Skip to main content

One Word that Always Applies

                 If I told you that I wanted to highlight one word from 1 Corinthians 13, you would probably guess that the word is “love”.  However, I want to focus on a different word.  “It (love) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (verse 7).  I want you to think about the word “always”.
                Always is a huge a word!  Always is not “part of the time”, or “when I feel like it”.  Always means every time, in every situation, with everyone. 
                Always applies to a bunch of other qualities too.  A partial list indicates that that Christians are to always “abound in the work of the Lord” (I Corinthians 15:58), rejoice (2 Corinthians 6:10), give thanks (Ephesians 5:20), glorify and honour Christ (Philippians 1:20), obey the teachings of God (Philippians 2:12), speak kindly (Colossians 4:6), do good to one another (1 Thessalonians 5:15) and be gentle to all (Titus 3:2).  Always!  Always does not give me an out.  It does not allow me to suspend my Christianity when I want to act like a jerk to someone.
Revelation 3:15-16 says, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish you were one or the other!  So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am going to spit you out of my mouth!” I am always shocked to read that Jesus would prefer us be completely against him (cold) than to be half in and half out (lukewarm).  Think about that for a minute.
                Now if you are thinking, “Boy!  That seems sort of harsh!  Why would God be so demanding?”, I have some good news for you:  Always applies to God as well!   God always loves (Psalm 139).  Jesus promised to be with his people always (Matthew 28:20).  God is always at work (John 5:17).  Jesus always speaks to God on our behalf (Hebrews 7:24-25). 
                God’s faithfulness makes us safe and secure.  We never have to wonder how he feels about us or where we stand with him.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  When his people, by his strength, live in a way that is consistent with God’s nature, we reflect that same security and hope to others. 
                And that always needed!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Art of Noticing.... Seeing what we need to see and what we miss when we don't

 What we focus on in life matters. Here are some scriptural reminders that will help us see correctly.  https://youtu.be/Rn76tV0ZH8s    
Post a Comment
Read more

Consider This: What is so Great About Grace?

If you were to drive by our house, you would see that Sara loves plants.  Our yard is full of flowers, and Sara lovingly tends every one of them. Which is why I was so afraid when she left town and put me in charge of keeping things alive. She must have been a little concerned, too, because she sent me two videos with specific instructions on how to water, when to water, and what to do.  Honestly, those first two videos helped, but the third one she sent was the one I liked most.  In that one, she said, “Please do your best. I want the yard to look good for the family reunion in two weeks.  However, if something dies, we will dig it out and pretend that it never existed!” That is what grace looks like!  Try your best, do what you can, but if it goes wrong, it will be ok. Sometimes we talk as though grace and effort are opposites.  That is not true.  They are partners. In one place, scripture asks, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone c...
Post a Comment
Read more

Consider This: Press The Button!

  Consider This:  Press the Button! My favourite TV game show is Jeopardy.  I used to like it even more when my kids were younger, because I could easily beat them and look smart.  These days, after they have grown up and gone to university, it is much more difficult.  However, Jeopardy is still the only game show I will watch. In a book I read, a contestant who did very well on the show shared the secret to his success.  He said (and I am paraphrasing here), “You must press the button before you know the answer.  Everyone on Jeopardy is smart. Everyone knows the answer. The key to winning is to act.  You must jump in and press the button, assuming that your brain will catch up and supply the answer.  If you wait until you are sure, you will be too late!” Press the button! Too often, we hesitate, not because we do not know what to do, but because we do not want to do it.  Sometimes, we fail to act because we are not sure how the situatio...
Post a Comment
Read more