Category Archives: Love Is Action

Wise And Harmless Or___??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #705

22 Friday Jan 2021

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, Harmless As Doves, Life, Love, Love Is Action, Wisdom, Wise As Serpents

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

Bible Ballistics: BBs #705  Wise And Harmless Or___???

 

I have a *comparatively* (ha ha) brief word today as we wrap up Daniel chapter 1; hopefully a reminder for us all that Daniel focused on obedience to his God, and his GOD exalted him in HIS time!  So many today are trying to change, arrange or manipulate the “times” for their own benefit or to prove a point.  Well, contrary to what seems to be popular today—we are called to be like Daniel and humble ourselves before our God—not exalt self.  I had a friend many years ago who had a saying that I often use in jest, but it really seems to reflect the mindset of our day.  She said, “He that ‘tooteth’ not his own horn, hath his horn not ‘tooted’!”  And we know almost everyone today wants their 15 minutes in the spotlight regardless of the cost in dignity, integrity or the feelings of others—and please don’t expect them to regard the truthfulness of their “boasts”!

Daniel chose to behave with integrity, honor and respect to those over him, but he took a stand for God and left the results to GOD!  And because of Daniel’s stand (and that of his three friends) God showed Himself faithful on Daniel’s behalf.

“Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in,

then the prince of the eunuchs

brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

19 And the king communed with them;

and among them all

was found none like

Daniel,

Hananiah,

Mishael,

and Azariah:

therefore stood they before the king.

20 And in all matters

of wisdom

and understanding,

that the king enquired of them,

he found them ten times better

than all the magicians and astrologers

that were in all his realm.”   Daniel 1:18-20

Jesus gave us some very good advice in this regard as well.  May we take heed in these difficult days and NOT use our difficult circumstances to justify bad behavior.

“Behold,

I send you forth

as sheep

in the midst of wolves:

be ye therefore

wise as serpents,

and harmless as doves.”  Matthew 10:16

We can respond with integrity, honor and truth because our God is always faithful!  We are called to walk in humble dependence upon our Lord Jesus and our Father God, through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, not to depend upon our flesh, popular opinion or the “majority”!  “Our God reigns”!

“For whosoever exalteth himself

shall be abased;

and he that humbleth himself

shall be exalted.”  Luke 14:11

 

“And the publican, standing afar off,

would not lift up so much as his eyes

unto heaven,

but smote upon his breast, saying,

God be merciful

to me

a sinner.

14 I tell you,

this man went down to his house

justified

rather than the other:

for every one that exalteth himself

shall be abased;

and he that humbleth himself

shall be exalted.”   Luke 18:13-14

As Paul told the Galatian believers:

“And let us not be weary

in well doing:

for in due season

we shall reap,

if we faint not.”  Galatians 6:9

And remember, the same God who was faithful to Daniel, is still GOD and HEnever fails.

“Nevertheless

my lovingkindness

will I not utterly

take from him,

nor suffer my faithfulness

to fail.

34 My covenant will I not break,

nor alter the thing

that is gone out of my lips.”   Psalm 89:33-34

Jesus also IS changeless:

“Jesus Christ the same

yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”   Hebrews 13:8

Paul gives us the key to successful living with humility, obedience, and confidence in a fallen world!

“Charity never faileth:

but whether there be prophecies,

they shall fail;

whether there be tongues,

they shall cease;

whether there be knowledge,

it shall vanish away….

…13 And now abideth

faith,

hope,

charity,

these three;

but the greatest of these

is charity.”  1 Corinthians 13:8 & 13

Let’s stand like Daniel and trust the results to our faithful Lord!  May God’s love and holiness be seen in me/you in all we do

“But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding

 in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know that your labour

is not in vain

in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Amen and Amen!!!

Is Love Enough??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #623

05 Wednesday Feb 2020

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Holy Living, JESUS, Love, Love Is Action

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

Bible Ballistics: BBs #623     Is Love Enough???

 

As we continue talking about love in this month that the world calls the month of ‘love’, I want to be sure that we understand that what the ‘world’ is calling love may not always be what God calls love.  And while we’ve recently looked at 1 Corinthians 13, I’d like to look at some other things that scripture tells us about love, for your perusal.

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”  John 14:15

To say that I “love” Jesus means that I love Him enough to “do” what HE says!  To love Him is to obey, and to love others “as myself”—and in our culture that is almost unheard of.  We live in a culture of the “me” mentality.  I knew someone once who totally missed the import of God’s unconditional love; which by the way, isn’t license to sin, or selfish indulgence, but is doing that which is always best for the recipient of that love, not as my acquaintance thought, “You be good to me, and I’ll be good to you!”.  We are to keep God’s love in our hearts, but also to shine and share HIS love with those around us.  And contrary to popular belief, if I love you, it doesn’t mean that I will always give in to you, or meet your selfish, unreasonable, or wicked demands.  Love always does right!  And that means that sometimes love must say NO!  It’s only by God’s grace and indwelling Holy Spirit that we can express or extend to others this totally benevolent “God” kind of love.

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access

by faith

into this grace

wherein we stand,

and rejoice

in hope

of the glory of God.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation

worketh patience;

4 And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

5 And hope

maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God

is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.”               Romans 5:1-5

When we are born again, God puts HIS Spirit within us—the very agent of our spiritual birth into the kingdom of God….  Praise HIS name, we don’t have to rely on our weak and sinful flesh to do God’s work.  Paul painted such a beautiful picture of this kind of relationship that we acquire not only from God, but with Him and He ever works to transform us into the image of His Son, Jesus!

“For this cause we also,

since the day we heard it,

do not cease to pray for you,

and to desire that ye might be filled

with the knowledge of his will

in all wisdom

and spiritual understanding;

10 That ye might walk worthy

of the Lord

unto all pleasing,

being fruitful

in every good work,

 and increasing

in the knowledge of God;

11 Strengthened with all might,

according to his glorious power,

unto all patience

and longsuffering

with joyfulness;

12 Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet

to be partakers of the inheritance

of the saints

in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

 and hath translated us

into the kingdom

of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:”               Colossians 1:9-14

And while I can’t think of anything better to pray for you, I will add Paul’s admonition to each of us as believers in Jesus, to have that selfless love and devotion to Jesus, as we yield to HIS work of love in us continually!  May we ever be motivated by God’s love rather than selfish ambition, greed, or the pursuit of self-gratification!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed

to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.

3 For I say,

through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think

soberly,

according as God hath dealt

to every man

the measure of faith.”    Romans 12:1-3

I pray God’s blessings on your day!  And while I realize that much of what I am sharing today is repetitive, we are so forgetful and need continual reminders.  I send these reminders to you (and myself) in His love!

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

 

 

A Giver Or A Taker??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #586

11 Wednesday Sep 2019

Posted by in Faithfulness, Giving Or Taking?, Greed, Helping The Needy, Love, Love Is Action

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

Bible Ballistics: BBs #586   A Giver Or A Taker???

 

We live in a culture of “gimme’, gimme’, gimme’! It seems that almost everyone wants ‘something for nothing’; everyone wants all they can get for as little as they can do.  As my husband is often heard to say about this mind set, “Get all you can, can all you get, and sit on the can!”  But as followers of Jesus, we’ve been called to a higher standard!  I’d like to simply share a few thoughts with you today to remind us of the biblical perspective of ‘stuff’.

“Give,

and it shall be given unto you;

good measure,

pressed down,

and shaken together,

and running over,

shall men give into your bosom.

For with the same measure that ye mete

withal it shall be measured

to you again.”  Luke 6:38

Jesus said our giving is to be at the least, abundant; but some today teach that we are to give in order to ‘get’ these blessings that Jesus described.  I don’t think so.  We are to give because Jesus gave HIS all for us.  Paul talks about this in his letter to the Ephesians.

“Let him that stole

steal no more:

but rather let him labour,

working with his hands

the thing which is good,

that he may have

to give

to him that needeth.”   Ephesians 4:38

Paul calls believers to work with their hands (or their minds) to earn a living that they may be able to share with those in need, not to ‘get more’ from God or others, but to be a blessing to those in need. Paul covers that most profoundly in his comments on love—he seems to say that if we “give to get” we are not acting in love but greed, and that nullifies our efforts!  You decide (and you might want to take some time and read this whole chapter!).

“And though I bestow all my goods

to feed the poor,

and though I give my body

to be burned,

and have not charity,

it profiteth me nothing.”  1 Corinthians 13:3

Paul also has more to say about the attitude of givers and reminds us that it’s not the amount we give, but the heart with which we give.  And takers—well they’re ‘taken’ care of themselves! (pun intended)

“But this I say,

He which soweth sparingly

shall reap also sparingly;

and he which soweth bountifully

shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth

in his heart,

so let him give;

not grudgingly,

or of necessity:

for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able to make all grace abound

toward you;

that ye, always

having all sufficiency

in all things,

may abound to every good work:

9 (As it is written,

He hath dispersed abroad;

he hath given to the poor:

his righteousness remaineth for ever.

10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower

both minister bread for your food,

and multiply your seed sown,

and increase the fruits

of your righteousness;)”.   2 Corinthians 9:6-10

And here’s the message for ‘takers’!

“Mortify therefore your members

which are upon the earth;

fornication,

uncleanness,

inordinate affection,

evil concupiscence,

and covetousness,

which is idolatry:

6 For which things’ sake

the wrath of God

cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked

some time,

when ye lived in them.”   Colossians 3:5-7

Let’s measure our giving and taking by God’s standard!  Have a blessed day of giving as we purpose “in our heart”, to please our Father as we bless and minister to those He places in our path!

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

 

HIS Amazing Love!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #459

04 Friday May 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Amazing Grace, Confidence, Consider Your ways, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Love, Love Is Action

≈ Leave a comment

Bible Ballistics: BBs #459   HIS Amazing Love!!!

 

“Beloved, let us love one another:

for love is of God;

and every one that loveth

is born of God,

and knoweth God.

8 He that loveth not

knoweth not God;

for God is love.

9 In this

was manifested

the love of God

toward us,

because that God sent his only begotten Son

into the world,

that we might live

through him.

10 Herein is love,

not that we loved God,

but that he loved us,

and sent his Son

to be the propitiation

for our sins.

11 Beloved, if God so loved us,

we ought also to love one another.”    1 John 4:7-11

God loves us so much, that HE gave Jesus to take on flesh, dwell among men, live a perfect, sinless life, and die for MY sin and YOURS—He loved us then, He loves us still, and because of Jesus substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin we can have eternal life, abundant life IN JESUS!!! He came in love; He calls us unto Himself, and imparts His love to those who will come to Him!

       “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all   things:              

to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”     Romans 11:36

ALL initiated by God… salvation was and is God’s idea, not ours. He calls us, we only respond in faith or reject His love!

“We love him,

because he first

loved us.” 1 John 4:19

And when we come to Jesus in repentance and faith (flip sides of the same coin) He imparts to us HIS love to share with others.

“And hope maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God

is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.”    Romans 5:5

Receiving HIS love enables us to love others—even the unlovely—even the unkind—even the enemy—even those who don’t love us!!! But never in our own power but His, and His love and power will be manifested to a lost and dying world—a world that needs the “love of God”. Even other believers need to receive His love extended through us! We are His hands, His feet, His smile, His eyes, His love in flesh and bone.

How are you and I doing in this arena? Let’s look up, ask God for wisdom, judge things with God’s judgment and extend HIS love everywhere we go! After all it is “Christ in you the hope of glory”! Amen and Amen!

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,

if ye have love one to another.”    John 13:35

Monuments Or Listeners??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 06

04 Sunday Mar 2018

Posted by in Approved Unto God, Choose You This Day!, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Growing in Jesus!, Holy Spirit, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Love Is Action, The Word, The Word Or The World?, Walking With Jesus, Worship Him!

≈ Leave a comment

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No.06 Monuments Or Listeners???

 

In recent days there has been a lot of talk going around about building a monument to a recently departed man of God, and it occurs to me that we’ve missed the point! But even Jesus’ disciples wrestled with this “monument” mindset, yet God clearly redirected their focus!

“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother,

and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

2 And was transfigured before them:

and his face did shine as the sun,

and his raiment was white as the light.

3 And, behold, there appeared unto them

Moses

and Elias

talking with him.

4 Then answered Peter,

and said unto Jesus,

Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt,

let us make here three tabernacles;

one for thee,

and one for Moses,

and one for Elias.

5 While he yet spake,

behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them:

and behold a voice out of the cloud,

which said,

This is my beloved Son,

in whom I am well pleased;

hear ye him.

6 And when the disciples heard it,

they fell on their face,

and were sore afraid.” Matthew 17:1-6

Jesus took three disciples, Peter, James and John, with Him up into the mountain and Matthew records the account for us. We find the disciples with the Lord at a most important occurrence—Jesus was “transfigured” before them: “his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light”! Jesus revealed a measure of His heavenly glory to these three disciples, and they must have been overwhelmed at the sight. But that wasn’t all! They also saw Moses and Elijah (Elias) as they were “talking with him” right before their eyes. What an awe-inspiring sight to behold and yet they allowed the ‘sight’ to distract them from their “focus”.

Once again Peter steps up and with his usual grace—seeming to open his mouth and inset his foot:

“Then answered Peter,

and said unto Jesus,

Lord, it is good for us to be here:

if thou wilt,

let us make here three tabernacles;

one for thee,

and one for Moses,

and one for Elias.

As we consider what Peter said, we see that he at least recognized that it was “good for us to be here”, and he asked for permission to build tabernacles/monuments to Jesus and the two men who appeared with Him. The writings of Solomon remind us that some things never change:

“The thing that hath been,

it is that which shall be;

and that which is done

is that which shall be done:

and there is no new thing

under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9

As much as the enemy of our souls tries to convince us that this “new” thing will make life perfect—this ‘new’ gadget, this ‘new’ look, this ‘new’ job, this ‘new’ idea or that—anything that will get our eyes and our minds off of Jesus! Even the disciples had their focus taken off of Jesus (And He was right there!), and onto ‘monument’ building. God clearly reminded them, and us, that our work is to hear and obey.

“While he yet spake,

behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them:

and behold a voice out of the cloud,

which said,

This is my beloved Son,

in whom I am well pleased;

hear ye him.”

God reminds us that our attention is to be on HIM and HIS SON, Jesus! HE wants us to understand that it’s Jesus who is to be our focus—He is our hope – our only hope–our everything!!!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run with patience

the race

that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy

that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down at the right hand

of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

It’s all about Jesus not monuments to the accomplishments of man, no matter how godly and successful they are or were. Our monuments ought to be a godly life lived and given to God and His Son Jesus Christ our Lord to do with as HE pleases. We are to live for Jesus in all we do!

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live

in the flesh

I live by the faith

of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”   Galatians 2:20

We are saved to be the monuments to our God—not stone and metal. We are the living work of God. It’s what HE saves us for!

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk

in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10

It is God’s grace that saves us, and His power that makes us “new creatures” who are “created in Christ Jesus unto good works”—God’s workings made manifest in His own children—to His glory and for our good!!!

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given to us the ministry

of reconciliation;

19 To wit,

that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world

unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses

unto them;

and hath committed

unto us

the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors

for Christ,

as though God did beseech you

by us:

we pray you in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him

to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made

the righteousness of God

in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

We are saved to be God’s ambassadors to a lost and dying world—by living for Jesus rather than building monuments of wood and stone! So I ask of us all, are we seeking to build monuments or are we heeding God’s command as living monuments:

“This is my beloved Son,

in whom I am well pleased;

hear ye him”

We must keep:

“Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher

of our faith.”

And as we look at Him, we will be all that He has saved us to be.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable

unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

It’s all about HIM! So don’t worry about “monuments” being built for anyone—we’ll just set your eyes on Jesus and you and I can “be” the monuments that God is interested in using to display the grace, love and salvation that He has provided in the blood of Jesus. We simply need to abide in Him and allow His Spirit to produce fruit through us!

“I am the true vine,

and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me

that beareth not fruit

he taketh away:

and every branch

that beareth fruit,

he purgeth it,

that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean

through the word

which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me,

and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit

of itself,

except it abide in the vine;

no more can ye,

except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth

much fruit:

for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:1-5

So let’s not spend our time calling for monuments, but hearing the voice of God speaking to us and obeying His Son and His Word! Let’s determine to do things God’s way and not our own way!!! Let’s not be like Israel and do “that which was right in his own eyes.” Judges 17:6 & 21:25. In whose eyes are you doing right? God’s? Or men’s? Choose wisely there is a test at the end! Amen and Amen!!!