FEBRUARY MONTH 2012

 WHAT IS THE QUALITY OF YOUR LOVE?

 Chairty suffereth long, and is kind: charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself , is not puffed up) 1^st Corinthians 13:4 KJV

Our society today throws around the word love as it has no value or meaning. People idolize Hollywood stars whom they have never met, saying I just love them. Athletes who are pampered and selfish, we scream and shout over saying we love them and they don’t know we exist. However, the God who truly loves us has an expectation on the quality of our love that we give to him and those that He has placed in our lives. Family and friends who do know us and are known by us should be the recipients of the type of Love that would please our God. “What is the Quality of your Love?”

The Apostle Paul  in his love letter to the Corinthian church addresses the matter of how love should be present in our lives. Paul knew that God loved him because he saved him but Paul wanted the church to know that this same love should be found in abundance among the brethren. In verse 4 Paul said this love suffers long. It will put up with more and carry burdens more because of how long God has put up with us. Paul continued love /charity is also kind. Being kind is not about doing for others because they do for you, but rather doing for others because of what Jesus did for you. He was good to us despite how we mistreat and disobey him. Paul also said that love is not selfish or prideful.

Saying “I LOVE YOU” is worthless, but demonstrating that love through the kindness of Christ, the patience of God and selflessness shown at Calvary. His sacrifice on the Cross is a powerful demonstration of His love for us. In what way have you demonstrated your love for others. Have you done a kind deed or said a kind word, Not in response to what they have done but just because you love them!  If God was grading you, “What is the Quality of your Love?”

CONSIDERING THOSE AROUND YOU, WHAT DO THEY KNOW

 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. (Mark 15:19, KJV) 

The people around us usually fall into several categories such as, family, friends, co-workers, acquaintance and even strangers. We do not interact with any group in the same way we do the other. Family is usually the most intimate relationship with friend being just as close and in some cases even closer. Co-workers can become friends and an acquaintance is somebody you know but you really don’t them and they really don’t know you. However, when it comes to our faith, how much should those around you know? Should our family and friends know we are saved? Should they know how we feel about God, “Considering those around you, what do they know”?

Mark’s gospel records the story of the Gadarene, where Jesus heals a man who is demon possessed. The man after being healed is found sitting at Jesus feet, clothe and in his right mind. Jesus gives him specific instructions in verse 19. Go home to your friends and tell them the great things that God has done. Perhaps that is one of the missing ingredients in the church of today. Not enough believers  are willing to tell others about the great things that God have done in their lives. We will talk about what we have done or what we believe we have accomplished on our own, but what do those around us know about our relationship with God. We will tell them where we go to church but will we tell them that the Lord has been good, that the Lord saved us or that healed our body? That He is our all in all!

What has the Lord done in your life, how has He changed who you, and are you willing to tell somebody what he has done and what he means to you? “Considering those around you, what do they know?”

Pastor SP Courtney

DO WE UNDERSTAND GOD'S ORDER FOR HUMANITY

 “Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger women as sisters, with all purity. Honor the Widows that are widows indeed. (1^st Timothy 5:1-3 KJV) 

How we treat one another is important to God and is always a part of His eternal plan in scripture. In Genesis he was concerned about Cain’s treatment of his brother Abel. Then he used Joseph’s brothers evil intensions to provide provisions and prosperity to the children of Israel in the land of Egypt. When David slept with another man’s wife and had him killed God was displeased with David and he suffered the consequences of the death of his son. How we relate to one another from generation to generation is ordered by God that we may remain in His divine plan. “Do we understand God’s Order for Humanity?”

Paul’s letter to Timothy gave him instructions in chapter 4 to not let anyone despise his youth. Live as an example among them, young and old that they may know you are a man of God. In chapter 5, Paul gives instructions of how the church should relate one to another. Elderly men and women are to be treated as fathers and mothers. Respect your father and mother, listen to their wisdom and care for them when they cannot care for themselves. We should also treat one another as brothers and sisters, being kind to one another, caring for the well being of each other because we are family and we are our brother and our sister keeper.

These are not just good suggestions but rather God’s order for humanity. We can only live in peace with one another if we follow God’s order for humanity.  “Do we really understand God’s order for Humanity?”

Pastor SP Courtney