“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.””
John 13:34-35 NKJV““You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Matthew 5:43-45 NKJVSacrificial love
Our world is in need of love today. We are a divided nation, and there is no healing in sight. Political people continually stir the waters of strife, and it seems that we are on the brink of war. Americans have become enemies, and there seems to be a loss of humanity, as people have chosen to forget that they are dealing with people made of flesh and blood.
Unknowing people are locked in a supernatural battle and do not have a sense that earthly solutions will not solve the nations problems. Sadly, many who have called upon Jesus for salvation, have turned toward politics and mere men to deliver them, and no longer call upon the Lord. In that turning away, they have forgotten whom the real enemy is.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:10-12 NKJVAs I move through the Scriptures, I am reminded daily of the need to love, how love is the indicator that we belong to the Lord. It is one of the fruits of the Spirit, some say the main one. It is not a love of people who love us, but a love for people who persecute us, who hate us, who do not want to bring blessing.
Fo the evangelistic believer, love is an offensive weapon, as we assail the powers of darkness, bringing the light of the Gospel to people caught up in captivity to sin. In the history of the faith, that light has shone the brightest when the bearer is faced with hardship and persecution. In places where the message of the Gospel is forbidden, many are coming to know the Lord Jesus.
We Christians here in the United States have it easy, as we have allowed ourselves to become cultural believers, where being in the faith is a label, a designation,and not a passion. For too many, faith life is more or less a vocation, something we do absent mindedly. I believe we are entering, or perhaps are already in, a season where being a believer will be a deliberate act and risky.
As we seek to share the Good News, that Jesus came into the world, lived a sinless life, was crucified for our sins, buried and rose again, that humanity would be spared hell, we will see persecution. The message that all people are sinners is an offensive message.
Brothers and sisters, let us represent the Lord Jesus, lets us reflect His love and bring its supernatural power to a sick and dying world. In the work that we are to do, let us shed the things that keep us from loving.
Put aside political leanings, ideologies, and the things that divide hearts. We are not representatives of a candidate, but rather, ambassadors of Jesus Christ.
There is coming a day when those of us who have been saved, forgiven of our sins by Jesus, will stand at the Bema seat and be examined for what we did in the mission of the Gospel.
““And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.””
Revelation 22:12-13 NKJVWho we voted for will not be a factor, but how we represented Him, will be the basis of our reward. I hope that when I stand before my King, I am reminded of all the times I loved, all the times I endured, all the times I looked past the slights, and was steadfast in representing my Savior.
“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”
Matthew 25:23 NKJVMy Lord has given more than mere talents, He has given me the power of the Holy Spirit to help me to love. He has given me understanding of His holy Scriptures, and He has given me access to Him, that I lift up others in prayer.
We are in crisis time, my people, and we must not give into our desires to fight, but bring the testimony of what God has done in our lives. Time is short. The lake of fire awaits for those who have not tasted the fruits of God’s grace. Let us lay aside all that we hold dear, that separates us from God’s purpose in our lives.
“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
Philippians 3:8-11 NKJVTHE PRAYER CHAIR IS OPEN! Send me your requests!
Sacrificial love
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Musings from an idle mind 