Love and Friendship
We all need love and friendship, especially when times are tough. Friends take the sting and loneliness out of life.
Love
Love
Jesus told His disciples to love one another “as I have loved you” (John 13:34). That wouldn’t be so hard if the love Jesus displayed was primarily the write-a-cheque or call-once-a-month kind of love. But Jesus set the bar immeasurably high. Jesus’ kind of love touched the skin of a leper and washed the feet of a soon-to-be betrayer. He didn’t mind interruption by another’s demands, even those of a person all others disdained. Jesus had the uncanny ability to look straight into a person’s soul to see the deepest need there.
Is that an impossible example to follow? You bet it is! That’s why God sent the Holy Spirit to live inside us and empower us with His supernatural love. Only when “plugged in” to that power will His followers stand out in their treatment of others and of one another. Then people will take notice and say, “My, how they love one another!” Let these resources set you on the path of loving with the Saviour’s love.
Looking Out for Each Other
Those who God saves by His grace need to look out for those who haven’t yet come to the Saviour. Don’t make it hard for others by insulting those who aren’t living the life you would like them to live.
Handwritten Letters
Most communication today is electronic, without a personal touch. Did you know 21 of the New Testament books were handwritten letters? Something to think about.
Authenticity, Integrity, and Truth
Here are two statements from Chuck Swindoll on how to live this Christian life. Number one, it takes authenticity and integrity to win a hearing. Number two, it’s impossible to convince anyone of any truth you’re not living.
Four Ways We View Life
Optimism, pessimism, suspicion, and fatalism all fail to present life as it really is. In contrast to these four ways we view life God tells us to live with a perspective characterized by reality, joy, trust, and hope.
Marriage is a Tough Assignment
True commitment doesn’t change with shifting fortunes of life or with the ebb and flow of feelings. Commitment is a promise made once for all time and then confirmed by the daily decision to stay rather than leave.
Learning With Perception
Love is like glue. In order to be effective, it must be applied. It won’t do any good if it stays in the container.
Being Real, Being Gentle
Our attitude towards one another must be gracious. There’s love when you’re gracious, there’s tenderness when you’re gracious.
Being Involved
Being involved means more than shaking hands with people on your way out of a church service—it’s investing in the lives of others.
To See Clearly, To Feel Deeply
What are the essentials for evangelism? To see clearly and to feel deeply.
