I Corinthians 13 is a popular chapter, referred to us the Love chapter, and is frequently read at weddings. I have thought of it as revealing what Love looks like, but verse 6 makes me stop and get a real glimpse of what Love does not look like...
1 Corinthians 13: 6
(NIV): Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
(NRSV): It does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.
Chapter 13 opens telling us that without Love, we are nothing more than noisy gongs or clanging cymbals (vs. 1) and if we are truly to be followers of Christ, Love must be the ingredient that binds us with Him and is the evidence of that relationship.
As I read verse 6, it hit me that I do delight in evil and rejoice in wrong doing every time I participate in rumor, slander, or just seek to listen to those who agree with me in conflicts or political views. While I watch TV, I am steered toward news reports that announce crimes, wrongdoings of others, sensational events of how evil people can be. The TV stations don't get my attention by showing goodness, they get my attention by advertising evil, and I look forward to hearing all about it.
If I am really honest with myself, I do delight in the downfall or exposure of evil and wrongdoings of people I disagree with. With that truthful confession I must acknowledge that I do not have the Love of Christ within me, because His Love is not measured in increments...it either exists in its purity or does not.
I will take my encouragement from the last words of verse 6...I will rejoice in truth. The truth in all situations is that God is in control and His love will defeat evil. His righteousness overcomes all the wrong that we are exposed to throughout the day, so I will seek and hang on to His promises and grace. I choose to focus on Jesus and let Him be my delight and not the evil which the world is trying to lure me with.
Discover and Proclaim the Truth of The Bible which is: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life." (John 3:16 NRSV). Jesus came to humanity to proclaim and give evidence to that love and He has commanded us to do the same. We, who believe, must not merely be followers, but we must be proclaimers of the Gospel Message and we can only do that by being filled with the love of God.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Friday, August 2, 2013
The Four Spiritual Laws
As I was preparing for a discussion a couple weeks ago, I came across the Bill Bright's Four Spiritual Laws which were introduced in 1952 as part of the Campus Crusade for Christ program. These Spiritual Laws or truths spoke to me and aligned with Christ's working in me regarding the word "Receive" . Over the last month I have been reminded over and over that I am to receive from God and these laws are truths which I need to receive and share with others.
The Four Spiritual Laws are:
Sin is the alternative to Jesus. If we choose to live a life which is contrary to God's plan, a life of sin, we will never experience His love and the joy and peace that He desires for us. Jesus came to overcome sin and to offer Himself as a sacrifice for us so that we do not have to experience the separation from God's love and a life of being lost and without purpose.
Every day, we need to receive the truth that God loves us and has a plan for us, which He reveals through His Spirit, abiding in us when we receive Jesus as our Lord.
The Four Spiritual Laws are:
- God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. (John 3:16, John 10:10)
- Man is sinful and separated from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life. (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23)
- Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life. (Romans 5:8,I Corinthians 15:3-6, John 14:6)
- We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives. (John 1:12, Ephesians 2:8,9, John 3:1~8, Revelation 3:20)
Sin is the alternative to Jesus. If we choose to live a life which is contrary to God's plan, a life of sin, we will never experience His love and the joy and peace that He desires for us. Jesus came to overcome sin and to offer Himself as a sacrifice for us so that we do not have to experience the separation from God's love and a life of being lost and without purpose.
Every day, we need to receive the truth that God loves us and has a plan for us, which He reveals through His Spirit, abiding in us when we receive Jesus as our Lord.
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