Category Archives: Love

Children of God

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When one begins to contemplate the many blessings bestowed upon himself throughout one day, he should be both mesmerized by the enormity of these gifts and humbled by their presence in his life. When one further contemplates the Creator of all the universe caring for him, it truly brings a sense of awe. As the Psalmist wrote, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4). No truer question could have ever been asked than, Who am I to receive such wonderful blessings?

It is this sense of awe that prompts within us our humility. We are humbled because we understand our weaknesses and failure to maintain faithfulness to God. We freely confess that we have fallen short and deserve nothing, but even then God continues to love, forgive, and reunite our lives with His will. We are humbled by the empirical evidence that manifest God’s love, one that is greater than any we should ever deserve. Our very being both spiritually and physically is sustained by our Father who reigns in heaven – Who am I to ever be called one of His children?

It is with this foundation of awe and humility, we want to examine these words of the apostle John – “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him” (1 John 3:1). It is this love of God manifested in our lives that has forever changed not only our course on earth but our eternal destinies. We are no longer just average men but are children of God. Do we honor God by humbly thanking Him for this awesome gift? Do we contemplate what it means to be called a child of God and the rich blessings we obtain through this new relationship? Our task is to evaluate the text of John’s first epistle and to think about the rich blessings we are given through God’s wondrous love.

The first blessing of being a child of God is sharing in fellowship with the Father and Son (1 John 1:7). When we put on Christ in baptism, our motivation in life has changed from selfish interest to selfless concern. Our love and the pursuit of worldly things is redesigned to now love the Father and carry out His will (1 John 2:15-17). We have been called to walk in a manner as He walked (1 John 2:6). Our lives become a manifestation of this change, when others no longer see vain pursuits but a life given to righteousness (1 John 2:29). This change originates and continues daily because of the fellowship we share with the Father and Son.

The second blessing of being a child of God is the forgiveness of sins. Our God’s love is incomprehensible! As Paul said, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). While man struggles to forgive his debtors and to love his enemies, our God loved us while we were yet sinners and completely unlovable. This is only possible because our God is love and because in His love lies the gift of forgiveness (1 John 4:8). While God does expect us to live differently after salvation, He also continues to forgive those who confess and repent of their sins. John said, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). There is no excuse for a Christian to live with sin for John said, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Therefore, we must live in such a way to confess our faults and ask for God’s forgiveness.

A third blessing of being a child of God is the hope and assurance of a better life coming. John spoke of eternal life in both the immediate sense and future sense in his short epistle. John wrote in the immediate sense to encourage those Christians who were having to endure both physical persecutions and the false teaching of their day to remain faithful (1 John 2:26; 4:1-6). This purpose was further explained by John when he wrote, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). Building upon this foundation, John moved from their immediate situation by exhorting them to live with full assurance of eternal life in the future sense. As he wrote, “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is” (1 John 3:2). John encouraged the faithful to carry on by reminding them of their future glory and home in heaven with the Father and Son.

While this list was never meant to be exhaustive, it does gives us three key blessings that transcend the centuries by continuing to encourage us in our faithfulness to God. What a tremendous thought that we will all share in the same result as our brethren of the 1st century if we remain faithful to God? Will you be found walking in the light or will you forfeit God’s richest blessings for a momentary pleasure of sin? We have been called to not walk like mere men but rather to walk on a higher plane with a new purpose. We are encouraged by John to walk in love, truth, knowledge, forgiveness, light, etc., because these are the traits manifested in our Father. May our lives continually be in awe of God’s surpassing love and humbled by His wondrous forgiveness so that we remain to be called – Children of God!

By Colby Junkin

Which Ones Have You Encouraged?

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The Lord’s church is composed of both strong and weak members. Each one needs encouragement at times, but certainly the weaker brethren need a greater amount of special attention. Also, there are some members who are not necessarily weak, but who have special physical problems, causing them to need special attention. The apostle Paul taught that the responsibility of helping the weaker members rested upon the shoulders of those who were mature, full-grown Christians (Romans 15:1; Galatians 6:1-2). In the minds of some, this type of responsibility is the work of the elders, deacons, or preachers. Indeed it is; but the instruction is given to all Christians. Sometimes elders and preachers are negligent. Sometimes there is simply more work to be done than a limited number of men can accomplish. Which ones have you encouraged?

Some Members Are Forsaking the Assembling of the Saints

This sign of weakness is obvious to any mature Christian. It takes no special training or skills to make a phone call, write a note, or drop by for a short visit to say, “I’ve missed you.” Would it be presumptuous to say almost all Christians could render service in this area?

Some Members Are Attending Without the Support (Perhaps With the Hindrance) Of Their Spouse

A mother rises early on Sunday morning to prepare breakfast and dress the children to get them to Bible class; and they leave home with the father still in bed. Sometimes the fathers have the same problem, leaving the mother at home. All recognize the special problems faced by such parents, admire their effort, and are encouraged by their faithful attendance under less than ideal circumstances. Are we not obliged to reciprocate some type of encouragement to these faithful parents?

Some Members Are Presently Experiencing Family Problems

There are parents who are struggling with a rebellious child. There are married couples who are experiencing serious problems, perhaps resulting from an immature spiritual life. There are adults who have aging parents who are sick or confined, and demand much of their time and attention. In many cases, an encouraging word may be all that can be offered. Who offers it?

Some Members Are Facing Problems Associated With Aging

The elderly and widows find it more and more difficult to do the basics, such as driving to services, shopping at the market, visiting with others, etc. Many live alone, without the encouragement or support of a faithful companion. Encouragement may be extended both verbally and actively.

This list could go on and on, but the initial question would remain the same, namely, “Which ones have you encouraged?” As the members of a congregation consider one another, the opportunities to serve are abundant. Christians may avoid the question for the present, but one day all will stand and give an answer.

By David Thomley

 

 

Count It Joy

As humans, we have a tendency to ask “why” when we experience difficulties in our lives. We may look at a situation as being the victim. God gives insight on how to handle these situations so that we may look at them as being a victor. We can expect experience difficulties as a Christian. After all, Jesus, the apostles and first century Christians endured hard times. James tells us how to approach these times in chapter 1.

We must first embrace the trial and count it joy (v.2).  Jesus said that we will have trials (John 16:33), so we should not be caught off guard when they occur.  These trials may be caused by satan, the world, our family and even brethren.   Peter tells us not to be surprised by these trials, but to rejoice in them (1 Peter 4:12-13).  Rejoicing occurred after suffering persecution for the cause of the gospel (Acts 5:41).  These times bring about perseverance (Romans 5:3).  We should look at the difficulty and thank God while adopting a joyful attitude when trials occur.  Persecution, in whatever form it may be, is a part of Christianity and when we suffer for Jesus, we should look at it as a good thing, especially since He suffered for us.

In verse 3, James says that the testing of our faith produces endurance.  Just as athletes train for their sport, we must train for Christianity.  Faith tested brings out the best in us if we remain focused on God.   Trials help us mature as Christians.  If we never have these, then we expect everything will be easy and as a result, we do not grow stronger.  Endurance denotes the ability to have consistency in the face of adversity.  We must stand firm with God, no matter what is thrown at us.  Testing can work for us, not against us (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Endurance must have its perfect result (verse 4).  Too often, we want the hard times to be over with immediately.  Instead of complaining or questioning God, we should simply endure it.   We learn to continue to seek God’s will during the hard times.

Lastly, we must look to God for wisdom (verse 5).  Wisdom is demonstrated when we take what Scripture says and apply it to our own lives.  We must look to the One who is all knowing for guidance.  Persistency must characterize our prayer life.  Especially in times of difficulty, we should become more dependent on God, looking to Him for strength, guidance and comfort.  James tells us to ask God in faith, without doubting (verse 6).

Seeing trials as an opportunity to rejoice is contrary to what the world thinks. Christianity is about seeking to please God.  It is about humbling ourselves in good times and in difficult times.  Christians are commanded to have a joy in all circumstances of life.  This joy occurs because, no matter what we endure, we have the hope of heaven.

By Randy Case Jr.

How a Congregation Stays Strong Through the Years

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We read in Scripture about congregations that were established by the apostles in the first century. Can there be a stronger way to start? We also read about the work they did among these congregations. Paul, for example, spent a year and a half in Corinth. He spent three years in Ephesus. He was actively involved in congregations in Philippi, Thessalonica, Colossae, and in Roman and Galatian churches. If any groups received strong, sound teaching, they did.

Two thousand years later, these churches no longer exist. The letters addressed to churches in Revelation 2-3 reveal some struggling groups, threatened with having their lampstands removed unless they repent. Time changes much, of course, and among the factors are that people die, move away, and some, sadly, fall away. No congregation will be the same forever; within a 50 year period, one generation will have passed and a new one will have emerged. Will this new generation make for a strong church?

What does it take for a congregation to stay strong over a long period of time?

No doubt there are many principles and applications that may be considered. Here we provide three broad areas that are going to be critical for any congregation that seeks to survive for long. In many ways, they overlap each other, but to get us thinking in this direction, we want to think about the following:

Knowledge

In Hosea, the Lord lamented, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (4:6). Part of their downfall was due to the fact their leaders did not know the Lord, didn’t know His law, and weren’t able to teach it. Later, the Lord said, “For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (6:6). Knowledge is paramount.

For a congregation to stay strong over a period of time, Christians need knowledge of God and Scripture. This knowledge is not just about having information; it’s about a close relationship with God. Knowledge has the practical effect of bearing fruit for God, just as Paul expressed in Colossians 1:9-12.

Further, this knowledge needs to be passed on to others, including the next generation, if we want the church to continue strongly into the future. Paul told Timothy, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2).

Knowledge of God and His will, passed down to others through time, will help a church remain strong for the Lord through the years.

Commitment

Commitment is an overarching principle and applies to all that we do for the Lord. For example, if a congregation will stay strong, Christians must be committed to:

  • Growing in God’s grace and knowledge (2 Pet. 3:18).
  • The authority of God and the Word (Heb. 4:12-13; 2 Tim. 3:15-17).
  • Living the word and keeping excellent behavior (1 Peter 2:12; Phil. 1:27; Eph. 4:1).
  • Unity of the Spirit (Eph. 4:1-6).
  • Speaking truth in love so that each member learns to serve and participate (Eph. 4:11-16).
  • Spreading the word to the lost (1 Tim. 2:4; 1 Thess. 1:8).

The list can be multiplied, but the point is that the only way any of these will be accomplished through commitment. Commitment is not an accident. It is a purposeful effort that requires running the race with endurance (Heb. 12:1-2), and endurance means faithfulness and longevity for both individuals and congregations.

Love

In conjunction with, and necessarily tied to our commitment, love needs to be the motivating factor for action within a congregation. We cannot afford to leave our “first love” (Rev. 2:4). We need to show our love for God (back to commitment), and one another. This means being “kind to one another, tender- hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32).

Faith works “through love” (Gal. 5:6). “Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Cor. 16:14). “Walk in love” (Eph. 5:2). “May the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another” (1 Thess. 3:12). Without love, we are nothing (1 Cor. 13). Love is foundational to all we do and directly impacts our commitment and desire to know God and His word.

Much more may be said, but let’s be thinking about ways we can increase and abound in these traits. Through knowledge, commitment, and love, a congregation may remain strong for the Lord well into future generations. May God help us to be such a group.

By Doy Moyer