Tag: love

3 How-To’s for the Family

by Ms. Rita's Minute

Galatians 5:16

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Today, I thought of three instructions that might be helpful to my brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as to myself. These are things I’ve pondered recently that I thought would help us in our Christian walk. These things relate to behavioral and spiritual enhancements and how we might walk them out with the help of the Holy Spirit.

1. How to Be Different Without Being Rebellious

Some of us, or maybe even most of us, feel very unique from other people. With this thinking, we may, in certain areas, reject any suggestions to change, for fear of becoming something we are not. However, it is not a bad thing to change, as this happens to all of us as we grow older, whether we like it or not, for better or for worse. Yet, thankfully, we are encouraged to grow to become more like Christ. Hence, we want to move further away from being rebellious and closer to improving and being humble.

In 1 Samuel 15:23, the Bible relates being rebellious to witchcraft. It represents an attempt to usurp God’s supreme authority in favor of self-will or other spiritual powers. Rebellion also involves having a rigid attitude that resists rules.

God has given us all a spirit and soul that live in a body, where all three are different from those of other people. Yet He has given us His Bible to teach us how to live and communicate with Him and others in love. Hence, while our personalities are and should be different, our ways of relating to others should align with God’s teachings.

We’ve been reared in various ways, enjoy different things, and dislike other things, which involve our family history, personal desires, learning, and environment. But rejecting rebellion in our lives entails replacing pride with humility, cultivating a teachable spirit, and actively submitting to authority. We are to avoid self-reliance alone and disobedience to God’s will, as a defiant and stubborn spirit leads to judgment and spiritual destruction. 

Thankfully, God has made His will for us known through His Bible and by communicating with Him in prayer. So, if we lack wisdom, we are told in His Word to ask, and He will grant it to us liberally. Moreover, He’s given leaders in the Church to give us His instructions, as well as His Holy Spirit, who leads us into all truth.

2. How Not to Conform, While Being Transformed

The Bible tells us we are being transformed into the image of Christ. Specifically, Romans 8:29 says, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” We are also told in Romans 12:2-3, not to “conform to the patterns of this world, but to be transformed” by the renewing of our minds. Then we will be “able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Meditating on the Lord’s teachings daily strengthens our faith. It allows us to remember what the Lord’s will actually is, instead of what the world imparts to us. As we train ourselves and practice what He has instructed, we become more accustomed to His will and ways and less desiring of worldly ways and attitudes. Not to mention, His Holy Spirit’s sanctification process, which is a lifelong work in our lives to make us more like Christ.

3. How to Love without Compromise or Carnality

The Bible teaches us in 1 Corinthians 16:14 to “do everything in love.” Also, in 1 Corinthians 13:6, “love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” So, truth is important in showing love. True love rejects wrongdoing and celebrates truth. Moreover, “love does no harm to a neighbor…” (Romans 13:10).

When we are carnal, we appeal to our flesh, and as Romans 8:7-8 teaches, “The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.” Therefore, we must seek to live according to God’s Spirit and not our own carnal desires.

Living in this world, over time, we have developed worldly habits that need to be replaced by godly habits. We’ve grown accustomed to living and doing in ways that are opposed to God’s desires for us. We won’t know what that is until we hear and study the truth of the Bible’s teachings. Compromising involves settling for an altered version of the truth. And there are many altered versions of truth one can embrace. So, we must know and understand the truth God has made available to us in the Bible.

Consistently, learning and practicing God’s standards for living keeps us in the knowledge and way of truth. Needless to say, encouraging one another in God’s principles for living His life of love is a blessing to our growth.

The chief way to learn how to love is to know God and live close to Him. He will show us how to love others as well as ourselves. The Bible tells us in 1 John 4:8, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” So, knowing God is the first step to success in love.

It’s quite apparent that these things can’t be accomplished in our own strength alone, but we need the wisdom and guidance of God to help us. One fruit of the Holy Spirit we can exercise to help us walk by the Spirit and not our flesh is self-control. It empowers believers to govern their desires, speech, and actions rather than being ruled by them.

Pressure Release

by Ms. Rita's Minute

Romans 13:10

“Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.”

The pressure of perfectionism, or the need to follow all the rules, is released when we decide to love everyone, including family and foes. The Bible tells us that whoever loves others fulfills the law. So, we may ask ourselves, until we are accustomed to walking in it by practice, “Am I showing love in this situation or encounter?”

Perhaps it just takes a load off when we simply grow in the traits of expressing love, versus placing too much emphasis on rules. Now rules are crucial and have their place, but the Bible clearly shows us the vast importance of love.

Love requires being considerate and respectful; seeing others with eyes of honor and value, despite how flawed they may look to us. The fact that we were created by God in His image is enough to establish that all people are valuable to Him.

Love involves forgiving, not dishonoring. When we’ve been offended, we are bold enough to tell the offender the truth, so there is no misunderstanding. This is definitely not always easy to do. I must say I struggle with it myself sometimes, opting to just pray for them and releasing the matter. Then, treating them as well as I am able, without mentioning that I had been offended.

Nevertheless, Jesus has taught us in the Bible to let people know when they’ve offended us and to forgive them, as He has forgiven us. This releases the pressure of being angry, resentful, and revengeful. Not to mention it ensures our heavenly Father will forgive us when we do wrong or offend Him.

We may not want the closeness of consistent fellowship with someone if we’ve experienced that we don’t get along or have little in common with them. But that doesn’t stop us from being pleasant and cordial toward them, or simply praying for them.

Love doesn’t deceive or neglect, but cares for the well-being of others. It does not selfishly use or manipulate others for one’s own gain, but authentically cares that they walk in the freedom and self-control the Holy Spirit gives.

Love allows us to be kind, patient, and humble. We don’t delight in evil, but rejoice with the truth, not recoil from it. When we rejoice, we express joy or gladness, doing so in the presence of whoever may have offended us by sharing God’s truth.

Love in our relationships involves sharing and receiving truth honestly, when it may feel difficult to accept. If it is a teaching or principle of the Bible, it should be accepted as truth and provided and welcomed in a spirit of love.

Moreover, when we love, we protect, not malign, others. We don’t say or do things intentionally to make people feel bad or to amuse others for laughter. In our offense, we may experience the temptation to expose or speak negatively about someone, but we don’t have to give in to it. The Lord sees, hears, and understands everyone and is well acquainted with our life experiences and the motives of our hearts. He handles any judgment or discipline for wrongdoing well.

As believers, faith, hope, and love are of great importance, yet the greatest, which fulfills the law, is love. It’s mentioned first in the list of God’s fruit of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, and it is described in 1 Corinthians 12:31 as “the most excellent way.”

If we truly love someone, we do no harm to them. We love Jesus because He first loved us by sacrificing His life to save us. We sacrifice by submitting to others per the Holy Spirit’s leading, showing humility and honor to the very least of us.

As we practice love, we are walking in the Spirit, unafraid, as the Bible reminds us that perfect love casts out fear. Thankfully, Christ loved us at our worst, so we can now love others by the power of His Spirit living in us. He is our help when we feel it is too difficult to love, and He makes possible what seems impossible when we allow Him to do so. As we grow in this exercise, we experience the joy of how God can change someone’s life, by some act of love, great or small, that we’ve expressed toward them.

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More Scriptures on Love:

Exodus 20:6; Leviticus 19:18, 34; Deuteronomy 6:5; Song of Songs 1-2; Mark 12:28-34; Romans 13:8-10; 1 Corinthians 13; 1 John 4:7-21.

The Christian Walk: Faith and Love

by Ms. Rita's Minute

Galatians 5:6

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”

Have you ever thought about which is more important: faith or love? These are two vital aspects of one’s Christian walk. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). Not to mention, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Additionally, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

There are many ways to study faith and love and much can be discussed about them. However, since this blog is meant to be simple and not many minutes, I’d just like to share a few thoughts.

Learning the principles of these two attributes are of paramount importance to a Christ follower. Perhaps faith is not currently taught as often in church as in the past because of the real or assumed mismanagement of the Bible’s teaching on faith. However, because of some teachers’ mishandling, whether intentional or not, we mustn’t avoid the many scriptures on faith and how they relate to our lives.

Jesus certainly made clear the importance of it in the lives of his followers, so we should as well. This involves following and teaching those elements of faith that seem impossible or difficult to believe. I call them SUPERnatural factors. If we don’t, we rob ourselves of the necessary elements for successful Christian living and bringing God the glory we should allow shown in our lives.

Furthermore, without faith, we can’t experience the salvation Jesus provided us with his death and resurrection. It is the main attribute in personally receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior; believing He died for our sins and rose again. It must remain a large portion of our teaching as in varying instances with Jesus actions and teachings, faith was required.

Likewise, “Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10). As this wonderful action is continually exercised, it flows into everything we do and protectively affects any temptations to sin. Our measurement of love is seen in how we treat God, ourselves, and others.

A critical notion is, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26). So, if we show no love in our behavior, our faith has no life. When we have faith, we believe, trust and stand on the truth of the matter. If we have love, we show consideration, compassion and respect for others.

There will be many opportunities in life for us to practice faith and love. I want to learn all I can about both so as to put them more increasingly to work in my life, as well as teach them to others. The Bible shows there are also wonderful benefits to demonstrating each and there’s no harm in desiring them.

How to Represent Christ

by Ms. Rita's Minute

Ever think about who or what we as individuals represent? Thankfully, the Bible tells us that believers are ambassadors for Christ, beloved children, a chosen race and royal priesthood, and God’s workmanship among other things. (2 Corinthians 5:20, Ephesians 5:1, 1 Peter 2:9, Ephesians 2:10).

However, sometimes, in our attempts to live as faithful Christians, we struggle with the battle between flesh and spirit, desiring to do what is good, but not carrying it out. Yet God is faithful to walk with us and counsel us as we represent Him effectively on the earth.

It’s important to note that the Bible tells us that 1 John 2 was written so that we will not sin, “but if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father–Jesus Christ, the Righteous one. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

“We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.“

So, as Christ’s representatives, loving is important, and understanding what it means to love is critical. The truth is seen in Christ and us: loving one another and living in the light, versus hating one another and living in darkness. Further, His Bible tells us the word of God lives in us and we have overcome the evil one! Now, our message as ambassadors or representatives of Christ is “Be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20/NIV).

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19/NIV)

In addition, where there’s no place like home, as representatives of Christ:

“Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:18/NLT)

“Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.” (Colossians 3:19/NLT)

“Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord.” (Colossians 3:20/NLT)

“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” (Colossians 3:17/NLT)

This New Commandment is Deep

by Ms. Rita's Minute

Today I wanted to start my prayer time by reading aloud from the Bible’s book of Psalms as a prayer of my own. I arrived at one of David’s prayers and could not continue because it sounded so much like a curse against his enemies. Nevertheless, I understood his emotions having read all he had experienced from his adversaries in life. However, now we live in a new era after Jesus’ death and resurrection. We have been given a new commandment; a new edict, order, or rule: “Love one another.” (John 13:34) Moreover, this also includes loving our enemies as is taught by Jesus in Luke 6:27.

Interestingly, Jesus indicates it’s no big deal to love those who love us, and for most, if not all of us, even this is a difficult task. Yet the real demonstration of God’s love is loving our enemies (Luke 6:32-34). After all, this is what God does regularly showing His mercy and grace to everyone, though society sometimes represents this action as weak and wimpy behavior.

It’s actually scary to me sometimes, the thought of loving someone who may verbally or even physically abuse me. Yet God has ways unlike our ways and knows what is beneficial and wise for us in our responses to evil. We live to please Him. The Bible says to do good to them and lend to them without expecting anything in return. We are told to be kind and merciful to them (Luke 6:35-36). He tells us to bless and not to curse them and to pray for those who mistreat us.  He even tells us if someone slaps us on one cheek, to turn to them the other also, and If someone takes our coat, to not withhold our shirt from them (Luke 6:28-29). Now mastering these incredible feats really gets our Father’s attention and we will be rewarded by Him.

Nevertheless, I’m convinced that it is impossible to consistently love everyone without the help of the Holy Spirit. He’s the only person who can infuse us with the power to truly love someone who hates, hurts, and harasses us. Yet He doesn’t require us to repay them with like behavior. He is God and knows every unique fiber of their being and doing. So it is only God’s right and authority to handle them accordingly. Thankfully, God is love (1 John 4:8)!

May God give us the strength and courage to love everyone, including our enemies. Despite what society, and even some of our own brothers and sisters, teach us about self-preservation, we are commanded by God to live and respond differently–biblically. As a parent with children or a teacher with students, we may not always enjoy some methods of loving when we aren’t hearing or receiving exactly what we want at the time. Nevertheless, love in its many expressions, is an amazing blessing.

A Christian’s journey is a life of submission to a king and kingdom unlike any we’ve ever known. One that is not worldly, but where love is the chief commandment for living a holy and righteous life. In it, our aim is to do no wrong to a neighbor, even if he’s an enemy. By this we glorify the Father, acting like our Dad.

To me, in some ways, it just makes life easier; love them all! No need to pick and choose who gets the love. Though costly, God repays. Our enemies’ evil issues are not ours to transform. We can only say and do what God says. However, we leave it to God to change hearts in His highest sovereignty and wisdom, while we continue in prayer and obedience as an authentic follower of Christ. As we fellowship with our Father who is love, may we mature in expressing His kind of love to others.

Is What You’re Reading Real?

by Ms. Rita's Minute

If you’re a major fan of social media and find great joy in communicating within it, it’s wise to stay alert to the possibilities of catfishing in your neck of the scrolling woods. Of course, I’m not referring to the sport of catching that tasty seafood we often enjoy fried with a touch of our favorite sauce and perhaps a huge buttered baked potato and garden salad.

In our ever-expanding world of the Internet, the catfishing I’m referring to is the one where a person is lured into a relationship with a false personality, often undercover as a prank. There are many stories of people of all ages engaging in relationships with numerous identities, sometimes over years, never actually seeing the person behind the typewritten words. Some have delved deep into fantasies of love relationships while possibly communicating with anyone from age 19 to 90, male or female. Not to mention, some have been scammed for thousands of dollars because of being too naive or gullible regarding the possibilities of fictitious behavior on the web.

Today, I’m highlighting this topic as I recently pondered just how influential catfishing can be to someone’s life and the need to always discern the difference between virtual and authentic communication. Not to say one can’t communicate virtually with someone honestly, but that engagement must be proven to be a reality to be deemed safe.

I am urging you to keep in mind that the securest way to communicate with someone realistically is in person, face-to-face, not “almost” but entirely. That’s if you truly desire to know and be known by that person. Be aware that anything you encounter over the Internet should only be taken as factual if proven. Otherwise, it should be taken with a grain of salt. However, if there is greater interest, investigate its legitimacy.

Stay safe out on the World Wide Web! Sometimes, there’s darkness where we may only desire light.