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It is important in life that we keep love at the center of our lives and
share with others what God has freely given us. We are to love others with
the love of the Lord at all times showing them Whom we belong to. We must
understand that we are an extension of the Lord on the earth and are called
to be living testimonies sharing His goodness with a hurting and dying
world. The Bible declares in 1 John 4:7-8, "Beloved, let us love one
another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and
knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." Be
encouraged to allow God's love to shine through your life where others will
be impacted and changed for the better because of your living testimony.
I hope you are encouraged by today's message to portray your love of God
towards everyone you come into contact with showing them what God offers
to all who will simply receive.
SPEAKING AGAPE
In the early 60s, Brother Andrew, a man from Holland, smuggled a load of
Bibles in his VW across the Romanian border and past communist guards. He
checked into a hotel and began praying that God would lead him to the right
Christian groups - the ones who could best use his copies of the Scriptures.
That weekend Andrew walked up to the hotel clerk and asked where he might
find a church. The clerk looked at him a little strangely and answered,
"We don't have many of those you know. Besides you couldn't understand the
language." "Didn't you know?" Andrew replied, "Christians speak a kind of
universal language." "Oh, what's that?" asked the clerk. "It's called
Agape." The clerk had never heard of it, but Andrew assured him. "It's
the most beautiful language in the world."
Andrew was able to locate several church groups in the area and managed to
arrange a meeting with the president and secretary of a certain
denomination. Unfortunately, although both Andrew and these men knew
several European languages, they found they had none in common. So there
they sat staring at each other across the room.
Andrew had traveled thousands of dangerous miles with his precious cargo,
but there seemed no way of telling whether these men were genuine Christian
brothers or government informants.
Finally, he spotted a Romanian Bible on a desk in the office. Andrew
reached into his pocket and pulled out a Dutch Bible. He turned to 1
Corinthians 16:20 and held the Bible out, pointing to the name of the
book, which they could recognize. Instantly their faces lit up.
They quickly found the same chapter and verse in their Romanian Bibles and
read: "All the brothers here send you greetings. Greet one another with a
holy kiss."
The men beamed back at Andrew. Then one of them looked throughout his
Bible and found Proverbs 25:25. Andrew found the verse and read: "Like
cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land." These men
spent half an hour conversing and sharing - just through the words of
Scripture.
They were so happy in this fellowship that crossed all cultural boundaries
that they laughed until tears came to their eyes. Andrew knew he had
found his brothers. When he showed them his load of Bibles, the Romanians
were overwhelmed and embraced him again and again.
That evening at the hotel, the clerk approached Andrew and remarked, "Say,
I looked up 'Agape' in the dictionary. There's no language by that name.
That's just a Greek word for love." Andrew replied, "That's it. I was
speaking in it all afternoon."
Author Unknown
Be encouraged to share God's perfect love with everyone you come into
contact with. We are to be loving and caring towards others in season and
out of season, when people are kind to us and when people aren't so kind.
Our message of love must be consistent never depending upon how we are
being treated, so let us go forth as ambassadors for Christ lifting up His
Name and His love to all humanity. (Matthew 5:38-48) (Ephesians 6:19-20)
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Romans 12:10-14 "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love;
in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in
spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation;
continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints;
given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not."
Romans 8:14-17 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons
of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but
you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of
God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,
if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."
Romans 12:18-21 "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably
with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place
unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the
Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him
drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not
overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: WORDS FOR YOUR FAMILY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem106.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: FAITH
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony100.htm
In Christ's Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
