by Pastor Cecil | Jun 1, 2016 | Romans
Romans 12:10
“. . . not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.”
This week I have been exploring the various aspects of “love” which are found in Romans 12:9-13. Verse 11 urges those of us seeking a deeper understanding of love to not lag in our diligence to serve the Lord.
All too often we have the best intentions, but we fail to follow through with actions. We may make commitments to serve the Lord with all of our might, but then fail to read the Bible or pray.
It reminds me of parents taking their children into a crowded city street and admonishing them to stay close. Inevitably there is one child who lags behind and must be admonished to stay close or risk being lost.
are to have such a fervency of spirit that our primary objective is to serve the Lord with all of our heart in order to please Him. That brings me to consider this question: Am I living my life in such a manner that I have a fervent spirit in serving the Lord? Please turn that question in your own direction. Are you serving the Lord with a fervent spirit or are you lagging behind?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 31, 2016 | Romans
Romans 12:10
“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.”
Across the years I have counseled hundreds of individuals and couples. (That may not be due to my popularity as much as my age — I have been around a long time!) Regardless, I have met very bitter people who seemed devoid of kindly affection. In fact, they have not been kind at all.
Yesterday I used Romans 12:9 to direct our thoughts. Today and tomorrow I will continue an examination of this passage. Romans 12:9-12 is filled with descriptions of what love should be. I know 1st Corinthians 13 is frequently referred to as the Bible’s “love” chapter, but in a way, I think the Roman’s passage is equally descriptive.
We show our true Christian love by being kind to each other. Being kind means that we devote ourselves to discovering what the other person needs and then doing our best to help them fulfill their needs. It brings us back to the process of thinking of others more than ourselves.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 30, 2016 | Romans
Romans 12:9
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.”
Many people give speeches about love, write poems about love, and create stories about love. So why do we have such a lack of love? I think it is because we fail to properly understand the God-given pattern for love.
What is often defined as love is how it makes ME feel. The emphasis is on our own feelings. It is what makes ME feel warm and fuzzy. It is what makes ME feel nurtured and admired. That, my dear friend, is hypocritical love!
Many of us have heard the humorous anecdote about the suitor who writes a note to his sweetheart professing how deep his love is for her … he would climb the highest mountain for her … he would swim the widest river for her, etc. Then the arduous suitor concludes his love note by saying that he would see his true love on Saturday … IF it doesn’t rain. Ooops! That is hypocritical love.
The writer of Romans says to have love that is not selfish or self-seeking. He urges us to abhor what is evil and cling to what is good. When we follow that pattern in our love relationships, we will begin to discover TRUE LOVE!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 11, 2016 | Romans
Romans 8:16-17a
“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.”
Earthly kings have a limited domain. They also have a limited time to serve. Our great and glorious King has limitless domain and an eternal reign. When we wrap our minds around that we realize the kingdoms of this world cannot compare.
It was in the late 1800’s when Harriet Buell had been attending church one Sunday morning, and on her way home she wrote the words of today’s hymn. She sent her poem to the Northern Christian Advocate and it was published February 1, 1877.
It has been sung by many well known gospel artists across the years. The words are a blessed assurance of what we have waiting for us in glory.
A CHILD OF THE KING
1. My Father is rich in houses and lands,
He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!
Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,
His coffers are full, He has riches untold.
Refrain: I’m a child of the King, A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior, I’m a child of the King.
2. My Father’s own Son, the Savior of men,
Once wandered on earth as the poorest of them;
But now He is pleading our pardon on high,
That we may be His when He comes by and by.
Refrain: I’m a child of the King, A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior, I’m a child of the King.
3. I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, an alien by birth,
But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown.
Refrain: I’m a child of the King, A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior, I’m a child of the King.
4. A tent or a cottage, why should I care?
They’re building a palace for me over there;
Though exiled from home, yet still may I sing:
All glory to God, I’m a child of the King.
Refrain: I’m a child of the King, A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior, I’m a child of the King.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 22, 2016 | Romans
Romans 11:36
“For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”
I think it was my spiritual mentor, Dr. John Hall, who first introduced me to a statement that I have kept in my heart for over fifty years now: “I Can’t—He can—That’s all I need to know—Let’s go!”
To live by that spiritual principle gives both purpose and direction. Too often we try to do things our way with our abilities only to ultimately find ourselves flat on our face. That is when another expression describes our condition: “Our get up and go, got up and went!”
Anytime I have experienced loss or failure in the fifty years since Dr. John shared this expression with me, I have recognized it is not my strength or knowledge that makes the difference. It is only to the degree that I place everything in God’s hands that I am able to get up and go.
The next time you feel that you are in over your head, or lack the ability to serve the Lord, just remember that it is God’s business to work in and through you to perform the things He wills and purposes. HE IS OUR EVERYTHING!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 16, 2016 | Romans
Romans 12:19-22
“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore; ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
This morning as I drove around taking care of errands, I was listening to the radio. The opera, Il Trovatore, was about to start and the commentator was giving a synopsis. I was struck by the violence that the opera portrayed. Vengeance was graphic in which several characters, including infants, were burned to death.
I know this was just an opera based on fictional characters, but the demand for vengeance revealed the wickedness of the human heart. Even in our modern day, perhaps even more so than in times past, there is a loud demand for vengeance.
The Bible does speak about getting even. It appears in today’s passage of Scripture. In order to get even with someone who has become your adversary, here are the steps to take: Feed him and give him something to drink if he is thirsty.
And here is the result of treating your enemy this way: “ … you will heap coals of fire on his head.” That is getting even God’s way. Let God fight your battle for you. All you have to do is overcome evil with good!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
