Gtcotr/ss110324
Updates on:
Russia – Pastor Sergey
Kenya
Weekly
Feeding Program
Child Sponsorship
KE
Learning Center
Zaburi House
The Word “love” in its expanded tenses, is found 482 times in the KJV of the Bible.
If we include other synonymous words such as compassion, affection, or mercy, which is an act of love, we find well more than 1,000 direct references to love and love in action in the pages of God’s Holy Word.
In fact, the whole Bible is a testament to the overwhelming, never-ending, matchless love of God.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16 tells us that God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son … But not everyone appreciates God’s love and some even resent it and refuse to accept it. Yet … God continues to love everyone.
The love of God can wash away all sin. 1 John 4:8 says that “God is love.”
1 John 4:19 We love God because He first loved us.
God loves us hoping we will love Him back and hoping we will help Him show and share His love with others. People just want to be loved. Nothing else will break the curse and cure the souls of men. The world cannot save you … it cannot even save itself. The world does not love you …
John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.”
We cannot expect to be treated better than Jesus.
1 John 3:13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.
Even though God loves you … you cannot expect to be loved by the world. Those who love God will love you. Those who don’t love you, don’t know God.
1 John 4 NKJV
7 ¶ Beloved, let us love one
another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows
God.
8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
20 If someone says, “I love
God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother
whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
Love is a decision to allow God to express Himself to others through you. Godly love and human love are not the same. Giving to get and giving to bless are light years apart. God’s love is giving so others can be blessed.
Every step we take in life is connected to the one before and the one after, like a long chain, link by link, step by step in unbroken sequence. Every step is important in that it moves life along.
Where you are today is a result of past decisions and all the steps you took on the road you chose.
Life is a pathway on which you cannot back up. But you can turn around or change directions and take the nearest exit to begin walking a new way. Once on the right path, much of life can be lived on autopilot with only minor corrections along the way.
Each step is important but not every step is critical to life. However, some steps, some moments, some decisions are pivotal and hold the key to your future.
Recognizing when you are in a crucial, life changing moment and making the best decision can bring either salvation or damnation. I believe our nation is in just such a critical, pivotal point in history (His Story).
This is why I am asking, or as the Bible sometimes says: I beseech you … If you have already voted, call or text a friend on Tuesday and ask them if they need a ride to go and vote. If you have not already voted -
Take
time to vote on this coming Tuesday, November 5th.
Voting is important and,
Who you vote for is important.
I have asked myself the question, “If Jesus were living on the earth today, would He vote?” I only had to go to the Gospels to see that when Jesus walked the earth 2000 years ago, He openly and publicly participated in the conventions and customs of His day and kept the laws, supported the paying of taxes, and followed the rules.
Not only do I believe if given the chance Jesus would vote, but I also believe He has voted by describing the kind of people and the specific issues He supports. To choose a person or a platform that runs counter to His written will would be to discount His advice and disrespect His counsel.
Jesus was never timid about sharing the truth with and about the national leaders of His day. He spoke the truth in love and made choices to stand both with people and against them and their political views. Jesus was the ultimate early voter.
Who we vote for is important …
If we vote for the wrong person, or the wrong
platform, we will be choosing less than God’s best for our nation, our
families, and our future. There are no perfect people,
but God always works with the best He has.
Read the platforms – familiarize yourself with the agendas of each party – pray for God’s guidance … He will be with you … and vote for what is best for the future of America. You can pick up a copy of both party platforms at our information desk. We have made them available since well before early voting began in Texas.
Don’t walk into the voting booth on Tuesday as a Democrat or as a Republican; as a woman or a man; as a college kid or as an elderly person; Hispanic, Black, Asian, White, Military, Union Member, Conservative or as a Liberal … Rather, walk into the voting booth on Tuesday as a Christian … as a Believer in Jesus Christ, full of the love of God, with a commitment to the Word of God and vote for the person and the platform you believe best represents the values you hold to be true according to the Bible.
Every elected official is important. However, on Tuesday we will elect a person to lead this country and a national party platform to fuel and to rule the decisions and the direction of America over the next 4 years and beyond. Ask yourself this simple question:
If my vote were the only vote, would God be happy and would He bless America because of my choice?
Then vote as if your vote was the only one that mattered.
We
live in critical times, and this is a pivotal moment for America. It should not
be left in the hands of ungodly people. You decide … and don’t forget to love
God, and love others.