 |
|
| Volume 21 Number 8 August 2019 | Page 13 |
|
|
| Volume 21 Number 8 August 2019 | Page 13 |
Robert D. Rawson
Our Bible presents the worldly ways in the words of 1 John 2:15—'All that is in the world; the lust of eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride or vainglory.' As we see movies and television, and as we hear others as we grow up, we become acquainted with various forms of the flesh.
No wonder there is a stark difference between lust and love (1 Corinthians 13). Described in this chapter is the love that God desires us to have and cultivate. This love 'worketh no evil, is not easily provoked and does not behave itself unseemly' [evil conduct]. It never fails! Contrast this description with the outcome of lust, which always saddles the person with guilt and regret, surprises of the unplanned and failures of anything worthwhile.
To grow in God’s teaching (1 Peter 2:1-2) is to become the servant of God and of others. This verse leads off with commands to put away malice and guile, hypocrisies and envying, as well as all evil speaking. Movies and television promote the very ungodly traits that Christians are to expunge from their lives. Instead, as newborn babes desire milk, so the servant of God craves the sincere milk of God’s Word to grow up with love that God desires us to possess.
Remember, 1 Corinthians 13 begins with the admonition to not think if we give our bodies to be burned and bestow all our goods to feed the poor, that we have done well, if charity (God–like love) is absent in the child of God.
Share the Blessing
Derek Broome
Being a part of the church is an amazing blessing that we as Christians get to experience every day. First, we know that we have been saved and added to the church by the Lord (Acts 2:47). There are so many people in the world who are lost in sin as we once were. It is such a blessing to know that our sins have been washed away (1 Corinthians 6:11) and that we are in a right relationship with God right now. As saved Christians, we worship, work, fellowship and grow closer to one another and to God. It is amazing to be part of the family of God (Ephesians 3:15) where we can develop and work as Christians together. Knowing that you always have a church family to which you can turn is such an incredible blessing in the life of a Christian. For some people, the church is the only family they have. We always need to remember that we are so very blessed to be a part of the body of Christ.
The church is such a blessing to our lives when we let it be, but what are we doing with that blessing? Are we keeping that blessing to ourselves, or are we sharing that blessing with the world (Mark 16:15-16)? If we really want those who are lost in sin to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4), we have to share the good news of Christ and the blessing of His church with the entire world. I hope that our lives are filled with the responsibility and the desire to share the Good News of Christ. The greatest thing we can do for another person is to share with him or her the message of the cross and the love that the Savior has for us all.
We are so blessed to be part of the body of Christ. Let us decide this day and every day to share that blessing with others.