How do we put love in action? Serve one another. The Lord Jesus modeled this when He washed His disciples' feet. Be patient with one another. This is possible because of the Spirit's presence in us. Be courteous to one another. Even if someone is difficult or disagreeable, treat them with gentleness and love. Set an example for one another " in speech, in life, in love. in faith and in purity"(1 Timothy 4:12).
Edify one another.We are to encourage and build up our brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray for one another. What a privilege to come before the Lord on another's behalf. " Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." 1 John 4:11-12
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Can an ancient book that was written by many people over the course of many centuries have anything to say to us today? Is the Bible's message honestly relevant ?
Yes, it is- as millions of believers around the world would attest. If anything , in fact, it's more relevant today than ever before, as we see the storm clouds gathering and events taking place that herald the second coming of Jesus Christ. As the Bible says," Our salvation is nearer than when we first believed"(Romans 13:11). "They asked each other,"Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?'( Luke 24:32) Discouragement and depression can come for many reasons. We all brush up against them- when we lose someone to death, for example, or experience a problem that overwhelms us. Depression may even come from chemical imbalances in our bodies; when it is that case, modern medicine often can help.
At the same time, when we feel discouraged or depressed we need to turn to God in prayer and commit the situation into His hands. This isn't a substitute for medical treatment if we need it: God ordained the physical laws that govern our bodies, and He can use the insights of medical science to bring healing. But ultimately...when we face problems of any kind we need to turn to Jesus, our Help and Healer. " Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."- Romans 12:12 No Psalm is better known or better loved than Psalm 23, which probably owes its origin( at least humanly speaking) to David's boyhood as a shepherd. But has it become so familiar to us that we have forgotten its riches?
Look at the verses. They tell us first of all that God is like a shepherd to us- guiding us, keeping us safe, protecting us from our enemies, giving us everything we need to sustain our lives. But they also hint at our tendency to wander and get into trouble, like the lost sheep in one of Jesus' parables( see Luke 15:17). " The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul." Psalm 23:1-3 My dictionary defines wonderful as anything that is so unusual or magnificent that it causes wonder and amazement.
Jesus was wonderful in His life. He mingled with sinners, yet His enemies could not find not one single flaw in His character. His miracles and His teaching both testified to His divine authority. Christ was also wonderful in His death. He died for others just as He had lived for others: To make our salvation possible. And this death led to the wonderful, glorious Resurrection, opening for us the door to Heaven and eternal life. Jesus is wonderful indeed! " He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 |
What we Learned on Sunday? Insights, ideas and InspirationWritten by Pastor Chris Hudson Archives
April 2024
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