Friday, February 15, 2008

WHAT Do You MEAN, "LOVE The Lord..."?

When I was still a Catholic and, then, converted to a group, which later confessed to be a “cult,” and even when there was a great change in the said group and it was accepted in the evangelical circle – I could not yet grasp so much the meaning of love.

My general understanding before of the command, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind…” (Luke 10:27) is just to serve God and even the readiness to sacrifice for Him above all things.

However, before I decided to leave the group that I became a member for more than 27 years, I was able to review the so called “love chapter,” which I read actually so many times before -- 1 Corinthians 13, especially verses 4-8:

“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. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”

And I noticed in verse 6 the “ingredient” of love I missed for so long.

It says, “Love does not delight in evil but REJOICES with the truth.” Yes, love is not only, patient and kind… etc. It also REJOICES!

The command “Love the Lord your God…” gives me a new and even wonderful meaning. I could now relate it with other Scriptures, like Philippians 3:1, “…REJOICE IN THE LORD!”; Philippians 4:4, “REJOICE IN THE LORD always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”; and Psalm 37:4, “DELIGHT yourself IN THE LORD…”

Now, the greatest commandment gives me a new and fascinating meaning.

It seems to sound like this:“DELIGHT and REJOICE in the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind”!

If we love God, we delight in Him. We rejoice in and with Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who is the Truth.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Let JESUS CHRIST BE SEEN

"No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light” (Luke 11:33).

We usually understand the verse to refer to the good works that we need to perform.

But I love how the pastor of the present church I am attending referred the “light” to Jesus Christ.

Indeed, Jesus Christ Himself said: "I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).

And if we realize that He is the true Light, then, we will place where He is not hidden in our life. We will exalt and extol Him in our life – so obvious that others will see that He is in the center of our life, that He is the uppermost One in our heart, that He is our Savior and King!

What do we really extol in our life? What do we want to promote? Our personal belief? Our accomplishment? Our denomination? Our family, friends, or whatever?

Are we also sure that Christ is really in us?

Paul wrote the Christians at Rome:

“… And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ” (Rom. 8:9).

Though there are those who teach that everyone belong to Christ, it is clear from the Scripture that, if you do not have Christ – if you do not have His Spirit – you do NOT belong to Him!

“See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness,” Christ also said in Luke 11:35.

So important, indeed, to know that what we have is the true Light. Let’s be sure that we belong really to Him. “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you -- unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Cor. 13:5.)

And if He is really in us, let’s give Him the prominent place due the true Light, so that others may see Him in our life.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

God Will Give All Things To Those WHO KNOW Him

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).

Those who consider themselves children of God, those who know God, the believers, or who belong to the “little flock” ought not to be anxious of anything.

In fact, Jesus Christ Himself told them not to be afraid of losing anything they value in this world. It could be material wealth. But we could also value health, position, knowledge, friendship, family, or even our personal belief.

He said, “Do NOT be afraid…”

Note very well that He was addressing the “little flock.” They are those who regard God as their “Father” – the faithful ones, the elect – “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God” (1 Peter 2:9) – they really know God, not just as a “loving God” who wishes good things for everyone, but the Holy God, who punishes those who do not know Him and are disobedient (2 Thess. !:8). They really know God, because they truly love Him (1 John 4:7-8).

So, if we are among them, we should not suffer anxiety, because God Himself is our Father. He is able to provide all our needs. We should not even be afraid to part way with those things we value. Why ? Because He is happy to give us all things He owns – His Kingdom!!

Like an ordinary child, who values what his physical father has and later be given to him, we need also to realize the Supreme Value of what’s in store for us.

What a great privilege to really know God and be chosen as His adopted child!

What an expressible joy to have Him, as our Holy Heavenly Father – the Source of our sufficiency and our real Treasure!

We do not have to fear that what we truly value will be lost from us.