How do we live, how do we love?

      
     Love, is something that is sometimes hard to express, but we know when we have been loved, when someone is genuine and their love toward us is so needed and welcomed!

   As a Christian and a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, I should love. It’s really not an option for one who says he belongs to the very one who demonstrated what real love should look like. 


The Apostle John who was the only Apostle not to be killed for his faith, the one who wrote 1, 2, 3, John and the book of Revelation reminds us:


 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. (1 John3: 9-10).

 God has a twofold expectation of those who are believers.
        We are  not to be habitual sinners 

             We are to love others.


The longer we know and serve the Lord we should be progressing. That is while we never will reach sinless perfection in this life on earth, we certainly should be sinning less!  When we know what the Word of God says about an issue and choose to ignore it that is sin! 


James wrote: So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. (James 4:17).

We are also expected to love others.   

 The early Church, the first century Church has always fascinated me.  Notice how they fulfilled the expectation to care for others.


"In the ancient Roman Empire, secular historians record the gracious way that Christians cared for not only their own but also the poor, dying, and even the slaves at large in the empire. So effective was their social care for the people of the empire that the pagan Emperor Julian grew frustrated that the rest of the Romans could not behave like these Christians whom he called atheists since they did not worship his gods. The social and moral conditions throughout the empire were affected by the work of Christ's kingdom among His people". *David Curtis Berean Bible Church

       It all comes down to this…how do we live, how do we love?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Home!

Image
Michelle Robin Hensley November 11th 1969 - September 15th 2009 "We believe as Christians, that when our loved ones die, they go to be with the Lord. The Bible teaches that the Lord is with us. Well if they are with Him, and He is with us...they cannot be very far away" Peter Marshall My Dear Friend's, September 15 at 10:35 pm, my wonderful and Godly 39 year old sister Michelle, stepped into the presence of our Glorious Lord and King . Thank you for your wonderful support and kindness and understanding, our family has felt your care and warmth. I will forever be thankful that I came "Home" to be with her and my mom arriving Tuesday morning. Shell was unresponsive and in a coma all day. She was blessed to be comforted by Mom, my brother Mike, his wife Chrissie, and their two sons Caleb, and Josh. Barbara, my mother in law was there throughout the day, and part of the eveing. Several of Shell's friends came as well. Hospice was great (every step of the way) a
Read more

In Honor of Peter Marshall.

Image
In Memory of a Man who was after God's own heart. As a younger minister my heart warmed to His preaching, (From recorded sermons) the soaring diction, the impassioned eloquent proclamation of truth, through a life consumed by Christ! As a middle aged Pastor now, the memory of this incomparable Preacher continues to inspire! I am so looking forward to meeting Dr. Marshall in heaven! Few people in my life's journey have touched me as deeply as the late Peter Marshall. Here is just a sample of his profound way of turning a phrase... • A different world cannot be built by indifferent people. • Give to us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for - because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything. • God will not permit any troubles to come upon us, unless He has a specific plan by which great blessing can come out of the difficulty. • If you hug to yourself any resentment against anybody else, you destroy the bridge by which God would come t
Read more

How are things at home?

Image
              A year ago today, hearts were breaking, tears were flowing and pain left us nearly breathless.   A year ago we said a teary temporary (Thank God) farewell (Christians, never say goodbye, for the final time) to Michelle Robin Hensley , my sister, my dear friend.  The 12 months that we have walked and sometimes stumbled through, have been difficult.   The Lord has, as He promised, bore our burdens, comforted  hearts....and dried tears.   Oh they still come , often, I think they always will .  There is so much we miss , about you, so much we want to share with you .  I know that in some way you know what we are doing.... maybe in more detail than we can imagine. I still have a lump in my throat from time to time ....and missing you is a pale way to describe the ache.... but I know you are with the Lord ....and I am comforted . There are no words to describe how much we miss you . Your laughter , your wit ...your timing always spot on! I picture you now in
Read more