Herein is Love

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.  (1John 4:11)

The world has an idea of love that vastly differs from God’s.  It is easy for believers to accept that ‘Jesus loves me’ no matter what are the circumstances, we also have to apply the golden rule in this aspect (Matt 7:12). The Apostle clearly states that true love is of God, not derived from the human soul. A disciple of Jesus Christ demonstrates love to them that cannot and perhaps will not reciprocate; to love those who can return our love is rewardless (Matt 5:46) because it doesn’t exceed the righteousness of the best of all religious and humanistic standards (Matt 5:20). We are told to love as He ‘so loved us’, not on what we hold as ideal but it has to be of God.

But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?  (1John 3:17)

God’s love is one of laying down our lives for other, not self seeking. It is not based on emotions, instead it is meekness. God loved us not on the basis of our love for Him, but it is His righteousness. If we know that God is righteous, we also know that our love is freely given from righteousness (1 John 2:29), His gift of righteousness to the saints. A true test of our love is to return love for hate, at this maturity of faith to believe and to act accordingly, the ‘reward shall be great’ (Luke 6:35).

Religion of the Self

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.  (Tit 1:16)

Religion is a self made system that Jesus confronted whilst on earth (John 8) and it is still in existence today and seeks to destroy what the Lord has laid for His followers – the cost of discipleship. The gate is narrow and the way is difficult, this thought totally opposes the religious system preached by and large in churches today. Self imposed religion is one that does not take the His Word at face value, but using one’s own ‘spiritual’ scissors to carve out what is convenient and make a form of it (1 Cor 3:13), however resulting in lack of power. It lacks power to deny self and to live a transcending life that goes against every grain of humanistic beliefs.

But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.  (Mat 5:39)

The religion of the self is about my right, my concerns, my pain, my joy and everything that engulfs ‘me’. We know that the self still exerts its strength over our lives when we get ‘hurt’ over the most trivial of matters. From hurt it breeds bitterness and bitterness, begets hatred and hatred murder. This pathway is a sure way for disqualification of the gift of eternal life (1 John 3:15). Murder is not just causing physical death, but the word spewed out of bitterness is deadly poison by itself (Prov 18:21).

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.  (1Jn 2:28)

The religion of the self opposes the cross. It denies everything that Jesus espouses for His bride. Self is the biggest enemy to salvation because sin has been dealt with by Jesus’ blood.  Dare we say we are greater than the Master? It is absolutely and extremely heart wrenching at that Day of His coming and discover that you are not among His sheep (Matt 25:32), because we refuse to carry the cross (death to self) and cling on to our self imposed religion that has an outward form of ‘Christianity’. 

A Faithful Saying

2 Timothy 2:11-13

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹¹ This is a faithful saying:

For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
¹² If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
¹³ If we are faithless,
He remains faithful; 

He cannot deny Himself.

Carnality of Speech

In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.  (Pro 10:19)

We have been warned of the sorrows of an unbridled tongue, it is a faculty of our body that has the deadly poison to defile the whole (James 3:6). Our speech reveals the true condition of our heart and our carnality. It is not strange that carnality is not only manifested in lust and ungodly appetite but also in the verbal diarrhea. The carnal Christian will use such speech to compensate for their deep spiritual lack. It is a sign of insecurity and secretly desiring to be included into some self deceptive exclusivity, hence trampling on others and causing division in the process. Carnality never seeks the betterment of others, but selfish exaltation.

The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.  (Pro 10:20)

God will only choose those who have died to carnality to dispense oracles uttered in Holiest of Holy (1 Pet 4:11). Such speech is precious and life bringing and so is the worth of the bearer. Are we of worth to God or to self? It is revealed in the carnality of our speech.