LINKS

6 of David's books are now in Kindle and EPUB (Nook) formats!

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Love Grows

For two centuries the quality that most irreligious people (and too many religious people) considered a “sign of weakness” was the ultimate value of Christian strength and commitment.  To non-Christians, love is often the symbol of weakness to be exploited.  To committed Christians who understand Jesus, love is the value of sacrificial courage.

If a person dares to love, he/she quickly learns loving requires incredible strength and sacrifice.  It involves “unreal” unselfishness and kindness.   He/she notes the commitment to be filled with love  could become a commitment to the “impossible.”  As a result the person decides that “I will love this much”  or “I will love until . . .” Thus the Christian establishes “reasonable” thresholds between “the rooms of life” that determine where love can and cannot go.

An amazing thing happens!  Walls disappear, thresholds are moved, and—eventually—the “rooms of life” vanish!  Love occupies life, not just a room in one’s life.  As love occupies life, unselfishness expands and kindness defies confinement.  Who the person is definitely is not who the person was.

Why? Love grows until it consumes. Love is much more than one of many good values.  Unless rejected or restricted, love actually defines the person in every relationship and determines what the person does and does not do.

Why?  The more a person loves the more he/she grows in awareness of how much God loves him/her.  Exposure to that great love constantly challenges the person’s commitment to express love.  Read 1 John 4:7-21 and especially note verse 10.  Also read the gospel of John 14:34, 35.

Do we have the courage to let love grow?

May 15, 2012  *  Fort Smith, AR

"You Can Depend On His Promises!"

There is a person that you can depend on what he/she says.  If he/she says it, he/she will do it.  If he/she gives his/her word, it is so.  If he/she makes a promise, he/she will do as it was promised.  You do not have to look for hidden meanings, or deceptiveness, or evasion.  This person is serious about “honoring my word.”  “Doing what I say” is a matter of being true to “my character.”  Being a “person of character” is central to who this person is.

There is also a living God you can depend on. In spite of human weakness and failure he does what he promises.  That which He declares will happen happens.  To me, that is not a threat to strike terror in my heart.  It is a reassurance to provide my life hope.

Abraham is a source of encouragement.  He was not perfect, but he had a growing faith.  To him God made conditional promises in Genesis 12:1-3.  Though the biblical nation of Israel frequently failed God, still God kept every promise He made to Abraham.  When God promised, human failure did not stop Him!

1 Kings 18:25-39 provides a fascinating contrast between pagan gods and the living God.  This occurred when Elijah faced the prophets of Baal.  Baal was pictured as disinterested in human affairs, as preoccupied with his own affairs.  In contrast God is attentive to human affairs and responsive.

Faith in the God of the Bible is faith in the attentive God who keeps His promises.  Others’ failures have no bearing on His commitment to you.  Serve Him in assurance!

May 22, 2012  *  Fort Smith, AR