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CHOOSE TO LOVE {Rom 5:8} "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Though another Easter has passed, the fruit of what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has done for us lives on. Therefore, if we have received the love of God by the grace shown unto us through Christ, we must let it be seen in and through our lives. Jesus Christ chose to give His life as a ransom for all of mankind. Man was not worthy of such an act of love. Such a giving of one's self for others when they don't merit or appreciate it is a display of true love without hypocrisy. Our love for others must be displayed in the same manner. With the great harvest of souls that is to be reaped, there is going to have to be a tremendous amount of the love of God shown forth by believers as the Holy Spirit draws the lost to the Church. This is why we must choose to love. If we can't or won't choose to love those who are currently a part of the body of Christ, what will we do to those who will come in, bringing many offenses with them? Are we willing to suffer? We must remember that along with the pain of the cross, Jesus bore a crown of thorns. This crown, placed upon the head of Jesus by His enemies, is representative of the painful war that wages in our minds when people use, persecute, revile, reject and trespass against us. There is only one way to overcome. {1 Pet 2:21-23} "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." We must take on a selfless attitude, a willingness to be hurt and not revile. That is the nature of Jesus Christ and it is what draws people to repentance. The Christian who will not choose to love will remain a captive of Satan, wrapped in a hellish yoke formed through unforgiveness. {2 Cor 2:9-11} "For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices." All of Satan's devices are snares and traps set to bind the Christian from setting others free. So let us stay free in the liberty wherewith Christ has set us free. Casting off the works of darkness, let us put on the armor of light. No matter how others treat us, the nature of Christ should be seen in the way we react. When thoughts of hatred and vengeance are cast down and then replaced with forgiveness and prayers of intercession, we will know the freedom that comes when we choose to love. - Kurt Thurston
May 1996 Newsletter | A Love Story for Moms | Choose to Love | Pastor's Journal - May 1995 Freedom | Jesus, Our Rock: Providing, Protecting, Proven, Proving Revised: June 25, 2008. |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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