"When a Christian shuns fellowship with other Christians,
the devil smiles. When he stops studying the Bible,
the devil laughs. When he stops praying, the devil
shouts for joy."
Corrie Ten Boom
John 13:34 & 35 "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another;
as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that
ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
Can people tell that you are different than the world? This old sinful world is fueled by
hatred, strife and contention. As Christians, children of God, we should be taking after
our Father. God is love. Do we have this characteristic in our lives? How well do we
get along with co-workers, neighbours, our spouses and families? There is a line to a
song that has always stuck with me, "They will know we are Christians by our love, by
our love; they will know we are Christians by our love."
Loving doesn't mean that we agree with everyone. But, you can disagree with a loving
spirit. When we respond to others in an angry hateful way, we are doing so in the flesh,
letting the natural man surface and have his way. To respond to others in a loving, kind
way, is to respond in the spirit of Christ. 1 John 4:7 & 8 "Beloved, let us love one
another: for love is of God: and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth
God. He that loveth not knoweth not God: for God is love."
The devil dances with joy when he sees disunity in the body of Christ. He if can bring
about discord with the church, then the testimony of Christ in this world is tarnished.
Giving in to petty fights, bitterness with each other, only fuels Satan's attack against
Christianity. Once he gains a foothold in the relationships amongst the brethren, it
is easy to then bring about destruction and disgrace. We, has the body of Christ need to
be constantly on the watch. We need to guard each other with the love that Christ had
for the church, a self-sacrificing, all-consuming love for each other.
Matthew 22:37 - 39 "Jesus said unto him, (a Pharisee) Thou shalt love the Lord
thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is
the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself."
How is your "love life" today. Are you known as a Christian by your love? Don't let
the devil smile, laugh or shout for joy because of you! If your desire is to be like Jesus,
then you will proclaim the family trait of love in your words and actions.
My Desire
My desire, to be like Jesus,
My desire, to be like Him.
His spirit fill me,
His love o'er-whelm me:
In deed and word, to be like Him.
Lillian Plankenhorn
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