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Saturday, March 29, 2008
GUESTBOOK FOR VISITORS AND FRIENDS!!!
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I Could Sing of you Love Forever Chords
I Could Sing of Your Love Forever
Written by:
Martin Smith
Martin Smith
E F#m
Over the mountains and the sea
A2
Your river runs with love for me
B
And I will open up my heart
E
And let the healer set me free
F#m
I'm happy to be in the truth
A2
And I will daily lift my hands
For I will always sing
B
Of when your love came down
CHORUS:
E F#m
I could sing of your love forever
A2 B
I could sing of your love forever
E F#m
I could sing of your love forever
A2 B
I could sing of your love forever
BRIDGE:
F#m E
Oh I feel like dancing
A2 B
It's foolishness I know
F#m E
But when the world has seen the light
A2
They will dance with joy
B
Like we're dancing now
Jesus Lover of My Soul Chords
Jesus Lover Of My Soul
Written by: John Ezzy, Daniel Grul & Steve McPherson
G D B
Jesus, lover of my soul
Em C
Jesus, I will never let you go
G D B
You've taken me from the miry clay
Em C
Set my feet upon the rock and now I know
G D B Em
I love you, I need you, though my world may fall
C
I'll never let you go
G D B Em
My savior, my closest friend
C
I will worship you until the very end.
Inspiring Story- Take Time To Read This !!
Jesus NEVER Fails Ever!
by Susie Shellenberger adopted by: antoneveli@yahoo.com
Misty’s dad didn’t keep it a secret that he never wanted her. He told her often how he’d tried to persuade his wife to abort her. When Misty’s mom became aware of the physical and verbal abuse her daughter was experiencing, she divorced her husband and moved her family to Canada.
As Misty continued to grow into a pretty teenager, an uncle sexually abused her. She developed an intense hatred toward men and felt as though she were a time bomb set to explode!
* * *
Waves of panic began to drown Rachel as she searched for an escape. Social situations were always the worst. She couldn’t get through them without being overwhelmed by her own thoughts. You’re worthless. Nothing you say or do is ever right. Why do you even bother coming? No one cares that you’re here. You’re ugly, fat and lazy. You’ll never amount to anything!
Rachel finally slipped away, mumbling an excuse to the hostess. A few minutes later, she pulled into the dirt driveway behind her house, relieved no one was home. She rushed upstairs to her room, grabbing the knife she kept at her desk. Leaving the bathroom door ajar, she sat on the lid of the toilet and began to cut through her skin.
* * *
Mawee’s mother died when Mawee was just 6 years old. Mawee lived in a Burmese village with her opium-addicted stepfather. When she was 9, a woman from Bangkok, Thailand, wandered into her village, recruiting girls for prostitution. Mawee’s stepfather — desperate to support his addiction — sold her for $100 to the Thai woman. To entice Mawee into leaving the village, they lied to her and said she was going to the big city of Bangkok to work in a restaurant and earn lots of money.
When she arrived in the big city, she was kept in a locked room inside a Bangkok brothel.
* * *
Mary was confused and hurt. Her brother Larry was sick, and she contacted their best friend and physician as soon as he began showing signs of illness. But she was ignored. Her best friend. Where was he? Why didn’t he come? Larry’s illness quickly escalated. Only a few days later, Mary buried her brother.
If only he’d come when we sent for him, she thought, Larry would still be alive.
She and her sister began to slip into a tunnel of depression. They battled a plethora of emotions — shock, anger, grief, rage, bitterness. To continue living seemed hopeless.
* * *
Jesus Never Fails!
Does it seem out of place to insert this phrase at this point in the story? It’s really much more than a phrase. It’s truth. Absolute truth!
Jesus never fails.
Jesus never fails.
Jesus never fails.
Because of sin, people will be hurt — and some even abused — but Jesus is with us through the pain. He never fails.
Never. Never. Never. Ever!
The Real Story
by Susie Shellenberger adopted by: antoneveli@yahoo.com
Misty’s dad didn’t keep it a secret that he never wanted her. He told her often how he’d tried to persuade his wife to abort her. When Misty’s mom became aware of the physical and verbal abuse her daughter was experiencing, she divorced her husband and moved her family to Canada.
As Misty continued to grow into a pretty teenager, an uncle sexually abused her. She developed an intense hatred toward men and felt as though she were a time bomb set to explode!
* * *
Waves of panic began to drown Rachel as she searched for an escape. Social situations were always the worst. She couldn’t get through them without being overwhelmed by her own thoughts. You’re worthless. Nothing you say or do is ever right. Why do you even bother coming? No one cares that you’re here. You’re ugly, fat and lazy. You’ll never amount to anything!
Rachel finally slipped away, mumbling an excuse to the hostess. A few minutes later, she pulled into the dirt driveway behind her house, relieved no one was home. She rushed upstairs to her room, grabbing the knife she kept at her desk. Leaving the bathroom door ajar, she sat on the lid of the toilet and began to cut through her skin.
* * *
Mawee’s mother died when Mawee was just 6 years old. Mawee lived in a Burmese village with her opium-addicted stepfather. When she was 9, a woman from Bangkok, Thailand, wandered into her village, recruiting girls for prostitution. Mawee’s stepfather — desperate to support his addiction — sold her for $100 to the Thai woman. To entice Mawee into leaving the village, they lied to her and said she was going to the big city of Bangkok to work in a restaurant and earn lots of money.
When she arrived in the big city, she was kept in a locked room inside a Bangkok brothel.
* * *
Mary was confused and hurt. Her brother Larry was sick, and she contacted their best friend and physician as soon as he began showing signs of illness. But she was ignored. Her best friend. Where was he? Why didn’t he come? Larry’s illness quickly escalated. Only a few days later, Mary buried her brother.
If only he’d come when we sent for him, she thought, Larry would still be alive.
She and her sister began to slip into a tunnel of depression. They battled a plethora of emotions — shock, anger, grief, rage, bitterness. To continue living seemed hopeless.
* * *
Jesus Never Fails!
Does it seem out of place to insert this phrase at this point in the story? It’s really much more than a phrase. It’s truth. Absolute truth!
Jesus never fails.
Jesus never fails.
Jesus never fails.
Because of sin, people will be hurt — and some even abused — but Jesus is with us through the pain. He never fails.
Never. Never. Never. Ever!
The Real Story
Larry’s real name was Lazarus. You may be familiar with his story recorded in John 11:1-44. He and his sisters, Mary and Martha, were extremely close friends with Jesus. Mary and Martha knew Jesus was the Son of God, the Messiah, the Great Physician. They were certain if they sent word to their Friend and Savior, He would respond quickly and heal their brother.
Yet when Jesus heard Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days. two more days! You can understand why Mary and Martha were confused, angry and depressed.
Does it surprise you to know that even though Christ loved this family, He chose to wait a total of four days before going to them? Let’s take a peek at what we can learn from this.
Lesson #1: Lack of immediate action is not due to lack of devotion! Remember the violent storm on the Sea of Galilee? (Check out the entire story in Mark 6:45-52.) Jesus left the disciples in the boat all night! He didn’t appear until the fourth watch — sometime between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. His arrival wasn’t apologetic or rushed. He didn’t frantically sail to the disciples while yelling over the crashing waves, “Sorry! I meant to get here sooner! Whoa! This is a mess! What a storm. OK, here’s what we need to do. . . .”
He went to them calmly. Walking on top of the water.
The wind and waves stopped, and the disciples learned that Jesus truly is the I AM.
Some things require the silence of God before we can see God’s best.
(Think about that for a second. Then read it again.)
Some things require the silence of God before we can see God’s best.
Lesson #2: God is never early, yet He’s never late. He may have seemed late to the disciples, but He actually came at the perfect time. Mary and Martha thought He was late, but we know His timing was perfect. When you need a gentle reminder of this truth, memorize this: “But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!” (Habakkuk 2:3, The Living Bible)
Lesson #3: God is in the miracle business, but He may give us the opportunity to play an active part. Most of the time when He does a miracle, He expects us to take a measure of involvement. Throughout the Bible, the Father performed miracles in the Old Testament, and Jesus performed miracles in the New Testament. But let’s take a closer look. With Noah, it was as if God was saying, “I’ll do the miracle, Noah. I’ll save you and your family from a worldwide flood. But you have a responsibility, too. You’re going to have to build an ark.”
With the children of Israel: “I’ll give you a miracle. I’ll free you from slavery and oppression from Pharaoh’s rule. I’ll lead you to the Promised Land. I’ll even personally send you food from heaven every day you’re in the wilderness. But you have a responsibility, too. You’ll have to collect the manna each morning. You won’t be able to save it; you’ll actually need to gather it every single morning.”
The blind man heard Jesus say, “I’ll do the miracle. I’ll give you sight! But your responsibility is to go to the river and wash your eyes with mud.”
Jesus freed Lazarus from his bondage. Jesus did the miracle of raising a dead man to life. But Lazarus also had a responsibility. He had to actually get up, walk out of the tomb and take off his grave clothes — the strips of cloth in which he was bound.
Jesus Still Frees Today!
Misty knew she couldn’t continue living with the intense anger and hatred she had toward men. She desperately wanted to grow closer to Jesus and experience His healing touch in her life. So she decided to participate in a Brio missions trip. While in Quito, Ecuador, she allowed God to do a miracle in her life. She forgave her dad and uncle. She’s now growing closer to Christ and blossoming into a beautiful woman of God. “I realized how incredibly much Jesus loves me,” she says. “He has freed me from my anger. I just want to serve Him forever!”
Jesus never fails.
* * *
Rachel remained blinded by the deception that she was worthless until she began to believe the truth that God loves her passionately and wants to use her for His glory. “Through the help of friends and loved ones,” she says, “I began to experience Christ’s love and forgiveness. He healed my heart and mind as I prayed for wholeness. I was a cutter for 10 years. I still have rough days, but I’m living in victory because of Christ.”
Rachel clings to this verse: “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me” (Psalm 54:4). “I know I can rely on Jesus to carry me through whatever difficulties I face,” she says.
Jesus never fails.
* * *
Mawee was abused, frightened and in shock when police rescued her from the brothel. She made a 12-hour journey to a Christian ministry in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where women introduced her to Christ and taught her skills such as sewing, cooking and weaving. “I want to become an evangelist,” she says. “God has freed me and rescued me, and I want others to know of His love!”
Jesus never fails.
* * *
Come Forth!
Jesus didn’t drag himself wearily into the home of Mary and Martha saying, “I’m sorry I’m late. It’s just been so hectic. Blind people needed to see. Deaf people wanted to hear. I had to multiply bread so people could have lunch. It’s been a whirlwind gospel tour! But hey, I’m here now. Where’s Larry?”
Jesus confidently approached Mary and her sister and admitted His purpose was greater than theirs. He had the big picture in mind, when all they were able to see was the immediate. Then He approached the tomb and called to Lazarus in a loud voice, “Come forth!”
Wouldn’t you love to have seen it happen? Let’s imagine it in present tense: The earth trembles. Dirt flies. The huge rock filling the hole to the tomb’s entrance shakes uncontrollably. The ground rumbles. The rock explodes!
And Lazarus walks out of the grave looking like a mummy. Removes his bandages. Approaches Jesus. And Mary. And Martha. And rejoices that Jesus never fails!
Bondage
So what about you? What kind of bondage are you in? Perhaps like Mary, you’ve lost a loved one. Someone close to you died, and you don’t understand why. Or like Mawee and Misty, you’ve been abused, and you’re angry. Maybe like Rachel, you hate yourself so much you’re involved in self-destructive behavior such as cutting . . . or drinking, or an eating disorder, or . . .
Maybe you’re struggling with bitterness, a bad attitude, gossip, pornography, the wrong chat rooms, lying, sexual intimacy outside of marriage. Whatever you’re in bondage to, God has a message for you: “Come forth!”
His message is immediate. He’s calling you right now. He’s willing to do a miracle, but you have a responsibility, too. He’s calling you to remove your grave clothes. Walk away from that habit, that relationship, that attitude. Give it up. Lay it down. Seek His help and forgiveness.
NEVER!
And as you do . . . remember that Jesus never fails! There will be times when you think, I’ve prayed and prayed. Why hasn’t He answered? Where is He? Sometimes wholeness is a process. Let the Holy Spirit remind you that Jesus never fails!
Jesus never fails!
Jesus never fails!
The Love of Jesus
The Greatest Love
antoneveli@yahoo.com
Let us remind one another of "how great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God" (1 John 3:1)! In the love of God, let us also love one another.
No power or force on earth can be stronger than love. And God's love is the greatest love of all. By His love, we obtained salvation. By loving Him and then our neighbors, we manifest such salvation. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).
The strongest thematic message in the Bible, which contains the Word of God, is God's love. Everything revolves around God's love. God, who created the universe by His Word, is the source of love, which is love in its truest, purest and perfect form.
Many religious sects in the Philippines interpret the Bible in many ways. They differ in their interpretations of the way to salvation. There are those who claim that only by good works can men find salvation. There are those who say that faith alone, even without manifestation of good works or love, results in salvation. There are those who say that only those who work miracles by the Holy Spirit are truly saved.
For this, be warned. Not all men who preach the Word of God, no matter how eloquent they may sound, or do miracles beyond logical comprehension have found salvation. Neither wisdom nor power to cast out demons is an assurance of salvation.
Only those who love truly are assured of salvation. Unless a man loves God and the people around him, he is not saved. How can anyone proclaim himself saved if he does not love his brother?
In the love of God, let us come to an understanding of His Word. When asked what the Bible is about, many people could not readily respond. What is the Bible about? The Bible is about God's love. While it is true that the Bible speaks about sin and forgiveness or death and salvation, this is because of one Biblical truth: God's love.
Let us grasp how wide and long and high and deep the love of God is. God's love endures forever (Psalm 118:1). The earth is filled with God's love (Psalm 119:64). His love is even better than life (Psalm 63:3) and surpasses knowledge (Ephesians 3:18).
"Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).
By His love, He sent Jesus Christ to the world. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
"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. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loves us and sent His son as atoning sacrifice for our sins" (I John 4:9-10).
"God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). "In love, He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will - to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves" (Ephesians 1:5-6).
"Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:4-5).
A question that some people ask is if God really loves all men, why would He allow the sinners to be punished. Our God, who is rich in love, reigns with justice and righteousness. "The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished" (Numbers 14:8). But the Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, "keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him and obey His commands" (Nehemiah 1:15).
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has endorsed love for God and among us. "For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" (Galatians 5:6).
Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command" (John 15:13-14). His commands: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. And all the Law and the prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:37-40).
He even exhorts us to love our enemies. "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be sons of your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:44). By loving each other, we will be worthy of His love. "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35).
According to Paul, love is the fulfillment of the law. "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not covet,' and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law" (Romans 13:8-10).
Three apostles of Jesus Christ - John, Peter and Paul - have all encouraged us to love one another as a testimony of God's salvation. John said that love comes from God and that God is love. "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:7-8).
Peter said that love defeats sins. "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins (I Peter 4:8). Paul said that of faith, hope and love, the greatest is love (I Corinthians 13:13). The first fruit of the Holy Spirit is love (Galatians 5:22-23). Love binds all good virtues in perfect unity (Colossians 3:14).
Paul said that the gift to do miracles would be nothing without love. "If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have no 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 have no love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have no love, I gain nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
How can we show our love to God and to our fellowmen? Jesus Christ said that if we love Him, we will obey what He commands. "Whoever has may commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by my Father, and too will love Him and show myself to him" (John 14:21).
Jesus said: "If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching" (John 14:23-24).
The apostle John said, "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands. This is love for God: to obey His commands" (1 John 5:1-3).
"If anyone says 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother" (1 John 4:20-21).
"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. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity in him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth" (I John 3:16-18).
Paul described love this way. "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. Love never fails" (I Corinthians 13:4-8).
Love is important, because by this we know that we have eternal life. John said that "we know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers" (I John 3:14).
With love in our hearts, we have the assurance and joy of salvation in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like Him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love" (1 John 4:16-18).
"If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us" (1 John 4:15-16). God, Himself, makes us capable of love through the Holy Spirit. "God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us" (Romans 5:5).
The Coming of the Lord
Jesus Christ will come again to Earth, this time to bring salvation to those who believe in Him. "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him" (Hebrews 9:27-28).
He will bring us who love Him together in one body. "Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, together by every supporting ligaments, grows and builds itself in love, as each part does its work" (Ephesians 4:15-16).
In Jesus Christ, we have a new life. We rejoice at the fact that "our citizenship is in heaven" (Philippians 3:20). We say these things to you because these are true, and because God wants you to know that He loves you very much and patiently waits for your acceptance of His gift of eternal life.
Invitation
Jesus Christ says: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne" (Revelation 3: 20-21).
Let us remind one another of "how great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God" (1 John 3:1)! In the love of God, let us also love one another.
No power or force on earth can be stronger than love. And God's love is the greatest love of all. By His love, we obtained salvation. By loving Him and then our neighbors, we manifest such salvation. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).
The strongest thematic message in the Bible, which contains the Word of God, is God's love. Everything revolves around God's love. God, who created the universe by His Word, is the source of love, which is love in its truest, purest and perfect form.
Many religious sects in the Philippines interpret the Bible in many ways. They differ in their interpretations of the way to salvation. There are those who claim that only by good works can men find salvation. There are those who say that faith alone, even without manifestation of good works or love, results in salvation. There are those who say that only those who work miracles by the Holy Spirit are truly saved.
For this, be warned. Not all men who preach the Word of God, no matter how eloquent they may sound, or do miracles beyond logical comprehension have found salvation. Neither wisdom nor power to cast out demons is an assurance of salvation.
Only those who love truly are assured of salvation. Unless a man loves God and the people around him, he is not saved. How can anyone proclaim himself saved if he does not love his brother?
In the love of God, let us come to an understanding of His Word. When asked what the Bible is about, many people could not readily respond. What is the Bible about? The Bible is about God's love. While it is true that the Bible speaks about sin and forgiveness or death and salvation, this is because of one Biblical truth: God's love.
Let us grasp how wide and long and high and deep the love of God is. God's love endures forever (Psalm 118:1). The earth is filled with God's love (Psalm 119:64). His love is even better than life (Psalm 63:3) and surpasses knowledge (Ephesians 3:18).
"Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).
By His love, He sent Jesus Christ to the world. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
"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. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loves us and sent His son as atoning sacrifice for our sins" (I John 4:9-10).
"God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). "In love, He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will - to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves" (Ephesians 1:5-6).
"Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:4-5).
A question that some people ask is if God really loves all men, why would He allow the sinners to be punished. Our God, who is rich in love, reigns with justice and righteousness. "The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished" (Numbers 14:8). But the Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, "keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him and obey His commands" (Nehemiah 1:15).
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has endorsed love for God and among us. "For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" (Galatians 5:6).
Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command" (John 15:13-14). His commands: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. And all the Law and the prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:37-40).
He even exhorts us to love our enemies. "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be sons of your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:44). By loving each other, we will be worthy of His love. "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35).
According to Paul, love is the fulfillment of the law. "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not covet,' and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law" (Romans 13:8-10).
Three apostles of Jesus Christ - John, Peter and Paul - have all encouraged us to love one another as a testimony of God's salvation. John said that love comes from God and that God is love. "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:7-8).
Peter said that love defeats sins. "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins (I Peter 4:8). Paul said that of faith, hope and love, the greatest is love (I Corinthians 13:13). The first fruit of the Holy Spirit is love (Galatians 5:22-23). Love binds all good virtues in perfect unity (Colossians 3:14).
Paul said that the gift to do miracles would be nothing without love. "If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have no 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 have no love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have no love, I gain nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
How can we show our love to God and to our fellowmen? Jesus Christ said that if we love Him, we will obey what He commands. "Whoever has may commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by my Father, and too will love Him and show myself to him" (John 14:21).
Jesus said: "If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching" (John 14:23-24).
The apostle John said, "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands. This is love for God: to obey His commands" (1 John 5:1-3).
"If anyone says 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother" (1 John 4:20-21).
"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. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity in him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth" (I John 3:16-18).
Paul described love this way. "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. Love never fails" (I Corinthians 13:4-8).
Love is important, because by this we know that we have eternal life. John said that "we know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers" (I John 3:14).
With love in our hearts, we have the assurance and joy of salvation in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like Him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love" (1 John 4:16-18).
"If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us" (1 John 4:15-16). God, Himself, makes us capable of love through the Holy Spirit. "God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us" (Romans 5:5).
The Coming of the Lord
Jesus Christ will come again to Earth, this time to bring salvation to those who believe in Him. "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him" (Hebrews 9:27-28).
He will bring us who love Him together in one body. "Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, together by every supporting ligaments, grows and builds itself in love, as each part does its work" (Ephesians 4:15-16).
In Jesus Christ, we have a new life. We rejoice at the fact that "our citizenship is in heaven" (Philippians 3:20). We say these things to you because these are true, and because God wants you to know that He loves you very much and patiently waits for your acceptance of His gift of eternal life.
Invitation
Jesus Christ says: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne" (Revelation 3: 20-21).
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