When Levi (Matthew) began to follow Jesus, the Scriptures record that he “made him [Jesus] a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, why do ye eat and drink withContinue reading “I Will Have Mercy”
Tag Archives: love
Loving as Christ Loved
The Apostle Paul taught the Galatian believers that the gospel of God’s grace in Jesus Christ purchased their liberty from sin, both its penalty and its power. Therefore, they were no longer to be governed by self-love, but use this liberty to serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13). Paul went on to remind themContinue reading “Loving as Christ Loved”
Looking on the Things of Others
Paul wrote to the believers in Philippi “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Philippians 2:4). He was instructing his audience to be mindful of the state of affairs pertaining to those around them, whether spiritual or material. Paul was not advocating that they shouldContinue reading “Looking on the Things of Others”
The Working Clothes of Love (Part 3)
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)”
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”
Suffering Loss Willingly
Paul addressed a number of certain practices by the Corinthians particularly among themselves. One such practice dealt with litigation. “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints” (I Corinthians 6:1)? The believers in this local assembly were taking one another to court toContinue reading “Suffering Loss Willingly”
Submission, Sensitivity and Strenuous Discipline
In I Corinthians 9:1-18, the Apostle Paul provided the personal example of his refusal to exercise his apostolic right to be supported by the Corinthians. This was a reminder and object lesson of the need to surrender one’s rights for the benefit of others. In the balance of the chapter, he goes on to explain theContinue reading “Submission, Sensitivity and Strenuous Discipline”
One of Love’s Many Faces
The church in Corinth had many spiritual gifts (I Cor. 1:5-7). Yet they struggled with discontent, striving, and selfish ambition as they deployed these gifts (I Cor. 3:3; 4:7; 12:28-31). Paul emphasized the need for love to govern the ministry of their gifts one to another. This is the background and purpose for one ofContinue reading “One of Love’s Many Faces”
Members Should Care
Paul had written to the Corinthian believers in response to their questions concerning spiritual gifts. The church in Corinth was characterized by much division (I Corinthians 3:3) and contributing to this division was their misuse of these spiritual gifts (I Corinthians 12:28-31). Paul had explained to them that the gifts were to be used forContinue reading “Members Should Care”
From the Chaplain 