“Each of you should use WHATEVER GIFT you have received TO SERVE OTHERS, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in ITS VARIOUS FORMS. If anyone SPEAKS, they should do so as one who speaks the very WORDS OF GOD. If anyone SERVES, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things GOD MAY BE PRAISED through Jesus Christ. To GOD be the glory and the power FOR EVER AND EVER. Amen.” (1 Pet. 4:10-11)
For example, “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do BE DONE WITH LOVE.” (1 Corin. 16:13-14)
We are instructed to:
- Watch: First, we must watch ourselves to assure our faithfulness to the Word. Then watch our loved ones and friends, daily encouraging them, because they are daily troubled by Satan!!!Stand fast in the faith: Pray and seek the Lord to hold on to and be strengthened in Christ.
- Be brave: Serve the Lord in boldness knowing He is always WITH YOU and will never leave you.
- Be strong: “…be strong IN THE LORD and in the power of His might.” (Eph. 6:10)
- Do all you do in love: Why do we want to do this? Because, “Love NEVER fails…” (1 Corin. 13:8)
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but TEST THE SPIRITS, whether they are of God; By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that CONFESSES that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh IS OF GOD, and every spirit that DOES NOT CONFESS that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh IS NOT OF GOD. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have OVERCOME them, because HE WHO IS IN YOU IS GREATER than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:1-4)
AMY, Love is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22) and so love among Christians is one way the Holy Spirit testifies of His reality in our lives. When WE LOVE EACH OTHER from the heart, in deed and truth and not just in word, it is the Spirit Himself bearing witness that WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD. “…this is His commandment: that we should BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST and love one another, as HE GAVE US COMMANDMENT.” (1 John 3:23)
-Bill Stockham