ACTS 1:1-8 “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,² Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:³ To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:⁴ And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.⁵ For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.⁶ When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?⁷ And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.⁸ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

COMMENTS:

Why is Acts 1:8 called   “The Great Commission” and why is obeying that Commission so important to each believer?

The answer lies in discovering all the assets and blessings God offers to everyone who will accept His gift of forgiveness.

So why should we take seriously this command?  Well, mostly because Christ gives it to us as a command of God.  After all, why would we think we could ignore or say no to our creator?  Why would we want to?  First, let’s look at the reasons or excuses commonly used to avoid or delay sharing the Gospel with others.

1. Following Christ is not popular and is commonly opposed by family and community and associates. Even the uncertainty of reaction of others to the Gospel message can make us hesitant to share.  Fear of rejection or worse may be a real concern.
2. Being busy with job and family and a variety of life demands and personal goals leave little time and room for the distraction of witnessing – sharing the Good News of Christ’s redeeming sacrifice with others. Stopping to witness to others puts us at risk and takes focus from completing tasks and goals on our schedule and onto doing God’s will and priority to willing others for Christ above our own goals and plans.
3. The number in need of salvation is overwhelming and progress from each of us is insignificant compared with the need. Such a overwhelming task is discouraging and tempts us to give up before trying or starting.  We may even ask ourselves why bother, it is useless?
4. For some with a shy personality and private nature making it uncomfortable to have conversations and interact with others, especially strangers, it is more difficult to overcome their human resistance to do so. To overcome this obstacle, a higher level of determination and will is required, making witnessing a draining task if done without God’s help.

I encourage you to reflect and add to this list either from your own struggles as well as the struggles you see in those around you.

So what are the reasons for us to obey the Great Commission and share Christ’s Gospel of Redemption with others?

1. Christ freely offers full forgiveness to all who will repent of their sins and receive His forgivenss. John 3:16-17  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved.”   These words apply to everyone living in the world.  But how can they believe if they do not hear?

We are not talking about just a better life while living on earth, which is true, but also eternal life with Christ in heaven.  Yes, for all eternity.  What about your family and your friends and co-workers and even those you don’t know but know about?  How many would you be indifferent if knew they were doomed to an eternity in Hell without Christ’s redemption because we didn’t tell them of His redemption and gave them an opportunity to receive His redemption.

2. The need is great and numbers to be won for Christ are great so opportunity of winning a great number to Christ is also great. Luke 10:2 “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” Yes, Christ knew the work was great but also knew the reward of winning all His precious children to Himself like the prodigal Father described in Luke 15:10-32. This story truly shows the sinful heart of each of us while also revealing God’s heart as our loving Father.  Even the faithful son is shown lacking and need of the Father’s redemption as much as the rebellious son did.  God does not will than any would be lost but desires that all would receive His redemption.

II Peter 3:3-16 “³ Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,⁴ And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.⁵ For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:⁶ Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:⁷ But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.⁸ But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.¹¹ Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,¹² Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?¹³ Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.¹⁴ Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.¹⁵ And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;¹⁶ As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”

3. I encourage you to read and reflect on the above scripture. God’s love for everyone we love and everyone we don’t.  Everyone we know and everyone we don’t, is so great that Christ would have gone to the cross for one but went to the cross for everyone.  The only constraint is everyone must repent and seek His mercy in order to receive it.  We each make that choice for ourselves.  No one makes it for us. That is why we say,  “God has only children, no grandchildren” because His redemption is received by each who will receive it, so we become His redeemed or adopted child with the opportunity of a one on one personal relationship with Him.  The indwelling of the Holy Spirit that was given at Pentecost (Acts 2) empowered the disciples, and us, to shared His Good News of redemption and gave them, and us, the passion and inspiration to do so. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit gives us passion and joy and empowers us to live and grow in becoming more Christ like each day and develop a personal daily relationship with Him like Christ had while on earth.

This is a powerful reason to be a witness to others.  So much is being offered to us which is not diminished but enhances as we give opportunity for others to come to Christ and enjoy His forgiveness too. It was no accident that the Holy Spirit came down on the disciples, changing them, after Christ gave them His Commission and then left them.  He knew they would not be able to do work without Him unless He would dwell within them guiding and helping them every step.  That is exactly what the Holy Spirit does and so much more. 

4. What reason or excuse to not witness is greater or more important than these reasons? None! Truth is, when we get to heaven what will mean more to us?  Will it be having a beautiful mansion or walking the streets of gold or will it be seeing those we love and prayed for on earth being with us and fellowshipping with us and Christ?  I have little doubt seeing and being with Christ and sharing that fellowship with those we care for there will be of greatest value to us.  When you experience something wonderful, you naturally want to share it with those you love.  That motivation will be enhanced and perfected in heaven where sin and death and all evil will be left behind.  I truly believe the greatest joy in heaven will be from those redeemed being embraced by their Savior, and our’s, and then thanking those who introduced them to Christ.  Those of us who are indirectly involved by helping evangelists will all be a part of that rejoicing.                                                                                                                There is a hymn that says “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus! Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ. One glimpse of his dear face, all sorrow will erase. So, bravely run the racetill we see Christ.”
5. God’s math involves multiplication resulting in far greater success than we imagine. One person bringing one person to Christ who brings one person to Christ.

 If one person, who comes to Christ, brings just one more to Christ who then brings one, than in a month 30 more would know Christ. That is significant.  But if each would lead one more to Christ each month, than in a month 900 more would know Christ and in a year over 10,000 more would know Christ.  If one person evangelizes, great work can be done but if every Christian would lead someone to Christ each month, the world could be won for Christ in a few years.  So the work is not exclusive but inclusive.  That is why every Christian is called to witness and not just once but every time God gives opportunity.  Our lives and conduct can be our greatest witness as we show by example who Christ is as we go about our daily lives showing a life of compassion and honesty and fairness and integrity.  If every Christian does that and remains ready to share the reason for our hope and joy when asked, then those opportunities to witness will come often because God will prepare us and those who will come.  Afterall, Christ wants them to come to Him even more than we do and He wants His children to be a part of the miracle of salvation as well.                                                                                                                         We will stand out if we let the Holy Spirit live within us.  That is a very good thing. 

 

OK, but first things first.  “Do you know the Christ and also know you are forgiven and have your reservation secure in heaven?  You can have that confidence and assurance. Christ does not want us to struggle with doubt or uncertainly of our salvation.  If you have doubts, you need only ask for His forgiveness – repenting of remaining sin – and ask Him to give you confidence of salvation and a home in heaven.  He wants you to be sure of your salvation and sure you are His loved child. 

He also wants you to grow and become more like Him and less like our old sinful past as we advance in days and years.  He wants us to have a daily walk of fellowship with Him.  He also wants us to not only walk with Him but follow the better choices He puts before us.  Choices that bring hope and joy and not regrets and disappointments and consequences.  Choices that draw others to want to know Christ too because of the change Christ made in us as well as the message of hope Christ puts in our heart and mind.

The Great Commission is not a work of drudgery or a stressful work but a satisfying work with great rewards and fulfillment.  A work that has eternal rewards.  God does the hard part, changing lives.  We simply have to make ourselves available, live as He calls us to, and be ready to give the reason for the hope and joy, the genuine change that is now evident in our lives.  When we fall prey to temptation, our testimony and credibility weakens.  Yet even when that happens, if we are honest and turn back to Christ for forgiveness and help, others will see and relate and be drawn to Christ.  Failure need not be permanent!

So who will you follow,  the Christ will sacrificed dearly for you or by default the devil – the great deceiver who tempts you to do and say and make choices that only bring regrets and disappointments and consequences.  Stop and reflect and judge what is true and what is not.  Who will you follow and who will you turn your back on.  Will it be Christ or will it be satan?  You see, either we follow Christ completely or not. If not, than we are at the mercy of satan’s evil deceptions (I Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”)  AMEN!

 

 

 

 

Additional Devotions as a resource:

                                               More Than Cheery Optimism                                   
Hebrews 6:13-20  “¹³ For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,¹⁴ Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.¹⁵ And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.¹⁶ For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.¹⁷ Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:¹⁸ That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:¹⁹ Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;²⁰ Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”                                     COMMENTS:  How do you define hope.  Is hope a long shot worth working to get without confidence or guarantee that hard work and planning will be enough.  We work  hard and plan to retire, but there is no guarantee our job or even our life will last long enough to retire.  Even though friends and relatives retire, we don’t automatically have assurance our hope will be realized.  But when God gives us a promise, the hope that promise gives carries a lot more confidence and assurance. Take note of Hebrews 6:13.  God can swear by no greater authority or standard of truth than Himself.  When He promised Abraham that a great nation of people would be his decendents, He based the confidence of that promise, as unbelievable and wonderful that promise was, on His own power and authority and truthfulness.  God kept His promise to Abraham, as history proves.  The scripture also reveals God will equally keep His promises to us.  Promises like:                                                                                                                                              Hebrews 13:5  “God has said: ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you”                                                                                                                                            Romans 6:23 “²³ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”                                                                                                                                                   Romans 3:23 “²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”                                                                                                                                                 John 17:3  “³ And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”                                                                                     John 3:16-17  “¹⁶ 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.¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”                                                                                                                                                  There are many more promises God has made to you and me if we simply accept His gift of forgiveness and follow His Will.  The assurance is sure but our obedience is a requirement.  Some cults teach God’s forgiveness but not repentance.  Their gospel is everyone will be saved so we simply need to accept and love everyone without condition.  Loving everyone and condoning their behavior are two different things. Condoning self destructive behavior like drug abuse or behavior hostile to others like child abuse aren’t condoned by the law nor should be by us either.  That doesn’t mean we can’t have compassion or demonstrate God’s love for them but does limit tolerance of their behavior.  When it comes to God’s law, we don’t get to choose commands acceptable and than that aren’t.  Following Christ’s example helps us learn proper response toward other’s to bring them as well as ourselves to redemption and healing.  Afterall, true love included not only compassion but also striving for redemption.  Jesus loved and showed compassion without approving of sinful behavior.  He showed compassion toward those struggling with weakness or ignorance but was a more harsh toward those who chose sinful behavior with full knowledge and discernment of right and wrong and still chose evil.  Well, the answer to how we are called to minister to and show Christian love to others still comes back to our own personal relationship with Christ and yielding to the leading of the Holy Spirit in our own lives.  Using scripture and Christ’s example to us is a standard to keep us on track and obedient to Him.  

 

Hope: The Long View                                           
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.   Matthew 28:19

SCRIPTURE:  LUKE 24:46-49  “⁴⁶ And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:⁴⁷ And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.⁴⁸ And ye are witnesses of these things.⁴⁹ And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”                                                                                                                        COMMENTS:  The first question in the “Westminster Shorter Catechism (1646-1647)” asks “What is the chief end of man?”  Answer is “Man’s chief end is to glorify God.”  But we have another short term mission to complete first.  That is “make disciples of all nations”.  Well, truth is the Great Commission to share Christ’s Gospel of Salvation to the nations started by first obeying our primary purpose of glorifying God ourselves.  Doing so energizes and fills us and enables us to fulfill the commission He has given us.  You think sharing the gospel around the world is not possible.  That is reserved for a few great preachers or teachers or evangelists.  Well, most of them came from unnote worthy beginnings and commonly without showing any special gifts during their formative years.                                                         But God has a way of opening doors of opportunity where He gives gifts and a calling.  I have to share I felt a call as a teen to share the gospel but lacked the confidence and even feared crowd and was uncomfortable around people to the most part.  I  wasn’t skillful at conversation (and still am not) and really not naturally comfortable witnessing.  Well, I am discovering God enables those He calls and tailor makes methods and means to those He calls.  For me the method and means has become writing and sharing by internet to many pastors and laity and seekers all over the world. I know the means of witnesses is not limited to that because impacting those round me and witnessing by example and service in my community is where my calling began and where it continues. I have to admit writing a blog and interacting with pastors all over the world demands much time and is so fulfilling, especially when see how they use devotions I write and share to reach hundreds regularly.  Their commitment and faith humbles and challenges me to a deeper walk with Christ.  They seem to be blessed by insights God gives me in ways I do not see locally nor realize as much as they even in my own soul. Please don’t misunderstand, I am blessed as I write and re-read my blog and journal post, but way many in empoverished and persecuted countries are especially blessed as they read and share words God has put in my mind and heart.. But by seeing how blessed they are, I too am motived and blessed to seek a deeper walk with Christ too.                                                                                                                                                    Such has become a reality for me this Lent and Easter.  Last Easter was when my blog was just starting to be noticed and was to be another 6 months before it’s impact was going to be evident.  But it’s impact on me preparing me to be God’s tool to share with those in far countries has been unfolding for much time.  It has been said what a preacher or teacher writes or tells reflects personal sins and weaknesses God dealing with.  That is often but not always true but is true much of the time for me.   God often reveals areas of my life that still have not been surrendered to Him.  Grace continues to be a ongoing process of relationship between each of us and our Lord and Savior.  Relationships are never completed.  They are ongoing and growing as time continues.

Love in Spite Of                                                                              

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.   Romans 5:8

SCRIPTURE:  JOHN 15:13  “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”   COMMENTS:  A big question thought often, if not said is “Do you love me in spite of what I have done instead of simply do you love me? Conditions of our love or a love based on actions of the receiver is the expectation.  God does respond to our obedience, but His love for us is not restricted to or withdrawn based on our actions of disobedience.  The story of the prodigal indicates the prodigal’s father loved both sons deeply but the rebellious one had his attention due harm resulting from his disobedience and loss of relationship from that disobedience. The father missed him because of the separation initiated by the son. Consequences of that sin came down hard on the rebellious son.  The father longed to have opportunity to forgive and restore his son, but could not until that son openly repented and opened himself to receive the father’s generous forgiveness and restoration.  Until he did, forgiveness is not an open open to the father to give nor for the son to receive and enjoy.  We associate love with kindness and showering gifts and affection, but works both ways.  God is faithful to you and me and loves us equally and fully.  Yet His response to  us is limited by His overall will and Law.  He could not forgive us without the punishment for our sins being paid by someone.  He chose not to ignore our sin but to be the sacrifice for them Himself.  He could not bring Himself to allow or choose someone else to pay that price and no one could because had to be a perfect sinless sacrifice.  The sacrificial lamb of the Old Testament  had to be perfect and innocent.  The sacrificial human lamb worthy to be our permanent sacrifice could only be Himself coming to earth and living a human life. 

We are now living in the age of grace.  The age after Easter when Christ’s sacrifice is available to be received and enjoyed by any and all who will simply believe in Christ and ask for His mercy and forgiveness for their sins.  The cost to us is free without waiting time or waiting line and without having to earn it with conduct or actions or price.  The change in life and conduct after that forgiveness is given is significant and motivated by the love welling up in us for Him.  A love that is a result of becoming more like Him and appreciating the love He already has for us and how He demonstrated and continues to demonstrsate it to us.  Likewise, the relationship that then begins between He and us is a dear and close relationship of endearment that builds trust and actions that further strengthen that trust and love.  It also awakens and strengthens a love for others and for others to come to know that same love and fellowship too.

That is what Easter is all about and what being a Christian is all about.  Not a religion of intolerance or of earning our place with God in Heaven, but a relationship with our creator that transforms and gives joy and meaning to life. 

 

Me, Myself & I                                                                                   
Psalm 139 “O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.² Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.³ Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.⁴ For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.⁵ Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.⁷ Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?⁸ If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.⁹ If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;¹⁰ Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.¹¹ If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.¹² Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.¹³ For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.¹⁴ I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.¹⁵ My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.¹⁶ Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.¹⁷ How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!¹⁸ If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.¹⁹ Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.²⁰ For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.²¹ Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?²² I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:²⁴ And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”                                                                                                            COMMENTS: Today’s scripture above is as wonderful promise to you and me as it was for the Psalmist.  God knows us like none other and is closer to us than our breath and loves us more than anyone else even though He loves and knows the Billions all around the world as much as us.  Such is more wonderful than we can imagine.  Our God is faithful like none other.  Why are we so reluctant and resistant to love Him back and follow His council even though we havea proof His wisdom and council are best.   We simply never seem to learn.  But even though every generation continues to repeat the previous generation’s sins and stiff necked rebellion,  He still is faithful and patient with us.  WE ARE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE!  Stop and think just how marvelous our bodies are and how wonderful to know our souls will live on and we will have an eternal home with Him. 

Even though we  live in a fallen world corrupted by satan, our world is a marvelous place to live well designed to sustain and nourish us. How much more wonderful it was before man allowed satan to ruin man, His greatest creation, and His world.  But we have the promise and confident hope that soon Christ will return and restore us and His world to be as He intended and rule it as designed to be ruled.  I can’t wait, how about you?

 

 

Head and Body                                   
And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. Colossians 1:18

SCRIPTURE:  EPHESIANS 5:23 “²³ For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.”                                               COMMENTS:  Body parts have been replaced or transplanted for a number of years.  Kidneys, livers, hearts, corneas, and a number of other parts have been successfully transplanted for a number of years.  Even artificial limbs and joints are on that lists making the lives of those who receive them richer and happier.  I have two artificial knee joints and enable me to walk and work normally to the most part.  No, those joints are not as good as the originals in my youth but better than the worn and diseased joints they replaced.  Now an Italian doctor is planning and preparing to do a head transplant.  I find that both dangerous and scary.  The soul, only God knows where resides.  We tend to think it resided in the heart, but heart transplants didn’t change that. Yet some have comments some personality traits of donor carried over to receiver.  But with the head, all the memories of the donor and memories of the receiver would be lost.  Well, only God knows if He will permit such an effort to succeed.  But then again which is donor and which is receiver?  I know the donor would give the body and receiver would keep his head, right?  However, I personally I expect God will not permit that to be successful, but we’ll see.  

I kidding my knee surgeon when he replace my second knee.  I asked him how many parts I could replace before I would become someone else.  He laughed and said I had a long ways to go.   We kid about such things but need to be mindful God will support and permit our technology as long as we honor Him and recognize our technology is simply discovering technology He created.  When we misuse that technology or give ourselves credit instead of Him for that technology, we lose much of the blessing and benefit God intended with it.  Christ is the head of us.  He gives us purpose and reason to live.  He offers to guide and help us to a richer and happier and more successful life.  A life of success as He defines success doing what He designed us to do.  If we used a Corvette to plow a street or travel a road only accessible by four wheel drive, we would soon discover it to be useless.  But if we used that Corvette on a race track, we would find it better suited than a snow plow. We were designed to worship and serve Him, not satan who wants us to serve him.  We were designed to be in relationship with Christ, not satan.  To allow satan to influence and yield to his temptations, it is like trying to use a Corvette for a destructive purpose. To follow Christ is to allow ourselves to be used as designed and intended by our creator.  It doesn’t get any better than that.  AMEN?  AMEN!

 

 

God of Unchanging Love                       
And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16

SCRIPTURE:  I JOHN 5:1-5  “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.² By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.³ For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.⁴ For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.⁵ Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”             COMMENT:   What impact does your emotions and attitude have on your actions?  I have to admit my answer is a significant impact and am sure you would agree same is true of you.  Yet we also would say restraint and “mind over matter” keeps you and I from allowing our emotions to fully control our actions. 

When we look at God’s character and actions, we do see His resolve to love humans in every generation, including us, even when we are the most unloveable and rebellious and defiant.   Yet He also administers “tough love” allowing us to feel consequences of poor choices.  Not doing so out of anger but because of His desire to restore us and guide us to a better way and choice.  I John 4:8-16 and Malachi 3:6 remind us that God doesn’t change and His love is perfect and does not change and is not dictated by emotion.  But God does have and show emotion too.   Yet He consistently acts out of purpose and administering His will, which is always for our greater good. 

Christ was and is a perfect example who God is and is like.  He is our written picture of God.  But because His Holy Spirit now dwells in those who receive Him, we also have examples all around us.  Granted, no one except Christ perfectly demonstrates God’s character, but  there are many around us who are doing so well enough to be good examples for us to follow.  I am sure you, as can I, think of a few who are close to us.  I encourage you to take some time to reflect and contemplate what stands out that makes them the examples you would like to follow.

God strives to make being “Christ like” more possible and achievable for us.  Granted, God’s ways and perfection is so far about us that we could never achieve it in our current human state, but we can make a lot of improvement if simply yield to and obey His guiding hand.  Christ went to the cross to give us opportunity to be in close relationship with God and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit made available to those who accept Christ’s gift enables the believer to have and sustain a fulfilling and life changing relationship with God.  Christians have an unequalled opportunity to be more Christ like and fulfilled than possible in any other way.  Nothing we can do nor good we can do will come close to doing what the Holy Spirit freely does when invited.  However, doing good is a vital way of responding to love and relationship God freely shares with us. Works doesn’t save us, but is a vital part of our ongoing relationship with God.