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Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs
Through the weekly and daily devotionals you can be constantly encouraged in your great role of parenting, the highest career in the nation. You can also stay updated on what's happening with the Above Rubies ministry.
Before we say a word against our fellowman, we should ask ourselves these two great and important questions:
1. Do I have fervent love for this brother or sister in Christ, or even outside of Christ?
2. Will the things I say prove that I have fervent love for this person?
Romans 5:8: "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6 tells us that "in due time Christ died for the ungodly."
It is our responsibility as parents to teach by example what it means to lay down our lives for one another (1 John 3:16). To slay one another with our words is definitely not laying down our lives for them.
In our marriages and family lives we should use our mouths to build up, encourage, and honor one another. We begin in the home before we can demonstrate to the outside world.
At the cross, Jesus did not cry out to His Father in Heaven, "Father, look how much they hate me. Look how much they have beaten me. Look how much they have spoken against me. Look how much they spit on me. Look at how much shame they have heaped upon me by nailing me to this horrible cross." No!
He did not say, "Father destroy them for they deserve the deepest hell." No! Oh no!
Instead, He cried out: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).
What amazing love and grace that teaches us who have gladly received such love and forgiveness to say nothing less than Jesus did to those with whom we disagree or who have hurtfully wronged us.
If our love is not fervent enough to cover (refuse to look upon) a multitude of sins against us by anyone-be it husband, wife, children, friends, or enemies-can we admit that we need to earnestly seek God for a revival of this fervent love to fill our hearts and souls right now?
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
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Last post I shared about fervent love mentioned in 1 Peter 4:7-9.
We must first exercise this fervent (hot) love must in our marriages and families. It would be hypocritical to demonstrate fervent love toward friends and associates and yet fail to live a life of fervent love to those who are closest to us. Sadly, this is often the case with many Christian marriages and families.
All too often, children see their parents putting on a façade to strangers or people outside their immediate family. The children must often think, “if only these people knew how bad and unliving it is at home.”
Marriage, home, and family are obviously, and without doubt, the first place we should display fervent love. It is those who are closest to us who really know us and know how true and fervent our love really is.
1 Peter 4:8 says: “Love shall cover the multitude of sins.” Fervent love is the antidote to bitter debate, slander, criticism, tale-bearing, and gossip. The old maxim says: “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.”
It is only fervent love that covers a multitude of sins. Some may argue the point concerning the subject of “covering a multitude sins.” They think they are doing right by telling the world about the sins, weaknesses, and failures of others. They even enjoy doing it for it makes them appear more righteous than those they are running down or whose reputation they are destroying.
To be honest, I think it should give us great pain to talk against people we should be loving. It can be appropriate to seek godly counsel from church leadership if you are concerned that innocent people are being hurt or could be hurt. In some cases, it is appropriate to stand up and say something if it is not with the intention of spreading gossip, hatred, or malice.
You may need to execute the biblical premise of Matthew 18:15-20. Very often matters can be cleaned up by going to the accused first and hearing their side of the accusation.
We should never say something bad about someone behind their backs that we have not already spoken to them face to face. When Jesus went to the cross, He did not to go condemn, criticize, judge, or slander the world. He went to the cross to save the world. We can never take John 3:16, 17 for granted: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
Jesus was the greatest example of fervent love “covering a multitude of sins.” His blood covers more than a multitude of sins for it covers all of the sins of the world from Adam to the end of time.
More to come on this subject next post.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
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Serve God with all your heart, mind, strength, and soul!
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Not just ordinary love, but fervent love!
1 Peter 4:7, 8 says: “The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have FERVENT LOVE among yourselves: for love shall cover the multitude of sins.”
God intends the family to be the greatest institution on earth. We are living in a world where the home and family is being attacked, and in many cases, abandoned. Abandoned by fathers who have never been taught the importance of their role in raising and providing for their family’s needs.
Mothers likewise have abandoned their nests for the glamor of the corporate world. They do not realize they are destroying the “cradles” that become the next generation, children who were destined to be born to make the world a better place.
Marriage and family are the first institutions God created and marriage was mandated to be fruitful and multiply and rule over the whole earth (Genesis 1:26-28). The importance of the family should never be underestimated, and if so, we do to our own peril.
Love begins in the marriage and is revealed and manifested in the raising of the nuclear family which means “father, mother, and children.”
The family is the primary institution where the graces and character of our Creator God should be taught. Dedicated parents, who understand the importance of their respective roles will mirror these roles to their children, along with revelation of God’s character.
We should not mistake God’s love for the casual, half-hearted love we often experience today. God’s love is hot and intense. It does not come from our fallen nature but directly from the new nature provided by the new birth in Christ. It is best taught by example from the moment the child is born, continuing day by day throughout the child’s learning years.
There should never be a doubt in the child’s mind that his/her parents do not love them with heart-felt fervency. This is the way God loves us and expects us to love one another. This kind of love is the essential element of the Christian family home.
To be continued.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
1168 Hits
Build strong nations thru proper parenting from God's Word.
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Always seek to maintain oneness with your wife. Never let your children divide you on issues. Stand as one together.
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