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Many Christians define love the way the world does and that is as ‘a strong emotion.’ When the world says ‘I love you’ it means I have feelings towards you. For the Christian, the commandment to love is not about emotion, it is about action. Romans 5:8 says this about God’s love for us, “…God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” For the Christian, love is not how you feel about someone it’s what you do in a relationship with them. It may take many forms, like spousal love, parental love, love of ones family, love of fellow believers, and even love for our enemies. No matter what the relationship of love we may be talking about, the emotion may differ, but the demonstration of love is the same.

Love is how we treat one another. All the many ‘facets’ of love are to be employed in that treatment, no matter who the object of that love may be. When we say we love one person more than another, we are talking about our emotional feelings for them. But, in God’s eyes, we cannot love one person more than another in demonstrating our love to them. This might explain to some how you can love someone you don’t like. In the monthly publication of “From the Heart” we are going to be examining these facets as found in 1 Corinthians 13. Pick up the September issue or view it online.

This is a saying that supposedly originated in Missouri, the “Show Me” State. Having never seen an ocean, they were skeptical and said, “Seeing is believing.” In our day and age, there are few things that require ‘seeing’ to believe. With the media and world-wide coverage, we’ve just about seen everything - everything, that is, except God.

When it comes to God, many people still have a ‘Show Me’ attitude. When a Russian Cosmonaut went into space, he reported that he did not see God. The skeptical astronomer, as he looks into the starry heavens says, “I do not see God.” Others, observing the wonders of nature with all of its intricacies, say, “We do not see God.” A man, sitting in a stained glass house of worship, listening to a sermon says, “I do not see God.” All of these have adopted the attitude that “Seeing is believing.”

It is true that the ‘visible’ God cannot be seen by man. But, does a man have to see in order to believe? There are many things in life we believe that we have not seen. We accepted the testimony, either written or oral, as proof positive. Why is it we cannot do the same with our belief in God?

Our belief in God is not “Seeing is believing.” It is “Believing is seeing.” Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “…he who comes to God must believe that He is…”

BELIEVE THAT HE IS AND YOU WILL SEE HIM!

James 4:7 tells us to “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” That sounds all well and good, but what is involved in resisting? Are we to simply say “Get out of here Old Slew Foot!” or perhaps we ought to hold up a replica of the cross and wave it in his face. Someone may tell you that you simply have to pray harder and maybe fast. Still others may say, “You just don’t have enough faith.”

But why speculate when the Bible tells us quite simply how we are to resist the devil. In fact it is found in this same verse in James. The verse begins with these words: “Therefore submit to God.” The ‘therefore’ is based on verse 6. Quoting from Proverbs 3:34 James says: “God resists the proud’ but gives grace to the humble.”

Submission to God is the pathway to resisting the devil. You can’t say “No” to the devil until you’ve said “Yes” to God. Ephesians 6:10-18; says that we are to fight with spiritual weapons, but we still fight. There is not only passive submission, but also active resistance.

Saying “Yes” to God is the first step of learning submission. If we haven’t submitted to God how then can we submit to one another? God gives grace, His enabling power, to those who are willing to humble themselves before Him.

Of course if you haven’t submitted to God, the devil probably won’t bother you anyway!

I love the commercials for Bush’s Beans. People want to know what makes them taste so good. Bush’s makes the claim that there is a secret ingredient that makes them taste as good as they do. Of course they have to watch out for the dog. He always seems on the verge of giving the secret away, spilling the beans so to speak. Lately the wife doesn’t even want her husband to reveal that they are Bush’s Beans because she wants people to think that she made them herself in her kitchen.

If you are living a life of peace and contentment because of your relationship with God, people will want to know what the secret ingredient is in your life. Of course it’s not a secret we want to hide. 1 Peter 3:15 says: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and always be ready to give a defense to every one who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”

What is the secret ingredient? Psalms 25:14 says: “The secret of the Lord is with them who fear Him.” Proverbs 3:32 tells us that: “His secret is with the righteous.” The secret of a life of peace and contentment is that it is a product of our salvation which has been made possible by our faith in God’s Son.

Bush’s Beans may keep their secret but God wants us to share ours.

Did anyone ever catch you doing something that was illegal, immoral or just plain stupid? How did you feel? Were you embarrassed?

When we fail to obey God, we sin. If we do anything which God forbids, we sin and must repent.

If we fail the second time we are not smart. We are like the two fellows watching a western. The first says, “See that posse chasing that robber? Watch, in just a minute he is going to get knocked off his horse by a low-hanging branch.” “No way,” said the other fellow, “I’ll bet you ten dollars it won’t happen.” Sure enough the robber rode under a tree and was knocked off his horse. “Looks like I owe you ten dollars,” said the second fellow. “That’s all right,” said the first, “I saw this movie before.” “Well so did I,” the second fellow replied. “But I didn’t think he was dumb enough to do it again.”

If we do it the third time we are an addict. We need to be treated for our addiction.

If we do it a forth time, God help us. Nothing we do can be hidden from God. Remember, God is watching us, not to punish, but to forgive.

Psalms 103:1-2 says: “Bless the Lord, O my soul…who forgives all your iniquities.” There’s a song that says “God Is Watching Us From Afar.” That’s not true. “Immanuel” is God with us!

There is an old story about a passenger who booked passage on a ship bound for England. During the voyage he scrounged the ships galley and was able to live on cheese and crackers all the way to England. It was only after leaving the ship that he discovered that his ticket had not only provided passage but also included all his meals.

This passenger is like a lot of Christians who purchased their ticket to heaven through salvation and are living on crackers and cheese during the journey. Salvation includes a whole lot more than just safe passage. Jesus said in John 10:10 that his sheep “…can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” (The Message) Real and eternal life is not just for the future, it also includes the present.

Matthew 6:34 tells us, in The Message, “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

Salvation includes all that we’ll need on the journey to heaven. Jesus is not only our Savior; He is the Supplier of all our daily needs. Throw away your crackers and cheese and eat daily in the main dinning room He has provided for you. 1 Corinthians 3:21 reminds us, “For all things are yours.”

Every morning, at the first light of dawn, the Rooster crowed. He crowed so long and so loud that he managed to awaken all the animals in the barnyard. Finally the Cow could stand it no longer. He asked the Rooster, “Why do you have to wake everybody up, every morning at the break of day?” The Rooster was surprised that the Cow would ask such a question. “Don’t you know,” he said to the Cow? “If I don’t crow the sun will not come up. I am a very important person with a big responsibility.” “You are a silly goose” said the Cow. “The sun will come up every morning whether you crow or not. You have nothing to crow about.”

Why does the rooster crow? I’m sure the reason is simple, but I don’t know what it is. But if the rooster is crowing over false accomplishments, then a lot of people are just like him. James 4:16 tells us that when we ‘crow’ about things which we have not done, that “such boasting is evil.” Have you ever heard someone say in so many words, “God has to be pleased with me? Look at all I’ve done for Him.” This person has ‘nothing to crow about.’ All that God does for us is unmerited.

The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:8; “For by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourself, it is the gift of God.”

Wanted, couples home for three bears - must have differences. These three bears are a must for your life if you are experiencing discord in your marriage and are looking for help. These are not ordinary bears; they will bring magic into your marriage. Results guaranteed.

The first bear is called Papa Bear. He is the bear who will help you when you have disagreements and arguments in your relationship. His motto is “Bear ye one another’s burdens.” Listen to him and discord will disappear.

The second bear is Mama Bear. She will help you put up with your mate when misunderstandings occur and you feel like pulling out your hair. Her motto is “Forebear one another in love.” Listen to her and your mate will respond to you with love and appreciation.

The third bear is really a bare, she is called Baby Bare. Under her guidance you will bring openness and honesty into your marriage as you bare yourself to one another. She will encourage you to have no secrets or ulterior motives with one another so that you will not feel betrayed or embarrassed if they are brought to light by others.

These bears are very inexpensive to maintain; they eat very little. Just nourish them with Love and Submission and they will be with you for life.

If interested, inquire in your Bible, they are there.

Most of the singing that is now done in my family, I leave to my children and my grandchildren. But there was a time when my wife and I sang together. One of the old songs we used to sing suggests that if you want to do anything worthwhile in your life for the Lord, you’d better do it now. The name of the song is “Serve Him with all of your Heart.” The words are as follows:

Life can be spent seeking pleasure, drifting along in your sin.
But when life’s journey is over, tell me how can the Lord use you then?
Serve Him with all of your heart; give Him the best of your years.
If you need someone to comfort, He’ll wipe away all your tears.
He’ll make it well worth your while, if you’ll be faithful and true.
The windows of heaven He will open and He’ll shower His blessing on you.

I can bear witness that the words of this song are true. My wife and I have been Christians for 57+ years. We were called into the ministry shortly after being married, giving Him the best of our years. He has always been a comfort, and He has made it well worth our while. The blessings He has showered on us are too innumerable to count. Psalms 37:25 is one of my favorite verses: “I have been young and now I am old: Yet, I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.”

“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save and rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing,” Zephaniah 3:17

The Living Bible says: “…He will love you and not accuse you.” And the Amplified Bible declares; “…in His love He will be silent and make no mention of past sins or even recall them.”

Romans 8 has a great verse: “There is therefore no condemnation (i.e. no judging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (V1, Amp. Bible)

Every person born into this world enters with the condemnation of sin in his or her heart. Although often indiscernible, it is there nevertheless. The word of God, given through the Law, makes a person aware of their sinful condition. Paul said, in Romans 7:9: “When the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” Condemnation cries out for relief. He goes on to say, “O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” He just as quickly answers, “I thank God through Jesus Christ.” Romans 7:24, 25.

In I Corinthians. 5:17 he gives us this assurance: “Therefore if any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold all things become new.”

Receive Christ as your Savior and He will remove all condemnation and He will rest in His love and you can rest in it too.