Some time ago I was sitting on my sofa and was praying. It was about 4 months from before we were suppose to be moving here to Cajamarca, Peru. And I was praying for God's help in letting go. Letting go of fear and doubt that was filling my head and heart. I was praying and telling the Lord that I was feeling scared and nervous about this calling He has put on our lives, I was doubting if it really was even a calling from Him. I was worried if it was the best thing to do with our kids and wondering if we were bad parents taking them away from their family. I was scared to "JUMP" of the "CLIFF" for Him. As weird as that sounds, that is the best way I could explain.It's like jumping off and free falling down and not quit knowing how you will land and if you'll hit or scratch yourself along the "fall". And it terrified me so. And in the mist of praying and seeking the Lord for help, I felt a still small voice in my heart and it said, "JUMP and I will catch you when you fall, and if you fall, know that your falling towards me and into my arms." Like in 1 Corinthians 13:17 in says, "Love believes all things." And I need to believe what the word of God tells me and have faith and peace and strength in that.
I just wanted to encourage you to not be scared in the "falling" into something the Lord has called you to do. Know that if He is calling you then He will lead and catch as needed. He is there through it all. And even though at times in the process you "may" feel alone, well you not. The GREAT ALMIGHTY JESUS CHRIST is there with you. It's funny cause I am writing this, I am saying it to myself. How we ALL need to be reminded by this.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Love NEVER justifies sin
“[Love] does not rejoice in unrighteousness” (1 Cor. 13:6).
Love never justifies sin.
To most Christians, the idea of rejoicing over unrighteousness is repulsive because it suggests enjoying deliberate, wanton sin. We’ve seen sin’s tragic effects on mankind and know how it offends God, so how could we ever rejoice in such a thing? But rejoicing in unrighteousness includes any attempt to justify sin in your own life or in the lives of others, and this can be a very subtle thing.
There are many ways to rejoice in unrighteousness. One is to exchange right for wrong. That’s what the prophet Isaiah condemned when saying, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness” (Isa. 5:20). In our society, for example, virtues such as virginity and fidelity in marriage are branded as old-fashioned and prudish, while promiscuity and adultery are heralded as contemporary and liberating. Social pressures can cause undiscerning or weak Christians to yield to confused and godless moral standards.
Another way to rejoice in unrighteousness is to be undiscerning about what you expose yourself to. The humanistic philosophies and blatant immorality of our society can quickly dull your moral and spiritual senses. Therefore you must carefully evaluate what you read, view, and listen to. Does it denigrate God and exalt violence, crime, immorality, slander, and the like? If so, and you find that book or article entertaining, you are rejoicing in sin.
Some believers actually rejoice over the sins of others. That’s what Jonah did when he refused to preach at Nineveh for fear the people would repent and God would forgive them. He preferred to see them continue in sin rather than reconcile with God. That attitude is not so far removed from today as we’d like to think. I’ve known professing Christians who wanted out of their marriages so badly that they hoped their spouses would commit adultery so they would feel justified in getting a divorce. What a convoluted perspective!
True love cannot rejoice in sin but glories whenever righteousness prevails. If you love God, the things that please Him will please you, and the things that offend Him will offend you. Let that always be your standard.
✧✧✧
If Your Brother Sins Against You
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Matthew 18:15–20
Love never justifies sin.
To most Christians, the idea of rejoicing over unrighteousness is repulsive because it suggests enjoying deliberate, wanton sin. We’ve seen sin’s tragic effects on mankind and know how it offends God, so how could we ever rejoice in such a thing? But rejoicing in unrighteousness includes any attempt to justify sin in your own life or in the lives of others, and this can be a very subtle thing.
There are many ways to rejoice in unrighteousness. One is to exchange right for wrong. That’s what the prophet Isaiah condemned when saying, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness” (Isa. 5:20). In our society, for example, virtues such as virginity and fidelity in marriage are branded as old-fashioned and prudish, while promiscuity and adultery are heralded as contemporary and liberating. Social pressures can cause undiscerning or weak Christians to yield to confused and godless moral standards.
Another way to rejoice in unrighteousness is to be undiscerning about what you expose yourself to. The humanistic philosophies and blatant immorality of our society can quickly dull your moral and spiritual senses. Therefore you must carefully evaluate what you read, view, and listen to. Does it denigrate God and exalt violence, crime, immorality, slander, and the like? If so, and you find that book or article entertaining, you are rejoicing in sin.
Some believers actually rejoice over the sins of others. That’s what Jonah did when he refused to preach at Nineveh for fear the people would repent and God would forgive them. He preferred to see them continue in sin rather than reconcile with God. That attitude is not so far removed from today as we’d like to think. I’ve known professing Christians who wanted out of their marriages so badly that they hoped their spouses would commit adultery so they would feel justified in getting a divorce. What a convoluted perspective!
True love cannot rejoice in sin but glories whenever righteousness prevails. If you love God, the things that please Him will please you, and the things that offend Him will offend you. Let that always be your standard.
✧✧✧
If Your Brother Sins Against You
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Matthew 18:15–20
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Mind of Christ
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 2:5
In the home Christ-likeness is Kindness;
In business it is honesty;
Towards the weak it is burden bearing;
Towards the sinner it is evangelism;
Towards ourselves it is self-control;
Towards GOD it is REVERENCE, LOVE, and WORSHIP.
--Unknown
*Please continue to PRAY for Cajamarca!!
love, nicole
In the home Christ-likeness is Kindness;
In business it is honesty;
Towards the weak it is burden bearing;
Towards the sinner it is evangelism;
Towards ourselves it is self-control;
Towards GOD it is REVERENCE, LOVE, and WORSHIP.
--Unknown
Each day our prayer life should include the request that the Holy Spirit reveal the mind of Christ to us. As we mature in the Christian faith, our personalities and the characters should take on Christ-like qualities. To have a Christ-like mind, it is vitally important that we nourish our minds daily with godly materials - things "that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy." (Philippians 4:8)
As a suggestion for devotional times, take the six prayers of this hymn (by, Kate Wilkinson) and use one each day to meditate upon as preparation for your worship on the Lord's Day. What does it mean to have the "mind of Christ," the "Word of God," the "peace of God," the "love of Jesus," the strength of Jesus, and the beauty of Jesus in your life? How would these Christ-like virtues affect your daily living? How would they influence your worship of God?
May the mind of Christ, my Savior, live in me from day to day, by His love and power controlling all I do and say.
May the Word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour, so that all may see I triumph only thru His power.
May the peace of God, my Father, rule my life in everything that I may be calm to comfort sick and sorrowing.
May the love of Jesus fill me, as the waters fill the sea; Him exalting, self-abasing--- this is victory.
May I run the race before me strong and brave to face the foe, looking only unto Jesus as I onward go.
May His beauty rest upon me as I seek the lost to win, and may they forget the channel, ONLY seeing HIM.
"So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love"
love, nicole
Friday, August 17, 2012
God's GOODNESS & FAITHFULNESS
Upon returning back home here from being in the States on Furlough, the Lord was leading us to start a church plant. Last semester we had many frustrations when sharing with locals. When we were asked where we were attending church we had a hard time because we had it at the Bible College and we couldn't invite anyone because it's a closed campus. It was hard, so hard to explain that, without offending and what kind of witness is that for them to see. There is a Bible teaching church there in Cajamarca, about 20-30min. away by bus and for them that's not an option. People here want to walk and not have to pay for a bus or taxi to get there, so that was the other wall we kept running into. With all these obstacles the Lord had started prompting us to do something about that. Then the Bible College asked Ryan if he would teach Sunday services to the students this coming semester and Ryan said yes upon one thing, if we can find somewhere outside the Bible College so we can invite locals. They said it was fine. God did the rest. We thought of many options and looked all over for a large house were we can hold services but everyone we had shared with and talked to HIGHLY suggested to find a separate place, apart from your home to have it. And we felt a little unsettled about moving from our current house because we have started SO MANY relationships. We have been sharing the gospel with all our Vecino's (neighbors) and I hated to have to move. The Lord has put us here in this location for a reason and we believed that the Lord wanted us to stay.
We arrived back here in Banos on the 11th of July and the very next day we were heading to the Bible College and we drove by this Local and we saw a sign that said "Alquiler", which means for rent. It was on the main road and like a 20 second walk from our house!!! But one concern I had was I knew there was a church somewhere very close by and we didn't want to move right next door to another church, we know that wouldn't be right, no matter how off their teaching is. When we went by to get the number to call to see what exact location it was, we realized it was right in the same spot where a church was and they had moved. Then we called the number and the nice women explained the details!! WOW!! You wouldn't believe it but the price for the building was almost the exact amount that someone gave us to use to "further the gospel" on a monthly basis for a year!! God is ALWAYS ahead of us and that's exactly where we want to be, ALWAYS!! We then met with the Landlord and she and her family are Christians and they are so EXCITED to have another church there, for them it was an answer to prayer. You see her sister lives on the left side of the building and she isn't saved and she has been praying for years that her sister would come to know Christ!! The last church was a bad witness to her and the owner is so excited to see if our testimony of Jesus will bring her sister to the :Lord. All that the Lord is doing is SO SO beautiful!! Also, like that is enough to make you thank God, the owner, Rosanna, she is the Aunt of Leo and Leo is the 1st kids that took the "bait" form Ryan. You see, when we 1st moved here, our kids and us would play outside. Whenever we would be outside playing, all the kids would be shy and just sit and watch us. Upon MANY attempts inviting them to play soccer with us, one day Ryan kicked a ball to this kid, which was Leo. Then Leo kicked it back and from there it's been a HUG BLESSING ever since. To add, Leo and his family lives behind the church building.
You see God had this ALL part of His plan ever since the beginning of time and I LOVE to see how He orchestrates it all, it simply BEAUTIFUL!! So many times we as fleshly, unworthy people try to figure things out on our own and attempt to "do things" BUT the Lord ONLY does it perfect. We need to sit back and wait upon Him and allow Him to take us through this life by His MIGHTY and GENTLE hands. We need to know that tings don't just come by sitting back on our rumps doing nothing, we NEED to be in prayer and in His word. We need to be thriving towards what He has in store for us.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
HAVE THINE OWN WAY, LORD
"Yet, O Lord, you are our Father, We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand." (Isaiah 64:8)
An elderly woman at a prayer meeting one night pleaded, “It really doesn’t matter what you do with us, Lord, just have your way with our lives.” At this meeting was Adelaide Pollard, a rather well-known itinerant Bible teacher who was deeply discouraged because she had been unable to raise the necessary funds for a desired trip to Africa to do missionary service. She was moved by the older woman’s sincere and dedicated request of God.
At home that evening Miss Pollard meditated on Jeremiah 18:3, 4:
Then I went down to the potter’s house, and behold, he wrought a work on the wheels, and the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Before retiring that evening, Adelaide Pollard completed the writing of all four stanzas of this hymn as it is sung today. The hymn first appeared in published form in 1907.
Often into our lives come discouragements and heartaches that we cannot understand. As children of God, however, we must learn never to question the ways of our sovereign God—but simply to say:
"Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Search me and try me, Master, today! Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now, as in Thy presence humbly I bow.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Wounded and weary, help me, I pray! Power, all power, surely is Thine! Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Hold o’er my being absolute sway! Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see Christ only, always, living in me!"
*For Today: Psalm 27:14; Romans 6:13, 14; 9:20, 21; Galatians 2:20*
We need to always be checking our hearts in where we are at and to be willing to say, "It is well with my soul." Its so hard at times when you feel like this is right where the Lord wants you and you have had confirmation by scripture and in prayer. And then one day out of NO WHERE, you see everything changing and now going to a different direction. If we life our lives COMPLETELY unto Him and offer ourselves as living sacrifices for Him, then who are we to question what He is doing in our lives and the changes He does. Yes its SO HARD, I know, but His GRACE and MERCY that comes along with His PERFECT and AMAZING love, how can one question. I am not saying its wrong to ask and wonder the "Why's", but we need to be checking our hearts in doing so. At times when I ask the "Why's", it may seen like I am saying that I know better and what is He even thinking. We need to be constantly checking our hearts and where they are at. It's so funny because we see like a simple one scene in our lives BUT Christ sees the ENTIRE film. Let's NOT get caught up in that 1 scene but PRESS on and look towards the goal.
The Lord has been doing so much work in my heart and I am BLESSED but I am telling you it hurts and times because of all the shaping and molding and taking away He is doing, but in that time, He opens my eyes to the filth and mess I have deep inside my soul. But I can count it ALL to JOY cause that means He finds worth in me to do so.
I pray for you that WHATEVER you are going through, that you TRUST in the Lord and what He is doing!!
Love, Nicole
"Yet, O Lord, you are our Father, We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand." (Isaiah 64:8)
An elderly woman at a prayer meeting one night pleaded, “It really doesn’t matter what you do with us, Lord, just have your way with our lives.” At this meeting was Adelaide Pollard, a rather well-known itinerant Bible teacher who was deeply discouraged because she had been unable to raise the necessary funds for a desired trip to Africa to do missionary service. She was moved by the older woman’s sincere and dedicated request of God.
At home that evening Miss Pollard meditated on Jeremiah 18:3, 4:
Then I went down to the potter’s house, and behold, he wrought a work on the wheels, and the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Before retiring that evening, Adelaide Pollard completed the writing of all four stanzas of this hymn as it is sung today. The hymn first appeared in published form in 1907.
Often into our lives come discouragements and heartaches that we cannot understand. As children of God, however, we must learn never to question the ways of our sovereign God—but simply to say:
"Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Search me and try me, Master, today! Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now, as in Thy presence humbly I bow.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Wounded and weary, help me, I pray! Power, all power, surely is Thine! Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Hold o’er my being absolute sway! Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see Christ only, always, living in me!"
*For Today: Psalm 27:14; Romans 6:13, 14; 9:20, 21; Galatians 2:20*
We need to always be checking our hearts in where we are at and to be willing to say, "It is well with my soul." Its so hard at times when you feel like this is right where the Lord wants you and you have had confirmation by scripture and in prayer. And then one day out of NO WHERE, you see everything changing and now going to a different direction. If we life our lives COMPLETELY unto Him and offer ourselves as living sacrifices for Him, then who are we to question what He is doing in our lives and the changes He does. Yes its SO HARD, I know, but His GRACE and MERCY that comes along with His PERFECT and AMAZING love, how can one question. I am not saying its wrong to ask and wonder the "Why's", but we need to be checking our hearts in doing so. At times when I ask the "Why's", it may seen like I am saying that I know better and what is He even thinking. We need to be constantly checking our hearts and where they are at. It's so funny because we see like a simple one scene in our lives BUT Christ sees the ENTIRE film. Let's NOT get caught up in that 1 scene but PRESS on and look towards the goal.
The Lord has been doing so much work in my heart and I am BLESSED but I am telling you it hurts and times because of all the shaping and molding and taking away He is doing, but in that time, He opens my eyes to the filth and mess I have deep inside my soul. But I can count it ALL to JOY cause that means He finds worth in me to do so.
I pray for you that WHATEVER you are going through, that you TRUST in the Lord and what He is doing!!
Love, Nicole
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Women
 |
| *My BEST FRIEND, My LOVE, My PERFECT MATE* |
I pray that this encourages you, challenges you and draws you closer in understanding about being a Women.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Psaims 119:11
" I have stored Your Words in my heart, that I might not sin against You." Psalms 119:11
-This morning during my devotion times, I read this verse. Even though I have heard it and read it many times, it punctured my heart. It says "store Your Words in my heart." In order to store His Words in our heart we need to know those Words. Those Words are the Word. How can we know our God and seek Him if we aren't in His Word?! How can we know what He says about this ot that if we are not reading His Word?! It doesn't mean that if you are in the Word reading it daily you won't sin BUT you'll be aware of it and you will then recognize your sin and confess sooner. How BEAUTIFUL is that?! One of my favorite songs goes like this:
"The more I seek you, the more I find you, the more I find you, the more I love you.
I want to sit at your feet, drink from the cup of your hands, lay back against you and
breath, feel your heartbeat, this love is so deep, it's more then I can stand, I melt in
your peace, it's overwhelming"
How are we gunna fall more and more in love with Him if we don't have those intimate times with Him. So many times we think that we say a quick prayer or what not and we are covered, we may read a quick devotional with one verse and think, "OK I am good". Trust me, I was one like that. BUT not until I DUG DEEP into His Word and studied it and asked Him to illuminate and show me Himself so that I might know Him more, then and only then, did my faith and walk grow. It's funny too cause by being in the Word and studing it, it doesn't make you always feel all warm and fuzzy inside, MANY times it points out what an evil and wicked person I am and how MUCH I need Him. I am so BLESSED that He finds something in me that He will spend time shaping me and molding me into the woman He wants me to be. So, I urge you to GET in the WORD and spend time in prayer. Many of us as Moms don't have all this time to go to our knees for hours a day and just sit down for sometime and read BUT ask the Lord to show you and to learn to prioritize your lives more and get things in the order they need to be. I will be praying that who ever reads this that the Lord will direct and show you and that He will draw you closer and closer to Him. God is SO SO GOOD and He never ceases to amaze me at how GREAT and WONDERFUL He is!!
-This morning during my devotion times, I read this verse. Even though I have heard it and read it many times, it punctured my heart. It says "store Your Words in my heart." In order to store His Words in our heart we need to know those Words. Those Words are the Word. How can we know our God and seek Him if we aren't in His Word?! How can we know what He says about this ot that if we are not reading His Word?! It doesn't mean that if you are in the Word reading it daily you won't sin BUT you'll be aware of it and you will then recognize your sin and confess sooner. How BEAUTIFUL is that?! One of my favorite songs goes like this:
"The more I seek you, the more I find you, the more I find you, the more I love you.
I want to sit at your feet, drink from the cup of your hands, lay back against you and
breath, feel your heartbeat, this love is so deep, it's more then I can stand, I melt in
your peace, it's overwhelming"
How are we gunna fall more and more in love with Him if we don't have those intimate times with Him. So many times we think that we say a quick prayer or what not and we are covered, we may read a quick devotional with one verse and think, "OK I am good". Trust me, I was one like that. BUT not until I DUG DEEP into His Word and studied it and asked Him to illuminate and show me Himself so that I might know Him more, then and only then, did my faith and walk grow. It's funny too cause by being in the Word and studing it, it doesn't make you always feel all warm and fuzzy inside, MANY times it points out what an evil and wicked person I am and how MUCH I need Him. I am so BLESSED that He finds something in me that He will spend time shaping me and molding me into the woman He wants me to be. So, I urge you to GET in the WORD and spend time in prayer. Many of us as Moms don't have all this time to go to our knees for hours a day and just sit down for sometime and read BUT ask the Lord to show you and to learn to prioritize your lives more and get things in the order they need to be. I will be praying that who ever reads this that the Lord will direct and show you and that He will draw you closer and closer to Him. God is SO SO GOOD and He never ceases to amaze me at how GREAT and WONDERFUL He is!!
Friday, August 10, 2012
“If I give all my possessions to feed the poor … but do not have love, it profits me nothing” (1 Cor. 13:3).
✧✧✧
Love is characterized by self-sacrifice, but not all self-sacrifice is an act of love.
If you’ve ever donated to your church or another charitable organization out of obligation, peer pressure, legalism, guilt, a desire for recognition, or simply to earn a tax deduction, you know what it means to give without love. In our society it’s easy to fall prey to that kind of giving because the needs are so great and fund-raisers appeal to every conceivable motive. In addition, many cults and false religions encourage the giving up of possessions and other sacrificial gestures as a supposed means of earning God’s favor. But God is more interested in why you give than what you give.
Paul’s hypothetical illustration in 1 Corinthians 13:3 is that of someone who sacrificed everything he had to feed the poor. The Greek word translated “to feed” means “to dole out in small quantities.” Apparently this guy didn’t simply write out a check for a food distribution program; he was personally involved in a long-term, systematic program that would eventually consume every resource he had. Paul doesn’t mention motives—only that this person lacked love. Consequently, the benefits of his benevolence were limited to the physical realm. Any spiritual benefits were forfeited. Jesus, making a similar point, said, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 6:1). If your motive for giving is to gain the approval of men, their accolades will be your only reward. If you’re motivated by love for God, He will reward you abundantly (vv. 2–4). When you give to the Lord, what is your motive? Do you want others to think more highly of you? Do you feel obligated? Those are subtle influences, so be sure to guard your motives carefully. Remember, the only acceptable motive is love.
✧✧✧
Examine our hearts and see our intentions. Like in Luke 18:9-14 is a perfect example.
✧✧✧
Love is characterized by self-sacrifice, but not all self-sacrifice is an act of love.
If you’ve ever donated to your church or another charitable organization out of obligation, peer pressure, legalism, guilt, a desire for recognition, or simply to earn a tax deduction, you know what it means to give without love. In our society it’s easy to fall prey to that kind of giving because the needs are so great and fund-raisers appeal to every conceivable motive. In addition, many cults and false religions encourage the giving up of possessions and other sacrificial gestures as a supposed means of earning God’s favor. But God is more interested in why you give than what you give.
Paul’s hypothetical illustration in 1 Corinthians 13:3 is that of someone who sacrificed everything he had to feed the poor. The Greek word translated “to feed” means “to dole out in small quantities.” Apparently this guy didn’t simply write out a check for a food distribution program; he was personally involved in a long-term, systematic program that would eventually consume every resource he had. Paul doesn’t mention motives—only that this person lacked love. Consequently, the benefits of his benevolence were limited to the physical realm. Any spiritual benefits were forfeited. Jesus, making a similar point, said, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 6:1). If your motive for giving is to gain the approval of men, their accolades will be your only reward. If you’re motivated by love for God, He will reward you abundantly (vv. 2–4). When you give to the Lord, what is your motive? Do you want others to think more highly of you? Do you feel obligated? Those are subtle influences, so be sure to guard your motives carefully. Remember, the only acceptable motive is love.
✧✧✧
Examine our hearts and see our intentions. Like in Luke 18:9-14 is a perfect example.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Faith without Love
“If I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing” (1 Cor. 13:2).
✧✧✧
Loveless faith is useless faith.
In Matthew 17:19 the disciples came to Jesus wanting to know why they couldn’t cast a demonic spirit from a child. Jesus responded, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you” (v. 20). He repeated the same principle in Matthew 21:21—“Truly I say to you, if you have faith, and do not doubt, you shall … say to this mountain [the Mount of Olives], ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ [and] it shall happen.”
Those passages have puzzled many people because they’ve never seen anyone move a mountain. But Jesus wasn’t speaking literally. Moving mountains would cause all kinds of ecological problems and would be a pointless miracle. The expression “able to move mountains” was a common figure of speech in that day, meaning “to surmount great obstacles.” Jesus was speaking of those who have the gift of faith—those who can move the hand of God through unwavering prayer.
The gift of faith is the ability to believe that God will act according to His will, no matter the circumstances. People with that gift are prayer warriors and tend to stand as rocks when others around them are falling apart. They see God’s power and purposes at work, and they trust Him even when others doubt.
But, says Paul, even if you have such faith, if you don’t have love, you are nothing. That’s a harsh rebuke, but it places the emphasis where it belongs—on our motives. The Corinthians’ motives were evident in their selfish pursuit of the showy gifts.
What motivates you? Remember, without love it doesn’t matter what gifts you have, how eloquent your speech is, what you know, or what you believe. Only love can validate your service to Christ.
*I want to have that FAITH!! I thrive to be that person standing on the ROCK and being a prayer warrior!!
✧✧✧
Loveless faith is useless faith.
In Matthew 17:19 the disciples came to Jesus wanting to know why they couldn’t cast a demonic spirit from a child. Jesus responded, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you” (v. 20). He repeated the same principle in Matthew 21:21—“Truly I say to you, if you have faith, and do not doubt, you shall … say to this mountain [the Mount of Olives], ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ [and] it shall happen.”
Those passages have puzzled many people because they’ve never seen anyone move a mountain. But Jesus wasn’t speaking literally. Moving mountains would cause all kinds of ecological problems and would be a pointless miracle. The expression “able to move mountains” was a common figure of speech in that day, meaning “to surmount great obstacles.” Jesus was speaking of those who have the gift of faith—those who can move the hand of God through unwavering prayer.
The gift of faith is the ability to believe that God will act according to His will, no matter the circumstances. People with that gift are prayer warriors and tend to stand as rocks when others around them are falling apart. They see God’s power and purposes at work, and they trust Him even when others doubt.
But, says Paul, even if you have such faith, if you don’t have love, you are nothing. That’s a harsh rebuke, but it places the emphasis where it belongs—on our motives. The Corinthians’ motives were evident in their selfish pursuit of the showy gifts.
What motivates you? Remember, without love it doesn’t matter what gifts you have, how eloquent your speech is, what you know, or what you believe. Only love can validate your service to Christ.
*I want to have that FAITH!! I thrive to be that person standing on the ROCK and being a prayer warrior!!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
All is Possible!
"All things are possible for one who believes."
Mark 9:23
Many professed Christians are always doubting and fearing, and they forlornly think that this is the inevitable state of believers. This is a mistake, for “all things are possible for one who believes”; and it is possible for us to arrive at a place where a doubt or a fear shall be like a migrant bird flitting across the soul but never lingering there. When you read of the high and sweet communions enjoyed by favored saints, you sigh and murmur in the chamber of your heart, “Sadly, these are not for me.”
But, climber, if you exercise your faith, you will before long stand on the sunny pinnacle of the temple, for “all things are possible for one who believes.” You hear of exploits that holy men have done for Jesus—what they have enjoyed of Him, how much they have been like Him, how they have been able to endure great persecutions for His sake—and you say, “But as for me, I am useless. I can never reach these heights.”
But there is nothing that one saint was that you may not be. There is no elevation of grace, no attainment of spirituality, no clearness of assurance, no place of duty, that is not open to you if you have but the power to believe. Lay aside your sackcloth and ashes, and rise to the dignity of your true position; you are impoverished not because you have to be but because you want to be. It is not right that you, a child of the King, should grovel in the dust. Rise! The golden throne of assurance is waiting for you! The crown of communion with Jesus is ready to adorn your brow. Wrap yourself in scarlet and fine linen, and eat lavishly every day; for if you believe, you can eat the royal portion, your land will flow with milk and honey, and your soul shall be satisfied in God. Gather golden sheaves of grace, for they await you in the fields of faith. “All things are possible for one who believes.”
But there is nothing that one saint was that you may not be. There is no elevation of grace, no attainment of spirituality, no clearness of assurance, no place of duty, that is not open to you if you have but the power to believe. Lay aside your sackcloth and ashes, and rise to the dignity of your true position; you are impoverished not because you have to be but because you want to be. It is not right that you, a child of the King, should grovel in the dust. Rise! The golden throne of assurance is waiting for you! The crown of communion with Jesus is ready to adorn your brow. Wrap yourself in scarlet and fine linen, and eat lavishly every day; for if you believe, you can eat the royal portion, your land will flow with milk and honey, and your soul shall be satisfied in God. Gather golden sheaves of grace, for they await you in the fields of faith. “All things are possible for one who believes.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)