Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

There are many Scriptures that tell us of God’s patience and longsuffering towards the backsliding of His people. But if God’s people do not heed His warnings and the many times He sends His servants, the prophets, to warn them, the day comes when God says, “Enough is enough.”

Psalm 81:11, 12: “But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.”

Many of the judgments which God gives, both to His own people as well as to the heathen nations, come after much patience and longsuffering on God’s part. Do you remember the story of Nineveh?

There are some exceptions to the rule, e.g., Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-3 and Numbers 3:4) in the Old Testament and Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1—11) in the New Testament. Read their examples again.

Romans 15:18: “A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.” In other words, he quietens down strife. This is a necessary attribute for fathers.

A man may be brave enough to capture a city, but Proverbs 16:32 says: “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”

Proverbs 19:11: “The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.” The word discretion in the Hebrew (sekel) means “wisdom, understanding, knowledge, prudence.”

2 Chronicles 2:12: “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence (sekel) and understanding.”

The truth of the subject is that 1 Corinthians 13:5 says that agape love is not easily provoked. There are far too many Christians who are easily provoked. Even a wrong look can cause a volcanic eruption. However, a prudent man will be slow to retaliate.

Our whole society is endangered by a very violent sub-culture who, through drugs and bad upbringing, have become angry and violent. None of us know when the “hot head” may strike next and what method they or he will use to kill and destroy.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

The word provoked in the Greek language is “paroxumo” meaning “to exasperate, to stir.”

In John 2:14-17, we read that Jesus Christ, the perfect example of agape love was provoked to righteous indignation, especially when it came to corrupting the purity and holiness of God’s house.

John 2:17 states: “And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.” This was stated from Psalm 69:9.

It’s a shame that we who call ourselves the followers of Christ do not have the same zeal and righteous anger regarding God’s house when it is corrupted and defiled in so many ways.

Our Father God is agape love (1 John 4:8). However, Psalm 7:11 says: “God is angry with the wicked every day.” The next Scripture, verse 12 says: “If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.”

The NLT says: “If a person does not repent, God will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow. He will prepare his deadly weapons and shoot his flaming arrows.”

More tomorrow.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

The love or “charity” mentioned in the KJV is the Greek word, agape. This is a very challenging subject because we who call ourselves Christians can do so many thigs in the name of love and yet may find out on Judgement Day that the love we thought we had was not the true type of love God requires.

False love seeks to draw attention to itself. It does things for others, which is a good thing to do, but the motive is wrong because it is done for self-satisfaction. It seeks the praises of men.
It seeks to be noticed.
It seeks recognition.
It seeks applause.
It seeks rewards.

God’s love does not do things for others to receive ward. It may be rewarded but that is not the motive. God’s love does not care for itself, but rather for other’s needs.

The same word in the Greek is used for John 3:16: “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.”

God’s love is self-sacrificial. It loves to the point where no cost is too high to pay to bring help, deliverance, and blessing.

God’s love does not consider the worthiness of the individual requiring help.

This agape love is also mentioned in Romans 5:8: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” We were totally unworthy.

When we exercise this agape love (selfless love) which is the purest form of love, God sees to it that we will be rewarded, but from the giver’s perspective reward is not the motivation.

Isaiah 53: 10, 11: “When thou shalt make his soul an offering for us, he shall see his seed (those who will be saved through His sacrifice), he shall prolong his days (He shall live forever following His resurrection), and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied.”

Jesus Christ will be satisfied with the reward of all who have passed from death unto life. However, the reward was never the reason for such a display of agape love. The true reason for agape love is purely selfless love for someone else’s need.

When the day comes when God will give rewards for our love to others in their time of need, or to obey whatever Gpd calls us to do, the rewards will be based upon the true motive of our love. Self-seeking love will never be rewarded by God.

As parents we must show to our families this sacrificial, selfless love and teach them that this the way God wants them to love others in need.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give into them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”

We go over to the New Testament in Luke 4:21, 22 and Jesus said after reading these words: “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.” His words matched His conduct.

A few Scriptures later we read that they failed to accept that He was the Messiah that Isaiah spoke of saying, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” Jesus responded to their failure to know Him by speaking the uncompromising truth. They were filled with wrath to the point of killing him (verses 23-29).

Grace does not compromise the truth when the truth needs to be spoken. On the other hand, truth does not compromise grace when grace needs to be revealed and preached to those who will receive it.

Jesus showed grace in healing the broken-hearted.

He revealed grace in liberating those who needed deliverance from demonic captivity and addictions.

He demonstrated grace when giving sight to the blind and deliverance to the bruised.

Jesus did not act unseemly or rudely so that the people would be offended at His lack of grace. He did not come to deflect or compromise righteous behavior.

He did not come approving fornication so that fornicators would be attracted to him. He came to set the fornicators free from their sin.

He did not come approving of drugs and addiction. He came to liberate the victims from their addiction.

He did not come sporting tattoos all over His healing hands and arms to attract action to His physical appearance. He wanted people to see the glory of God.

He did not come using offensive, slang words. He came speaking gracious woods.

He did not come trying to get as much money from the people as He could. He came to serve freely and to give to the poor.

He did not come dressed in glamorous clothes looking like a king. He dressed in appropriate clothes, so He did not detract rom the glory of God.

He came in humility, riding on a donkey. “Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

In no way could you say that Jesus lived or acted unseemly. He did nothing that would hinder people receiving salvation.

Whatever sin hindered people from being saved He called it what it was so that people would be convicted, repent, and be converted. He called the Pharisees “hypocrites,” “blind guides,” and “fools.”

Love does not act unseemly therefore it is love that motivates us to be like Jesus in all areas of life.

There are times when we must stand up and speak the truth in love even when we run the risk of being misunderstood or persecuted. The sinner needs to know that we love them, but they also need to know that we hate the sin that is destroying them.

If we love the person that is dying because of cancer, surely, we are not expected to love the cancer that is killing them! We do not tolerate cancer just because we love the person that is afflicted by it. Never.

We must not tolerate an evil thing. We must eek with all our hearts to help the victim to be set free, healed, and delivered.

We can so easily let our children who we love, become involved with Internet games that on the surface may seem harmless, but down the road will damage them. We cannot love our children and be tolerant of that which will eventually destroy them.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Our God is very great, majestic, and holy. He does not lower His righteous, holy standards when dealing with mankind. He sent His only beloved Son, Jesus Christ into this sin-filled world to redeem us with his precious, sinless blood so that we would become new creatures.

2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

We must not fashion ourselves after the ways and culture of this present age, but rather be fashioned in the likeness of his Son.

Romans 8:29: “For whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

As new creatures still living in these earthly bodies, our whole aim and objective in life should be to live , act, look, and speak exactly as Jesus did when He was physically alive here on this earth.

How wonderful that God our Father has given to us His precious, Holy Spirit to enable us to be like Jesus in every aspect of life. Jesus Christ is our perfect example and we should seek to emulate Him in every dimension of His life.

When people look at us, they should see Jesus Christ in all that we do, speak, and behave. In other words, Jesus Christ should still be walking on this earth in all his glorious character through His people, which is His body.

John 1:14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we behold his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Jesus Christ, our perfect prototype and example, was full of grace and truth. Therefore, we His people should also be full of grace and truth through the power of his indwelling Spirit.

More tomorrow.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

These Gadites, whose faces had a lion-like look about them must have indeed been bold men. All these mighty bold men came to help King David. But our King Jesus, who is the heavenly David, is surely worth nothing less than the earthly David.

Don’t you agree?

Let’s be bold in this hour to stand up for truth.

Be encouraged, men.

Colin Campbell

Although the King James Version uses the word “unseemly,” most translations use the word “rude.” The Strong’s concordance says this word means “indecency, shame, unbecoming.”

I believe it is important for all Christian parents to repeatedly teach their children this truth so that it enters deeply within them that God’s love flowing through them will not allow them to behave unseemly, rudely, indecently, or shamefully.

We are living in a generation that is far too disrespectful in their behavior and speech towards their parents, elders, peers, the elderly, and those who have rule and authority over them.

There was a time in our culture when we were taught to stand up, bow down, and kneel in the presence of those whose position rightfully deserved our honor and respect.

Proverbs 25:6; “Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men. For better is it that it be said of thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.”

To put oneself forward into an honored position in someone else’s home without being invited is rude and unseemly. Do not take the chair of honor in the dining room nor at the dinner table unless you are asked.

Leviticus 19;32 (NET): “You must stand up in the presence of the aged, honor the presence of an elder and fear your God. I am the LORD.”

This appropriate behavior is not only for special occasions, but for normal everyday life. Many of our English-speaking nations have departed from our Judeo /Christian culture norms to our own discredit. We no longer address an older stranger whose name we do not know as Sir or Mister, or an older lady we do not know as Ma’am or Madam.

It is now normal to be uncouth, brash, arrogant, and down right disrespectful in the presence of the opposite sex and innocent children.

Freedom of speech does not give us the right to say whatever we like for God will judge every man according to what comes out of his mouth. Even when we share a testimony or a word before God’s people at church or a Christian gathering, we must be careful to be honorable with our words.

Matthew 12:36, 36: “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words that shalt be condemned.”

Ephesians 4:29, 30: “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your nouth but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

Colossians 4:6; “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

James 3:8-10: “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith cruse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceeded blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”

Unseemly speech will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Unseemly words or behavior do not promote the love of God nor are they motivated by the loved of God.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell