LIZ VARDA: March 2019

HERE’S WHAT I HAVE LEARNT ABOUT LOVE

In the last blog post we looked at how the Holy Spirit enables a believer to walk the path of righteousness. In that light I have been thinking a lot lately and asking the Lord to teach me more on the subject of Love, I realize that I haven’t learnt to love like God wants me to. Looking at my own experiences and life I am still lacking, sometimes I judge others based on my own feelings.

Jesus taught so much and emphasized on the importance of Christians living in love yet we all struggle to love as the Lord wants us to. This is because we are accustomed to loving and expecting something in return. We love because someone loves us back. We distort the true meaning of love when we think it is about good feelings. This means we love someone when we get good feelings about them and vice versa. Our love becomes dependent on what we get out the relationship. In this case we are more concerned about ourselves than the other person, about our own comfort and happiness.

We tend to want to change others because we feel that it is difficult to love them as they are and would prefer that they were different. But this is not what the Bible says about love!

LOVE DEFINED.

Matthew Henry defines Love as a benevolent disposition of mind towards our fellow Christians, growing out of sincere and fervent devotion to God.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 defines for us what love is.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, 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.

Let’s breakdown this passage and have a closer look at what Paul says love is or isn’t:

§ It is patient (sometimes long-suffering) - it can endure evil and provocation without being filled with resentment or trying to seek revenge. Love gives you a perseverance to wish and wait for the person that hurts you to reform rather than try to get back at them.

§ It is kind-when you have Godly love you will be courteous and do well to others

§ It does not envy-when you know love you will not be embittered or grieved at the successes of others or their gifts and talent. Instead of being displeased that your neighbor/brother is doing well you will share in their joy.

§ It does not boast, It is not proud- Love will not show off to others of one’s assumed wealth or success instead will be humbled at the gifts afforded them by God and use them for His glory.

§ It does not dishonor others- When you love you will not despise others or trample on them neither treating them with contempt. Love does not snob others.it will instead make you esteem your fellow human beings.

§ It is not self-seeking- Love is not selfish, it will never seek its own at the expense of others or to hurt them but instead will neglect its own for the sake of another.

§ It is not easily angered-anger cannot live in the heart where there is love, one cannot stay angry with those he loves but will find it easy to let go of their resentment and be reconciled. Love will control anger that it may not exceed the measure that is just, either by degree or duration

§ It keeps no record of wrongs-Love will not hold on to past mistakes or injuries caused by others but does forgive and leaves them in the past where they belong.

§ Does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth- TO TAKE PLEASURE IN THE MISERY OF A FELLOW CREATURE IS THE HEIGHT OF MALICE. When you love you will not think and plot evil or entertain malice. You will not enjoy harming others. You will therefore not be quick to have an ill-opinion of others but instead will delight in seeing others doing well and to see truth and justice prevail.

§ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always persevere- To love is to believe well of everyone, to have faith beyond appearances and if based on evidence cannot believe well of the person you will still hope and wish for their reform. Love will still hope for the redemption of even the worst of men.

§ Love never fails-There is nothing that a lover cannot endure for a loved one.

THE TEACHING ON LOVE.

If we truly know God then we will follow His commands.

During his ministry on earth Jesus summed up the whole Law of Moses in two commandments (All based on love).

1. Love God with your whole being.

2. Love your neighbor as you love yourself

Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus replied “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. All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 5:43-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The true meaning of Love is that it is not based on our feelings or the goodness of the other person but rather it is a reflection of your heavenly Father. Just as He loves us unconditionally with our failures, sins and weaknesses so must we love others despite what they have done or who they are. ~If they hurt us to forgive them, if they are on the path of destruction to correct them with brotherly love and if they still do not change to pray and wish for their redemption.

Peter’s remark in 1 peter 4:8 “Love covers a multitude of sin,” echoes the words of proverbs 10:12 “hatred stirs up strife but love covers all sins” Just like Jesus taught he tells us living in Love enables us to overcome all sin. If you love you will be able to keep all the other commandments of God as it is impossible to hurt others if you love them. By loving you will please the heavenly father.

The truth is that instead of hoping for the others to change or be what we want them to be before we love them, we need to find the sin in ourselves that is preventing us from living in love and cleanse that out such as self-interest, pride, envy, resentment and unwholesome talk, etc.; the sin that we struggle with in our daily life.

The apostle John wrote so much about the topic of love encouraging Christians to live in Godly love. This kind of love is not dependent on circumstances. He echoes the words of Jesus’ teaching to them on the night of his betrayal and arrest. One of the main points Jesus emphasized to them knowing He was leaving His disciples was that they continue in love just as they learnt and saw from him. To love one another so that by doing so, the world will know that they are His disciples. John 13:34-35. This will also be a witness that Jesus was sent by His Father in heaven to this world for God is Love. The very essence of God is love; He loves all people including the unrighteous.

God has shown us the true meaning of Love: “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son.” 1 John 4:10

THE HEIGHT OF LOVE IS SACRIFICE. Just as Jesus said “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Everyone you meet should feel drawn to Christ through your actions and lifestyle. Love is what wins people. How can someone feel drawn if their experience of you is impatience, rudeness, hate?

We can never talk about God’s love exhaustively but we can sum up this thought on Love with the words of Paul the apostle in 1 Corinthians 13:13 that love is the greatest of all virtues of a Christian.

What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Love muchly!!!

Liz 😍😍

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MYSTERIOUSLY INTERESTING

There are two things in the world that have the ability to draw a person to them unconsciously.

Subconsciously you will find your thoughts and focus being directed to them. Though you can’t explain, you find yourself fascinated by them.

You find them mysteriously interesting.

A. FIRE

Why it is mysterious yet interesting?

You are sitting on a tree stump around a fire in a dimly lit cottage on the edge of a forest; silence is your companion except for a few chirps of crickets here and there. It is a moonless night with lots of stars in the night sky. You watch intently the hearth fire as it dances in the darkness.

The flame of the hearth flickers as it burns silently yet is untamed consuming everything on its way. It steadily yet passionately eats into the wood turning it into ashes.

It is warmth that moves with delight trapping your eyes and thoughts in its rhythmical dance.

It is a light that rises up with enthusiasm sparking desire and a passion to reach to your deepest desires and wishes. It dances happily with the passion of youth, its glow casting shadows around the room.

It provides the much needed light at night chasing away the darkness and fear that comes with it and aids your eyes to see in the absence of sunlight.

It exudes warmth that seeps through the empty space to you engulfing your body comfortingly like an embrace.It captures your subconscious and brings out your innermost desires, fantasies to the surface.

B. RAIN

Photo credits: @livvie_bruce

Now picture this, you are visiting with your beloved granny in the country side. She is reclining on an old sofa seat while you are perched on the bay window looking out toward the field that is usually lush green but because of the dry season its now dusty brown the grass barely surviving.

As you are chatting and reminiscing on the old times, the rain starts falling quietly on this calm afternoon and the musky earthy scent from dry soil as the water makes contact hits your nostrils. You breathe in deeply and slowly exhale, it is refreshing! Conversation forgotten, granny and her voice fade into the background as you become magnetized with the thump of every drop.

There is something interesting about watching the rain drops fall from the sky silently, it’s the mystery.

The rain is water that is pure, uncontaminated by the dirt of the earth. It represents the purity of the heavens. It is water that soaks the dry ground and quenches the bareness of the land.

With each drop bringing hope of new life, revival, growth of plants and the promise of seeing green fields and beautiful gardens once again. Rain restores lost hope and brings optimism in our hearts. It represents the hope of new life and a fresh start.

The rain drops fall one after another hitting the ground slowly but steadily over and over until they make holes. This gentle rain erodes and cuts deep into the earth making galleys. It represents the slow but sure determination to reach a goal.

The gentle torrent forms small rivers and streams, the water flowing over the land, sweeping and washing the soil and sand away. It shapes and changes the landscape in its wake.

In the same way rain washes away the tears we cry and drowns the sorrows of the heart. When sad walk through the rain or take a shower and allow the emotions to flow freely. You will feel the water soaking all the sadness and washing it away bringing you calmness to that once troubled heart.

Have you ever felt captivated by watching a log fire or gentle rainfall? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Like, share or both.

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Love Muchly!!!

Liz 😍😍

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Photo credits:@samuelzeller

We have all heard people reject salvation saying that the believers are worse sinners than those who are not saved. So you will hear a non-believer say if that is what salvation is then I am better off not saved. This is not the will of God for His children at all.

The word of God tells Christians [Also let’s not get things twisted; there are people that claim they are Christians but are not saved. What does that even mean? How can you be a Christian and not believe and accept His free gift of salvation by way of the cross. That was the whole point of Jesus’ ministry on earth, the central theme of Christianity. The Christians were called so for the first time in Antioch because they spoke of the good news of Jesus Christ. They were believers and followers of Christ Acts 11:22-26] that they are called to be the light of the world Matthew 5:14-16.The followers of Jesus are compared to the light. They are like a lamp which is designed to give light in darkness and help people see. By walking as Jesus did, doing and saying what he did Christians help the non-believers to open their eyes to the truth.

So why doesn’t it seem so with most Christians today?

When a person is born again, God deposits His holy spirit which was promised by Jesus in their hearts. The Holy Spirit becomes a helper and guide in all matters spiritual, teaching them the will of God. It is only through the Holy Spirit’s help that one is transformed to be like Jesus (Romans 8:29) and not by their own doing. This sometimes feels like a hard teaching to accept especially since some people have said this teaching encourages the believer to continue in sin. On the contrary that is not what this statement refers to, rather the Holy Spirit is the supernatural power of God which convicts one of sin in their life. It is impossible to continue in sin because He will lead you in the right path as well as making right choices. It is a power that cannot be understood by our humanly minds but as we surrender to Him he takes charge and gives us the will to reject those old sinful desires (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Christians ought to relinquish control to the Holy Spirit so that He can work in them to transform their lives into the new creation they have become after salvation. How can they do this? By building and maintaining a constant relationship with God. By fellowship with Him through prayer, reading His word and worship they are able to tap into His immense power. Majority of Christians are too lazy or too busy to spend time with God and that is why their spirit man is weak. We nourish the spirit man by feeding on spiritual food without which he grows weaker making us unable to hear the voice of God (Holy Spirit)

As we give the spirit more control of our lives, He begins to do in and through us what only He can do- to shape us and grow us to look like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

In what way does the Holy Spirit transform a believer?

Photo credits:Dana DeVolk

The Holy Spirit produces fruit in the life a believer even as he grows in the knowledge of God. This may not happen overnight when one is born again but it is a progressive change that is witnessed (can be seen) in their life. A fruit is defined as a product of plant growth. In the same way the product of spiritual growth is seen in the fruit that is brought forth by the Holy Spirit. As one grows, all the characteristics of Christ will be manifested in their life.

Just like a farmer we must battle against weeds in order to enjoy the sweet fruit by having a desire to be rid of all sin that holds us captive. (Galatians 5:16-18)

Our lord Jesus as He was teaching at one point He told his disciples that you will know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:16-20). When you know Jesus you will produce good fruit. Living as He did. People can tell what you believe by how you live.

The evidence of our salvation is the fruit which the Holy Spirit produces in us. (Galatians 5:22) this is the fruit which the Holy Spirit produces in the life of a Christian: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The presence of the fruit is the evidence that our character is becoming more like that of Christ. The bible uses the word fruit (singular) meaning as a whole therefore as we grow all these characteristics will be manifested in our lives and not as independent traits.

May the God of love continue to reveal Himself to you and build you up spiritually as you seek Him.

If you loved this, share with your friends. Also give a like or leave a comment below👍

Love muchly,

Liz😍😍

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