by Pastor Cecil | Sep 16, 2015 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 13:13
“Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
For the previous two days I have shared thoughts about the qualities of FAITH and HOPE. That brings us to the last of these — LOVE. I was blessed to have discovered my precious life partner when I was just a boy of 14. Joyce and I knew the joy of walking together, finally holding hands, the first kiss, and the consummation of our love on our wedding night. (I wish couples would depart from the liberal idea that sex before marriage is the norm.)
Our love continued to grow across the years as we experienced the birth of our three children and the establishment of a Christian home. It was easy to love my wife and my children. It was also easy to love my friends and neighbors — but what about others who were not lovable?
That’s where the rub comes, doesn’t it? We can be self satisfied that we are being the loving Christians that God wants us to be as long as we love the lovable people in our life. Think of the people that are near to you that are totally obnoxious. Can you show true Christian love to them?
In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said we are to love those who are hard to love. Listen to His words in Luke 6:35: “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.” That, my dear friend, is true love! I want that for my life.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 15, 2015 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 13:11-13
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
Yesterday I wrote about hope. As I was meditating about today’s topic, I immediately thought of today’s Scripture. FAITH-HOPE-LOVE seem to be a trio of attributes the Lord Jesus would like to see in every believer.
Faith is described in Strong’s Concordance this way: persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:—assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity. In my words it would be this: If God says it, I believe it!
When we take our eyes off of ourselves, or trying to please others, we gain a new perspective. Rather than being self-oriented or others-oriented, we need to commit ourselves to be God oriented. We can only do that by reading His Word and spending time with Him in prayer.
What is the level of your faith? You may feel that your situation is absolutely hopeless, but that is never the case. Have faith
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 14, 2015 | Psalm
Psalm 42:11
“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.”
I am told that depression is so prevalent in our society that many people have given up all hope. What a sad commentary that is. In an era when science and technology has brought about changes to make life easier, many feel only hopelessness.
When I use the word “hope,” it is not longingly wishing for something that is not possessed, but rather a confident expectation that what has been promised will come to pass.
For the believer, we need to have a hope that looks beyond the things of this world in anticipation of the glory that awaits us in eternity. It is so easy to be caught up in the rat race around us. So often our focus is on temporal things rather than eternal values.
There’s an old hymn that often echoes through my mind called “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” One line goes like this: “And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” I want that for my life!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 11, 2015 | Luke
Luke 15:19-20
“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”
One of my most pleasurable jobs as a pastor is helping families restore broken relationships. I once was called upon to officiate at a funeral service. The son of the deceased told me that he had not spoken to his sister for years and wanted me to reconcile them before the service. Right! Just like that! Less than an hour before the service I met with the two and their families. Each of them had ten or fifteen children, spouses and others on their side. He and his family were on one side and she and her family on the other side of the aisle. I had prayed for just the right words and to this day cannot recall what Scripture I used. I had just finished when the brother stood and walked across the aisle and hugged his sister. The two families merged with great joy.
Fanny J. Crosby lived from 1820 to 1915. This remarkable lady never let problems keep her away from the Lord. Her blindness as an infant meant that she spent her entire life without physical sight, but was blessed with a keen spiritual sight. When she was only eight years old she wrote the following poem: “Oh, what a happy child I am, although I cannot see! I am resolved that in this world contented I will be! How many blessings I enjoy that other people do not! So weep or sigh because I am blind, I cannot – nor I will not.” The hymn, Draw Me Nearer expresses her desire to draw nearer to her blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Draw Me Nearer
I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.
Refrain:
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.
Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.
Refrain:
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.
Oh, the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!
Refrain:
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.
There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.
Refrain:
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.
To access Draw Me Nearer, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/drawmenearer/ in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 10, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 20:29
“The glory of young men is their strength, And the splendor of old men is their gray head.”
My second duty assignment as a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force was in Shreveport, Louisiana. We began attending a local church and it was there that I met a man who soon became my spiritual mentor. His name was (and still is) Dr. John Hall.
The man who had been a spiritual giant in John’s spiritual life was Jack Dedman. Jack, one of the most delightful southern gentlemen I have ever met, just seemed to exude the spirit of Jesus. I will never forget listening to some sermon tapes in Jack’s living room while he reclined in an easy chair where he would either be snoring or softly praising Jesus. What a sweet man of God he was. I am sure he is in Paradise right now with praises on his tongue.
I am humbled that John Hall is a subscriber to this ministry. He wrote last week and mentioned a quote Papa Jack often used: “You are just as old as your doubts and fears, just as young as your faith and hope.” Wow!
I am not sure how long any of us have left of our life, but one thing I know for certain: I want my life typified by faith and hope rather than doubts and fears. Jesus gives us that wonderful spiritual sight that sees heaven waiting for us.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
