21/02/2012 - MATURE IN THE LOVE OF GOD

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And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you.

I Thessalonians 3:12

How great it would be if this prayer was said in favor of all people because then we would live better. There is nothing sadder than seeing selfish Christians who never have time to evangelize, who never show appreciation for anyone and only think of themselves. They should look for divine guidance in the Word of God because if they continue to be as they are, they will have problems in the eternal Judgment. We will be measured with the same measure we use (Matthew 7:2).

The absence of God’s love in someone’s heart is not because of some carelessness on the Lord’s part; the truth is that the devil tempts the holy people through a range of strategies. Jesus said that the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches cause the Word to not produce the fruit desired by Father (Matthew 13:22). As a result, the servants of God start thinking differently from what the Bible commands, they give bad testimonies and put to shame the good Name that governs their lives.

There is much hatred and bad things in the world. The people are in urgent need of divine love in action and we Christians should offer them that love. But when the salt loses its flavor it can no longer perform its task. Do not let it happen to you (Mark 9:50)! See if you have truly loved the lost, if you have been kind to your brethren in Christ and if you have not been false. Do not forget: whatever is obtained deceitfully is invalid!

The love we already have to give is not enough because we have to grow in it for people to see the difference between the Gospel of the Lord and other religions. This is of paramount importance. Do not confuse the love of God with human kindness. It is nice to call someone up and ask how they are doing and give attention to the needy, but to demonstrate the love of the Lord is to take the Word to people and pray for them, exercising the authority granted by the Most High over all the power of evil in order to deliver them from the works of darkness (Luke 4:18).

Those who think they have reached perfection in love because their sins have been forgiven are mistaken. This is part of the divine care; the rest you will achieve when you set out your hands to work and give the Eternal Bread to those who are oppressed by demons and subdued by sin, sickness and works of idolatry, witchcraft and sorcery, so that they can be delivered. The love of God is limitless in His work to free the captives of Satan.

Jesus gave us a new commandment: to love one another as He loved us (John 13:34). Christ saved us, forgave us and anointed us with the Holy Spirit, thus enabling us to do the work of God. We have to do the same for the people who are still in darkness. But in order for that to happen, we must ask God\’s help. In so doing we will be able to be the channel for the Savior to take people out of perdition and lead them to salvation.

In Christ with Love,

R. R. Soares