Monday, November 18, 2013

Don't Grow Up.

1Co 14:20 20 Brethren, do not be children [immature] in your thinking; continue to be babes in [matters of] evil, but in your minds be mature [men]. (AMP) We often tell our children to grow up when someone or something happens and they don't know how to deal with it. We as parents try to help them mature and deal with difficult situations. I remember my seventh grade teacher often saying "grow up" to a student who was telling on another student for something extremely not worth the time to be concerned about. Paul tells the church in Corinth to grow up when it comes to spiritual things but to stay naive when it comes to wicked things. We need to gain knowledge of the right things. Study the bible and not the things of the world. We are admonished to set our affection on things above not on things of the earth. So today learn and grow in heavenly things and have the childish knowledge of the worldly things.

Friday, November 15, 2013

What's Love Got to do With it

This morning I read from I Corinthians 13.  This chapter is considered the "Love Chapter" of the Bible.  However, I found that it was more instructive as to how the Gifts of the Spirit operate in I Corinthians 12. 

I Corinthians 13 basically tells us that we can have the Gifts of the Spirit but without love it makes the Gifts void.  So love trumps the Gifts. 

As I sat and read this chapter the thought popped into my brain that had the question, why do we seek the Gifts of the Spirit?  Do we do this because we want to bless and help others or do we do it to try to elevate ourselves.  I must be honest, this made me think very strongly concerning my own motives.  We cannot be truly effective in being used in the Gifts of the Spirit if we do not have the right motivation. 

The Bible has one main theme and that is LOVE.  God instructs us to:

1.  Love God

God desires to be loved by us.  We were created to love God not out of obligation but because we want to and get to.

2.  Love Ourselves

It is important to have a good self esteem and love ourselves.  However, we have to becareful not to have pride. 

3.  Love Others

We need to love others and care about their well being and look out for the best of that person. 

So today, go forth in love.  Love God, love yourself and love others and when God works through you it will mean something.