The Young Men

While reading 1 John 2, verse 14 jumped out at me.  The part that says,

"...I write to you young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you..." (1 John 2:14 ESV)

especially impressed me.

Normally, we stereotype and think the "young men's" focus is on sports or career building or thoughts full of the opposite gender; that that's what they use their strength up on.  Surprisingly, these young men John refers to have "the word of God abiding" in them.  Stemming from this devotion to His Word, the young men are able to,

"...overcome the evil one" (1 John 2:14 ESV).

Last weekend, I met just such a group of young men and women.  It was so refreshing to see their earnestness and eagerness to also share the love of God and the message of Jesus with others.

This group were university age but there was also one in Form 2 (Grade 8); quite a young man of about 14 or 15 years.  They all had the common thread of zeal and commitment from allowing God's Word to abide in them.

They had been resistant and/or complacent with their Heavenly Father.  However, when they put away the 101 excuses they formerly had and instead, submitted themselves to Him, they also became in tune with God's purposes for them and that love for Him that helps lubricate and sustain the abiding in God and His Word.
I pray they will ever remain faithful to their Heavenly Father and His cause; abiding in His Word enabling them to overcome the evil one.

"Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth..." (Ecclesiastes 12:1 ESV)

Young men and women, use your young strength now and give it to your Heavenly Father to use according to His will and ways for your life.  If you continue to read Ecclesiastes 12, to verse 7, you'll see the difficulties of the older age and as you can well imagine, more difficult to get out and about.  Having said that though, on that weekend there was an 80 year old brother-in-Christ who, although totter-y, used what strength he had and was still abiding in God's word and sharing it with others; ever faithful from his youth, up.

So, to all the young men (and women) out there, I pray that prayer for you too!  There is so much to distract and derail even a most fervent intention and commitment.  May you all be ever faithful.

Store up treasure in Heaven.  Don't just stay in a "holy huddle"; go and share the message of Jesus.  That' what the young people I met were doing.

Do you know why?  It was because other such young people had shared with them.  They are carrying the baton now but are pro-actively passing it on.  They are touching the lives of others with Gods' Word accompanied with prayers that the recipients will also abide in God's Word.

Young men and women--be encouraged to:  use your strength to abide, overcome, and pass on God's abiding Word.

                                                        ~ERC  August 2019~

Here I am Lord, as sung by Eric Hall; a song of dedication and commitment.

You can also check out my Bible ABCs series about what the Bible does for us as we read and obey it.  The first in the series is Bible ABCs - Acquaints.  Have a look.

Bible ABCs - Moulds

Summer's at the Nova Scotia Gospel Tent (like a vacation Bible school), had the extra fun element of "Hobby Class".  This happened one afternoon every 2 weeks in different locations.

Preparations for this hobby class involved moulds, plaster, water and patience, to start.  The moulds were a variety of Bible verses with designs of flowers and other beautifying decorations.  My Dad, and sometimes he'd commandeer his children's assistance, would mix up water and plaster of Paris and carefully pour the sloppy conglomerate into moulds.  Then the waiting game began until they set and dried. 

If not done just right, the plaster mixture could be too watery, or too thick.  There could be air bubbles or other faults in the finished initial product.  If you were impatient and decided to separate the plaster text from the mould too soon, you could ruin it; wasting time, effort and ingredients.

When all was well, these somewhat fragile texts would need to be carefully wrapped in protective swaddles and boxed to be "shipped" to the Gospel Tent Hobby Class Afternoon.

On that day, the texts were arranged on a table or two for the young people to choose.  Paints would be dug out of other boxes, mixed and set out for the children to use.  Paintbrushes would also surface and be strategically distributed at intervals on several tables.   

Then, oh glory, what a pleasant, chatter-y summer afternoon of painting ensued.  Rainbow colors would begin to appear, slathered with the greatest of ease here and there if not guided more prodigiously, and even sometimes with guidance.  Ha, ha.  Others, with steady hands and knowing concentration, created their masterpieces with great aplomb.

I have heard from some of those then children, that they still have those meaningful texts so very many years later and even have hung them up upon their own homes' walls.

There's one very important aspect that cannot be overlooked in all this.  Success of the quality texts and emerged cheery afternoon hobby class, depended upon the moulds.  The moulds, although fixed in some facets, needed to be of malleable material.  If it wasn't so, those texts may well have come out of the moulds in dismaying pieces.

Now when I say the moulds were "fixed", I mean the basic design of flowers and the texts of God's beautiful words.  Jiggle your mind over to these spiritual questions.  Did you know God's Words are the same, yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8)?  Did you know they are living words (Hebrews 4:12)?  

As we read, understand and obey God's "fixed" Word, it can form our character and even our life style, by transforming us from old ways of living, into beautiful obedient children of God.  This is the "malleable" part.

Give thanks to God with a grateful heart.  Look at what happened to the saints at Rome.  Peruse and cogitate on Romans 6:17-19 (ESV),

"But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.  I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations.  For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification."

These particular Romans were "committed" to the standard of teaching.  A standard, and not just any standard.  In fact, it's better to express this as "The Standard".  God's standard.  That's fixed.  That's the mould.  How the Holy Spirit leads and guides an individual with God's standard, moulds and makes the obedient-to-God-person of malleable heart, soul, strength and mind, to be more like our Savior Jesus Christ.

Let this mind be in you!   Read Philippians 2:5-8.  Paul wrote to the Philippian believers to follow Jesus' humble example.  He became our servant!!   He 

"became obedient...even to death on the cross" (vs 8, ESV).

Jesus always did His Father's will.  He moulded Himself to Him and accomplished the purpose for which He was sent to Earth.

"Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God,..." (Hebrews 10:7 ESV)

In the book of Luke chapter 22 and verse 42 (ESV) Jesus prays,

"Father...not my will, but Yours, be done."

Again, Jesus moulded Himself to His Father's will and word.  As followers of Jesus Christ, we need to well, follow, Him too.  Let it be more than just a one day hobby session; let it be our committed passion!  Let God's Word mould us to be ever more like Him in word and deed.  He is our Standard.  Reverently, I say, Jesus and God's Word are the original "Perfect Mould".

                                                          ~ERC  August 2019~

I realize that this is a slightly different slant on the mould, moulding concept as delineated above, but I think you will get the idea.  Sing along prayerfully with this Hillsong, The Potter's Hand. 

Lord's Day Devotion - PLIGHT

What plight are you experiencing at the moment?  Do you wonder if you should hang on and fight, or gear up for flight?

Suggestion:  scrutinize plight's spelling.  What do you see?  Can you see 'light' in 'plight'?  In the darkness that seems to surround your plight, fight to see some light.

Not just any light; look for the light of God.  This will not mean the darkness will be suddenly and magically and totally dispelled.  Oh, no!  Some folks endure plights for years on end.  For some, it's plight after plight.

The light of God will be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:105) guiding you through the darkness.  Think of your darkness as a tunnel, that has strategically placed lights, keeping you in your lane and seeing you safely through.

God's light has infinite illumination ability. He sent His Son Jesus to be the Light of the world.  Our world was filled with darkness.  God's Light, Jesus, shone on His creation bringing hope to His fallen creatures. 

In John 8:12 NIV Jesus said,

"I am the Light of the world.  Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Due to Jesus' death and resurrection, we followers of Jesus Christ have the Light of life with us to lead, guide and comfort us.

Maybe you can't feel it right now.  Or you question yourself, "Is God's light really with me?  He seems to be sleeping and to have turned off the Light."

Remember, Jesus was in the boat, yes, sleeping, albeit He was ready at a moment's notice to come to the rescue.  The disciples, many of whom were seasoned fishermen and used to the sea's moods in any variety of weather, were terrified!  They thought the light had been switched off (Matthew 8).

They did, however, turn to the one, who could deliver them in their "last moments".  They were all in the same boat, quite literally, and if it were possible to fight this plight (flight wasn't an option), they wanted Jesus in it with them.

They were not disappointed.  Jesus calmed the sea; the wind and waves.  He did so with His words.

We too can turn to the Word of God which will help to give: His light along the way; comfort through our dark hours of seeming aloneness and isolation.  Reach out to Him; He is our Living Hope and Light. This is a great privilege we have because He is our Father  and we His children.

He won't give us snakes and scorpions but the Bread and Light of life to govern our days and Light up our life to steer us through the darkness of any multitude of trials and tribulations.

Thank God as we remember Jesus, the Light of the World, in His death and resurrection on Lord's Day.  As we pass the bread and wine one to another, realize His reaches out to us, shines His Light for us, and walks with us through our valleys of darkness and shadows of death.

Praise God for His mercies.  Matthew 4:16 NIV gives more hope,

"...the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."

Wait upon the Lord, our Light.  Let His brightness fill you and lead you and lift you up, despite your darkness, into His glorious light.  You don't have to fight or be in flight from your plight.

                                                           ~ERC  August 2019~

Sing along, Shine, Jesus Shine

It Smelleth!

This is a not so spiritual an entry.  Taking up a challenge to write a descriptive essay about a ....well read on and find out....Rather mundane, perhaps, but have you ever tried it?  Ha, ha.  What you ask students to do, you should be able to do too.  Needs to be more than 400 words in length.

If Only It Had Smelled Like a Rose

You could smell it way before you could see it!  And...for your information, I'm not talking about that supposed "king of fruit", the durian, that folks all the way from Thailand down throughout Malaysia, and into Singapore and even into wee Brunei LOVE!  Granted, durians smell to high heaven and back themselves!  What I smell, right now, while about 30 meters out, is the shopping mall bathroom!

Rank and repulsive...!

But I really, gotta go!

Beggars can't be choosers, they say, and so with nose prickling and bristling with disgust and protest, I keep tenacious course set for the "stink hole" to relieve and make my bladder gladder.  With intrepid steps I pushed through the "haze".

Overwhelmed with the stench of urine that had missed its mark, or because someone had neglected to flush, I very gingerly and grudgingly took ballet steps into the bathroom trying not to come into contact with much of the surface of the place and ensconced myself into a toilet stall.

Definitely not stalling in doing my business,  I "hung" over the bowl in bodily appeasement.  It was a real juggling act not to slip on the wet floor, hold one's garments at bay and aim with accuracy all at once.  Multi-tasking, I glanced around.  Uh-oh!

It was remarkable that anyone would linger in any of those cubicles long enough to display their "artistic" talents upon the stall walls.  Such graffiti itself was appalling; dirtier than the filth from those who couldn't care less if they'd peed or poohed properly or cleaned up civic-mindedly or not.

Praise be though, some God-fearing soul, I suppose, trying to be salt and light, wrote rather offensively, 

"Cleanse your hands, you sinners and purify your hearts, ..." (James 4:8 NIV).

That wasn't very helpful at all but there was a humorous tidbit of advice someone else wrote,

"If you sprinkle when you tinkle,  Be a sweetie and wipe the seatie."

At least they tried...

Oh another one quoted,

"He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully...these are the ones who may stand in God's holy place" (Psalm 24:4, 3 NIV).

That written in a most "unholy" place; so to speak.

Someone had tried to deface that verse.

You are likely wondering why I'm loitering in there!  I'm actually half passed out, so may as well read on...

There was one more from another soul trying to save the day.  She wrote,

"The blood of Jesus Christ, God's son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 1:7 NIV).

That one was really scribbled over but you could still puzzle out what it said if you were determined.

Not that I agree with penning on walls that don't belong to you, but at least God had a witness especially in the 1 John Bible verse.

Enough already!  It was more than time to hitch myself outta there!  Finishing up, I timorously opened the door latch, which when you think of it, actually had locked, and went to cleanse my hands, if that were possible in such unsanitary a place.

It is a prerogative to bring ones own toilet paper and tissue into these places.  Readying some I turned on the tap, fearing I may pick up more germs than what was on my hands.  I went through the motions anyway - minus the soap that was not available.  Patting my hands dry with the prepared tissue, I then twisted the tap water off, covering the tap with the tissue as I did so, feeling a bit like a criminal wiping out his fingerprints.

OK, my lungs are about ready to burst for lack of oxygen.  However, one more consideration, and talk about recycle and reuse; don't throw your tissue away too soon, you still have to open the bathroom door to exit.

EEEEEEK!  A cockroach!  I'm outta here!  PRONTO!  Scuttling faster than that bug, I launch forth from that reeking place, gulping great gulps of fresher shopping mall air, thankful I hadn't swooned nor fallen to the very moist floor of that most appalling place!

                                                         ~ERC  August 2019~

P.S.  Nowadays, the mall washrooms are not so terrible and there is more effort to keep them cleaner, if not entirely free from some nefarious smell or whatnot.

Lord's Day Devotion - Eternity (.....) Eternity

What is the difference between eternity past and eternity future?

First, let me say, God made Time and took a "time out" not because He was naughty but because He is so good and full of compassion. He also wanted more company.  I read that once in an article somewhere (can't remember the author or article's names).

That article said the Trinity was having such a wonderful time, that they wanted others to share eternity with Them.  So, the Trinity got busy creating:  besides the heavens and earth and all that in them are, the Trinity (God) created mankind to be the apple of His eye (Deuteronomy 32:10 NIV).  

All this creating created that parenthesis in eternity called, "Time".  "Time," like a blip or a dip on a heart monitor:  a long straight line, and then the blip or dip of Time continued thereafter by a long straight line.   There you have it:  Eternity (.....) Eternity.  In this case, of course, the straight line is a very good, never ending representation.  Thus Time became sandwiched between past and future (to our way of thinking) eternity.

We, meaning human kind, who are followers of Jesus Christ, look forward to being part of the vast throng who will be sharing eternity future with the Trinity.  

That's it in a nutshell.  All was wondrous and pronounced by God as being, "very good" (Genesis 1:31 ESV),

"And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good...."

God would come and commune with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day, in that idyllic Garden of Eden.  What peaceful , joyful interludes they must have had!

Sit back and cogitate on that a while.

It was what God had masterminded and "ordered".

Then BAM!

Satan had to stick his jealous oar into the proceedings.

The Fall happened.

No more communing.  Relationship cut off.

God had His rescue plan though.  He sent Jesus to atone for and redeem mankind's sorry state.

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

Thank-You, Jesus for Your sacrifice and making the way of salvation to reconnect with Father God.  Father, God, thank-You for Your Holy Spirit Who indwells us, your children.  You redeemed us by Your mighty outstretched hands.  Those same Trinity hands that fashioned us in Your image.

We remember all this Father God, as we partake of those emblems, the broken bread and cup of wine.  We do this in remembrance of Your death and resurrection in deep gratefulness and thanksgiving.

We are so grateful that You, Father, have taken the time to make Time for us, Your children.  We are eternally indebted to You.  We excitedly look forward to eternity future spent with You, in Your blissful Presence communing with You, minus the shackles of sin, suffering and death; the evil consequences of The Fall's fallout.

And that is the difference between eternity past and eternity future.

                                                       ~ERC  August 2019~

I'm not much of a fan of so-called worship songs which use a lot of "I will do this or that for you Lord" type of lyrics where the focus is on the individual rather than on our Savior.  However this Touch of Heaven - Hillsong  has some good thoughts in it in line with communing with our Heavenly Father in the here and now.  What will it be to be with Him in all eternity!  Beyond our imaginations!

Bible ABC's - Leads

"If all else fails, read the instructions."

When I get a new appliance I really dislike having to read all those very small print operating instructions.  My husband has to read every single last word of it.  Of course, I'm not allowed to make use of the appliance until he has read all about it and understood the usage for himself and then, of course, again, I get verbally instructed in detail on how to utilize the gadget. 

Just plug it in already and use it! 

Frustrating and annoying but, I'll admit, useful information.  Ha, ha.  (Don't tell him I told you that.)

How many of us like or have liked, to listen to our parents' instructions?  I think I am of rebellious nature, so would chafe at them inwardly while outwardly toeing the line (mostly).  However, my parents did persevere and taught my siblings and I to stringently obey them, often through using the good old-fashioned method;  "the board of education on the seat of learning".  

It could save your life some day; you just never know.

They'd tell stories such as about the child who was outside playing in the yard and  had spotted his father, who was on his way home from work, across the street.  The child wanted to dash across said street to his Dad.  You know how impulsive young ones can be.  He was just about to rush off the curb making a beeline for his Dad when his Dad shouted the command, "STOP!"  The boy did.  Then a truck whooshed by in the street.

No two objects can occupy the exact same place at the exact same time; thus saith the law of physics.  If the lad had not instantly obeyed his father's command, it would have been a very tragic day.

My parents philosophy was that if we would learn to obey them in as complete a way, then we would listen to the voice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ more readily.  In so doing we would be put in good stead for life.

The Bible leads us to the true and beautiful.  Look at Proverbs 6:20-24 (NIV),

"My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching.  Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck.  When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.  For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline  are the way to life..."

Most things come with instructions, not just appliances.  You give a child a model airplane to put together, they will have to follow the instructions very closely or you will have a very disassembled-looking contrivance. 

The Bible guides us similarly. 

Someone who didn't value his parents word very much was Samson despite being a prophet of God.  Obviously he didn't value God's Word much either as much of what his parents would have taught him, came from God's Word and even instructions given to them by the angel of the LORD when his birth was foretold to his parents (Judges 13-16).  He got himself into a lot of hot soup because of his disregard. 

He lusted after a woman from among those the Israelites were specifically told not to have such relations.  He loses her in the end and she deceives him.  He loses his hair, the sign of God's strength.  He lost his strength and eventually loses his eyes.  He seemed to have gotten some belated wisdom in the end but it was "game over" for him by then.  He lost his life.  It would be most difficult for us to be convinced he had had any streak of faith if it wasn't for the fact he is listed in the book of Hebrews in the "Hall of Faith" chapter; chapter 11 and verse 32.

We prefer to hear about good ole Timothy who kept the faith taught by his grandmother and mother (2 Timothy 1:5).  Yet, Paul did have to give him a bit of a pep talk.  However, Timothy must have hearkened to the advice and admonition and remained faithful and faithfully at his post.  He was used of the Lord for the benefit of others.

This ties in rather nicely with the previous Bible ABC - Keep Us.  When we keep God's commands and do them we will be guided by them and keep ourselves abiding in God's love at the same time.

If Samson had of followed the instruction about not taking foreign wives (due to the fact they were idol worshipers NOT because of racism!) he would have been well guided.  If a follower of Jesus Christ follows a similar injunction which we find in 2 Corinthians 6:14 to not be yoked together with unbelievers, they will find God is gracious and good and looking out for us.  He can find the right life partner for anyone or even the right business partner.  You see if two people's basic faith orientation stems from the same root:  wanting to please, honor and glorify God, there will be greater harmony.  

God is all wise and knowing.  He made us, so He knows what's best for us.  When we listen to Him through reading and obeying His Word and with the interpretation and application of the Holy Spirit's guidance we will be led in the way we should go which will be truly beautiful when adhered to.  He is on our side and the best Leader of all.  Listen for His voice and follow His lead.

                                                           ~ERC  July 2019~

Another lovely old piece, Trust and Obey,  comes to mind.

Bible ABC's - Keeps Us

"Keep on keeping on," comments the platitude.  

God's Word can help us do that.  

Help keep us doing what?   And, who are the "us"?

Well, God's Word can keep us abiding in Christ's love, conditional only to our willingness and commitment to do so.

"Us" means all those who are followers of Jesus Christ.

Guess what?

Jesus Himself is our example and mentor of this kind of keeping.  In fact, Jesus is our perfect example and gives us encouragement to imitate Him.  He kept His Father's commands.  Keeping God's commands was what kept Jesus in His Father's love and similarly, keeping Jesus' commands is what keeps us abiding in His love.  

Jesus was comforting His disciples and the apostle John records it in John 15:10 (NIV), in this regard,

"If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in His love."

When one person loves another, they tend to comply with each other's wishes.  It's like yet another cliche, "your every wish is my command".  The motivating force...love.

This is not something that is being forced, compelled or obligated.  However, the "proof is in the pudding" (pardon, the adage); you say you love someone, then show it in your actions.  True in everyday life, true within the spiritual sphere.

This is what Jesus was conveying to His disciples.  He loved them (see John 15:9) and they say they love Him.  To keep in this type of love, obey His commands, Jesus instructed.

Yes, Jesus being God, kept His Father's commands perfectly.  We, being human beings, do fail; however, we aim for such perfection out of our love for Him and all He has done for us.

Moses and David of Old Testament times loved and revered God immensely and realized His love for them.  They did very valiantly in following God's commands and abiding in His love, yet they did blunder; rather miserably at times. 

Don't think though, "I'm a lesser saint then they were, how in the world will I have any success in this?"

The apostle Peter was often putting his foot in his mouth but he really did love Jesus and eventually became a very strong pillar of the gospel of Jesus Christ, thousands coming to Christ listening to his preaching.  He abode in God's love by keeping His commands. 

Grasp this...all of those patriarchs' attitude and motivation was to please God and Jesus.  They each, respectively, had a close relationship with Him which they constantly developed.  The stronger the relationship with our Heavenly Father, the greater the desire to obey His Word and talk with Him, thus abiding in His love.

You know yourself, especially when you were young, when you disobeyed your parents, you would not wish to be in their presence too much until things were made right.  Your parents didn't stop loving you, and you likely didn't stop loving them, but because of the disobedience you stepped out of that love-obey connection.  When you did follow instructions, you abode basked in their love and privileges for you.  Similarly, bridge that over to life with Christ and being in His love.

Take a peek at some of the commands Jesus obeyed.  In Luke 2:51, we see He obeyed His earthly parents when they asked Him to follow them back to Nazareth.  If you recall He had stayed back in the Temple at Jerusalem and His parents were at first unaware of it.  They anxiously searched for Him until they found Him.  

"Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them..." (Luke 2:52 NIV)

Sometimes obedience can be difficult and even unpleasant.  In Matthew 4:1 (NIV) we read that 

"Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil"!

 We know that Jesus got the victory there; nevertheless, it couldn't have been an easy thing to do especially on the heels of forty days and nights of fasting.  Yet He was very familiar with God's Word and used it as His defense.  His relationship with God His Father was so close it "kept Him" in more ways than one.

Another snapshot of Jesus' obedience to His Heavenly Father, God, is found in Matthew 26 and verse 39 (NIV).  He's in the garden of Gethsemane, praying,

"My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken  from me.  Yet not as I will, but as You will."

Jesus attitude was to obedience and doing His Father's will even though it would be an agonizing experience as we are all aware.  He was speaking of having to go through with the crucifixion and being forsaken by His Father!  His Father being the very One Whom He was obeying!

We can glimpse this attitude even beforehand at the time of "the last supper" in the upper room where Jesus is giving a lengthy discourse that covers several chapters of the book of John.  He prays to Heaven with a very clear conscience that He has completed all He was sent to do and His going to the cross was as good as done.  He says to His Father, God,

"I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do..." (John 17:4 NIV).

What a beautiful attitude of obedience and abiding in His Father's love.

For us followers of Jesus Christ, glance back at the John 15:10 verse quoted earlier.  See the little word "if"?  This is a conditional proposition on our part.  It has nothing to do with God's stance.   God is there with His full and free outstretched arms of love, just a-waiting for us to keep His commands.  If we do, He promises, we shall be kept in His all encompassing love. 

What are some of those commands?

Remember the expert of the law who inquired of Jesus as to who his neighbor was that he was supposed to love, and Jesus gave him the story of the good Samaritan?  That lawyer asked that question because Jesus had given him an answer to another question.  That answer touched a bit too close to home in such a way that must have gotten at his conscience.  Jesus had told him to,

"Love the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind..."

Jesus didn't stop there, His addendum was,

"...Love your neighbor as yourself" (Luke 10:25-37, esp vs 27 NIV).

Samaritans were people Jewish people despised and visa versa.  Yet the story Jesus told was one in which a Samaritan took pity and had mercy and compassion upon someone who was very likely Jewish.  How's that for bluntly putting it to you!?

Who is the unlovable person or the person with whom you clash?  Love the Lord your God, and incidentally, yourself, enough to love that "neighbor" as yourself.  It's one of God's commands.

Many years ago I made a list of the "one another's" in the New Testament.  I believe they came from the King James Version of the Bible as that was what I used to read a lot.  I'll give a selection of them to you below as they too, are commands of God that we can obey.  

From Mark 9:50,

"Have salt in yourselves and have peace with one another."

John 13:34,

"A new commandment I give unto you,...love one another ..."

1 Thessalonians 4:18,

"...comfort one another with these words..."  

Those were the words that we would meet the Lord in the air and then be with Him forever.  When we lose a loved one, glean comfort from the fact we will see him/her again, if they too had been the Lord's.

Romans 13:8,

"Owe no man anything, but to love one another..."

Are you in debt?  Pay up and be free of that so you can abide more fully in God's love.  Yes, that is so easy to say...however, even small actions in that direction are a start; and a start at keeping God's commands and abiding in His love.

Romans 12:10,

"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another..."

In fact if you continue reading down to the end of that chapter, you'll see a whole slew of commands.  Romans 12:16 being one to point out,

"...Be of the same mind one toward another..."

That can be a difficult task, believe you me!

Then we have Romans 15:5, 7, 14 telling us to be,

"...likeminded one toward another....to receive one another... and to be full of goodness,...knowledge...able to admonish one another..."

That last one about admonishing one another may be considered an affront to those being admonished.  How dare someone confront you!  Therefore, I believe that we need to have that humble mindset Jesus Christ had that we read about in Philippians 2:5-8 to accept correction in the right spirit knowing it is for our good.  If someone is off base with it you think, go away and examine yourself in God's presence.  He will reveal to you if there is any truth in it or not.  If there is, deal with it and thank the other person.  If not, still show your brotherly love to him or her and guard your mind, heart and tongue from launching backlash or slander.   Not easy, I know!

I think I won't list anymore as there are about 50 of them altogether.  Search the Scriptures and dig them out.  The few above get the message across and set you on a quest to keep on keeping on and abiding in Christ's love.  

The steadfast love of God will never cease.  Constantly abide in Him and His love.

"We love Him, because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19 KJV).

He will never leave us; He is constant in our lives as much as we wish it.  He's there for you.   It all hinges on the big, respective personal, "IF".

                                                          ~ERC  July 2019~ 

A song about Constantly Abiding written by Anne S. Murphy in 1908 as sung by Temple Baptist Church, Powell, Tennessee.  A lovely old piece.