1 Peter 1: Brotherly Love

Brotherly Love

1 Peter 1:22 reminds us that we "love one another earnestly from a pure heart" after being obedient to Christ. No one else has loved others the way Jesus did. When you follow Christ and use him as your example as how to live you will see how to love others selflessly. 

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Hebrews 13: What Pleases God?

What Pleases God?

In Hebrews 13:1-5 there are some issues pointed out that we as Christ followers will forever face as we are human and prone to mistakes and bad decisions no matter how much we follow Christ. We are told to continue loving like brothers, be hospitable to strangers, show love to prisoners (imprisoned for the sake of the gospel aka persecuted), honor marriages and be free from the love of money.When we love like brothers that means like someone is family and we treat them with the same love that we would family members. When we are hospitable to strangers (people we don't know including foreigners) we could even be entertaining angels. When we remember those fellow believers in prison by writing them letters and visiting them then we are showing them Christ like love as Jesus loved those imprisoned by their own sin or that of others, so we should do the same especially to those imprisoned for being Christ followers. Honoring marriages is another big one as we make commitments to God and our spouses in relation to what is scriptural. We are to keep our lives free from the love of money. We need to use money, but not love it as we cannot serve 2 masters. And through all of this we also must remember that God will never leave us or forsake us. We must stay true to His commands and direction.

 

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Titus 2: Instructions for Women

Instructions for Women

Paul makes sure to tell Titus how to guide and teach not only the men, but the women as well. Truly, it is a way to set followers of Christ apart from those who do not and believe that they should do whatever they want with their lives and bodies. In verses 3-5 Paul writes, "Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled." This puts older women as mentors to younger women. This puts older women as walking, living breathing examples of a Christ following woman who is not slandering others or getting drunk. Paul wants the older women teach the younger ones to love their husbands and children. I know many say that the Bible is a misogynistic piece of writing, but I don't see that the way others do.
 

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Ephesians 5: Being Wise Instead of Foolish

Being Wise Instead of Foolish

The reminders are so important. Paul wants the church in Ephesus to focus on what is important and not what isn't important. Whether you are single or married there needs to be a focus on doing what is wise and not what is foolish. In Ephesians 5:3-4, Paul points out the foolishness he sees in the church such as sexual immorality, all impurity, filthiness, foolish talk or crude joking. Paul says that they are all out of place and should be replaced with giving thanks. Paul continues and tells the church to make the most of every opportunity, not for selfish gain, but as to what honors God. Those who are married have to also honor God, but differently than those who are single. Also, in Ephesians 5:22 tells wives to submit to their husbands as to the Lord. Many will argue, but I say if your husband is not worthy of being lord in the home, you married the wrong guy. But also, in verse 25, we have a different take on things that focuses on the husbands responsibility to his wife. They should love their wives as Christ loved the church. If we all did what was God honoring, we all would be in a lot less trouble.
 

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Acts 21: Paul's Courage and Dedication in the Holy Spirit

Paul's Courage and Dedication in the Holy Spirit

Once again we have an example of Paul being courageous and standing strong in the Holy Spirit. This man has had quite the journey from being one who arrested and killed Christians to now being arrested for being a Christian.

Now Paul is in a position to where he was told by others through the Holy Spirit to not go into Jerusalem. Through the Spirit he was warned but persisted to go on to Jerusalem anyway by saying in Acts 21:13 "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Some might say those words were foolish, but I think it takes a brave man to be ready to die for Jesus. Some may say that Paul felt guilty for having Stephen killed, but we don't know that at this time so it sounds like he is dedicated to doing God's will and being ready to endure whatever comes his way. I like the response that was given by those that were with him when they said in verse 14, "Let the will of the Lord be done." They could have yelled at him and called him names, but they did not. They realized they cannot control or persuade him to do something different than what he was dedicated to do. Paul took several men with him and participated in purification practices. After those seven days were up he was captured in the temple by Jews from Asia. The crowd was so angry and loud an physically vicious, Paul had to be carried into a separate barracks. He asked to speak to the people and in Acts 22, we will see what Paul said.

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