Real Love #RTTBROS #NIGHTLIGHT

Real Love #RTTBROS #NIGHTLIGHT 

Verse: "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;" - 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (KJV)

In my recent sermon on 1 Corinthians 13, I explored the true meaning of love as described in this powerful passage. I emphasized that love, or charity as it is called in the King James Version, is more than just a feeling - it is a way of life that reflects the very nature of God.

I noted how we often use the word "love" carelessly in our daily lives, applying it to everything from our favorite possessions to the people closest to us. However, the Bible presents a much deeper understanding of love. The Greek word used in this passage is "agape" - a selfless, sacrificial love that comes from God Himself.

True love, as I explained, is patient and kind. It does not envy others or boast about itself. Love honors others and seeks their good above its own. It is slow to anger and quick to forgive. These characteristics may seem impossible to live out in our own strength, but they are the fruit of a life transformed by God's love.

Through this message, I challenged my listeners to examine their own hearts and actions. Are we loving others with the same sacrificial, unconditional love that God has shown us? Or are we more concerned with our own comfort and desires?

As we meditate on this timeless passage, my prayer is that we would be inspired to love others as Christ has loved us. In a world filled with division and strife, may our lives be marked by the radical, transformative power of God's agape love.

The Invitation Matt. 7:7 #Nightlight #RTTBROS

The Invitation Matt. 7:7  #Nightlight #RTTBROS 

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" (Matthew 7:7, KJV)

In our daily lives, we often find ourselves facing challenges, struggles, and moments of uncertainty. During these times, it is crucial to remember that our Heavenly Father is always present and aware of our circumstances. He is not a distant, uninformed God; rather, He is intimately acquainted with every detail of our lives.

However, God desires for us to actively seek His presence and involvement in our situations. As the verse from Matthew reminds us, we are encouraged to ask, seek, and knock. These actions demonstrate our faith, dependence, and trust in God's ability to intervene and provide for our needs.

When we pray, we are not merely informing God of our problems, for He already knows them. Instead, we are inviting Him to be involved in our lives, to guide us, and to work in and through us. Prayer is an act of humility, acknowledging that we cannot face life's challenges alone and that we need God's wisdom, strength, and provision.

God is waiting for us to take that step of faith, to seek His face, and to knock on the door of His grace. He promises that when we do so, He will respond. "For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened" (Luke 11:10, KJV).

Let us approach God with confidence, knowing that He is ready and willing to be involved in every aspect of our lives. As we seek Him through prayer, studying His Word, and walking in obedience, we will experience the joy of His presence and the assurance of His love and care for us.

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The Arena #Nightlight #RTTBROS

The Arena  #Nightlight #RTTBROS 

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:14 (KJV)

 It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong 

man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. 

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is 

marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who 

comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and 

shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows 

great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy 

cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, 

and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that 

his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know 

victory nor defeat.

The Man in the Arena" by Theodore Roosevelt:

In his famous poem "The Man in the Arena", Theodore Roosevelt pays tribute to the individual who strives valiantly in pursuit of a worthy cause. He honors the one "whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood" as they labor in the arena of life.

This image calls to mind the Apostle Paul's words in Philippians, where he speaks of pressing on toward the ultimate prize - the "high calling of God in Christ Jesus." The Christian life is not one of passive spectatorship from the stands. Rather, we are called to enter the arena, to stake everything on our faith, and to strive with all our might to live out the Gospel.

We may stumble at times, our faces marred by the dust of our failures and the sweat of our exertions. Yet God does not call us to a life of flawless performance, but to one of perseverance. "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Matthew 16:24, KJV)

In the arena of faith, success is measured not by an unblemished record, but by the courage to rise each time we fall. For "the righteous falls seven times and rises again." (Proverbs 24:16, KJV). May we keep our eyes fixed on the prize of God's calling, knowing that His grace is sufficient to sustain us in the fray. For "His strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9, KJV)

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The Ant Mill #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Ant Mill #Nightlight #RTTBROS

Proverbs 14:12 (KJV) "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

In nature, there is a phenomenon known as an "ant mill" or "ant death spiral." This occurs when a group of ants gets separated from their pheromone trail, which they use to communicate and navigate. Without their trail, they begin to follow each other in a circle, eventually leading to exhaustion and death.

Like the ants, when we rely solely on our own understanding and follow the ways that seem right to us, we can find ourselves going in circles, lost and without direction. But God offers us a different path, one that leads to eternal life and fulfillment.

When we choose to follow God's ways, even when they may not always make sense to us, we can trust that He is leading us to our true destination. We may encounter challenges and obstacles along the way, but we can have confidence that God's plan is greater than our own.

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The Paradox Eph 4:32 #Nightlight #RTTBROS

The Paradox Eph 4:32 #Nightlight #RTTBROS 

The Paradox of Christian Kindness

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” - Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)

Inscribed on the wall of a ministry to the broken, rejected untouchables in Calcutta India is this poem:

Anyway Poem

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;

It was never between you and them anyway.

In a world where kindness is often met with skepticism, and sincerity with cynicism, it can be challenging to live out the Christian call to love and forgiveness. Yet, the poem by Kent M. Keith, though not scriptural, resonates with the teachings of Christ in its encouragement to persevere in goodness, regardless of the world’s response.

As believers, we are called to a higher standard – one that mirrors the character of Christ. The poem echoes the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus taught us to love our enemies and do good without seeking reward (Matthew 5:44-46). This devotion is not about the immediate gratification of earthly approval but about the eternal perspective of pleasing God.

The acts of kindness, honesty, and generosity mentioned in the poem are not means to an end but are ends in themselves. They are expressions of a heart transformed by God’s love, a testament to the work of the Holy Spirit within us. When we forgive, show kindness, and continue to build despite opposition, we are not just acting in defiance of human nature; we are living out the divine nature bestowed upon us through Christ.

In the end, our journey is not about the accolades or the acknowledgments from those around us. It is about our relationship with God. As the poem concludes, it’s between you and God – it was never between you and them anyway. This profound truth should liberate us to live boldly, love radically, and give generously, knowing that our reward is not in man’s recognition but in God’s affirmation.

So let us take heart and be encouraged to “give the world the best we’ve got anyway,” for in doing so, we reflect the best of our Creator, who gave us His very best in Jesus Christ.

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Help For The Hurting Heart John 14:18 #Nightlight #RTTBROS

Help For The Hurting Heart John 14:18  #Nightlight #RTTBROS 

"John 14:18 KJV - 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." - John 14:18 

No one can bring true comfort to a grieving heart like Jesus can. Even the most supportive friend or relative can only do so much. The sympathy and kindness of others, while helpful, often fall short of what we truly need. Only Christ can understand the depths of our sorrow and offer the perfect words of comfort.

God knows exactly when we need His comfort the most. Sometimes, it may feel like He's waiting until the very last moment, when we're at our lowest point and ready to give up. But He always comes through with His love and support when we need it most.

God also knows exactly where we need comfort. Whether we're in a dark dungeon, a lonely wilderness, a fiery furnace, or a den of lions, He is always there to provide His mercies and bring us peace.

We can then share that peace and comfort with others who are struggling.

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (KJV)

God's comfort is a gift that is meant to be shared. When we receive comfort from God in our times of trial, we are then equipped to pass that comfort on to others who are struggling. This creates a beautiful cycle of comfort that can help us all weather the storms of life.

As we experience God's comfort, let us remember to extend that same comfort to others who are in need. In doing so, we become vessels of God's mercy and compassion, and help to spread His love and light to those around us.

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