Author: evangelist_breland

Every February 14^th people all around the world celebrate Valentine’s Day, a day in which people express their love to others in a variety of ways. How beautiful and special is this! But love is not a one-day a year act for believers; it is a daily life of obedience. Believers are commanded to love the Lord their God with their total being and to love their neighbor as they love themselves. We are commanded in Ephesians 5:1-2 “to be imitators of God as dear children (v.1). And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering, and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (v.2). Deny yourselves and obey God; walk in love and become a sweet-smelling aroma to Him. 

Brothers and Sisters, love comes from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Therefore, let us love one another as we love ourselves (1John 4:7, ESV, paraphrased). In the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5:44-45a, Amplified Bible, paraphrased): Jesus told the congregation to “love your enemies.” In other words, He told them that to love their enemies meant they were not to be selfish but seek the best or higher good for their enemies. He went on to say, “and pray for those who persecute you” (v.44), “so that you may [show yourselves to] be the children of your Father who is in heaven…” (v.45a). Above all,Chosen People of God, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony (Colossians 3:14, NLT).

Give God glory!

Matthew 22:34-40, NKJV

There’s a song and film – What’s Love Got to Do with It? The film is based on the life of Tina Turner, a popular American singer / song writer. The movie portrayed Tina’s life of abuse at the hands of her husband, Ike Turner. Frankly, I am not sure if the title question is rhetorical or not. I am sure that according to Scripture love has everything to do with it. It is God’s primary command to believers – love Him and others. 

Here the Pharisees had heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees when they questioned Him about marriage in the resurrection (vv.23-33). Jesus literally shut down the Sadducees’ wrong thinking, telling them that there is no marriage in the resurrection. However, the Pharisees got together, and the one, who was a lawyer, asked Jesus, “Teacher, which of the commandments is the greatest in the Law (v.36)?”

And Jesus replied to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ (v.37). This is the first and greatest commandment (v.38).The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself (v.39).’ He told them that the whole Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments” (v.40). That’s what love has to do with it. The Pharisees’ motive for asking Jesus what the greatest commandment of the Law is, was not genuine. They wanted to trap Him into contradicting the Law so they could use it against Him. Brothers and Sisters in Christ, that is how the devil works; therefore, stay alert to the wiles of the devil. Love God and your neighbors. 

Give God a hand clap of praise.

Luke 13:15-17

In vv. 15-16 Jesus answered the angry ruler of the synagogue, who was probably a Pharisee. He showed a lack of spiritual understanding about the good works of the Lord. Can you imagine the sting this woman, who was just healed, and the rest of the congregation must have felt when the ruler of the synagogue demanded there be no healing on the Sabbath day? How selfish and heartless he was! 

Jesus called him out. “You hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it (v.15)?” This was not the first time Jesus dealt with the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. His question about the fact that they loose their ox or their donkey from its stall and lead it away to water it on the Sabbath revealed the synagogue ruler’s hypocritical, or pretentious, attitude. They thought that healing the woman on the Sabbath was not as important as watering their thirsty animals on the Sabbath. Both were God’s creation and deserved mercy. Perhaps they forgot that the Sabbath was made for man… (Mark 2:27a) or chose to ignore it. 

Jesus continued, “So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath (v.16)?” After saying these things, all His enemies were ashamed, but all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that Jesus had done (v.17).

Hallelujah! To God be the glory.

Luke 13:10-14, NKJV

Consider this. Jesus was teaching in a synagogue one Sabbath day (v.10). In the midst of His teaching, He saw a woman bent double and unable to stand up straight. Scripture said that the woman suffered with an evil spirit for eighteen years (v.11). When Jesus saw her, Hecalled her to Him and spoke healing to her, saying, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity” (v.12). He laid His hands on her, and immediately she stood straight and started glorifying and praising God (v.13). Even though Jesus paused from the word He was ministering to the people, He didn’t stop teaching. He showed us by example that believers are people of faith; therefore, through faith, we can “call into existence things that are not as though they were” (Romans 4:17). 

It would seem that the whole congregation would have been delighted and joined the woman in praise for deliverance from an eighteen-year crippling infirmity. However, the devil never likes losing his grip on anyone. In v.14 the ruler of the synagogue responded with indignation, or anger, about the good work the Lord had done on the Sabbath day. He told the people that there are six days in a week for men to work; therefore, come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath day.

How selfish he was! The ruler(s) had planned the service and was not receptive to this spontaneous change. Brothers and Sisters, let us be receptive to divine intervention for the sake of the kingdom.

Clap your hands and shout, “Glory!”

2 Corinthians 1:3-7, NKJV; NLT

When we think of the goodness of God and all He’s done for us, we can’t help but praise Him. In vv. 3-4 Paul blessed the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We all have suffered various trials and needed comfort. Because God is the Father of mercies, He comforts us whenever troubles come. Why does He do this? It is because He is a God of purpose whose desire is to help those who trust and obey Him. He gives us comfort in all our tribulation so that we will be loving and kind to others, giving them the same kind of comfort He gave to us. 

“For as the sufferings of Christ (2 Cor. 11:23-28) abound in us, so our consolation, or comfort, also abounds through Christ” (v.5). There will be times when Christians suffer various trials; James said, “count it all joy.” Every time children of God are betrayed, abused, or as a gospel song writer said: lied on, scorned, talked about, sho’s you born, the sufferings of Christ abound in us. Because we share in Christ’s pain through different trials, our consolation also abounds through Him.

Paul continued that even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer (v.6, NLT). We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us (v.7, NLT).

Clap your hands and give God glory!