Ecclesiastes 12:10

  Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love . 1 st John 4:7-8     If you are a painter, you have to know how to paint. If you are a runner, you need to be able to run. If you are an author, you need to be able to write.   That is the basis to do that thing.   What about a child of God?  John spells it out to us very clearly. If we want to be born of God and know God, we must love. That is who he is and what we must do.   To follow Him is to learn how to love. It is the defining trait(1 st John 3:10). It’s how the world will see we are his (John 11:35). It's the top of the traits that will always be (1 st Corinthians 13:13).   Love is why we follow his commands (2 nd John 1:6). Love fulfills the law (Romans 13:8-9). It is how faith works (Galatians 5:6).   So, we'd better know how to love. Wha...

  Whether it’s a new job, a new team, or a new school, it is hard to be the new guy. The rookie has a lot to learn and must take a lot of guff. Eventually, they will figure things out, and the newness will wear off.   Even spiritually, we start off green. A person doesn’t come out of the water knowing everything. But that doesn’t mean we are supposed to stay that way. As Paul remarks in 1 st Corinthians 3, Paul remarks “ And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ . I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it.” But he continues by rebuking them for still being in that state.   He also gives us insight to see if we are still in a novice state, “ for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men ?”   We are still greenhorns when we are fleshy, that is, worldly-minded. Also, ...

    In Hebrews 12:4 we read, “ You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin.”  The implication is that at some point you will. Which might be hard for us to accept. For many, the only thing that we expect to suffer in being a Christian is losing a bit of sleep on a Sunday morning or some FOMO for an event. Yet the Bible tells us something different.   “ For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if, when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps ,” 1 st  Peter 2:20-21 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted . 2 nd Timothy 3:12 so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for t...