Love Others

 Galatians 5:14

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

If you love God, you will want to keep His commandments. If you love others, you are going to treat them with respect and kindness, forsaking your own wants and preferring one another. On this, hangs all of God’s law. How is this possible? We are born in sin, and the carnal nature rules our flesh. Sin has dominion and the focus is taking care of number one, “me”. All is made possible through Christ. We who have given their lives to Him have been grafted onto the Vine. Through Christ, we can do all things. There is nothing impossible to Him who believes and looks to Him for love and grace. True and selfless love comes from God. There are those who may give for humanitarian reasons, but a Christian gives to show the love of Christ. This is what it means to live in Christ, and Christ in me.

Wisdom From God

Proverbs: 8: 11, 17 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it….I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. The wisdom of this world is not the wisdom of God. The wisdom of this world is tainted with selfish desires and want of pleasure. It seeks to preserve self at any cost and always has hidden motivations. Money is not the root of all evil, but loving money more than loving God and people often causes individuals to make bad choices. Those that seek riches are not wise. Aspiring to make money and obtain material things for legitimate pleasure is not folly, but neither is it prudent to seek it at the expense of others or at the detriment of our relationship to Christ. The wisdom we are to seek is the wisdom that comes from God. His wisdom is selfless, loving, and understanding. His wisdom looks at life with eternity in mind. Those that seek first His Kingdom will seek wisdom early in life and early each day. My prayer each morning as I start my day “ Lord, given me wisdom to do what is right and to make decisions that will make this world a better place to live, and keep my motivation on things that are eternal”- Amen.

What is Greatness?

Mark 10:43-44 “But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you shall be your minister,  and whosoever of you would be the chiefest shall be servant of all.”- 

The world views greatness when one achieves power, prosperity, popularity or political favor. This is evident in a culture where people are idolized for the feat that they accomplish. Whether it be in music, sports, or in Hollywood, man without God has a twisted view of greatness. In the eyes of God, what is greatness? It is a rare occasion in our media culture that a person is recognized for their selfless giving and holy desire to serve others. The Christian world view sees things through the eyes of Jesus. What does he have to say about true greatness? In spite of wanting to achieve success and a measure of greatness, such aspiration are only truly obtain when we humble ourselves before God and give of our best to the master by serving and giving to help others in time of need. Always willing to give rather than to receive.