Losing for love!

1 Kings 3:16 - 2 8 

Then two women who were harlots came to the king and stood before him. The one woman said, “Oh, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house. “It happened on the third day after I gave birth, that this woman also gave birth to a child, and we were together. There was no stranger with us in the house, only the two of us in the house. “This woman’s son died in the night, because she lay on it. “So she arose in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while your maidservant slept, and laid him in her bosom, and laid her dead son in my bosom. “When I rose in the morning to nurse my son, behold, he was dead; but when I looked at him carefully in the morning, behold, he was not my son, whom I had borne.” 

Then the other woman said, “No! For the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son.” But the first woman said, “No! For the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son.” Thus they spoke before the king.

Then the king said, “The one says, ‘This is my son who is living, and your son is the dead one’; and the other says, ‘No! For your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.’” The king said, “Get me a sword.” So they brought a sword before the king. The king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other.” 

Then the woman whose child was the living one spoke to the king, for she was deeply stirred over her son and said, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him.” But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him!” Then the king said, “Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother.” When all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had handed down, they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.

From the above, love is depicted in a rare way by the true mother of the child. Sometimes when we love something or someone, we fight at all costs for the one. Yes, this is commendable, but do we consider the happiness and welfare of the one we love in the course of our fight to keep them?


The mother of this child knew that even though she wanted her son back, in this instance he was better of with the other woman as his life was threatened any other way. I suppose it was with a heavy heart that she said - “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him.” 

The Wisdom of God guided King Solomon to know what to do in this case. May God's wisdom guide us always to know when giving up and seemingly losing may be the only way to show our love. Jesus gave up His life and appeared to lose when he was crucified. But because love always wins, Jesus won in the end. 

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

WHAT IS NEXT?

Letting go because of love

When we hear the word, 'love', our minds echo these words - 'take and keep'. As humans, we love to keep what we love and enjoy spending time with whom or what we love.

But there is a twist to love that we sometimes do not wish to face. Sometimes love releases!

The father in the story of the Prodigal son had to release his wayward son, and love him from a distance - Luke 15:11-32. As parents, as much as we desire to guide our children, there are instances where our love must release them to make their own mistakes and learn their own lessons, while guiding them with our prayers. As the saying goes - "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink."

Letting go whom we love is difficult, but a sign of maturity. Sometimes those we love may not love us back. They may treat us badly and speak badly to us, and of us. But love does not mean we have to  persistently irritate them, trying to let them see we love them. Sometimes love is quiet. Sometimes it is stoic. At other times it is sacrificial, but it is interminable.

If the Prodigal son had not returned home, his father would never have stopped loving him. Although he would have been perpetually pained for his loss, that love for his son will not have wavered. Love fights! But not all battles are overtly fought. Some love battles are covert, yet rage on unto victory.

May the God of love teach us the secret of loving, and of loving even the unlovable.


















WHAT IS NEXT?

Easier said than done

David loved the Lord. He was a man that God Himself described as being after His own Heart. David, when being pursued by King Saul was determined to do the right thing. He did not attempt to win his battles at all cost, but sought what would please God, which he reckoned at a point was not lifting a finger against God's anointed.


David, being human and frail, put his greedy, selfish, wicked and lustful side on display. He committed a grave sin, slept with Uriah's wife Bathsheba and then managed to get him killed as well, and thereafter married Bathsheba.


God was displeased and sent His servant Nathan to rebuke David. Nathan told David this story:

2 Samuel 12 The Lord sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor.2 The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, 3 but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.

4 “Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.”

5 David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! 6 He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.”

How easy it is for us to say what is right, and do otherwise. How easy it is for us to preach what we do not practice. Paul cautioned us in this way saying:

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

May God grant us the grace, and may we exercise self control and be disciplined to obey God's Word, and practice what we preach, and not become a cast away after leading many down the right route.


















WHAT IS NEXT?

Walking into danger

Proverbs 14: 16 The wise fear the LORD and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

Proverbs 27:12 Sensible people will see trouble coming and avoid it, but an unthinking person will walk right into it and regret it later.

I have often wondered why Samson in Judges 16, so blindly trusted  Delilah even though she proved over and over that she was untrustworthy. Why didn't Samson run away from the deceitful Delilah. She had thrice divulged to the Philistines the information he gave about the source of his strength. Samson should definitely have known Delilah was up to something fishy. Actually he must have known the Philistines together with Delilah were out to destroy him. So why didn't Samson take precaution?

I think we sometimes foolishly gain too much confidence in ourselves. We tend to trust our ability to fight the enemy, so much so that we throw caution to the wind and become hotheaded and feel secure, just as Proverbs 14:16 puts it. Instead of shunning evil or any semblance of evil, we rather party with evil, and lie to ourselves that we can handle this. We clearly foresee danger, but assure ourselves that we can overcome it.

Little by little, the devil lures us until we end up in his arms. In Judges 16, we read about how consistently Delilah lured Samson into a weak state and then overpowered him. Samson was over confident, he shook himself, and thought he was still strong. We cannot party with sin and evil, and still be strong. It weakens us, to the point where God leaves and we are destroyed.

 After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him.

Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”

He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.

Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison.  But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

We cannot afford to party with the enemy. We have to be sensible as the Book of Proverbs cautions, and think fast and smart whenever we smell sin and danger. To fear God, we must shun evil. To embrace evil is to welcome the enemy to destroy your life. It is walking into danger like Samson did. 

WHAT IS NEXT?

Loving the Force of Destruction

Deuteronomy 7:3-4 Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your children away from following me to serve other gods, and the Lord’s anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you.

The above is the warning God gave to His children concerning the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

God described them as the seven nations larger and stronger than the Israelites, and warned them to destroy them — and when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally.

There are some people that as children of God, if we associate with, or go on love trips with, they will suffocate our relationship with the Lord and destroy us in the end. God foresaw this so warned His children. Sometimes we underestimate the influence of the enemy. He is a force to reckon with when we fight him on our own. God was frank about this, and described the enemies of the Israelites as - seven nations larger and stronger than you.

God was quick to bring to light the fact that although the enemy of Israel was larger and stronger, His children could defeat them if they relied on Him. And when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy.

We can defeat the enemy if we fight God's way. Other than that, we can be easily overpowered and converted to the enemy's camp. Samson loved a strange woman, Samson did not rely on God to help him choose a partner. He blindly chose Delilah. She was an enemy, who managed to get Samson to a place where the Spirit of God left him - Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.

Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison. Judges 16:20-21

We must be careful whom we fall in love with, for some are a force of destruction who will pull us into doom and spiritual weakness. Even in loving, we must love God's way.

WHAT IS NEXT?

IS THIS LOVE? (Part Two)

Key Scripture  JUDGES 16:4-22

Samson fell in love - Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.” verses 4-5.

Samson followed his heart and fell in love. Love is beautiful and has all the wonderful attributes one can ever think or dream of.1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Samson loved Delilah, but did Delilah love Samson? Love must protect and be trustworthy. Delilah did not protect Samson, she rather sold him to his enemies. Delilah was persistent with her objective to destroy Samson. She tried on many occasions to get him to reveal the secret of his strength. He deliberately mislead her on three different occasions... why did Samson take so many risks with the safety of his life and future? Was Samson so in love that he became foolish?

When we glimpse the first signs of a relationship devoid of love, we must exercise caution. The Word of God urges us to guard our hearts with all diligence, for out of it flows the issues of life. Samson was careless with his heart. Delilah did not hide her evil intentions. She made it clear when thrice she revealed what she deemed the secret of his strength to his enemies.

Was Samson blinded by love? Love should cover a multitude of sin. However, love is not in denial. Love is truth! The plain truth was that Delilah was a traitor, and Samson in guarding his life should have fled from her. Any love that will harm is not safe or good for us. Love is not harmful, and love does not seek to hurt. 

Are you experiencing violence and abuse from someone that claims to love you? Do you feel swamped by undue pressure from a loved one, so much so that you tend to do things against your will? Take a cue from Samson's journey to doom. Love is not abusive, and controlling, and is never self seeking.
















WHAT IS NEXT?

IS THIS LOVE?

Key Scripture  JUDGES 16:4-22

Verses 15-17 reads:

Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.”  With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it.

So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.”

Love is a good thing when set in line with God's word and purpose. Delilah claimed to love Samson, and blackmailed him by seeking the secret of his strength, if he indeed loved her. It is common to hear someone say a loved one lured them into wrong doing and they felt coerced to go along to prove their love. LOVE NEVER BLACKMAILS!

Is it love when you feel pressured to do something against your will? Is it love when it betrays you deliberately for selfish gain? Is it love when it puts you in harm's way on purpose? Is it love when it sets you up into the arms of the enemy?

Samson learnt it the hard way that Delilah was a foe not a lover. Samson allowed Delilah to scheme his hurt and fall. He allowed Delilah to take him out of God's Will for his life. God is love, and love should take us to Him, not away from Him.














WHAT IS NEXT?

When explanations fail

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where false accusations all point at you and make you a bad person in everyone's eyes?

Do you feel as though the odds are against you, and that suffering is your fate?

Do you feel life is truly unfair and has continually served you the short end of the stick.

Do you want to give up, as it appears all hope is lost?

God is silent as well. Is He really on your side?

Life can really seem this way. You may not have experienced it, but those that have, can identify with one or more of these feelings.

Job felt this way when his friends accused him of things he knew nothing of. He was told all the calamity that came upon him was because of God's anger against him. Job knew his heart was pure and set aside for God. But where was God to defend him? He was at the mercy of the thinking of men, and what a lonely place that can be!

Joseph had been falsely accused. No explanation could vindicate him. He was sent to prison. Feeling abandoned by man and God.

David had actually sinned and had been forgiven by God, but he paid for his sin. Absalom betrayed him, and as he feared for his life, he run from the palace. There were many accusing fingers and betrayals. No explanation at this point was good enough to vindicate him. He turned to God!

Times when God is no where to be found, are times we need to continue to trust Him. God was still with Job, Joseph and David. He showed up and vindicated them, He bestowed blessings and glory on them, and silenced their accusers.

Do not fight your own battle, your explanations will not change the mind of your accusers, like in the case of Job. Be still and know that God is God. Be still and wait for Him, even in silence, in yours or His, trust in your heart that He will come through for you.












WHAT IS NEXT?

The fear of man

King Saul failed to obey God because he feared man. 

1 Samuel 15:1-3

One day, Samuel told Saul:The Lord had me choose you to be king of his people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the Lord:  “When the Israelites were on their way out of Egypt, the nation of Amalek attacked them. I am the Lord All-Powerful, and now I am going to make Amalek pay!

“Go and attack the Amalekites! Destroy them and all their possessions. Don’t have any pity. Kill their men, women, children, and even their babies. Slaughter their cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys.”

1 Samuel 15:7-9

And Saul attacked the Amalekites from Havilah to Shur, which is just east of Egypt. Every Amalekite was killed except King Agag.  Saul and his army let Agag live, and they also spared the best sheep and cattle. They didn’t want to destroy anything of value, so they only killed the animals that were worthless or weak.

When Samuel confronted Saul on why he disobeyed God, he said - “I have sinned,” Saul admitted. “I disobeyed both you and the Lord. I was afraid of the army, and I listened to them instead. Please forgive me and come back with me so I can worship the Lord.” 1 Samuel 15:24-25.

The fear of man can cause us to do things we would not necessarily have done. Saul knew what he had to do, but for the fear of man, he did otherwise. There are a lot of people alike that succumb to pressure from men, and often end up miserable.We must learn to stand up for what we believe in, and know is right, in spite of what others think. King Saul, because he feared man, lost his kingship. Don't lose who you are because of the fear of man. What can man do to you?  

Psalm 118:6
The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? 

















WHAT IS NEXT?

When the Father Looks away

Matthew 26:36-46

Have you ever felt all alone and with a great burden in your heart? Jesus felt this way in the Garden of Gethsemane.  His own words were - “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” His disciples slept off, leaving Him to labour alone in prayer. He sadly asked - "Could you not watch with me for just an hour?"

Jesus was alone. God seemed to be quiet as Jesus pleaded with Him - “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Jesus sought a relief. He prayed earnestly, hoping God will lessen the painful course of His Life. God's answer was an emphatic 'NO.' As right after praying, Jesus's betrayer led Him into the hands of those who crucified Him.

The Father looked away. Yes, He looked away. Jesus realised this and cried out -  "My Father, my father, why has thou forsaken me?"Mathew 27:46

God may seem to be looking away, and in actual fact may be looking away. There are times the Father's will may appear grim and difficult to bear. He looks away, but is planning our resurrection. He is planning our recovery and our triumph over all evil. He makes a way where there seems to be no way, and His way may simply not be visible to us, for His ways are not our ways. His Will may not be our greatest wish. However, if we walk with Him, and look to Him even though He may be looking away, He shall not allow us to be buried by our enemies, but will cause us to be raised to reign with Him.














WHAT IS NEXT?

Self Appraisal

David was right in his own eyes. He believed he had the right to sentence another man to death because of his greed, but shortly after he was made to look through a new lens called self appraisal and realised he was the man he sentenced to death. How often we seem to condemn others and deal so impatiently with them, when we are ourselves in need of the same kindness we refused to show another. 

It is easier to give answers and more difficult to live those answers ourselves. Our expectations for others are so high, but we may not pass the test if faced with similar situations. We are encouraged to show mercy so we may be shown mercy by God. Take  a while to appraise yourself, and you will have less room to condemn another, but rather speak the truth in love. For love conquers all, and covers a multitude of sin.

2 Samuel 12:1-10 

The Lord sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.

“Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.”

David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.”

Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’

WHAT IS NEXT?

Asking Crucial Questions

Joshua 7

There are times in one's walk with the Lord when one may need to ask God certain questions and seek Him for answers and a way out. This is not a dent on your faith but an expression of the importance you place on your relationship with God. One only works on relationships that matter.

It is easier to be in denial about how we actually feel about certain occurrences in our Christian walk, sometimes feeling that asking questions and having certain reservations means we do not have sufficient faith in God.

Joshua believed that God was their Lord of Hosts who made Israel strong in battle. He therefore sent a delegation to fight Ai. The Israelites came back defeated, confused and frightened. Joshua turned to God for crucial answers :

Joshua 7:6-9 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell face down to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?”

God answered and showed Joshua what had caused Israel's defeat, and this enabled Joshua to correct the mistakes of Israel that led to their defeat. Are you faced with situations where you seem lost and confused? Ask God questions! Seek for answers through prayer and His Word, and await Him to show His faithfulness.   

























WHAT IS NEXT?

God can use you just as you are

Matthew 4:18-19 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 

 Peter and Andrew were fishermen. Jesus found them in this trade. Jesus called them just as they were, and told them He will use their experience for God's service - They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 

If we avail ourselves, God will use who we are and what we have for His Kingdom.  Are you chatty? You can spread the Gospel easily with your personality. Whoever you are and whatever you have, or have been through, God can use it for His Glory. Simply stay open to Him.















Matthew WHAT IS NEXT?

Start from where you are

Matthew 25:14-30

God does not expect us to have it all at a go. His gift in us is like a seed that germinates when we cultivate it. What have you been endowed with? Do you have compassion like Moses? Then your calling could be shrouded in that passion.

We ought to develop the gift/talent that we have or else we shall be like the servant that buried his one talent. This will anger the creator, as His investment in us (our gift/talent) has the potential to develop into something great, and it is the ultimate that the Lord seeks for us.

When Moses paid heed to God, God used him to deliver the Israelites in the most profound way. Then came Gideon who saw himself as the least of least, he however listened to God and realised in thought and deed that he was a mighty man of valour. Judges 6-8

How do you see yourself? Do not belittle your talent. Seek ways to improve it, and you will be surprised to unveil the greatness already embedded in you. It seeks to express itself! Start from right where you are - little by little, feat by feat, you will make strides. Do not give up! There is greatness in you.












WHAT IS NEXT?

Loving God's Way

I came across this story on social media, and personally think it sums up how God expects us to show His love in this world. Do have a read, and reflect on it.

A pastor transformed himself into a homeless person and went to the church that he was to be introduced as the head pastor at that morning. He walked around his soon to be church for 30 minutes while it was filling with people for service. Only 3 people said hello to him, most looked the other way. He asked people for change to buy food because he was hungry. Not one gave him anything.

He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church and was told by the ushers that he would need to get up and go sit n the back of the church. He said hello to people as they walked in but was greeted with cold stares and dirty looks from people looking down on him and judging him.

He sat in the back of the church and listened to the church announcements for the week. He listened as new visitors were welcomed into the church that morning but no one acknowledged that he was new. He watched people around him continue to look his way with stares that said you are not welcome here.

Then the elders of the church went to the podium to make the announcement. They said they were excited to introduce the new pastor of the church to the congregation. "We would like to introduce you to our new Pastor." The congregation stood up and looked around clapping with joy and anticipation. The homeless man sitting in the back stood up and started walking down the aisle.

That's when all the clapping stopped and the church was silent. With all eyes on him....he walked up the altar and reached for the microphone. He stood there for a moment and then recited so elegantly, a verse from the bible.....

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of my brothers and sisters, you did for me.’

After he recited this, he introduced himself as their new pastor and told the congregation what he had experienced that morning. Many began to cry and bow their heads in shame. "Today I see a gathering of people here but I do not see a church of Jesus. The world has enough people that look the other way. What the world needs is disciples of Jesus that can follow this teachings and live as he did. When will YOU decide to become disciples?

He then dismissed service until the following Sunday as his sermon had been given.

WHAT IS NEXT?

Getting the big things right and the small things wrong

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 

If I speak with the eloquence of men and of angels, but have no love, I become no more than a blaring brass or crashing cymbal. If I have the gift of foretelling the future and hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but the very secrets of God, and if I also have that absolute faith which can move mountains, but have no love, I amount to nothing at all. If I dispose of all that I possess, yes, even if I give my own body to be burned, but have no love, I achieve precisely nothing.

Most often as Christians we seem to regard great revelatory preachings and teachings, and hold in high esteem believers who move in the power gifts of the Holy Spirit. We seem to be enchanted by what we see and hear, and often take things from face value rather than from the Holy Spirit's point of view.

We are awed by prophetic gifts that reveal great secrets. These appear big in the eyes of man. God does not want us to despise His giftings, and He so desires to show us great and wondrous things which we knew not of, these are secret things He reveals to us. However God is more interested in us being like Him and walking in love.

Matthew 7:21-23

 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

God is interested in us showing acts of kindness and love to all and sundry. This is what depicts who God is, for God is love.

Matthew 25:34-36
"Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'















WHAT IS NEXT?

Love like Jesus

1 Corinthians 13:1-8 

If I speak with the eloquence of men and of angels, but have no love, I become no more than a blaring brass or crashing cymbal. If I have the gift of foretelling the future and hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but the very secrets of God, and if I also have that absolute faith which can move mountains, but have no love, I amount to nothing at all. If I dispose of all that I possess, yes, even if I give my own body to be burned, but have no love, I achieve precisely nothing.

This love of which I speak is slow to lose patience—it looks for a way of being constructive. It is not possessive: it is neither anxious to impress nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance.

Love has good manners and does not pursue selfish advantage. It is not touchy. It does not keep account of evil or gloat over the wickedness of other people. On the contrary, it is glad with all good men when truth prevails.

Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen.

We often commence our Christian walk feeling all loved up and open to love. But then the realities of human behaviour sets in. We are angered, betrayed, misconstrued, let down,  insulted, maltreated , the list goes on and on. Faced with our own human emotions and weaknesses, how difficult it is to sometimes uphold the high ideals of love and continue to walk in love. Sometimes the truth of what we have endured virtually chokes love out of us. How do we ride above our ego?

Love has no ego! It is neither anxious to impress nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance. We must walk in the type of love Jesus walked in, and have His mindset as shown below, as this will kill our selfish nature and release us to love without boundaries.

Philippians 2:1-8 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

When we choose to be nothing, love can freely express itself through us. But we will not lose, because love wins over all, and is greater than all.

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