1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity (Agapahy). This word Agahpay in the Strongs concordance is No. 26 in the greek dictionary (Agapahy) It means Love, Affection or Benevolence. First Gods Love Toward His Son is shown in Proverbs 8:22-31 keying in on verse 30 speaking in this chapter of Wisdom, " Then was I by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight " We know this is Jesus from looking to the new testament in 1 Corinthians 1:30 " But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus who is made unto us Wisdom". When we read Proverbs 8:22-30 we see in verses 22,23 " The LORD posessed me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Or ever the earth was ". There is a witness of this in the New Testament found in Revelation 3:14 " These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, The Beginning of the Creation of God " and in Revelation 13:8 He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the World. So Jesus was the first of Gods creation and He was and Is God's Delight and Beloved Son, John 17:24 "For thou (God the Father, Adoni) lovedst Me (Jesus) before the foundation of the world." I see Gods benevolent Love toward us in knowing that Jesus was created for me and for you, God knowing of you and I before even His creation, again Rev 13:8 " The Lamb slain from the foundation of the World ".and in Ephesians 1:3-5 "According as He hath chosen us in Him(Jesus) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in Love." So God made Jesus for you and I even before we were born, yes God in His infinite foreknowledge knew of you and I before His very creation, yet even sinned before Him, Romans 5:8 " In that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us ". What an awesome opportunity that God would give us such a life and existence before Him and to tell us that we will abide in Him (In His Son) Forever eternally, absolutely mind boggling to me but I just recieve it by simple Faith. So God Himself expresses His Love towards us through His Son and I see it going way beyond mere feelings when I consider The Sacrifice upon Calvarys blood stained hill and you know what? 2 Cor 5:19 " GOD was IN CHRIST reconciling the world (you and I) to Himself." God knew Adam would sin before he was even created and God even in anger toward evil destroyed mankind once with the flood Genisis 6:7-8. But Thank God for Noah (Noah found grace in Gods sight). So I see it this way Gods love for you and me was expressed Through His Son and I'm deeply greatful that God looked way down here through the ages and saw you and I and created us for an eternal existence with Himself, obviously the choice is ours to accept the flawless provision He has given us in Jesus or reject it. As for me the choice is clear I choose life, "for in Him (Jesus) are hid all the treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge" Colossians 2:3, "And Wisdom and Knowlwdge shall be the Stability of thy times and strength of salvation" Isaiah 33:6. So what do I do with such great Love? Pass it on! I first of all recieve this great love and mercy personally forsaking my sinful ways, finding forgiveness through the Blood of Jesus, gaining entrance to His Kingdom becoming born again that is a child of GOD. I then die out(over time) to my own will and take on Gods perfect will, this is the expression of my Love for God in sacrifice. We love Him because He first loved us. I freely give myself and my desires to Him daily allowing Him freely to live through me showing this same sacrificial Love to those near me in humble service in Faith Toward the Great King Immortal. This expression of Love to me is communicated to my brothers and sisters in Christ building one another up in the Faith serving one another and being sensative to their needs, and taking this message of Gods eternal love to those who have not heard the Good News. Matthew 23:11 " He that is greatest among you must become the servant of all." Almighty Gods ways are opposite of the ways of the world, the way of the world is to grab your brothers heel as he travels up lifes ladder and pull him under or behind yourself looking out for No1. Gods way is however opposite than that, I push my brother up the ladder of life with the gifts and talents God has given me preferring him before myself. This attitude comes from spending time alone with God in prayer and continued meditation of His precious promises and fellowshipping with the people of God, paving the way to spiritual success and victory through our trials. Let God have His way in your life, open your heart to Him and ask Him to express His love to you personally, then take that great love and give it away to others. It truly is a Glorious experience to be compared with no other. John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 1JOHN 4:15 " Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him and he in God" , MATTHEW 10:32,33 " Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father which is in Heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I deny before my Father which is in Heaven". Adam was one man who sinned and broke fellowship between himself and God, passing the curse of death to all men. Jesus Christ was and is one man and through His eternal love sacrifice for every man He gives us opportunity through that to be reconciled back to God Himself via union His Holy Spirit dwelling within us. The question is what are we going to do with such a great opportunity? Recieve it and pass it on or what? How do I really know if I am saved? 1 CORINTHIANS 12:3 " No man can say Jesus is LORD but by the HOLY GHOST" So I ask myself these questions Is He really the absolute LORD of my life? Does He direct me in my affairs in this life? How much time do I spend with my Risen LORD in daily prayer and study of His precious Word getting to know Him better? Where is my Love meter? Do I feel Loved by God? Do I know He is living inside my Heart? Can I feel His precious Spirit inside my Heart? Do I love people? Do I Love people enough to direct them toward the true source of Love when opportunity arises? Do I feel a burden within for those who do not know the truth? 1JOHN 4:16 " And we have Known and believed the Love that God has toward us. God is Love; and he that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 2 CORINTHIANS 13:5 " Examine yourselves, wether you are in the faith, prove your own selves" So considering these things I examine myself and what do I find? Well I know one thing, eternal life would be well worth the Look. What I do today will echo in eternity..........................................
Brother Jeff Anderson
Posted by: sandpet
THis is a Beautiful scripture.. that compliments you thread.. hope you enjoy it.
