2 Corinthians 13:11-14 – 11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All God’s people here send their greetings. 14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
How much do we love the family we are born into? Of course we love them immensely. Through all the family struggles and all the family fun, we love each other. There may subjects that are best not talked about, but we love each other. Always we love each other. We do not easily walk away from such bonds. Such is the deep bond (and greater) that we have for each other in Christ. I truly love the children of my brothers and sister in Christ. We, all children and adults in Christ, are family. Do we realize the deep bond? Family, the Word of God is clear that only those who love and serve the Lord will be forever together with Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). Heartbreakingly sad is that there are those in our natural families who reject Jesus. The Word of God is clear that, at death, unless one already knows Jesus as Savior and Lord, they will not dwell with God (Hebrews 9:27). But we know who will dwell eternally with God, all our brothers and sisters who truly love and serve God. Though we certainly disagree with each other about some things (sometimes strongly) we are united together by the blood of Christ. Family, Jesus said that we must love God with everything that we are and love each other as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). These two commandments fulfill all that has been revealed to us in the Law and the Prophets. Everything hangs on love. Everything.
Since we are eternally bonded in love, but not yet in heaven, out of love, let us not hurt each other, but encourage each other. We don’t need to agree on everything. Two people who greatly love God can disagree on things. What should not happen is that we should break fellowship and speak against each other over earthly matters. We must, if we are in Christ, love each other (1 John 4:7-8). We must remember that the love we are called to is a proactive love (Matthew 25:31-46, Luke 10:25-37). It seeks out to encourage and to do good. It rushes out to the sides of those in need. It overlooks differences of opinion and hurtful words not only because we love them, but the origin of our love for each other is the love of God within. The love of God breaks down walls, forgives offenses, and loves when love seems impossible. We all were once wallowing in detestable stench (Isaiah 64:6) and still God loved and saved us. That is the love that we are to have for each other. We don’t need to agree with each other to love each other. Never let the love of bondage be broken. Always, from the pure love of God, do good to each other. Restore loving relationships that have been damaged. Find the common ground of the love of God. Avoid what separates and dwell in the love of God that unites. Let the love and peace of God perfect us and unite us. Truly love and so be excited with joy to see each other. Give a holy hug to each other. Let the expression on our faces, when we see each other, be easily read as joy and love.
The Golden Rule that God gave to us does not say to avoid evil, it says to do good (Matthew 7:12). In doing so we show who is within us. By being active in displaying the love of God to the world we are then inactive in doing evil. If our time is filled “doing love” then we will have not have time for evil. The love of God is the answer. May we live in it today! May we all walk in the awareness of God’s blessing in our lives. It all starts with the love of God! May the love of God overflow and pour out of us in gratefulness to Him and in love for each other! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
This entry was posted in Devotion and tagged Corinthians, Hebrews, Isaiah, John, Luke, Matthew, Micah, Psalm, Timothy by Bob with
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