God's will could be anything other than ours- that the person be healed. We don't like to imagine it is God's will that a person we love- die. Remember it was the Father's will that Christ die for us. We think of death as something horrible, something to be shunned at all costs, something to dread, and fear. Very few of us believe death is something to welcome because that sounds very morbid and really it is, unless you are suffering horrifically and then death is a welcomed reprieve from the pain. We are not to SEEK death, but at the same time we are not to FEAR death either. And when death enters our lives - and it does in many ways- we need to understand that God who sees far beyond our mortal sight allows death and will continue to allow death until it is swallowed up in the victory of Christ- at the last trump- at Christ's return.
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Death is allowed and all we can do is pray that God's will be done in our lives and in the lives of those we pray for and before death takes any of those we love, before death takes any we pray for, that they die as Christ's so they will rise again from the dead when Christ returns.
When we 'ask amiss' we are asking for our will, our selfish will to be done. This is true not only when praying for the ill, the dying, but in all we pray for. This doesn't mean we are not to ask for things, we are but ALWAYS with God's will first and foremost in mind. Do you want to pray for a safe journey? Do you believe God wants you to be safe- it's hard to believe otherwise, right? But when the car breaks down, or you're caught in a traffic jam, or you're in a car accident it's NOT because God didn't want you to be safe. It is ALLOWED to happen ultimately for our good when we believe God is in control of our lives. We can't understand why bad things happen, but we have to trust God even in our darkest hours and if you haven't had any darkest hours yet, you most likely will eventually, very few are spared them.
Every single prayer we pray is answered, every single prayer we pray is heard by God when He is our Lord of Lords. The answers we receive might not always be what we desire and we need to do some self-reflection when that happens. Are we asking 'amiss'? Are we praying selfishly? If we fully believe we are not praying selfishly, that we are not asking 'amiss', then we must leave it all in God's hand for Him to work out according to His will in the ways He knows are best.
By His Grace!
Amen.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
We know not that we are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. We believe we are rich and have all we need. This is the state of so many people in regards to their spiritual life. They need nothing, they need no more, they have all they'll ever need and yet… they have nothing. This is akin to our Savior saying to a people in the day He returns for us--
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
We wonder how anyone could believe they are Christ's, don't we? We should KNOW whether or not we are Christ's, shouldn't we? Yet there are a whole slew of people who don't know. These people are completely oblivious to their true state, this ought to frighten us, shouldn't it? The people just don't know! They believe they are but they aren't and they just don't realize it. How can we know? How?
We read this…
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing
…and don't we know? Rich and have need of nothing. Rich spiritually rich, needing nothing. Yet anyone who is TRULY Christ's knows that they NEED Christ's righteousness. Anyone who is truly Christ's knows they need so much and they need it constantly, never endingly. We can never use these words… I am without adding… with Christ by His grace. When we take any glory to ourselves we are stealing it from our Savior who deserves ALL the glory, ALL the glory!
We are NOT rich! We are NOT increased with goods. We DO NEED so much!
It's no wonder there will be many in the day Christ comes that THINK they are His but they are not, He doesn't know them, how can He know them? They are too busy caught up in themselves to really know Him.
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Knowest not that thou art- wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
We are wretched
We are miserable
We are poor
We are blind
We are naked…without Christ.
With Christ we can be rich in faith, clothed in His righteousness, and filled with the sight of Holy Spirit.
Only through Christ are we anything at all. Christ will know us because we live through HIM. When we aren't living on our own we have Christ living in us filling us with Himself, His righteousness, His grace, His love, His life. Is it any wonder He knows those who are His?!
By His grace and mercy may we be wholly His! Fully surrendered to Him, rich through Him, clothed by Him, filled with sight by Him, all to His glory!
Amen.
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
We know not that we are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. We believe we are rich and have all we need. This is the state of so many people in regards to their spiritual life. They need nothing, they need no more, they have all they'll ever need and yet… they have nothing. This is akin to our Savior saying to a people in the day He returns for us--
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
We wonder how anyone could believe they are Christ's, don't we? We should KNOW whether or not we are Christ's, shouldn't we? Yet there are a whole slew of people who don't know. These people are completely oblivious to their true state, this ought to frighten us, shouldn't it? The people just don't know! They believe they are but they aren't and they just don't realize it. How can we know? How?
We read this…
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing
…and don't we know? Rich and have need of nothing. Rich spiritually rich, needing nothing. Yet anyone who is TRULY Christ's knows that they NEED Christ's righteousness. Anyone who is truly Christ's knows they need so much and they need it constantly, never endingly. We can never use these words… I am without adding… with Christ by His grace. When we take any glory to ourselves we are stealing it from our Savior who deserves ALL the glory, ALL the glory!
We are NOT rich! We are NOT increased with goods. We DO NEED so much!
It's no wonder there will be many in the day Christ comes that THINK they are His but they are not, He doesn't know them, how can He know them? They are too busy caught up in themselves to really know Him.
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Knowest not that thou art- wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
We are wretched
We are miserable
We are poor
We are blind
We are naked…without Christ.
With Christ we can be rich in faith, clothed in His righteousness, and filled with the sight of Holy Spirit.
Only through Christ are we anything at all. Christ will know us because we live through HIM. When we aren't living on our own we have Christ living in us filling us with Himself, His righteousness, His grace, His love, His life. Is it any wonder He knows those who are His?!
By His grace and mercy may we be wholly His! Fully surrendered to Him, rich through Him, clothed by Him, filled with sight by Him, all to His glory!
Amen.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Selfless
1Jn 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
If we KNOW that He hears us- WHATSOEVER we ask, we KNOW that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
We know because we are asking ACCORDING to HIS WILL. As long as we ask according to HIS will He hears us and will grant our petitions.
Yes, yes, and yes, this has been my focus lately but I think it needs to be. When we pray we have to pray according to God's will, not our will. CAN we do this? Seriously, can we do this? We get so caught up in our own will we scarcely can pray for God's will. We are so incredibly self-centered that whenever we pray we put self into it to the point we are asking God to do our will. Answer our prayers, which in truth are HIS prayer if it is for HIS will, yes?
God's will and our will, this is what it's all about-- bending our will to God's, submitting our will to God's, surrendering our will to God's will, giving up self to God. Can we do this? Can we? We who are so incredibly wrapped up in our selves, can we give that up to God? It's easy to say yes, but so very hard to do. In fact it's impossible for us to do, and only possible for our Savior to do for us.
Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever
The Comforter abiding with US forever.
Mar 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
It is NOT ye that speak BUT the Holy Ghost!
We will need to speak, we will be required to speak and when that day comes we won't be the one speaking, why? We won't be the one speaking because the HOLY GHOST will be speaking THROUGH us. God will be speaking through us. For it is NOT YE that speak. We will be a vessel to be used by God. This is a moment of complete self-surrender. God speaking through us, not us speaking- no self involved whatsoever, us being used by God. So amazing! So wondrous!
Is it any wonder that over and over Jesus' example is one of serving others? He spent all of His ministry preaching the gospel of the kingdom of heaven while healing multitudes, tending to all those around Him. Jesus didn't stay in one place but journeyed to bring His message to many. The healing and preaching went hand in hand. The giving was a CONSTANT message to us. The Son of God was NOT selfish. Every time He healed someone that was time He gave to them, His time, His love. We must remember Jesus was human- Jesus became tired and hungry just as we do. The work He was called on to do wasn't easy. Just imagine how much energy it took from Him to be so in demand working so incredibly hard. It's too easy for us to believe that He had endless stores of energy, but He had our FLESH, and any one with our flesh body has the same needs we have. Seriously, this is something we don't consider enough. Our Savior was our example in all things and He knew when He needed to rest, He knew when He needed to eat, He knew when He thirsted, He knew when He needed to be alone to pray. Jesus had physical LIMITATIONS! Too many shake their heads to that, believing that because He was a God He didn't have to feel things the way we feel things- they're wrong! Jesus EMPTIED Himself and became HUMAN. Jesus relied upon His Father just as WE have to rely upon our Heavenly Father.
The example of our Lord is something we need to hold up every single day. Our Savior's selflessness, pure selflessness!
By His grace may we become selfless, through Him may we become selfless, so selfless that the Holy Spirit will be able to completely use us, speaking through us when that day comes.
In His LOVE!
Amen.
1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
If we KNOW that He hears us- WHATSOEVER we ask, we KNOW that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
We know because we are asking ACCORDING to HIS WILL. As long as we ask according to HIS will He hears us and will grant our petitions.
Yes, yes, and yes, this has been my focus lately but I think it needs to be. When we pray we have to pray according to God's will, not our will. CAN we do this? Seriously, can we do this? We get so caught up in our own will we scarcely can pray for God's will. We are so incredibly self-centered that whenever we pray we put self into it to the point we are asking God to do our will. Answer our prayers, which in truth are HIS prayer if it is for HIS will, yes?
God's will and our will, this is what it's all about-- bending our will to God's, submitting our will to God's, surrendering our will to God's will, giving up self to God. Can we do this? Can we? We who are so incredibly wrapped up in our selves, can we give that up to God? It's easy to say yes, but so very hard to do. In fact it's impossible for us to do, and only possible for our Savior to do for us.
Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever
The Comforter abiding with US forever.
Mar 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
It is NOT ye that speak BUT the Holy Ghost!
We will need to speak, we will be required to speak and when that day comes we won't be the one speaking, why? We won't be the one speaking because the HOLY GHOST will be speaking THROUGH us. God will be speaking through us. For it is NOT YE that speak. We will be a vessel to be used by God. This is a moment of complete self-surrender. God speaking through us, not us speaking- no self involved whatsoever, us being used by God. So amazing! So wondrous!
Is it any wonder that over and over Jesus' example is one of serving others? He spent all of His ministry preaching the gospel of the kingdom of heaven while healing multitudes, tending to all those around Him. Jesus didn't stay in one place but journeyed to bring His message to many. The healing and preaching went hand in hand. The giving was a CONSTANT message to us. The Son of God was NOT selfish. Every time He healed someone that was time He gave to them, His time, His love. We must remember Jesus was human- Jesus became tired and hungry just as we do. The work He was called on to do wasn't easy. Just imagine how much energy it took from Him to be so in demand working so incredibly hard. It's too easy for us to believe that He had endless stores of energy, but He had our FLESH, and any one with our flesh body has the same needs we have. Seriously, this is something we don't consider enough. Our Savior was our example in all things and He knew when He needed to rest, He knew when He needed to eat, He knew when He thirsted, He knew when He needed to be alone to pray. Jesus had physical LIMITATIONS! Too many shake their heads to that, believing that because He was a God He didn't have to feel things the way we feel things- they're wrong! Jesus EMPTIED Himself and became HUMAN. Jesus relied upon His Father just as WE have to rely upon our Heavenly Father.
The example of our Lord is something we need to hold up every single day. Our Savior's selflessness, pure selflessness!
By His grace may we become selfless, through Him may we become selfless, so selfless that the Holy Spirit will be able to completely use us, speaking through us when that day comes.
In His LOVE!
Amen.
Whatsoever we ask...
1Jn 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
Whatsoever we ask-we receive of HIM- BECAUSE we keep HIS commandments and DO those things that ARE pleasing in HIS sight.
We talk much about keeping HIS commandments but right now we need to talk about DOING those things that ARE PLEASING in HIS sight.
What sort of things do you believe are pleasing in our Savior's sight?
Joh 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
Jesus ALWAYS did things pleasing to the Father.
We know what Jesus did, we have a record of His life, of His ministry, of the Gospel message He came to give to mankind. When we look to Jesus and know that all He did was pleasing to God then we know that if we are to please Him we must do all He did, all that we are able to do through HIS grace and righteousness.
It's silly for us to try and please our Savior and not keep his commandments. It'd be like a child trying to please his parents and not following the rules the parent set up for the child to keep. Why do we believe that we can act in any manner we choose and please God? A spoiled child believes that way. A spoiled child will easily disobey their parent and expect that parent to overlook their petulant, selfish actions. Why? Because a parent might just do that. But God… God can't overlook our selfish behavior. God cannot lie. God cannot lie, period, meaning God will not lie even to Himself and that's what parents do when they decide to overlook a child's selfish behavior and give into a child's petulant ways. A parent makes the choice to allow a child to disobey, they lie to the child because they generally will not tell the child they are choosing to overlook their bad behavior, instead they just overlook it and allow the child to believe they've gotten away with their bad behavior.
To please God, to please our Savior, we obey Him.
1Jn 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
When we obey our Savior we are doing that which is pleasing in His sight.
In obeying our Savior we can truly ask Him anything and we WILL receive what we ask for because we wouldn't dare ask Him for anything that wouldn't please Him. And what pleases Him most-- our believing in Him enough to wholly want His will done in our lives. How beautiful this message is.
Selflessness.
God paramount in our lives.
The giving up of self for God.
Living for God's will.
This is what God wants of us and this is our duty to God.
Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Reverence God- keep His commandments.
1Jn 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
God's will now and forever!
Amen!
Whatsoever we ask-we receive of HIM- BECAUSE we keep HIS commandments and DO those things that ARE pleasing in HIS sight.
We talk much about keeping HIS commandments but right now we need to talk about DOING those things that ARE PLEASING in HIS sight.
What sort of things do you believe are pleasing in our Savior's sight?
Joh 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
Jesus ALWAYS did things pleasing to the Father.
We know what Jesus did, we have a record of His life, of His ministry, of the Gospel message He came to give to mankind. When we look to Jesus and know that all He did was pleasing to God then we know that if we are to please Him we must do all He did, all that we are able to do through HIS grace and righteousness.
It's silly for us to try and please our Savior and not keep his commandments. It'd be like a child trying to please his parents and not following the rules the parent set up for the child to keep. Why do we believe that we can act in any manner we choose and please God? A spoiled child believes that way. A spoiled child will easily disobey their parent and expect that parent to overlook their petulant, selfish actions. Why? Because a parent might just do that. But God… God can't overlook our selfish behavior. God cannot lie. God cannot lie, period, meaning God will not lie even to Himself and that's what parents do when they decide to overlook a child's selfish behavior and give into a child's petulant ways. A parent makes the choice to allow a child to disobey, they lie to the child because they generally will not tell the child they are choosing to overlook their bad behavior, instead they just overlook it and allow the child to believe they've gotten away with their bad behavior.
To please God, to please our Savior, we obey Him.
1Jn 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
When we obey our Savior we are doing that which is pleasing in His sight.
In obeying our Savior we can truly ask Him anything and we WILL receive what we ask for because we wouldn't dare ask Him for anything that wouldn't please Him. And what pleases Him most-- our believing in Him enough to wholly want His will done in our lives. How beautiful this message is.
Selflessness.
God paramount in our lives.
The giving up of self for God.
Living for God's will.
This is what God wants of us and this is our duty to God.
Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Reverence God- keep His commandments.
1Jn 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
God's will now and forever!
Amen!
Monday, May 16, 2011
If you love me...
Joh 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Joh 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever
Have you ever said these words to someone- 'If you love me…' If is the key word here, right? It really is because it puts a condition upon the love. IF you LOVE me… you will… you would…you'd do…you wouldn't do…ask me to…don't ask me to…give me…don't give me…take this…don't take that… on and on and on we can go, but the whole thing revolves around IF you LOVE someone then your actions will reveal that love. Most of us have uttered those words- If you love me, and when we do that we aren't necessarily doing it because we want to get our own way selfishly with something or other. Sometimes when we say those words to someone we are dead serious about what we are talking about and we are telling someone that IF they LOVE us then something about them in some way would reveal that love. It's easy to believe that someone doesn't love you when they do all sorts of things to hurt you, or they ignore you. And it's easy to believe someone does love you when they don't hurt you and they don't ignore you.
If I went up to a stranger on the street as asked them if they loved me, what do you want to bet they'd get that 'you're nuts' look in their eyes before telling me outright, no. They might believe I was on drugs, or drunk, or just crazy to be asking them- a complete stranger- if they love me. We associate loving someone with knowing someone, right? How can we love a complete stranger if we don't know them? The definition of what love is has become very selfish. We can love if we know someone and they deserve our love, but to love regardless of whether or not we know someone, or they deserve our love is a whole other story.
We are told to love our neighbors and then told our neighbors include complete strangers- yet so few of us actually LOVE our neighbors. So few of us actually love each other indiscriminately. While some might argue that God wouldn't want us to love satan worshippers, I'd beg to differ. We are to love them- and that doesn't mean becoming like them, it doesn't mean believing in all they believe, it doesn't mean telling them that sin is good in any way, shape, or form. Loving someone means regardless of every single external bit of their lives we care for them as one that deserves to know the saving power of our Savior, a Savior who loves us and forgives us our sins when we repent and seek His forgiveness. We need to love others indiscriminately because that is how we are loved, that is how we are forgiven. Are there conditions put upon the love our Savior gives us?
Did He say- 'If ye love me…'
Yes, He did say those words. 'If ye love me, keep my commandments.'
Those commandments are to love. If we love Him, out of that love for Him we will love.
Out of love for Him we love.
We are supposed to love complete strangers.
We are supposed to love those we don't know.
We are supposed to love those who hate us.
We are supposed to love… and if we love we are not selfish in that love, we are not discriminating in who we love.
All deserve to know the love of God and the way we reveal that love is by asking our Savior to send us another Comforter to abide in us forever. Through that Comforter we live our lives as a testament to our Savior, ever pointing the way to eternal life in Him, ever preaching the kingdom of God, ever living our lives not with tomorrow worries in mind, but with the hope of heaven with our loving King.
We will love God.
We will love our fellowman.
And when we love, our Savior is praying to the Father for us to have the Comforter with us forever.
Yesterday we discussed praying in Jesus' name, asking anything in His name, all to the glory of God. Today we are talking about loving Jesus, keeping His commandments, and receiving the Comforter. All of this goes hand in hand. Living our lives for our Savior, living for the coming kingdom, NOT living to selfishly have anything at all whatsoever. Not loving selfishly. Not loving few, but loving many, loving all.
We cannot love like this without our Savior- it impossible. Only through our God can we ever hope to love, can we ever hope to keep His commandments. Let it be our will to love Him as He would have us love, now and forever and ever.
By His GRACE!
By His LOVE!
Amen.
Joh 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever
Have you ever said these words to someone- 'If you love me…' If is the key word here, right? It really is because it puts a condition upon the love. IF you LOVE me… you will… you would…you'd do…you wouldn't do…ask me to…don't ask me to…give me…don't give me…take this…don't take that… on and on and on we can go, but the whole thing revolves around IF you LOVE someone then your actions will reveal that love. Most of us have uttered those words- If you love me, and when we do that we aren't necessarily doing it because we want to get our own way selfishly with something or other. Sometimes when we say those words to someone we are dead serious about what we are talking about and we are telling someone that IF they LOVE us then something about them in some way would reveal that love. It's easy to believe that someone doesn't love you when they do all sorts of things to hurt you, or they ignore you. And it's easy to believe someone does love you when they don't hurt you and they don't ignore you.
If I went up to a stranger on the street as asked them if they loved me, what do you want to bet they'd get that 'you're nuts' look in their eyes before telling me outright, no. They might believe I was on drugs, or drunk, or just crazy to be asking them- a complete stranger- if they love me. We associate loving someone with knowing someone, right? How can we love a complete stranger if we don't know them? The definition of what love is has become very selfish. We can love if we know someone and they deserve our love, but to love regardless of whether or not we know someone, or they deserve our love is a whole other story.
We are told to love our neighbors and then told our neighbors include complete strangers- yet so few of us actually LOVE our neighbors. So few of us actually love each other indiscriminately. While some might argue that God wouldn't want us to love satan worshippers, I'd beg to differ. We are to love them- and that doesn't mean becoming like them, it doesn't mean believing in all they believe, it doesn't mean telling them that sin is good in any way, shape, or form. Loving someone means regardless of every single external bit of their lives we care for them as one that deserves to know the saving power of our Savior, a Savior who loves us and forgives us our sins when we repent and seek His forgiveness. We need to love others indiscriminately because that is how we are loved, that is how we are forgiven. Are there conditions put upon the love our Savior gives us?
Did He say- 'If ye love me…'
Yes, He did say those words. 'If ye love me, keep my commandments.'
Those commandments are to love. If we love Him, out of that love for Him we will love.
Out of love for Him we love.
We are supposed to love complete strangers.
We are supposed to love those we don't know.
We are supposed to love those who hate us.
We are supposed to love… and if we love we are not selfish in that love, we are not discriminating in who we love.
All deserve to know the love of God and the way we reveal that love is by asking our Savior to send us another Comforter to abide in us forever. Through that Comforter we live our lives as a testament to our Savior, ever pointing the way to eternal life in Him, ever preaching the kingdom of God, ever living our lives not with tomorrow worries in mind, but with the hope of heaven with our loving King.
We will love God.
We will love our fellowman.
And when we love, our Savior is praying to the Father for us to have the Comforter with us forever.
Yesterday we discussed praying in Jesus' name, asking anything in His name, all to the glory of God. Today we are talking about loving Jesus, keeping His commandments, and receiving the Comforter. All of this goes hand in hand. Living our lives for our Savior, living for the coming kingdom, NOT living to selfishly have anything at all whatsoever. Not loving selfishly. Not loving few, but loving many, loving all.
We cannot love like this without our Savior- it impossible. Only through our God can we ever hope to love, can we ever hope to keep His commandments. Let it be our will to love Him as He would have us love, now and forever and ever.
By His GRACE!
By His LOVE!
Amen.
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