Satan Is Real
We have a very real enemy, very real and it's not the IRS or the obnoxious jerk trying to make your life miserable it's Satan. He's real, very real and we need to recognize where he is in our lives because he's tricky and he'd have us blame God, or blame others, or blame the weather and anything else but him for things that go wrong and upset us. If he can keep our thoughts anywhere but on him he's thrilled. He's devious, he works through deception and doesn't want to be brought into the light, into the open to be seen for what he is and how he works.
It's easy to tell someone that the devil was in that one- meaning someone who is let's say a serial killer, and people will nod and agree. But try to tell them that the devil is working in them and their lives in less blatent ways and they'll scoff at you. Satan only works through 'BAD' people they'll tell you and claim their goodness in the next breath. They're wrong. Satan works through any and all He can. It's pretty obvious when you read some of the following Bible verses. Jesus even calls Peter, Satan. A disciple, one of His apostles He calls Satan. Why? To make a point. Satan can be in any of us if we allow. Satan's ways can be enacted by us all and Satan's ways are many.
Satan is real. He's not some fictional character for books and movies, he's not some imaginary being we've created to blame things on, he's not only concerned with so-called 'bad' people. He's as real as you and I are real. He's as real as Jesus is real. We have to bring him out into the light in our own lives. He has to be revealed in our lives so we can- through our Lord and Savior- find victory over him and his deceptive ways. Recognizing the reality of Satan is important because we need desperately not to cling to life and its bad aspects blaming God, blaming situations, blaming our fellow human beings, we need to place the blame where it truly belongs. How can we truly love our enemies unless we can put the blame for their hateful actions where they belong? If we are told to love those that hate us it's all but impossible unless we realize that they are being controlled by Satan and whether willingly or not, they aren't acting of their own accord. They might say they are, but that's what Satan loves. He loves using people and getting them to take the blame. He loves using them and controlling them so they don't even know they are being used and controlled. We who are Christ's need to recognize the devil working in others and only by doing so can we take pity upon them and love them. Because how could you love someone that killed another you loved? How could you ever love someone that tortured a child? How could you ever love someone that betrays you completely? You'd look at them and the hatred inside yourself would grow and grow because all you'd see is their hurting the others you love, or hurting you. And if all you see is that hatred, detesting that person how can you love them- how could you love your enemy?
You might want to protest and say they have to pay for what they done and if I love them I'm excusing what they've done, I'm letting them get away with their evil by not reminding them of it daily by hating them, despising them, by being loathed to look at them. It's not our duty to remind them, it's not our duty to condemn them. We have a duty to Jesus and Jesus alone. Jesus tells us to love those who hurt us and to truly love our enemies, our attackers, our abusers we have to realize they are under the control of Satan and Satan would use them to fill us with hatred and not only have our abusers under their control but have us as well.
We can't let Satan hide working his insidious ways in our lives. We have to be able and willing to recognize that he's alive and well and seeking to devour all he can before his end comes-- and it will come.
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Job
{1:6} Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
{1:7} And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
{1:8} And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
{1:9} Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
{1:10} Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
{1:11} But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
{1:12} And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath [is] in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Job
{2:1} Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
{2:2} And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
{2:3} And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
{2:4} And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
{2:5} But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
{2:6} And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he [is] in thine hand; but save his life.
{2:7} So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
{2:8} And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes
Psalms
{109:1} Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;
{109:2} For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
{109:3} They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought
against me without a cause.
{109:4} For my love they are my adversaries: but I [give myself unto] prayer.
{109:5} And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
{109:6} Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.
{109:7} When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.
{109:8} Let his days be few; [and] let another take his office.
{109:9} Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
{109:10} Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek [their bread] also out of their desolate places.
{109:11} Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour.
{109:12} Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.
{109:13} Let his posterity be cut off; [and] in the generation following let their name be blotted out.
{109:14} Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
{109:15} Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.
{109:16} Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in
heart.
{109:17} As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.
{109:18} As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his
bones.
{109:19} Let it be unto him as the garment [which] covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.
{109:20} [Let] this [be] the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.
{109:21} But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name’s sake: because thy mercy [is] good, deliver thou me.
{109:22} For I [am] poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
{109:23} I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.
{109:24} My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.
{109:25} I became also a reproach unto them: [when] they looked upon me they shaked their heads.
{109:26} Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy:
{109:27} That they may know that this [is] thy hand; [that] thou, LORD, hast done it.
{109:28} Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.
{109:29} Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.
{109:30} I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.
{109:31} For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save [him] from those that condemn his soul.
Zechariah
{3:1} And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. {3:2} And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: [is] not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
{3:3} Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
{3:4} And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
{3:5} And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
{3:6} And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,
{3:7} Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.
{3:8} Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they [are] men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.
{3:9} For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone [shall be] seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
{3:10} In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.
Matthew
{4:1} Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
{4:2} And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
{4:3} And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
{4:4} But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
{4:5} Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
{4:6} And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
{4:7} Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
{4:8} Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
{4:9} And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
{4:10} Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
{4:11} Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Matthew
{12:22} Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
{12:23} And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
{12:24} But when the Pharisees heard [it,] they said, This [fellow] doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. {12:25} And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
{12:26} And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
{12:27} And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast [them] out? therefore they shall be your judges.
{12:28} But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
{12:29} Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
{12:30} He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
Matthew
{16:21} From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
{16:22} Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
{16:23} But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that
be of God, but those that be of men.
Mark
{1:13} And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
Mark
{3:22} And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. {3:23} And he called them [unto him,] and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
{3:24} And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
{3:25} And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
{3:26} And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
{3:27} No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
{3:28} Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: {3:29} But he that shall blaspheme againstthe Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
{3:30} Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
Mark
{4:1} And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.
{4:2} And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
{4:3} Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
{4:4} And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
{4:5} And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
{4:6} But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
{4:7} And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
{4:8} And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty,
and some an hundred.
{4:9} And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
{4:10} And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
{4:11} And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these [things] are done in parables:
{4:12} That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and [their] sins should be forgiven them.
{4:13} And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
{4:14} The sower soweth the word.
{4:15} And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
{4:16} And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
{4:17} And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
{4:18} And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
{4:19} And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
{4:20} And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive [it,] and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
Mark
{8:27} And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?
{8:28} And they answered, John the Baptist: but some [say,] Elias; and others, One of the prophets.
{8:29} And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.
{8:30} And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.
{8:31} And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and [of] the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
{8:32} And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
{8:33} But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
{8:34} And when he had called the people [unto him] with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
{8:35} For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
{8:36} For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
{8:37} Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
{8:38} Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Luke
{4:1} And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
{4:2} Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
{4:3} And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
{4:4} And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
{4:5} And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
{4:6} And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
{4:7} If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
{4:8} And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
{4:9} And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself
down from hence:
{4:10} For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
{4:11} And in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
{4:12} And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
{4:13} And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
{4:14} And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. {4:15} And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
5/22/10
Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Gen 18:27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes
Job 13:12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
*******
We are dust. We are clay. Animated by the breath of God. Brought to life we live as long as we have the breath of God in us. When that breath is gone we slowly turn back into the dust we were created from. Death is inevitable for us, that return to dust is inevitable. When Job spoke in response to God's reprimand-
Job 42:1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
Job 42:3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
Job 42:4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
Job 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Job abhorred himself. This should be a lesson for us all. In the face of the glory of God we are nothing, we are animated dust by His will alone. We cannot understand Him with our limited ability to comprehend the greatness of God. We need to die to self and realize we live by His will, by His grace, by His love and not by anything we do. We need to repent of our arrogance in dust and ashes. We need to be dead to sins and alive to His righteousness.
Every Sabbath day we are called to remember our Creator. Every Sabbath is a reminder we are to die to self and live to God. Asked to cease from our own labors we are asked to realize that of ourselves we are nothing. We cease from our workings to realize that it is only by God's love that we exist at all. We bow down to His will, acknowledging Him as Lord, as Savior. We help others, we realize God made the Sabbath for us to bring us into a constant remembrance of Him as our God. Doing good on the Sabbath knowing it is by His grace we can do anything at all. All glory goes to Him.
People get baptized- signifying a death of the old life, a dying and a rebirth, a new life in Christ. Every Sabbath we have the opportunity for the same experience. A death to self absorbence, a death to self indulgences, a death to self and a new life to Christ, an honoring of our Creator. One day a week to set aside selfish pursuits and focus on our Lord.
Lord please help me to die to self and live to You. By Your righteousness, by Your grace, by Your mercy, in Your love now and always.
Amen.
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another
Mat 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Whatsoever you want others to do to you…do to them.
We hear this all the time don’t we? The saying- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It's a good saying, it's a very good saying and a good creed to live by, isn't it? You wouldn't hurt someone - mentally, emotionally, or physically if you knew you would be hurt that way in return, would you? So many people do hurt others and not just in tiny ways, but in huge ways. No matter that hurt it's senseless pain. Sure there might be those out there that believe in hurting those who hurt you. There might be those who believe in doling out pain to punish someone. There are even those who like to live by the old- hurt them before they hurt me, regardless of whether or not they were ever going to hurt you at all. Some will go so far as to say that some people hurt others because it's the only way they can show they love them. I just have to shake my head at that, I really do.
If ALL people treated others as they want to be treated what sort of world would we be living in?
Strangely enough just recently I've been catching myself (by the grace of God of course) feeling anger at other drivers around me. It's nothing new of course but lately what is new is the thought that comes immediately after I catch myself- 'what if that was me'.
What if it were me there slowing down looking for something?
What if it were me there needing to back out suddenly?
What if it were me there waiting for the light to change and confused over who is going to go first?
I have done all those things and yes, I could console myself by saying 'well the people around me had a right to be mad at me', but that's a cop out, right?
Do we have a right to that road rage, or if not rage, road ire? Anyone would have it, right? It's instinctive, reflexive, it's normal, it's … wrong. Yes, it may be all those things but it doesn't make it right. Our flesh nature is instinctive towards anger, towards evil and it's the flesh nature we have to deny, that we have to surrender to our Savior so that the spiritual nature in us can dominate.
Lashing out at someone has become reflex for so many. They get irritated and this they believe gives them the right to act on that irritation and lash out. We are going to be irritated. Too many believe that they are not right in their relationship with our Savior when they even get irritated. Too many wish to believe they can transcend all the irritation, all the angst of life and this would prove they are truly Christ's. All that proves is they've succeeded in fooling themselves that they are a *GOOD* person. We can't concern ourselves with *being good to be God's*. Yes, we must shun all evil, we must live in Christ with Him as our example, but we have to let our righteousness be Christ's righteousness. He has to live in us and His righteousness must come through, nothing that we can call OUR righteousness, OUR goodness. We have to accept that we are being tried in fire, we are being refined constantly and that refining is never easy. We need to ALWAYS do unto others as we WANT them to do to us, whether that is excuse our mistakes as we're driving, or forgive our forgetfulness, or be understanding as we fumble with our notes, have patience towards us when we mess up our pin number at the atm and hold up the line, even be forgiving when we have to take a cellphone call and our hushed conversation is bothering you. It doesn't matter what it is WE need to treat others as WE want to be treated when we are in their shoes. When we anger them we want them to be understanding. When they anger us we NEED to be understanding. When they slap us we need to realize that we didn't like being slapped and we shouldn't slap back. When they revile us it's hurtful and if we revile them back we are giving hurt back, we are giving something WE wouldn't want to have- if we had the choice. It's not easy, no one said it was.
Mat 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
We should do what we want done to us. We have to put ourselves in the shoes of others at all times not just when it's convenient for us to do so.
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Thou shalt LOVE they neighbor as thyself.
This is one of the COMMANDMENTS!
A COMMAND for us to follow, not for us to ignore, not for us to sometimes follow, not for us to disregard as we do sooooooooooo often! We do it all the time! We've STOPPED loving our neighbor. We've stopped and we've done so for many, many reasons and not all of those reasons are horrific to us. We stop because we are scared for our safety. We stop because we just live in our own little safe sphere of influence and to step outside it makes us feel vulnerable in many ways.
Next time you step outside of your house and spy a stranger- ask yourself if you love them. Seriously, ask yourself if you love them. Love isn't that sentimental business we call it, love is caring above and beyond yourself for another, undeservedly. We don't wait for the strangers to become our friends then become our close friends until we decide we love them. We must love our neighbors, we must love all those around us as our God would love them and does love them.
Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
By the grace of God my we learn this, may this become part of our lives through our Savior. Help us God to love as you would have us love, as You love.
By Your LOVE, Your mercy and grace, Your righteousness now and forever!
Amen.
It's easy to tell someone that the devil was in that one- meaning someone who is let's say a serial killer, and people will nod and agree. But try to tell them that the devil is working in them and their lives in less blatent ways and they'll scoff at you. Satan only works through 'BAD' people they'll tell you and claim their goodness in the next breath. They're wrong. Satan works through any and all He can. It's pretty obvious when you read some of the following Bible verses. Jesus even calls Peter, Satan. A disciple, one of His apostles He calls Satan. Why? To make a point. Satan can be in any of us if we allow. Satan's ways can be enacted by us all and Satan's ways are many.
Satan is real. He's not some fictional character for books and movies, he's not some imaginary being we've created to blame things on, he's not only concerned with so-called 'bad' people. He's as real as you and I are real. He's as real as Jesus is real. We have to bring him out into the light in our own lives. He has to be revealed in our lives so we can- through our Lord and Savior- find victory over him and his deceptive ways. Recognizing the reality of Satan is important because we need desperately not to cling to life and its bad aspects blaming God, blaming situations, blaming our fellow human beings, we need to place the blame where it truly belongs. How can we truly love our enemies unless we can put the blame for their hateful actions where they belong? If we are told to love those that hate us it's all but impossible unless we realize that they are being controlled by Satan and whether willingly or not, they aren't acting of their own accord. They might say they are, but that's what Satan loves. He loves using people and getting them to take the blame. He loves using them and controlling them so they don't even know they are being used and controlled. We who are Christ's need to recognize the devil working in others and only by doing so can we take pity upon them and love them. Because how could you love someone that killed another you loved? How could you ever love someone that tortured a child? How could you ever love someone that betrays you completely? You'd look at them and the hatred inside yourself would grow and grow because all you'd see is their hurting the others you love, or hurting you. And if all you see is that hatred, detesting that person how can you love them- how could you love your enemy?
You might want to protest and say they have to pay for what they done and if I love them I'm excusing what they've done, I'm letting them get away with their evil by not reminding them of it daily by hating them, despising them, by being loathed to look at them. It's not our duty to remind them, it's not our duty to condemn them. We have a duty to Jesus and Jesus alone. Jesus tells us to love those who hurt us and to truly love our enemies, our attackers, our abusers we have to realize they are under the control of Satan and Satan would use them to fill us with hatred and not only have our abusers under their control but have us as well.
We can't let Satan hide working his insidious ways in our lives. We have to be able and willing to recognize that he's alive and well and seeking to devour all he can before his end comes-- and it will come.
*******
Job
{1:6} Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
{1:7} And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
{1:8} And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
{1:9} Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
{1:10} Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
{1:11} But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
{1:12} And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath [is] in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Job
{2:1} Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
{2:2} And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
{2:3} And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
{2:4} And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
{2:5} But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
{2:6} And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he [is] in thine hand; but save his life.
{2:7} So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
{2:8} And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes
Psalms
{109:1} Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;
{109:2} For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
{109:3} They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought
against me without a cause.
{109:4} For my love they are my adversaries: but I [give myself unto] prayer.
{109:5} And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
{109:6} Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.
{109:7} When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.
{109:8} Let his days be few; [and] let another take his office.
{109:9} Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
{109:10} Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek [their bread] also out of their desolate places.
{109:11} Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour.
{109:12} Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.
{109:13} Let his posterity be cut off; [and] in the generation following let their name be blotted out.
{109:14} Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
{109:15} Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.
{109:16} Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in
heart.
{109:17} As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.
{109:18} As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his
bones.
{109:19} Let it be unto him as the garment [which] covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.
{109:20} [Let] this [be] the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.
{109:21} But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name’s sake: because thy mercy [is] good, deliver thou me.
{109:22} For I [am] poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
{109:23} I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.
{109:24} My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.
{109:25} I became also a reproach unto them: [when] they looked upon me they shaked their heads.
{109:26} Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy:
{109:27} That they may know that this [is] thy hand; [that] thou, LORD, hast done it.
{109:28} Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.
{109:29} Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.
{109:30} I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.
{109:31} For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save [him] from those that condemn his soul.
Zechariah
{3:1} And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. {3:2} And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: [is] not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
{3:3} Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
{3:4} And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
{3:5} And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
{3:6} And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,
{3:7} Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.
{3:8} Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they [are] men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.
{3:9} For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone [shall be] seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
{3:10} In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.
Matthew
{4:1} Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
{4:2} And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
{4:3} And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
{4:4} But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
{4:5} Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
{4:6} And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
{4:7} Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
{4:8} Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
{4:9} And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
{4:10} Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
{4:11} Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Matthew
{12:22} Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
{12:23} And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
{12:24} But when the Pharisees heard [it,] they said, This [fellow] doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. {12:25} And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
{12:26} And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
{12:27} And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast [them] out? therefore they shall be your judges.
{12:28} But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
{12:29} Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
{12:30} He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
Matthew
{16:21} From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
{16:22} Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
{16:23} But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that
be of God, but those that be of men.
Mark
{1:13} And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
Mark
{3:22} And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. {3:23} And he called them [unto him,] and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
{3:24} And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
{3:25} And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
{3:26} And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
{3:27} No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
{3:28} Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: {3:29} But he that shall blaspheme againstthe Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
{3:30} Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
Mark
{4:1} And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.
{4:2} And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
{4:3} Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
{4:4} And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
{4:5} And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
{4:6} But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
{4:7} And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
{4:8} And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty,
and some an hundred.
{4:9} And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
{4:10} And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
{4:11} And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these [things] are done in parables:
{4:12} That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and [their] sins should be forgiven them.
{4:13} And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
{4:14} The sower soweth the word.
{4:15} And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
{4:16} And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
{4:17} And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
{4:18} And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
{4:19} And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
{4:20} And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive [it,] and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
Mark
{8:27} And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?
{8:28} And they answered, John the Baptist: but some [say,] Elias; and others, One of the prophets.
{8:29} And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.
{8:30} And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.
{8:31} And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and [of] the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
{8:32} And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
{8:33} But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
{8:34} And when he had called the people [unto him] with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
{8:35} For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
{8:36} For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
{8:37} Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
{8:38} Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Luke
{4:1} And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
{4:2} Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
{4:3} And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
{4:4} And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
{4:5} And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
{4:6} And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
{4:7} If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
{4:8} And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
{4:9} And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself
down from hence:
{4:10} For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
{4:11} And in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
{4:12} And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
{4:13} And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
{4:14} And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. {4:15} And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
5/22/10
Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Gen 18:27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes
Job 13:12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
*******
We are dust. We are clay. Animated by the breath of God. Brought to life we live as long as we have the breath of God in us. When that breath is gone we slowly turn back into the dust we were created from. Death is inevitable for us, that return to dust is inevitable. When Job spoke in response to God's reprimand-
Job 42:1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
Job 42:3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
Job 42:4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
Job 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Job abhorred himself. This should be a lesson for us all. In the face of the glory of God we are nothing, we are animated dust by His will alone. We cannot understand Him with our limited ability to comprehend the greatness of God. We need to die to self and realize we live by His will, by His grace, by His love and not by anything we do. We need to repent of our arrogance in dust and ashes. We need to be dead to sins and alive to His righteousness.
Every Sabbath day we are called to remember our Creator. Every Sabbath is a reminder we are to die to self and live to God. Asked to cease from our own labors we are asked to realize that of ourselves we are nothing. We cease from our workings to realize that it is only by God's love that we exist at all. We bow down to His will, acknowledging Him as Lord, as Savior. We help others, we realize God made the Sabbath for us to bring us into a constant remembrance of Him as our God. Doing good on the Sabbath knowing it is by His grace we can do anything at all. All glory goes to Him.
People get baptized- signifying a death of the old life, a dying and a rebirth, a new life in Christ. Every Sabbath we have the opportunity for the same experience. A death to self absorbence, a death to self indulgences, a death to self and a new life to Christ, an honoring of our Creator. One day a week to set aside selfish pursuits and focus on our Lord.
Lord please help me to die to self and live to You. By Your righteousness, by Your grace, by Your mercy, in Your love now and always.
Amen.
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another
Mat 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Whatsoever you want others to do to you…do to them.
We hear this all the time don’t we? The saying- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It's a good saying, it's a very good saying and a good creed to live by, isn't it? You wouldn't hurt someone - mentally, emotionally, or physically if you knew you would be hurt that way in return, would you? So many people do hurt others and not just in tiny ways, but in huge ways. No matter that hurt it's senseless pain. Sure there might be those out there that believe in hurting those who hurt you. There might be those who believe in doling out pain to punish someone. There are even those who like to live by the old- hurt them before they hurt me, regardless of whether or not they were ever going to hurt you at all. Some will go so far as to say that some people hurt others because it's the only way they can show they love them. I just have to shake my head at that, I really do.
If ALL people treated others as they want to be treated what sort of world would we be living in?
Strangely enough just recently I've been catching myself (by the grace of God of course) feeling anger at other drivers around me. It's nothing new of course but lately what is new is the thought that comes immediately after I catch myself- 'what if that was me'.
What if it were me there slowing down looking for something?
What if it were me there needing to back out suddenly?
What if it were me there waiting for the light to change and confused over who is going to go first?
I have done all those things and yes, I could console myself by saying 'well the people around me had a right to be mad at me', but that's a cop out, right?
Do we have a right to that road rage, or if not rage, road ire? Anyone would have it, right? It's instinctive, reflexive, it's normal, it's … wrong. Yes, it may be all those things but it doesn't make it right. Our flesh nature is instinctive towards anger, towards evil and it's the flesh nature we have to deny, that we have to surrender to our Savior so that the spiritual nature in us can dominate.
Lashing out at someone has become reflex for so many. They get irritated and this they believe gives them the right to act on that irritation and lash out. We are going to be irritated. Too many believe that they are not right in their relationship with our Savior when they even get irritated. Too many wish to believe they can transcend all the irritation, all the angst of life and this would prove they are truly Christ's. All that proves is they've succeeded in fooling themselves that they are a *GOOD* person. We can't concern ourselves with *being good to be God's*. Yes, we must shun all evil, we must live in Christ with Him as our example, but we have to let our righteousness be Christ's righteousness. He has to live in us and His righteousness must come through, nothing that we can call OUR righteousness, OUR goodness. We have to accept that we are being tried in fire, we are being refined constantly and that refining is never easy. We need to ALWAYS do unto others as we WANT them to do to us, whether that is excuse our mistakes as we're driving, or forgive our forgetfulness, or be understanding as we fumble with our notes, have patience towards us when we mess up our pin number at the atm and hold up the line, even be forgiving when we have to take a cellphone call and our hushed conversation is bothering you. It doesn't matter what it is WE need to treat others as WE want to be treated when we are in their shoes. When we anger them we want them to be understanding. When they anger us we NEED to be understanding. When they slap us we need to realize that we didn't like being slapped and we shouldn't slap back. When they revile us it's hurtful and if we revile them back we are giving hurt back, we are giving something WE wouldn't want to have- if we had the choice. It's not easy, no one said it was.
Mat 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
We should do what we want done to us. We have to put ourselves in the shoes of others at all times not just when it's convenient for us to do so.
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Thou shalt LOVE they neighbor as thyself.
This is one of the COMMANDMENTS!
A COMMAND for us to follow, not for us to ignore, not for us to sometimes follow, not for us to disregard as we do sooooooooooo often! We do it all the time! We've STOPPED loving our neighbor. We've stopped and we've done so for many, many reasons and not all of those reasons are horrific to us. We stop because we are scared for our safety. We stop because we just live in our own little safe sphere of influence and to step outside it makes us feel vulnerable in many ways.
Next time you step outside of your house and spy a stranger- ask yourself if you love them. Seriously, ask yourself if you love them. Love isn't that sentimental business we call it, love is caring above and beyond yourself for another, undeservedly. We don't wait for the strangers to become our friends then become our close friends until we decide we love them. We must love our neighbors, we must love all those around us as our God would love them and does love them.
Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
By the grace of God my we learn this, may this become part of our lives through our Savior. Help us God to love as you would have us love, as You love.
By Your LOVE, Your mercy and grace, Your righteousness now and forever!
Amen.