We continue to examine Paul’s working definition of love as revealed to him by the Spirit of God and so come to a phrase that should genuinely give us pause. Perhaps, it is because this phrase strike very close to home. He writes that love “seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh noContinue reading “The Working Clothes of Love (Part 3)”
Author Archives: randylivingston
The Working Clothes of Love (Part 2)
In his letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul was constrained to speak on the gifts of the Holy Spirit and how they are to be ministered under the operation of love. That being so, it became necessary for him to spend some time showing what love looked like in its “working clothes.” He continuedContinue reading “The Working Clothes of Love (Part 2)”
The Working Clothes of Love
The concept of love in our modern American society is so very distorted from the truth. It ranges somewhere between the Hollywood version that is nothing more than fleshly lust to the smarmy Kodak version of love we see in television commercials, e.g., a man and a woman walking their dog on the beach inContinue reading “The Working Clothes of Love”
The Path to Unity
Unity is a much desired and, consequently, much sought after commodity. It is difficult to achieve, hard to keep, seemingly impossible to recapture, but ever worth the effort. David had this to say about unity. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the preciousContinue reading “The Path to Unity”
The Only Way
Paul reminded the church at Corinth of the Israelites’ repeated disobedience to God in their journey through the wilderness. He warned them that they could easily fall into such careless living if they were not careful because these temptations are common to all men. While it is true that such temptations are common, it isContinue reading “The Only Way”
The Need for Preparation and Training
In Acts 4, Peter and the other Apostles are threatened by the high priest and the Sadducees as well as the rulers and elders of the people for healing a lame man and daring to preach that his healing came through faith in the name of Jesus. As the Apostles answered the charges against them,Continue reading “The Need for Preparation and Training”
The Nature of the Resurrected Body
In his first epistle to the Corinthians, Paul instructed his audience in the reality of the resurrection. Having done that, he follow up with insight as to the nature of the resurrected body. In doing so, he makes several inspired observations that merit sharing for our encouragement. First, he appeals to the Corinthians’ understanding ofContinue reading “The Nature of the Resurrected Body”
The Ministry of the Gospel Exceeds My Rights
In I Corinthians 8:1-13, the Apostle Paul made a clear case for believers to surrender the exercise of their own rights for the sake of brethren who were weaker in the faith. In so doing, we are required to be mindful of others and to put their welfare above our own. In chapter 9, PaulContinue reading “The Ministry of the Gospel Exceeds My Rights”
The Judge is at the Door
As James draws his epistle to a close, he offers encouragement to those who are being oppressed. “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain” (James 5:7). InContinue reading “The Judge is at the Door”
The Integrity of Paul and His Ministry
Paul’s ministry of the gospel was characterized by an unparalleled integrity. When he brought the gospel to Thessalonica, he was met with much opposition. Even so, he declares “we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention” (I Thessalonians 2:2). This boldness certainly found its origin inContinue reading “The Integrity of Paul and His Ministry”
From the Chaplain 