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| Love rooted in the foundation of faith, is the basis of trust and trust is the basis of commitment. Men and women are different; we can have similar interests but have entirely different perception. One area that we must agree is in Christian Faith. This one area of life that does not apply to either male or female, but we are to be conformed to Christ. The Bible shapes a Christian relationship and Jesus is the model of love, faith, hope, trust and commitment. Love is very simple, even a dog has mastered the art of love; so what is wrong with people today? If a simple dumb animal can extend loyalty, unconditional love, affections and unselfish gratitude with a lifetime commitment, then how much more could an intelligent human being love another in the same manner. There is a lot that people can learn from what God has created. Moreover, Jesus was and still is a man of complete, commitment. If He based His love according to His feelings He would have never went to the cross and we would never be able to know the goodness of God. He went away again the second time and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done. Matthew 26:42 Certainly, Jesus in this scripture was feeling every emotion possible and as a human did not relish the thought of the cross as a desire to satisfy His human nature. Nevertheless, Jesus did not act according to his fear or emotions but only on the commitment, he made with God before He even entered the world. If he did any other thing than what he did, what do you think would have been the outcome? I perish the thought! Really, we would all would have been lost including Jesus. I cannot even imagine what would have happened if Jesus failed in His commitment to be sacrificed in our place. Imagine what would have happened while he was in the Garden of Gethsemane; the Lord decided crucifixion was not the will of God for Him, since He did not have a sense of wellbeing. After all, He was agonizing and He sought God for another way, crying out, �Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.� Luke 22:42 And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly. And His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Luke 22:44 I do believe that there would not have been another savior sent, Satan would still be God of this world, and who knows what else! You can believe this; God has repeatedly sent us his messengers and even He; Himself came as Jesus the man born of a virgin and born of the Holy Spirit. In that same nature, we too are born again not of flesh but of the Holy Spirit. By the indwelling of the Holy Spirit even though we remain in a corrupted body we are every bit as much as Christ, having been forgiven of our sins in the flesh. We as Christians ought to wake up to the fact that the God lives within us and our emotions should only respond according to the infallible word of God. And we have known and believed the love that God has in us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God and God in him. In this is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment, that as He is, so also we are in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has torment. He who fears has not been perfected in love. We love Him because He first loved us. If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar. For if he does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 1 John 4:16-20 Emotions are a vital part of our expression. Nevertheless, that is what they are mere expressions of what is contained in the heart. The Christian heart driven by commitment and is like the Heart of God. This person is able to express the God kind of love, even in the uncomfortable times. However, the heart driven by feelings is one that is a heart controlled by fear. In twisted way the person that fears thing in this world lacks the fear of God. A soul that fears God trembles at His throne and is reverend to all that He has put in authority! A person that walks in God's love, their mouth will speak of others and himself with love, never in condemnation. Love is of God because God is love. Love never seeks to accuse but searches the heart for a place to dwell and manifest. Likewise, fear also looks for a place to dwell. We are men and women that in every way are human but so was Jesus in every way a man? The exception is that Jesus was human born of a woman and born of His Father God. We too are born of a woman but reborn by the Spirit of God. We are like Him if not then we are counterfeit Christians, only concerned with ourselves on our appearance in the world "This people draws near to Me with their mouth, and honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. But in vain they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." And He called the crowd and said to them, Hear and understand. Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." Then His disciples came and said to Him, Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying? But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted shall be rooted up." Matthew 15:8-13 Jesus is the standard that God judges all by. Everyone that has ever lived are already judged in accordance to the shed blood of Jesus. Either, His blood blots out your sins and renews you to conform to his nature, In the same manner His blood exposes your sin and judges it accordingly. "The one who overcomes, this one will be clothed in white clothing. And I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels." Revelation 3:5 God has judged the world,the devil and His enemies, so we must overcome by seeking out and knowing the ways of Jesus. It is not enough to believe that Jesus is the Son of God in the same respect that you might believe January 1 is New Years Day. We all know and observe January 1 is New Years Day, because that is what traditionally, we are accustomed to and taught to believe it. Nevertheless, the fact is God did not set up that day and humans religiously observe it. In the same manner when a person believes Jesus is the Son of God and attends church and has all appearance Christianity without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Born Again) they continue to do and believe what is taught to them. However, when a person is �Born Again,� the Spirit of God fills that person and that person is no longer has understanding according to the spirit of this world, but understands through the Divine wisdom of God. In respect to the new born Christian, wisdom and understanding through God is progressive. But, as a Christian seeks the Lord and feeds on the word of God (Holy Bible) then a loss of desire for the things of this world takes place and an insatiable desire to know and fellowship with God takes the place of the world. In Christian progression, the world�s way seems foolish and Gods way is easy and wise. People that use the natural way in the world as a standard for love will never comprehend the meaning of commitment even to the point of death. Sacrifice is foolish, in the world so all too often love is defined by need rather than sacrifice. You unfaithful people! Don't you know that love for this evil world is hatred toward God? Whoever wants to be a friend of this world is an enemy of God. James 4:4 GW The greatest gift of love is not sold, purchased, a romantic notion. Nor will the greatest love seek its own safety, love is perfect and nobody can add to it or subtract from it. Because, God is love it is not possible for love to exist outside of His presence. Written by: Will Hart 12/21/2003 |
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| onor is more important than pride, or money. Love is commitment not based on a sense of wellbeing or emotions. However, fear has its roots in emotions and in lack of commitment. |
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| A Powerful Work of The Holy Spirit |