tol-er-ance (noun) – willingness to accept feelings, habits, or beliefs that are different from your own.
To be loved is the one thing every human being has need of. While we all have a need to be loved, recognizing what love is often proves difficult. Satan has used society to twist the meaning of love so severely, that many people cannot truly identify when someone is showing love toward them. There is a pervasive thread that has been woven into the fabric of our culture which claims that, in order to love someone, we must be tolerant of every aspect of their lifestyle.
Is it possible to love a person without condoning aspects of their life which the Bible calls sinful? Without hesitation, I suggest it is not only possible, it is commanded! First, God calls us to love all of humanity, not just those who look, talk, or act like us. Consider what Jesus said in response to the Pharisees question about the greatest commandment. First Jesus said, you must love God with all of your being, and in the very next breath, He said, “the second is this: ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these’” (Mark 12:31).
As Christians, we are to love even the vilest of sinners. You might be wondering why God would command us to love people who we might consider the worst of the worst in regards to sin. Simply put, they were made in His image, and He loves them just as much as He loves us (John 3:16, Romans 5:8). God wants His creation redeemed from their sins, regardless of what those sins are (2 Peter 3:9). Their sin and our sin have the same consequence, separation from God. The good news is, not only does God desire for all mankind to be saved, He has provided a way to make it happen, Jesus Christ (1 John 2:2).
We must hold the same view as God does when it comes to humanity, love sinners and hate sin. It is important to understand that we cannot tolerate sin in our lives or in the lives of others. When Christ on the cross was made to be sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), God turned his face from Him, causing, Jesus to cry out “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46). This scene serves as an example as to the destructive nature of sin when it comes to our relationship with God. God never stopped loving Jesus, yet he could not look upon Him as He bore our sins on calvary.
Satan is crafty and ever working towards making Christian truths seem more and more unreasonable and uncaring. The truth about love is this, tolerating sin is not love. Love is meeting someone where they are, and caring enough about them to not leave them there. To truly love someone is to share what God expects of them. To truly love someone is to help them know how to take advantage of the wonderful gift of Jesus Christ. Show some love to the world around you today!
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
I Deserve Death (10 Reasons Why I Love God #2)
I deserve death and nothing more. You might be asking yourself how I can make such a bold and harsh statement. The reason I know I that I deserve death is the Bible tells me so. The first part of Romans 6:23 tells us that “the wages of sin is death…” If we consider that we all have sinned (Romans 3:23), it is easy to understand that what we all deserve is death and nothing more.
Thankfully, because of God’s love, mercy, and goodness, death is not our only option. The full text of Romans 6:23 reads, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” You see, God knew that when we reach a certain age and have to choose right from wrong, we were going to mess it up, we were going to sin. Sin separates us from God, no doubt about it, but God has given us a way to restore that relationship, through His Son, the perfect sacrifice. “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified (Hebrews 10:15). Jesus the Christ, the perfect sacrifice came to this earth willingly (Philippians 2:5-7), so we didn't have to suffer the consequences we deserve.
The fact that God loved me enough to send His Son to pay the price that I owe is something that causes me to have a deep love and devotion to Him. John 3:16, has become a little bit of a “token” verse in today’s society. Unfortunately, sometimes it seems we read that verse in our Bible or see it on a sign at a football game and fail to give it the consideration it demands. God’s love for us is pure, strong, and constant. His perfect, blameless, and precious Son was given on our behalf before we ever decided to love Him back.
There is nothing you can do to make God stop loving you, the giving of His Son is evidence of that. The question for us to ponder is does the gift of love God provided for us, Jesus Christ, cause us to love God enough to be obedient to Him and His will? I am so thankful that though wrath was owed, through Christ, mercy is bestowed.
Thankfully, because of God’s love, mercy, and goodness, death is not our only option. The full text of Romans 6:23 reads, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” You see, God knew that when we reach a certain age and have to choose right from wrong, we were going to mess it up, we were going to sin. Sin separates us from God, no doubt about it, but God has given us a way to restore that relationship, through His Son, the perfect sacrifice. “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified (Hebrews 10:15). Jesus the Christ, the perfect sacrifice came to this earth willingly (Philippians 2:5-7), so we didn't have to suffer the consequences we deserve.
The fact that God loved me enough to send His Son to pay the price that I owe is something that causes me to have a deep love and devotion to Him. John 3:16, has become a little bit of a “token” verse in today’s society. Unfortunately, sometimes it seems we read that verse in our Bible or see it on a sign at a football game and fail to give it the consideration it demands. God’s love for us is pure, strong, and constant. His perfect, blameless, and precious Son was given on our behalf before we ever decided to love Him back.
There is nothing you can do to make God stop loving you, the giving of His Son is evidence of that. The question for us to ponder is does the gift of love God provided for us, Jesus Christ, cause us to love God enough to be obedient to Him and His will? I am so thankful that though wrath was owed, through Christ, mercy is bestowed.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
The Day [Not Quite] Everything Changed
12 years. It has been 12 years since the horrific attacks of 9-11-2001. For those of us who are old enough to remember, it is something we will surely never forget. In an instant the safety and security we all enjoyed was seemingly ripped from us. Many innocent lives were lost that day leaving gaping holes in family units. Parents without children and children without parents.
In the years since the attacks there have been many TV specials and memorial events helping us to reflect back on that tragic day. There have been politicians, tv reporters and other who have tried to put in to words the magnitude of what happened on that fateful day. One statement I heard that has stayed with me since 9-11-2001 is “it is the day everything changed.” While I appreciate the statement trying to envelop the nature of the attacks, I tend to disagree.
Yes it is true that many things in our nation have changed such as security, new legislative restrictions, and even relationships, as a result of 9-11. However, I am thankful that I am able to proclaim that not everything has changed. Our Savior is still there and He is constant “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). While it is true that much of the world as we knew it changed on September 11, 2001, God remained the same.
Not only did God not change, His attitude towards us has not changed, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23). The love and mercy that God offers us is unchanging.
What a blessing it is to know that in a world full of evil deeds and uncertainty we have a God who is constant and consistent. He has not and will not ever fail us. Friends when the winds of change threaten to consume us, it is my prayer that we will seek the Father who loves us and will not leave us.
In the years since the attacks there have been many TV specials and memorial events helping us to reflect back on that tragic day. There have been politicians, tv reporters and other who have tried to put in to words the magnitude of what happened on that fateful day. One statement I heard that has stayed with me since 9-11-2001 is “it is the day everything changed.” While I appreciate the statement trying to envelop the nature of the attacks, I tend to disagree.
Yes it is true that many things in our nation have changed such as security, new legislative restrictions, and even relationships, as a result of 9-11. However, I am thankful that I am able to proclaim that not everything has changed. Our Savior is still there and He is constant “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). While it is true that much of the world as we knew it changed on September 11, 2001, God remained the same.
Not only did God not change, His attitude towards us has not changed, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23). The love and mercy that God offers us is unchanging.
What a blessing it is to know that in a world full of evil deeds and uncertainty we have a God who is constant and consistent. He has not and will not ever fail us. Friends when the winds of change threaten to consume us, it is my prayer that we will seek the Father who loves us and will not leave us.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Appearance Is Everything...
It has been said that appearance is everything. You don’t have to look too hard in today’s world to see how much emphasis is placed on appearance. I am not speaking strictly of physical appearance, there is also the appearance of wealth, of importance, and even spirituality.
Did you catch that last one? The appearance of spirituality, appearing to be a spiritual person on the outside. Friends I think sometimes we pay a little too close attention to appearing spiritual on the outside and neglect the inside. Don’t get me wrong, our influence is important and vital, but we must remember, if we get the heart right, the outward appearance will take care of itself.
You see, the scribes Pharisees looked good on the outside, but their hearts were not what they should have been. Consider what Jesus said to them in Matthew 23:27-28, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” On the outside the Scribes and Pharisees looked great, they dressed the part, they even said and did all the right things. However, Jesus knew their hearts, and on the inside, they were filthy.
It’s easy to point at the Scribes and Pharisees and note their shortcomings. But what about us? Are we leading the type of lives on a daily basis which outwardly look beautiful but are lacking inwardly? The outward man must match the inward.
It is good, and it is right to attending the worship services of the church on a regular basis. By itself, attending worship is not all there is to the life of a Christian. Are we living a life which shows a heart which is pursuing God? Do we look for, and take advantage of opportunities to serve others (Matthew 20:28), or are we too busy serving our own desires? When we are at our schools, or places of employment is our speech the type of speech a Christian should have (Ephesians 4:29)? During our “free time” are we involved in activities which bring honor or shame to the name of Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17)?
Friends be wary of worrying about outward appearance and not the heart. Let us pursue clean hearts instead of “whitewashed tombs.”
Did you catch that last one? The appearance of spirituality, appearing to be a spiritual person on the outside. Friends I think sometimes we pay a little too close attention to appearing spiritual on the outside and neglect the inside. Don’t get me wrong, our influence is important and vital, but we must remember, if we get the heart right, the outward appearance will take care of itself.
You see, the scribes Pharisees looked good on the outside, but their hearts were not what they should have been. Consider what Jesus said to them in Matthew 23:27-28, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” On the outside the Scribes and Pharisees looked great, they dressed the part, they even said and did all the right things. However, Jesus knew their hearts, and on the inside, they were filthy.
It’s easy to point at the Scribes and Pharisees and note their shortcomings. But what about us? Are we leading the type of lives on a daily basis which outwardly look beautiful but are lacking inwardly? The outward man must match the inward.
It is good, and it is right to attending the worship services of the church on a regular basis. By itself, attending worship is not all there is to the life of a Christian. Are we living a life which shows a heart which is pursuing God? Do we look for, and take advantage of opportunities to serve others (Matthew 20:28), or are we too busy serving our own desires? When we are at our schools, or places of employment is our speech the type of speech a Christian should have (Ephesians 4:29)? During our “free time” are we involved in activities which bring honor or shame to the name of Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17)?
Friends be wary of worrying about outward appearance and not the heart. Let us pursue clean hearts instead of “whitewashed tombs.”
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