Our Sunday Bible study follows a familiar pattern – usually with three segments of Bible readings and discussion of each segment with a couple of “Bible truths” given at the end. And that’s okay though I typically prefer to take one passage and build off of it when I prepare. Don’t take the preceding comment as a criticism but rather a preference … which it truly is. Anyway, our first segment yesterday was John 13:34-35 – a verse I imagine you have memorized thoroughly since it is one of my “anchor” verses. It is the COMMAND that Jesus gave to us. We are to love one another as He has loved us.
Paul wrote the church in Thessalonica:
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 New International Version (NIV)
9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Taking this verse by verse (or sentence by sentence, as the case may be):
(1) God teaches us to love one another. I don’t know how else we could learn to love people like God loves us unless God taught us. Our nature is to love ourselves and then perhaps love another … but not to have love for a whole group of people. God reaches into our hearts (our emotions) and teaches us that EACH person has value and is deserving of God’s love.
(2) The people of the church at Thessalonica exhibited that love for those in their sphere of influence. The question I have of myself is “do I do the same”? I hope so.
(3) Paul encourages the church to keep on loving each other even more and more – and to show it by leading a quiet life; focusing on what God has given them to do and doing it in such a manner that people notice the faithfulness in love we have for each other.
Bill Gaither wrote this song – which runs through my mind quite frequently:
Loving God, loving each other,
Making music with my friends;
Loving God, loving each other,
And the music never ends.
They pushed back from the table
To listen to His words,
His secret plan before He had to go.
It's not complicated;
Don't need a lot of rules,
This is all you'll need to know.
Loving God, loving each other,
Making music with my friends;
Loving God, loving each other,
And the music never ends.
We tend to make it harder,
Build steeples out of stone,
Fill with explanations of The Way,
But if we'd stop and listen
And break a little bread,
We would hear the Master say
Loving God, loving each other,
Making music with my friends;
Loving God, loving each other,
And the music never ends.
The music believers make as they love each other is a sweet sound that fills all of heaven and can fill all of earth. Let’s make some of that music on this good day God has given us.
Agape’
Mr. Jim
Prayer Need:
School begins today in Clayton County. It may have already begun in your county or state. We need to pray for our students, faculty, and administrative support people in the coming year – not only today but every day. Pray that God will open the minds of the children to the joy of learning; pray that our teachers will teach the children to love learning – not just to take some test; pray that our administrative people will set the example for our children.
I would like to note that my brother and sister in Christ, Fred and Daisy Hottensen, were blessed with yet another grandchild this past week. His name is Conner. Congratulations to all.
Albert Maiden
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