There is no danger, before God, in loving others. But there is a danger in being loved by humanity. For so they treat false prophets, liars, thieves, immoral gluttonous leaders, and every other sort of enemy to God. Love and be loved. But of the latter, look closely to yourself lest they love you for all the wrong reasons.
Tag Archives: love
How could you!
A man caught in a small amount of trouble receives the accusation that if he were given the chance he would do far worse. When asked to explain himself, the accuser goes on to describe some heinous crime. And in the accusation he points at the poor man as if this man had already done these things. From his own wicked imagination the accuser hopes to destroy another.
Sadly I am not just writing fiction here. This happens all day long across the entire surface of the globe. From their wicked imagination men blame others for faults they do not possess. Then, as if that were not sufficient, they turn to look at the ugliness around them and blame God.
They themselves have caused this putrid stench. Yet they have the gall to blame God. But the Lord will remain blameless, for even as they accuse He holds out his hand that He may save them.
For now they do not know righteousness. They do not know love. They do not know kindness, mercy, or justice. They do not know the living God we serve through Jesus The Son. But this is why I have written this post. I write this that some may come to their senses and learn from Him who is Love.
The Love of God
People try to get around the gospel by saying that God is love. What they obviously mean by that is that they can do as they please because, in their belief, God will not punish them.
I know they don’t know the nature of God because what they say does not align with what Jesus taught. But there is no need for ridicule. Instead there is need to understand.
God is love, yes. But do you remember the scripture also saying that love does no wrong? In other words there is absolutely no shadow of sin or turning away from righteousness within God.
What will happen to those who proclaim the love of God to cover their sin? May their faith save them. May they truly believe that God is love.
But God will not let sin enter into eternity. And the best case I can see that they can expect, is that God will strip away from them everything that is Sin. Only righteousness will remain.
With even that weak understanding in hand, why would someone choose to play games with the Gospel? But man will make up their own truth for the sake of their pride and ignorance.
Perhaps I have taken license with my understanding of eternity for the sake of sinners. But let each man consider what is true instead of what is false. Let us chase after righteousness and not myths or opinions. But I am not so stupid so that I don’t realize what will come of these words.
They will be ignored by the proud. They will be laughed at by those who hate God. I am in hope that someone will read them and take them to heart.
Yes God is love. But God is also the master teacher. What he offers is transformation here and now. Who will take it?
By His Grace.
Is God Prone to Violence?
By the way people keep away from God you would think He is a horribly violent individual. I am not making fun of the unsaved or ungodly folk. I am just pointing out a rather curious “confusion”.
Jesus is the exact representation of His Father in Heaven. So if we look at Jesus’ character and actions we can determine if God is violent by nature.
Read the Gospels (matthew, mark, luke and john). Besides the event in the temple where Jesus made a whip and drove out the greedy, where do you find violence in Him? (Take note that the people were displaying a misunderstanding of God’s reason for building a temple). The answer will have to be “nowhere”. Why, then, are folks so terrified at the Bible, Christians who love to share the knowledge of salvation, godly living, a consistent prayer habit, and going to church?
The answer is not found in God. The answer is to be found in the people’s love of every form of pleasure and wickedness. Yep! That’s right folks! You find yourself shying away from God because the idea of making friends with Holiness is a sincere offence to you. By our very nature we are far too proud to humble ourselves before Him and ask for help.
Yet help is exactly what Jesus is offering. He promises to work with you to transform you from a God hater to a God lover. I know you don’t think much of that God lover stuff yet. But you’ll see, in time, why Christians aren’t afraid to be hated by the world. And in the place of hopeless futile little pleasures and foolish pride appears a magnificent joy.
Who would know better what is right, good, lasting and perfect behavior, God (who has been forever and will never cease to live) or man? He is watching you read this. Do you care? Tell Him so. Listen to Him. He has promised to lead us to righteousness, love, and eternal life. If only we will just listen and obey. If you cant hear, tell Him.
From Warm Fuzzy to Molten Lava
English: http://libraryphoto.cr.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/show_picture.cgi?ID=ID.%20HVO%20%2014ct Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. May 1954 eruption of Kilauea Volcano. Halemaumau fountains. Photo by J.P. Eaton, May 31, 1954. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
041 – Warm Fuzzy (Photo credit: LaMenta3)
When we’re young love is a warm fuzzy. Little by little we learn that true love is full of pain. In the end we learn that true love is the hardest element of life to perform. Love does regardless the personal desire to run away. As intense as trials can be, love gets up and goes to the specific place you really don’t want to go. Kind of like a dog rescuing something from a burning house fire.
(Thank you for allowing me to learn this truth. I know it’s been horribly painful from time to time.)
Speak with Boldness, Not Timidity!
Painting of Samuel learning from Eli (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
For those who think we have no right to speak firmly of the folly of Oprah’s teachings about God:
We are representatives to the world for the Most High God, through the sacrifice of Jesus. They count on us to bring God’s message of light to the darkness of the world (though they clearly hate us for it). If we do not speak out with boldness, against the sins of man, who will? I ask you to consider the plight of Eli, the priest of God in 1 Samuel. Because he did not rebuke or restrain his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, to be careful with the things of God, all three were killed.
We have an obglation to speak of what is true AND to point out the folly of wicked men (and women). It is not judging to speak these words. It is wise to speak of the ways of God with a firm and stern word. If Oprah were doing these things in a small place, and had not accused the Lord publicly, we would have little to say. But she puts herself up as the salvation of millions. And for this we point out her error. Perhaps some will read and consider what is said concerning her teachings. Perhaps none will read these words we speak. Regardless, we will have spoken what is true and avoided Eli’s fate.
There is “judging others”. And there is firm and stern teaching against all wickedness. Wisdom draws the line. And there is no shame in taking the mantel of the Gospel upon our shoulders. What shall be said between incompetent liars, though they walk in ignorance, and those who speak what is true by the power of Christ Jesus? There is a line. And the wisdom of the Gospel has drawn it clearly.
There is a folly in today’s watered down gospel (which is no gospel at all). The folly says we have no right to claim the truths of the Bible. And the tool used against the Lord is the word “judge”. We are told we must love everybody. We must not be intolerant, they tell us. I, for one, hate that watered down gospel. It is a lie and must be challenged where ever it is found. There is judging others, yes. And often such judging has to do with considering the other as less than yourself. We do not consider ourselves better than any other. We point out sin in this world just as I will gladly point out sin in myself.
As long as we remain silent, the world spirals into hell all by itself. This silence has come upon the Church with a black vengeance because others have judged the Gospel of Jesus Christ too harsh for the world to endure. God is pure. And what we are doing is warning of that absolute truth. The meaning of the word “judge” has been taken to the cleaners! There is a love in Christ Jesus which rebukes with all earnest speed and strength. Love isn’t always a soft little teddy bear on a clean bed. It is often necessary for love to rebuke and correct.
Words From There 