love is kind

As I look around our world today I see division among us. We’re divided over politics, over religion, over gender ideology, over race, over vaccine mandates, over border issues, over homelessness, over illegal drugs, over lawlessness, over misinformation, over climate change, over clean energy, over Ukraine, over China, over Russia, over science and over GOD.

Is this how it’s meant to be?

I believe it’s difficult for Christians in this day and age. Why? Because our focus is always suppose to be on Christ. But how does a Christian continue daily with their family needs, with society and still have the mind of Christ? Because if you’re married and have children you have certain responsibilties which must be met daily. Breakfast must be made, children up and dressed for school, husband up for work, you’ve got to get ready for work or if you’re a stay at home mom you have all those household chores waiting for you. And society itself isn’t a place reflective of Christ today.

So, how do we remain in Christ?

Through love, because, everything we do, everything we aspire to do must be from a place of love. Whether it’s taking care of our children, our husband, working, it must come from a place of love. Mothers should;

Love their children (1 Kings 3:26, Isaiah 49:15)
Comfort and care for them (Ruth 4:16, Isaiah 66:13)
Protect them (Exodus 2:1-4)
Educate them (1Timothy 3:15)
Watch over their affairs (1 Kings 1:11-31,Genesis 27:5-17)

Wives are to answer to their husbands so that if the husband is disobedient to the word, the wife can win them over stictly by their behavior, look what it says;

In the same way, you wives, be subject to your husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won over without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your pure and respectful behavior. Your adornment must not be merely the external-braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or putting on apparel; but it should be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gently and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.(1Peter 3:1-4)

Wives, subject yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. (Ephesians 5:22-24)

It’s out of love that we as wives, mothers, daughters, sisters and grandmothers can do all these things. But as I continued my journey through the scriptures I came across these scriptures, which says;

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1John 4:7,8)

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Galatians 5:14)

He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the stranger by giving him food and clothing. So show your love for the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (Deuteronomy 10:18,19)

You have heard that it was said, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves to be Sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:43-45)

From these scriptures I’ve learned, love isn’t just for our families, neighbors or churches. It’s also for the stranger and for our enemies. And regardless of whether or not we agree with one another’s opinion we can’t allow that to be the reason we don’t love. Remember the Apostle Paul says;

Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

During my bible reading last night I came across a scripture which after reading it I realized it’s exactly what’s going on in our society today. Now, I’ve heard this scripture quoted by quite a few people in the past and had completely forgotten about it till I read during my Bible study, but, it really made an impression on me so thought I would share. I’m quoting this scripture from two different bibles and the way the scripture reads from the first Bible is;

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek it’s own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
1 Corinthians 13:4-6 (NKJB)

Society today lacks love for their fellow man, no question about it. What I would also like to point out is how accurate this particular interpretation is with what’s been going on within our society. There are those who are puffing themselves up, parading around in their sin and loving it. They’re loud, proud, rude and reject the truth, in fact, if you mention the word God or Jesus they get nasty. But let’s look at this scripture from a different bible, which says;

Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek it’s own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
1 Corinthians 13:4-6 (NASB)

When you read the scripture from this interpretation you realize these communities are not only loud, proud and rude, but, also arrogant, disgraceful, they constantly brag on themselves, they’re easily provoked and once you’re on their radar they will continuously harass you. These communities rejoice in unrighteousness and have a tendency to twist the truth.

But what does the word rejoice actually mean? It means to take joy or delight in something, so, one could easily replace the word rejoice with joy, pleasure, delight, triumph, celebrate, relish, elated or jubilate to name a few. In other words, they delight, take pleasure or celebrate in their sin.

But what does all this mean?

It means society has gotten completely away from God! And as a “true” Christian we have a responsibility to speak the truth, but, it must come from a place of love. It’s unfortunate that many Christians are allowing this wokeism, gender ideology and the LGBQT+ community to take over their churches which are competely destroying them.

Ask yourself this, would Jesus allow these ideologies to creep into HIS Church? Afterall the Bible warns over and over about sexual immorality. For instance, the story of the woman found in the act of adultery, she was going to be stoned to death according to the law of Moses. But what did Jesus do? He didn’t condemn her, but, He did say to her, neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.

So why are Churches allowing this today?

Another example, look at how Jesus handled those whom He healed or set free from demonic spirits, He would say, go and sin no more. This implies that those who are “truly” sorrowful, “truly” believe in Him will change and not habitually sin.

While the Church should always be opened for everyone, Churches shouldn’t be changing to accomodate those found in these communities, rather, those in these communities should be changing to align with Christ.