fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383 
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Post by fearnot on Apr 19, 2021 12:52:11 GMT -5
My words will be in this color today
and Biblical Scriptures with be in this color today
This week I will work on the topic
you suggested:
Love
(which includes forgiveness)
which is how Jesus says others will know we belong to Him;
what does it look like, etc.
I of course,
will be looking at the great love
chapter, ( 1 Corinthians 13 )
Mainly this:
4 Love is patient,
love is kind.
It does not envy,
it does not boast,
it is not proud.
5 It does not dishonor others,
it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs
. 6 Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects,
always trusts,
always hopes,
always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
And this:
34 “A new command I give you:
Love one another.
As I have loved you,
so you must love one another.
35 By this
everyone will know
that you are my disciples,
if you love one another.”
John 13:34,35
Perhaps, I might start with
what the secular world considers
love to be
( but is not, what God says it is).
People today, appear to be more:
self-centered,
narcissistic,
proud,
boastful,
arrogant,
often rude,
not patient,
egotistic,
without God
focuses on what fulfills my needs,
what is good for me etc.
into 'free' 'love' ( meaning sexual promiscuous )
heartless,
not forgiving
etc.
This transfers
into what the secular worldly person's 'love'
relationships are like.
However,
sadly,
many Christians,
struggle with the same
sinful characteristics,
and so.....
They too suffer,
relationships that are not committed,
nor are steadfast,
or even more to the point,
are not
self-.sacrificing.
This applies to marriages and friendships.
Speaking of 'godly' friendships
whereby the world see God's love
in us:
17 And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath
out of love for him,
because he loved him
as he loved himself.
1 Samuel 20:17
And of course,
the greatest example ever,
the ultimate self-sacrificing
kind of love,
was Jesus, Himself:
16 This is how we know what love is:
Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
And we ought to lay down our lives
for our brothers and sisters.
1 John 3:16
and
9 This is how God showed his love among us:
He sent his one and only Son
into the world that we might live through him.
1 John 4:9
Another 'seemingly' dying
and
godly,
love characteristic....
is forgiveness
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other,
just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32
Well, this is the 'basic' set up
unless
I am off in the wrong direction Cindy?
Done for Today
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Post by Cindy on Apr 20, 2021 9:19:52 GMT -5
My words will be in this color today
and Biblical Scriptures with be in this color today
This week I will work on the topic
you suggested:
Love
(which includes forgiveness)
which is how Jesus says others will know we belong to Him;
what does it look like, etc.
I of course,
will be looking at the great love
chapter, ( 1 Corinthians 13 )
Mainly this:
4 Love is patient,
love is kind.
It does not envy,
it does not boast,
it is not proud.
5 It does not dishonor others,
it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs
. 6 Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects,
always trusts,
always hopes,
always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
And this:
34 “A new command I give you:
Love one another.
As I have loved you,
so you must love one another.
35 By this
everyone will know
that you are my disciples,
if you love one another.”
John 13:34,35
Perhaps, I might start with
what the secular world considers
love to be
( but is not, what God says it is).
People today, appear to be more:
self-centered,
narcissistic,
proud,
boastful,
arrogant,
often rude,
not patient,
egotistic,
without God
focuses on what fulfills my needs,
what is good for me etc.
into 'free' 'love' ( meaning sexual promiscuous )
heartless,
not forgiving
etc.
This transfers
into what the secular worldly person's 'love'
relationships are like.
However,
sadly,
many Christians,
struggle with the same
sinful characteristics,
and so.....
They too suffer,
relationships that are not committed,
nor are steadfast,
or even more to the point,
are not
self-.sacrificing.
This applies to marriages and friendships.
Speaking of 'godly' friendships
whereby the world see God's love
in us:
17 And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath
out of love for him,
because he loved him
as he loved himself.
1 Samuel 20:17
And of course,
the greatest example ever,
the ultimate self-sacrificing
kind of love,
was Jesus, Himself:
16 This is how we know what love is:
Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
And we ought to lay down our lives
for our brothers and sisters.
1 John 3:16
and
9 This is how God showed his love among us:
He sent his one and only Son
into the world that we might live through him.
1 John 4:9
Another 'seemingly' dying
and
godly,
love characteristic....
is forgiveness
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other,
just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32
Well, this is the 'basic' set up
unless
I am off in the wrong direction Cindy?
Done for Today
Your quote of 1 Cor 13:4-7 intrigued me as I've never seen it phrased quite that way. So I looked it up and finally found which version you copied...it was the very last one in my list of 27 versions LOL You copied from the TNIV (Todays new international version). It caught my attention because I memorized 1 Cor 13:4-8 in the NIV and what you copied is almost like it with only one difference the first part of verse 5. Here's how the NIV words it:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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.” (1 Corinthians 13:4–7)
I agree with what you said about how the world loves, but I don't think they would agree with us. But I think they would agree with it if we said that they define love as giving the person they love whatever that person says they need or want (if possible.) But that's not really what love is and there's one way I can think of that I think they would even agree with. If their 2 year old "wanted" to touch the stove when it was on, I'm sure they wouldn't allow that to happen. They would know that it would hurt their child and so they'd say "no!" However, they've been brainwashed to believe that almost everything that God says are harmful for us, are not really harmful. Therefore they give in to their child concerning those things. And now it's even worse because they not only believe that many harmful things are good, but they also have been taught to believe that many good and godly things are bad. So now they willingly harm their own children thinking they're being loving. It's so sad to hear about and to see. It makes me realize better what Lot and Noah went through. I hope I didn't steal what you were planning on saying today! I probably shouldn't have said anything....
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
|
Post by fearnot on Apr 20, 2021 10:46:45 GMT -5
I should have worded the
'fulfill my needs' part
differently....
I meant, secular people often look for a mate that will fulfill their own personal needs....
NOT that they think overly about how to fulfill their mate's needs.
The old example would be a man might 'need'
a beautiful woman,
who dress sexy,
is thin,
etc.
But if after they marry,
and she has 2 or 3 children,
and is no longer slim ( but put on weight),
and she can't spend all day, maintaining a perfect beauty
etc
Then,
she no longer meets his 'needs'
and he asks for a divorce, to get a newer model.
However, this self-centered way of relating,
is often found among Christians as well.
One of the main difference,
is secular love
is often based on a great deal of 'feelings'
of affections for the other person
and
having needs met....
Christian love, is to be more based on
serving others,
commitment
( til 'death do us part)
Those are not the only 'needs' of course
there could be a zillion different ones,
different people have,
and woman,
also have a 'list' of what they think they 'need'
I meant, the idea was
MY needs, need to be met,
not so much,
self sacrifice,
looking to meet someone else's needs,
being a 'help' mate etc.
But, as always I am glad you added your thoughts :)
So now, I can also build on your thoughts yeah!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
|
Post by fearnot on Apr 20, 2021 11:16:06 GMT -5
My words are in this color today
and Biblical scripture was in this color today
I am thinking, many people
think of love
as a kind of romance,
and it could be,
in part.
But the greatest love
that we will ever know,
Jesus
dying on a cross
to pay for our sins....
was not really the type of
love romance,
that comes to most people's mind.
9 This is how God showed his love among us:
He sent his one and only Son
into the world that we might live through him.
10 This is love:
not that we loved God,
but that he loved us
and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1 John 4:9,10
This is different,
than
'falling' in love.
That statement itself,
Falling ( as if you didn't really mean to,
it just happened to you)
kind of keeps one from
'responsability'
And although that
'feeling' can be:
enchanting,
thrilling,
captivating,
delightful,
exciting,
etc.
It can set most people up for unrealistic
hopes,
dreams,
fantasies,
goals,
false expectations,
etc.
Because,
this state of euphoria never lasts....
and
can be addictive....
So the temptation,
is to continue
to recreate it,
over and over.
( think King Solomon)
The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?
Jeremiah 17:9
So 'faithfulness',
is not in,
this
type of 'love',
and yet God's love IS based on
faithfulness:
3 The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying:
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
Jeremiah 31:3
and also
The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17
Plus:
Help me, Lord my God;
save me according to
your unfailing love.
Psalms 109:26
so many verses to choose from....
but one more, for now:
9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God;
he is the faithful God,
keeping his covenant of love
to a thousand generations
of those who love him and keep his commandments.
Deuteronomy 7:9
I think it might be clear,
there is a difference between,
'falling in romantic love,
and Godly love.
I am thinking of two men in the Bible
who were enslaved by their
romantic love life.
King Solomon
and Samson,
It did turn out well for either man.
( the one of the most riches of men,
and with a brilliant brain,
the other man, one of the strongest)
The Bible has this said commentary on King Solomon:
1 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women
besides Pharaoh’s daughter—
Moabites,
Ammonites,
Edomites,
Sidonians
and Hittites
. 2 They were from nations
about which the Lord had told the Israelites,
“You must not intermarry with them,
because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.”
Nevertheless,
Solomon held fast to them in love.
3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth
and three hundred concubines,
and his wives led him astray.
4 As Solomon grew old,
his wives turned his heart after other gods,
and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God,
as the heart of David his father had been.
5 He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians,
and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites.
6 So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord;
he did not follow the Lord completely,
as David his father had done.
1 Kings 11:1-6
One might say, King Solomon
had a 'love'/ high addiction.
so much so,
that he turned away from the true God
to evil false 'gods'.
Yes, some 'wives' were for
treaties etc with other nations and kings
but it does also say,
Solomon held fast to them in 'love'
But scripture 'seems' clear to me
to be saying,
God was not pleased,
and saw it as evil,
and many of these wives
led Solomon, into following
evil gods.
God did NOT say:
in the beginning
Adam and 1000 wives,
but rather:
Adam and Eve.....
just one wife.
And Samson also
let romantic notions
and emotions,
and feelings
dictate
his life and decisions.
His 'love' turned out to betray him,
and the Philistines put his eyes out
and mocked him,
using him like a donkey
Til he finally died and killed many of them
in the end.
21 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.
28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord,
remember me.
Please, God, strengthen me just once more,
and let me with one blow get revenge
on the Philistines for my two eyes.”
29 Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars
on which the temple stood.
Bracing himself against them,
his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other,
30 Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!”
Then he pushed with all his might,
and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it.
Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.
Judges 16:21,28-30
Done for Today
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Post by Cindy on Apr 21, 2021 9:29:36 GMT -5
I should have worded the
'fulfill my needs' part
differently....
I meant, secular people often look for a mate that will fulfill their own personal needs....
NOT that they think overly about how to fulfill their mate's needs.
The old example would be a man might 'need'
a beautiful woman,
who dress sexy,
is thin,
etc.
But if after they marry,
and she has 2 or 3 children,
and is no longer slim ( but put on weight),
and she can't spend all day, maintaining a perfect beauty
etc
Then,
she no longer meets his 'needs'
and he asks for a divorce, to get a newer model.
However, this self-centered way of relating,
is often found among Christians as well.
One of the main difference,
is secular love
is often based on a great deal of 'feelings'
of affections for the other person
and
having needs met....
Christian love, is to be more based on
serving others,
commitment
( til 'death do us part)
Those are not the only 'needs' of course
there could be a zillion different ones,
different people have,
and woman,
also have a 'list' of what they think they 'need'
I meant, the idea was
MY needs, need to be met,
not so much,
self sacrifice,
looking to meet someone else's needs,
being a 'help' mate etc.
But, as always I am glad you added your thoughts :)
So now, I can also build on your thoughts yeah!
My words are in this color today
and Biblical scripture was in this color today
I am thinking, many people
think of love
as a kind of romance,
and it could be,
in part.
But the greatest love
that we will ever know,
Jesus
dying on a cross
to pay for our sins....
was not really the type of
love romance,
that comes to most people's mind.
9 This is how God showed his love among us:
He sent his one and only Son
into the world that we might live through him.
10 This is love:
not that we loved God,
but that he loved us
and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1 John 4:9,10
This is different,
than
'falling' in love.
That statement itself,
Falling ( as if you didn't really mean to,
it just happened to you)
kind of keeps one from
'responsability'
And although that
'feeling' can be:
enchanting,
thrilling,
captivating,
delightful,
exciting,
etc.
It can set most people up for unrealistic
hopes,
dreams,
fantasies,
goals,
false expectations,
etc.
Because,
this state of euphoria never lasts....
and
can be addictive....
So the temptation,
is to continue
to recreate it,
over and over.
( think King Solomon)
The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?
Jeremiah 17:9
So 'faithfulness',
is not in,
this
type of 'love',
and yet God's love IS based on
faithfulness:
3 The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying:
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
Jeremiah 31:3
and also
The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17
Plus:
Help me, Lord my God;
save me according to
your unfailing love.
Psalms 109:26
so many verses to choose from....
but one more, for now:
9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God;
he is the faithful God,
keeping his covenant of love
to a thousand generations
of those who love him and keep his commandments.
Deuteronomy 7:9
I think it might be clear,
there is a difference between,
'falling in romantic love,
and Godly love.
I am thinking of two men in the Bible
who were enslaved by their
romantic love life.
King Solomon
and Samson,
It did turn out well for either man.
( the one of the most riches of men,
and with a brilliant brain,
the other man, one of the strongest)
The Bible has this said commentary on King Solomon:
1 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women
besides Pharaoh’s daughter—
Moabites,
Ammonites,
Edomites,
Sidonians
and Hittites
. 2 They were from nations
about which the Lord had told the Israelites,
“You must not intermarry with them,
because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.”
Nevertheless,
Solomon held fast to them in love.
3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth
and three hundred concubines,
and his wives led him astray.
4 As Solomon grew old,
his wives turned his heart after other gods,
and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God,
as the heart of David his father had been.
5 He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians,
and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites.
6 So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord;
he did not follow the Lord completely,
as David his father had done.
1 Kings 11:1-6
One might say, King Solomon
had a 'love'/ high addiction.
so much so,
that he turned away from the true God
to evil false 'gods'.
Yes, some 'wives' were for
treaties etc with other nations and kings
but it does also say,
Solomon held fast to them in 'love'
But scripture 'seems' clear to me
to be saying,
God was not pleased,
and saw it as evil,
and many of these wives
led Solomon, into following
evil gods.
God did NOT say:
in the beginning
Adam and 1000 wives,
but rather:
Adam and Eve.....
just one wife.
And Samson also
let romantic notions
and emotions,
and feelings
dictate
his life and decisions.
His 'love' turned out to betray him,
and the Philistines put his eyes out
and mocked him,
using him like a donkey
Til he finally died and killed many of them
in the end.
21 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.
28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord,
remember me.
Please, God, strengthen me just once more,
and let me with one blow get revenge
on the Philistines for my two eyes.”
29 Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars
on which the temple stood.
Bracing himself against them,
his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other,
30 Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!”
Then he pushed with all his might,
and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it.
Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.
Judges 16:21,28-30
Done for Today
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|
fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
|
Post by fearnot on Apr 21, 2021 11:01:57 GMT -5
My words will be in this color today
and Biblical Scriptures in this color today
Today I will start to look at the love
Christians ( the church, body of Christ)
should have for each other.
I think I will start with what
Jesus said:
34 “A new command I give you:
Love one another.
As I have loved you,
so you must love one another.
35 By this everyone will know
that you are my disciples,
if you love one another.”
John 13:34,35
As disciples we ought to
the extent possible be like our Lord:
1 It was just before the Passover Festival.
Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world
and go to the Father.
Having loved his own who were in the world,
he loved them to the end.
John 13:1
We have to remember,
in church, in Christianity
there are going to be 'tares'
otherwise know as,
false Christians.
The world would not be able to tell them apart
from 'real' Christians,
by the way they dress,
or the fact,
they go to church,
etc.
Here is a start:
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creature;
the old things passed away;
behold, new things have come.
2 Corinthians 5:17
and
3 Blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ,
who according to His great mercy
has caused us to be born again
to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead,
1 Peter 1:3
Here are a few contrasts...
of what could be
false Christians
and
true Christians:
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,
but do not have love,
I have become a noisy gong
or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy,
and know all mysteries and all knowledge;
and if I have all faith,
so as to remove mountains,
but do not have love,
I am nothing.
3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor,
and if I surrender my body to be burned,
but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Some false Christians have abounded
in doing amazing things...
but they generally, do not impress the world
because, they do not have true love.
Oh, I should probably correct that,
they may impress the world...
on one level,
but most people, desperately
are looking for real love.
The false Christians, the tares, do
all that they do,
for fame, notoriety, pride, ego, etc. etc.
In truth, they do not really love God,
or have a relationship with Him.
Of course, not all false Christians
do amazing things,
but they all lack a true love relationship with God,
nor a truly committed, love for the brothers and sisters in Christ.
Even if they gave their body to be burned,
it would not be true self-sacrifice
nor true love for others.
They may have many secret sins,
that they
do love,
and are not grieved over.
This would not be their goal:
22 Now flee from youthful lusts
and pursue righteousness,
faith,
love
and peace,
with those who call on the Lord
from a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:22
And often, these traits would not
be their 'main' character traits:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is
love,
joy,
peace,
patience,
kindness,
goodness,
faithfulness,
Galatians 5:22
Note, the first listed is:
Love.
The world sees this in true Christians:
12 No one has seen God at any time;
if we love one another,
God abides in us,
and His love is perfected in us.
1 John 4:12
Done for Today
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Post by Cindy on Apr 22, 2021 9:50:43 GMT -5
My words will be in this color today
and Biblical Scriptures in this color today
Today I will start to look at the love
Christians ( the church, body of Christ)
should have for each other.
I think I will start with what
Jesus said:
34 “A new command I give you:
Love one another.
As I have loved you,
so you must love one another.
35 By this everyone will know
that you are my disciples,
if you love one another.”
John 13:34,35
As disciples we ought to
the extent possible be like our Lord:
1 It was just before the Passover Festival.
Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world
and go to the Father.
Having loved his own who were in the world,
he loved them to the end.
John 13:1
We have to remember,
in church, in Christianity
there are going to be 'tares'
otherwise know as,
false Christians.
The world would not be able to tell them apart
from 'real' Christians,
by the way they dress,
or the fact,
they go to church,
etc.
Here is a start:
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creature;
the old things passed away;
behold, new things have come.
2 Corinthians 5:17
and
3 Blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ,
who according to His great mercy
has caused us to be born again
to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead,
1 Peter 1:3
Here are a few contrasts...
of what could be
false Christians
and
true Christians:
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,
but do not have love,
I have become a noisy gong
or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy,
and know all mysteries and all knowledge;
and if I have all faith,
so as to remove mountains,
but do not have love,
I am nothing.
3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor,
and if I surrender my body to be burned,
but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Some false Christians have abounded
in doing amazing things...
but they generally, do not impress the world
because, they do not have true love.
Oh, I should probably correct that,
they may impress the world...
on one level,
but most people, desperately
are looking for real love.
The false Christians, the tares, do
all that they do,
for fame, notoriety, pride, ego, etc. etc.
In truth, they do not really love God,
or have a relationship with Him.
Of course, not all false Christians
do amazing things,
but they all lack a true love relationship with God,
nor a truly committed, love for the brothers and sisters in Christ.
Even if they gave their body to be burned,
it would not be true self-sacrifice
nor true love for others.
They may have many secret sins,
that they
do love,
and are not grieved over.
This would not be their goal:
22 Now flee from youthful lusts
and pursue righteousness,
faith,
love
and peace,
with those who call on the Lord
from a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:22
And often, these traits would not
be their 'main' character traits:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is
love,
joy,
peace,
patience,
kindness,
goodness,
faithfulness,
Galatians 5:22
Note, the first listed is:
Love.
The world sees this in true Christians:
12 No one has seen God at any time;
if we love one another,
God abides in us,
and His love is perfected in us.
1 John 4:12
Done for Today
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Apr 22, 2021 10:43:15 GMT -5
My words will be in this color today
and Biblical Scriptures in this color today
Jesus said:
34 “A new command I give you:
Love one another.
As I have loved you,
so you must love one another.
35 By this everyone will know
that you are my disciples,
if you love one another.”
John 13:34,35
Jesus loved us so much,
that He died for us.
That is a sacrificial kind of love.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us,
in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
And this
25 Husbands, love your wives,
just as Christ also loved the church
and gave Himself up for her,
Ephesians 5:25
Although this verse is addressed
to husbands,
I think, the Biblical principle,
can apply to all our
Christian brothers and sisters.
Another way, we can love like
our Lord, is to be giving
( even though it is a sacrifice)
of our finances,
and material blessings.
While this verse, may sound
at first,
like 'socialism',
The difference is....
it is giving from the heart.
Christian sharing is a
choice
out of love,
not out of force from the government.
44 And all those who had believed were together
and had all things in common;
45 and they began selling their property and possessions
and were sharing them with all,
as anyone might have need.
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple,
and breaking bread from house to house,
they were taking their meals together
with gladness
and
sincerity of heart,
Acts 2:44-46
In doing so,
Christians are loving like Jesus:
9 For you know the grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that though He was rich,
yet for your sake He became poor,
so that you
through His poverty
might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9
And this verse
points also
to God's love in
sharing our material goods,
in this way,
( so that those who do not
share,
have to wonder
if God's love abides in them :
17 But whoever has the world’s goods,
and sees his brother in need
and closes his heart against him,
how does the love of God abide in him?
1 John 3:17
And then there are these verses:
35 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,
36 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.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry
and feed you,
or thirsty
and give you something to drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger
and invite you in,
or needing clothes
and clothe you?
39 When did we see you sick
or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply,
‘Truly I tell you,
whatever you did
for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,
you did for me.’
Matthew 25:31-40
I think perhaps another way
is the careful and loving,
exhortations,
corrections,
discipline,
teaching,
encouraging,
etc.
of each other,
by speaking the TRUTH
to each other
in LOVE.
Jesus did all of these.
Jesus also,
lowered Himself
and 'served' others.
This act of washing feet was a job,
only a 'slave' would
be expected to do.
And although,
He was God,
the Creator, of everything
He did this:
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father
had given all things into His hands,
and that He had come forth from God
and was going back to God,
4 got up from supper,
and laid aside His garments;
and taking a towel, He girded Himself.
5 Then He poured water into the basin,
and began to wash the disciples’ feet
and to wipe them with the towel
with which He was girded.
John 13:3-5
So doing, even unpleasant,
or deeming ( to our pride)
acts of service,
to others
is another way of loving,
like Jesus.
In fact, Jesus said:
15 For I gave you an example
that you also should do
as I did to you.
John 13:15
Done for today
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Post by Cindy on Apr 23, 2021 9:45:27 GMT -5
My words will be in this color today
and Biblical Scriptures in this color today
Jesus said:
34 “A new command I give you:
Love one another.
As I have loved you,
so you must love one another.
35 By this everyone will know
that you are my disciples,
if you love one another.”
John 13:34,35
Jesus loved us so much,
that He died for us.
That is a sacrificial kind of love.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us,
in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
And this
25 Husbands, love your wives,
just as Christ also loved the church
and gave Himself up for her,
Ephesians 5:25
Although this verse is addressed
to husbands,
I think, the Biblical principle,
can apply to all our
Christian brothers and sisters.
Another way, we can love like
our Lord, is to be giving
( even though it is a sacrifice)
of our finances,
and material blessings.
While this verse, may sound
at first,
like 'socialism',
The difference is....
it is giving from the heart.
Christian sharing is a
choice
out of love,
not out of force from the government.
44 And all those who had believed were together
and had all things in common;
45 and they began selling their property and possessions
and were sharing them with all,
as anyone might have need.
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple,
and breaking bread from house to house,
they were taking their meals together
with gladness
and
sincerity of heart,
Acts 2:44-46
In doing so,
Christians are loving like Jesus:
9 For you know the grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that though He was rich,
yet for your sake He became poor,
so that you
through His poverty
might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9
And this verse
points also
to God's love in
sharing our material goods,
in this way,
( so that those who do not
share,
have to wonder
if God's love abides in them :
17 But whoever has the world’s goods,
and sees his brother in need
and closes his heart against him,
how does the love of God abide in him?
1 John 3:17
And then there are these verses:
35 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,
36 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.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry
and feed you,
or thirsty
and give you something to drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger
and invite you in,
or needing clothes
and clothe you?
39 When did we see you sick
or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply,
‘Truly I tell you,
whatever you did
for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,
you did for me.’
Matthew 25:31-40
I think perhaps another way
is the careful and loving,
exhortations,
corrections,
discipline,
teaching,
encouraging,
etc.
of each other,
by speaking the TRUTH
to each other
in LOVE.
Jesus did all of these.
Jesus also,
lowered Himself
and 'served' others.
This act of washing feet was a job,
only a 'slave' would
be expected to do.
And although,
He was God,
the Creator, of everything
He did this:
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father
had given all things into His hands,
and that He had come forth from God
and was going back to God,
4 got up from supper,
and laid aside His garments;
and taking a towel, He girded Himself.
5 Then He poured water into the basin,
and began to wash the disciples’ feet
and to wipe them with the towel
with which He was girded.
John 13:3-5
So doing, even unpleasant,
or deeming ( to our pride)
acts of service,
to others
is another way of loving,
like Jesus.
In fact, Jesus said:
15 For I gave you an example
that you also should do
as I did to you.
John 13:15
Done for today
I guess you didn't see my question from yesterday, so I'll go ahead and do it. I want to explain what this verse is talking about when it says Jesus showed them the full extent of His love.
“Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” (John 13:1 NASB) Since the next thing to happen is Jesus washing their feet, some people just assume that's all He was talking about, but there's much more to it then that. To really understand what Jesus was saying we need to know what the word translated "the end" means in the original language. The original words have been translated as “He loved them to the end;” “He now loved them completely,” or “He now loved them to the uttermost.” . The idiom eis telos was translated literally as “to the end” in many versions because there's an important link between this and John 19:30, tetelestai, “It is ended” or "it is finished." (“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John 19:30) So what was the full extent of His love for us? (that's how the NIV translates John 13:1.) What Jesus is referring to and acting out for them by washing their feet, is that He loved them (and us) enough to die for us on the cross. Washing their feet was a prophetic act, showing them that when He died on the cross their sins would all be washed away.
Remember how Peter first told Jesus that he didn't want Him to wash His feet and Jesus insisted, so Peter basically said, "fine, then wash all of me"! But to that, Jesus replied: “Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.”” (John 13:10) Here Jesus was letting them and us know that when we are saved, all our sins, past, present and future, are washed away and we are "clean". But as we walk through life each day we will still sin, though not as much or as often as we used to. For that we still need to confess and repent of them and the Lord will wash our conscience clean again. That's compared to washing our feet of the dust from the day.
Knowing all of this we can now see that the statement that "He loved them to the end" is very important and is speaking about His willingness to die on the cross for each one of us. the message to the disciples and us is that we are to not only love each other in a humble, self-sacrificing and self-effacing way, but we're to be willing to even die for each other. If we think about someone we love, like our children, that's not hard to imagine doing. I've always felt willing to die for my children. But when we think of a person we don't know hardly at all, maybe we just see them in a store once in a while, then it's a little harder. And if we think about someone we really strongly dislike, or felt that way in the past toward them, then it's even harder to imagine! Yet Jesus died for us when we were still His enemies!!!! (Romans 5:10). That's the kind of love He wants us to have for everyone that comes into our lives - whether it's someone we see once in a while and don't really know, or a family member. We're to love them all the same way. An impossible assignment really. One that can't be faked very well and can only be done by abiding in Christ constantly. It's something to strive for and to remember and certainly something to ask Him to help us do.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Apr 23, 2021 10:28:38 GMT -5
Yes, its almost like peeling an onion
the more we peel it, the more tears and pain it causes.
To die for our children, would be hard.
We might worry, who would care for them, but we can trust God with that.
But if it meant they could live, we would die for them.
A friend is harder
an acquaintance, like you said
and an enemy.....
Yup....something to aim for and pray about.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
|
Post by fearnot on Apr 23, 2021 10:41:11 GMT -5
My words will be in this color today
and Biblical scripture in this color today.
The last part of Christian loving,
I will look at is:
forgiveness.
These are some verses demonstrating
God's forgiveness:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalms 103:8-13
We see forgiveness,
not only, in the new testament,
but in the old testament as well.
17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph,
“Please forgive,
I beg you,
the transgression of your brothers and their sin,
for they did you wrong.”
Genesis 50:17
The brothers of Joseph
did indeed do great wrong to Joseph,
yet, He did forgive them.
They sold him into slavery,
he ended up in prison,
etc.
However, he also became
2nd in command of Egypt,
and could have exacted even worse
revenge on them,
for all the years of his pain!
Instead, he forgave them,
and so is an example for us.
We do not see much of this
type of forgiveness,
in the world today though.
Our natural tendency
is to strike back, when someone
hurts us.
So forgiveness,
has to be a choice,
not an emotional reaction.
13 bearing with one another,
and forgiving each other,
whoever has a complaint against anyone;
just as the Lord forgave you,
so also should you.
Colossians 3:13
Jesus said this:
21 Then Peter came and said to Him,
“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me
and I forgive him?
Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus *said to him,
“I do not say to you,
up to seven times,
but up to seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:21,22
Jesus is not suggesting
we get out our calculators
so we can know,
the 'magic' number
when we can finally retaliate.
The idea is,
that forgiveness,
is NOT a 'one time' deal
or even 7 times....
but in life,
it is ever ongoing.
This is a verse to also contemplate:
14 For if you forgive others for their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive others,
then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
Matthew 6:14,15
And also this verse:
25 Whenever you stand praying,
forgive,
if you have anything against anyone,
so that your Father who is in heaven
will also forgive you your transgressions.
Mark 11:25
On a similar note:
23 Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar,
and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your offering there before the altar and go;
first be reconciled to your brother,
and then come and present your offering.
Matthew 5:23,24
No, forgiveness is NOT easy!
It almost seems to me,
that we have to practice it,
our whole lives...
and we still, don't have hardly
any idea,
of what it cost our Lord Jesus,
to forgive us!
Imagine, being Steven
they are stoning him to death
and what does he say?
59 They went on stoning Stephen
as he called on the Lord and said,
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”
60 Then falling on his knees,
he cried out with a loud voice,
“Lord, do not hold this sin against them!”
Acts 7:59,60
And the greatest example
of all,
concerning forgiveness,
was Jesus,
hanging on a cross,
dying for depraved sinners:
34 But Jesus was saying,
“Father, forgive them;
for they do not know what they are doing.”
Luke 23:34
Done for today
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Post by Cindy on Apr 26, 2021 7:44:42 GMT -5
My words will be in this color today
and Biblical scripture in this color today.
The last part of Christian loving,
I will look at is:
forgiveness.
These are some verses demonstrating
God's forgiveness:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalms 103:8-13
We see forgiveness,
not only, in the new testament,
but in the old testament as well.
17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph,
“Please forgive,
I beg you,
the transgression of your brothers and their sin,
for they did you wrong.”
Genesis 50:17
The brothers of Joseph
did indeed do great wrong to Joseph,
yet, He did forgive them.
They sold him into slavery,
he ended up in prison,
etc.
However, he also became
2nd in command of Egypt,
and could have exacted even worse
revenge on them,
for all the years of his pain!
Instead, he forgave them,
and so is an example for us.
We do not see much of this
type of forgiveness,
in the world today though.
Our natural tendency
is to strike back, when someone
hurts us.
So forgiveness,
has to be a choice,
not an emotional reaction.
13 bearing with one another,
and forgiving each other,
whoever has a complaint against anyone;
just as the Lord forgave you,
so also should you.
Colossians 3:13
Jesus said this:
21 Then Peter came and said to Him,
“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me
and I forgive him?
Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus *said to him,
“I do not say to you,
up to seven times,
but up to seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:21,22
Jesus is not suggesting
we get out our calculators
so we can know,
the 'magic' number
when we can finally retaliate.
The idea is,
that forgiveness,
is NOT a 'one time' deal
or even 7 times....
but in life,
it is ever ongoing.
This is a verse to also contemplate:
14 For if you forgive others for their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive others,
then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
Matthew 6:14,15
And also this verse:
25 Whenever you stand praying,
forgive,
if you have anything against anyone,
so that your Father who is in heaven
will also forgive you your transgressions.
Mark 11:25
On a similar note:
23 Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar,
and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your offering there before the altar and go;
first be reconciled to your brother,
and then come and present your offering.
Matthew 5:23,24
No, forgiveness is NOT easy!
It almost seems to me,
that we have to practice it,
our whole lives...
and we still, don't have hardly
any idea,
of what it cost our Lord Jesus,
to forgive us!
Imagine, being Steven
they are stoning him to death
and what does he say?
59 They went on stoning Stephen
as he called on the Lord and said,
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”
60 Then falling on his knees,
he cried out with a loud voice,
“Lord, do not hold this sin against them!”
Acts 7:59,60
And the greatest example
of all,
concerning forgiveness,
was Jesus,
hanging on a cross,
dying for depraved sinners:
34 But Jesus was saying,
“Father, forgive them;
for they do not know what they are doing.”
Luke 23:34
Done for today
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!!
