What's Going On?

The recent tide of violence, hate and anger have many people asking the same question "what's going on?". In an age where hate continues to dominate the news, men and women are scrambling for answers.

It isn't cliche to say that the answers are found in scripture. It is this same scripture that told us there would be an increase in natural disasters, wars and other phenomena (before The LORD returns), so it would be this same scripture to tell us the solutions.

In 1 Corinthians 13, love (or charity) is described beautifully. Love is patient, kind, is not jealous, not selfish and doesn't think about evil things. In a sentence, love is other-centered (if that is even a word!). If we were more loving and more like Christ, we would never seek to hurt one another intentionally. We would want to serve and help each other, than seek ways to help ourselves. 

With things getting worse in the world, we need to spend more time in The Bible and in 1 Corinthians 13 learning the true meaning and actions of love. There is nothing to fear with these happenings, but we must be ready (and get others ready) to meet Our Maker and Our King. Share this encouragement with someone else today.

The Heart Of The Issue (Part II)

In my last blog entry, I spoke about the state of humanity (and not just the police force and the recent police-involved killings). Society on a whole is getting worse and crimes against humanity are getting more gruesome, merciless and downright inhumane.

I had also mentioned that our social issues are not just mentally-based, but spiritual; and if we have spiritual issues plaguing a social nation, then spiritual ammunition is needed.

But what kind of spiritual ammunition does the world need?

Are you ready for the answer? I know you are not, but here goes.....

Love.

Yes, love!

You think I am joking, don't you? ...but I am not.

Let's go it to The Word to prove it.  Romans 13 starts out with Paul the Apostle encouraging people to render respect to the authorities. He even goes further to encourage the masses to pay their taxes and whatever else is due to others (in verse 7). In verse 8, he adds not to owe anything to anyone, but to love one another; but the verse that seems to summarize these previous verses is  Romans 13:10 which says "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law". Love, true love does not harm his neighbor. 

The 'Love' chapter as it is called (1 Corinthians 13) completely defines what true love is: it is other-centered; it doesn't seek its own, but it's giving, it's long-suffering and kind; it isn't proud or puffed up and doesn't even get angered quickly! Love doesn't think to do evil<-- Do you see that? Love doesn't rejoice in destruction, death, murder and violence. It seeks peace and kindness. It's all about helping one another, not hurting one another.

BUT, you may still be doubtful about this solution, and may recall that I said we need a spiritual solution for the world's problems, so why did I mention love? It is because love is spiritual. It's definitely not man-made. Love is more than just a feeling, HE is a Person! In 1 John 4:8 and 1 John 4:16, we are told God is Love; and in Galatians 5:22, the first fruit of the Spirit is love. 

If God is love, and love is what humanity is lacking, then we need God. He is our solution! But we also know, not everyone wants God, and not everyone cares to love everybody; so the hearts of many are growing increasingly colder and more hateful ("And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold" Matt 24:12). But if we were to be saved from our ourselves, we need Jesus like never before. We need to study His Word (to learn how He lived in the midst of those who hated Him), we need to love like He loved, walk like He walked, live like He lived (while we lived among us).

So there you have it. It seems simple, but it's not. You cannot 'simply' love your enemies; only The Almighty Father can give you that kind of power. It's time, it's time to choose:
 
- Choose love and side with God who IS LOVE!

Or

- Choose hate, and grow colder ever day, being consumed with it.

By your actions, you show whom you are serving...
 

Choose you this day whom ye will serve.

True Love

If you were to ask 10 people to define what 'love' is, you would probably get 15 answers ;-).

LOVE is one of those human themes/emotions that engulfs us and permeates everything around us and about us. It is the reason some of us were born; it's the major theme of many songs, movies and books; it is often the main theme of our conversations, frustrations and contemplations; it's just e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e!!! And yet, as ubiquitous as this theme is, it is still not properly understood!

Earlier, I mentioned LOVE is a human theme/emotion, but guess what, it's not even human! Yup, you heard right! According to The Bible, LOVE isn't even just a thing, but A BEING! That is an awesome and concept-changing outlook on this little word huh! Not many people even think of LOVE being a Being, but The Bible is clear on this.

In 1 John 4:8 and 1 John 4:16, the scripture says 'God is love'. It doesn't say GOD has love, or even GOD gives love, but HE is love. In an equation, God = Love, so Love is synonymous with GOD. That is just AMAZING and POWERFUL to me! (Okay, moving on...)

When one wants to do a bible study on the theme of LOVE, intuitively, one finds himself/herself in 1 Corinthians 13. This great chapter is all about Love and what True Love really is! As an amazing exercise, replace 'love' (or charity - according to your Bible version) with GOD's Name in this chapter, and this will reveal Our LORD's truly loving character! Let us daily learn more about the love of The Heavenly LOVE.