Category: love

“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…’” Isaiah 30:15

It does not matter who wins the White House, the message of the Sovereign Lord to our nation will be the same: “Repent.” It does not matter the color of an individual’s skin, if he or she is not walking with Christ, the One through whom all were created says: “Repent.”

We can be confident this is the Word of God for today because this was the message of Christ as He walked the earth many years ago. “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” (Matthew 4:17) Love tells us what we need to do.

“Now there were some present at the time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them – do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.’” (Luke 13:1-5)

There is no true rest in darkness. Pretending to be what we’re not; justifying wrongdoing; blaming others; denying the truth… we’re not created to live this way. Jesus invites us to come into the light, to receive forgiveness, and to find rest.

‘Get right with God! Quit focusing on others and examine your own heart. Look at your own actions and confess your own sin. Be honest. Come to Me for healing and freedom. My blood has already covered your debt, but you cannot continue to live in darkness. I am the Light! I am the Way; I speak Truth with perfect love; I give Life filled with joy and hope.’

A merciful Father wants all to believe that His loving Son stands with open arms to receive any person who comes humbly to Him. May all hear His invitation.

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Hello, my name is Lewis and it has been one week since I surrendered my life to Christ. I said: “Lord, You have given Your life to save me… thank You. I don’t understand everything, but I am offering myself to You and trusting You completely… even in this horrible pandemic. Take my life and do with me as You please.”

I feel as if I am a new man. My outlook, my attitude, and my whole mindset have changed. A good friend always told me I needed to seek the true meaning of life… and I am beginning to understand. With so much free time during our mandated confinement, I have decided to read the Bible. My friends and family would really laugh if they saw me now.

I now possess a peace I have never experienced. This peace is more powerful than any fear. In trying to understand it, I’ve concluded much stems from this truth: God loves me. The Bible says He has known me before I was even born and that He longs for me to know Him.

Jesus said: “Now this is eternal life: that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Granted, it has only been a week, but knowing God changes everything! God is love and He loves me despite my past, despite my wrongdoings, despite my years living opposed to Him. He has provided forgiveness and hope and a future. He is the Source of peace.

My friend says this peace is supernatural… and I guess it is… but isn’t it also a natural product of the Father’s love? Do we not witness peace in the faces of our sleeping children? In a loving, stable home with parents present, a child need not worry. Peace flows from love.

I am no expert… but my life has changed. Amidst the troubles, peace has come into my heart and into my home. Will it exist if I experience loss? Will it remain if I get sick or a family member gets sick? I can’t yet speak from experience, but my heart tells me sorrow still exists in our world and difficulties do not disappear… but the love of God cannot be changed. If He is the Author of peace, then peace is always possible. “With God, all things are possible.”.

“I will put My laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:10-12

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” I John 4:16

Jesus explained that much chaos will cover the earth before He returns. “So when all these things begin to happen, stand straight and look up! For your salvation is near.” (Luke 21:28; The Living Bible) Another translation reads: “So when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (NIV)

When nations are in “anguish and perplexity,” when worry rules the day, when hardship is common… “look up.” When the world is paralyzed by fear, the children of God are to be confident. We too must deal with difficulties… but we know Who is in control… and we remember the truths of God. This world is temporary; God’s Kingdom ruled by love is eternal. Health, wealth, and ‘happiness’ are fleeting positions. ‘Do you know Jesus? Are you living in Him?’ These are the most important questions.

I’ve written before of the Wurmbrand family, who lived during a very difficult period of world history. They were well-educated Jewish atheists in Romania, and they came to Christ shortly before the outbreak of World War II. After the war, as Communism overtook much of Europe, their son Mihai was only six years old. He remembered his father being taken to prison not long after standing in a large assembly in Bucharest and denying the lies of the new government while defending the truth of the Gospel. Richard ended up spending over thirteen torturous years in prison.

Mihai’s mom Sabina also spent three years in prison. He recalled the priorities of his parents as they lost all material possessions and their freedom for the Lord. “My mom never behaved with more dedication than with those who caused us the greatest harm… these would be the people my parents would invite into their home. She would say: ‘To be a Christian is not like being a weight-lifter or other sportsman who trains at a specific time every day. To be a Christian, you have to take the opportunity right when it is most difficult.’”

I see more failures in my life than successes, but Paul reminds us to “forget what is behind” and to “press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” (see Philippians 3:12-16) As we look up and see the Father has placed us in His Son (see Ephesians 2:4-7) and given us His Spirit as Helper and Comforter, we can boldly live (with words and actions) the lives of love that will draw others to hope. God gives us the “excellent way” (I Corinthians 13) and we can love our neighbors, our enemies, our families, and one another like Christ loves us. Look up… and live with confidence!

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that God loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God 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. This is how we know that we live in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment. In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us.” I John 4:7-19

(Mihai’s quotes are from The Torchlighters: Heroes of the Faith Episode 6,© Christian History Institute)

Come to the table He’s prepared for you
The bread of forgiveness, the wine of release
Come to the table and sit down beside Him
The Savior wants you to join in the feast

Come to the table and see in His eyes
The love that the Father has spoken
And know you are welcome, whatever your crime
For every commandment you’ve broken

For He’s come to love you and not to condemn
And He offers a pardon of peace
If you’ll come to the table, you’ll feel in your heart
The greatest forgiveness, the greatest release
Michael Card – 1984

Both my brothers, my sister, and I joined my parents and many others Wednesday evening in Chattanooga for a meal of Thanksgiving. Sitting at my parents’ table may be the most happy and secure place on earth. There, my Mom and Dad have demonstrated more of the Father’s love than we will probably ever understand.

With a kind invitation from Taylor’s wife Emma and a bit of coaxing from me, Jim came off the streets for a day and joined two families for a wonderful meal on Thanksgiving Day. We all want Jim to repent, get clean, and reconcile with the Father… but Thursday we were satisfied to sit together around the same table.

Driving back to the city Thursday afternoon, Jim shared this: “I have a friend named Eric… a good guy, but he also struggles with addiction. One day I told him about my church… and he just broke down crying.” The reality of God’s people simply loving others without giving up… and without forgetting He first loved us… demonstrates more power than we will probably ever understand.

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8

Over Spring Break, Susan and I had a great week with Kinsey, Jordan, Owen, and Keightley. On our last day we went to Golden, Colorado, a small town a few miles west of Denver. Signs in the parks stated their ‘Golden Rule’ as taking care of the creek that runs through the city. Of course, the more famous ‘Golden Rule’ has to do with taking care of people.

Visitors to the Chick-fil-A headquarters in Atlanta are given a wooden ruler with these words printed on it: ‘Golden Rule — Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.’ The restaurant’s founder, the late Truett Cathy, when asked about his philosophy in the business world, would often say: “We simply practice the Golden Rule.”

Jesus spoke these words in the Sermon on the Mount. Our world would be a better place if they were followed. Treating others the way you would like to be treated is the path of love… and the Father, Son, and Spirit smile as we love one another.

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” Matthew 7:24-25