So my friend invited me to a Bible study that some of the students around Belmont hold every Wednesday night and it was just beautiful. First off I love Bible studies... and there is a difference between a Bible study and fellowship (to me). Tonight was a time where scripture was read and explained and contemplated and discussed. Now, I love fellowship as well and everything about sharing in the joy of Christ with other people but there comes a time when believers need to sit and read scripture together. There comes a time when we must return to the root from which we grow and make sure we are understanding and keeping with the Truth.
As I listened to different people open their hearts and share what God is speaking to them right now, I could not help but hold back tears. I held them back simply out of habit and thinking about it now it probably would not have been such a bad thing to just let the tears of joy flow but anyways... hah I just looked around me and felt the Spirit of God. I felt the love that comes directly from Him with every encouraging word and smile that passed from one person to the other. I felt such a strong need for God in that room tonight that it gave me chill bumps. It is moments like these and Bible studies like this going on all around the world that bring me such hope. Someone once told me that she loves hearing about Gods work in other people lives because it is a beautiful reminder that He is bigger than her little world and is constantly working whether she sees it in her life right that second or not.
I needed the love that was shown to me tonight. I needed to feel safe in a group of believers and feel encouraged in the Gospel and I think that is one of the main things that the body of Christ is supposed to do: Love and Encourage eachother. As Christians, we are making a statement that says "I reflect Christ" and when we divide ourselves or compete or show hatred towards another person we are saying that they are not good enough for our love. And with that, God's love. Are we crazy!? Who are we to decide who deserves love or not!? Sinners, we do not deserve God's love and that is the reason we desperately need Jesus. If we could earn Gods righteousness there would be no need for a Savior!
I am going off on a tangent and my mind is just racing with a million things at once but basically I wanted to encourage fellow believers to love one another. The love of God is supernatural and attractive more than we can even comprehend so when people who don't know that love first see it, they are amazed. It may be uncomfortable a lot of the time to show that love to everyone but look at Jesus's ministry.... the man made everyone uncomfortable at some point! That's how they knew His love was different! Jesus tells us in John 13:35 that "all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." People, how can we love others is we do not even love our own family in Christ? If we are excited about what God is doing and show that beautiful unconditional love to one another than others will want to be apart of it because its the Truth. Do not worry so much about being uncomfortable or looking stupid by loving people so hard... when we are the most uncomfortable and weak than Jesus is strongest and most evident because we are not in the way. We have no control and so everything is up to Him. I would so much rather Him be the one working through me than me trying to make something out of myself!!
Excuse my word vomit. I let my fingers go to work and hope that God was the one moving them, which I know He was because I have no idea what I just typed and it took up a good 3 paragraphs! The power and love of God is something that can never be talked about enough. It can never be shown enough or shared with others enough. Its everlasting and constantly at work. If you are a believer I challenge you (as I am challenging myself) to step out in faith and show the love of Christ even when it feels uncomfortable. Whether that be a kind word, a serving spirit, a little generous gift- show someone love. You never know what might happen when you leave it up to God because He has no limits =)
As I listened to different people open their hearts and share what God is speaking to them right now, I could not help but hold back tears. I held them back simply out of habit and thinking about it now it probably would not have been such a bad thing to just let the tears of joy flow but anyways... hah I just looked around me and felt the Spirit of God. I felt the love that comes directly from Him with every encouraging word and smile that passed from one person to the other. I felt such a strong need for God in that room tonight that it gave me chill bumps. It is moments like these and Bible studies like this going on all around the world that bring me such hope. Someone once told me that she loves hearing about Gods work in other people lives because it is a beautiful reminder that He is bigger than her little world and is constantly working whether she sees it in her life right that second or not.
I needed the love that was shown to me tonight. I needed to feel safe in a group of believers and feel encouraged in the Gospel and I think that is one of the main things that the body of Christ is supposed to do: Love and Encourage eachother. As Christians, we are making a statement that says "I reflect Christ" and when we divide ourselves or compete or show hatred towards another person we are saying that they are not good enough for our love. And with that, God's love. Are we crazy!? Who are we to decide who deserves love or not!? Sinners, we do not deserve God's love and that is the reason we desperately need Jesus. If we could earn Gods righteousness there would be no need for a Savior!
I am going off on a tangent and my mind is just racing with a million things at once but basically I wanted to encourage fellow believers to love one another. The love of God is supernatural and attractive more than we can even comprehend so when people who don't know that love first see it, they are amazed. It may be uncomfortable a lot of the time to show that love to everyone but look at Jesus's ministry.... the man made everyone uncomfortable at some point! That's how they knew His love was different! Jesus tells us in John 13:35 that "all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." People, how can we love others is we do not even love our own family in Christ? If we are excited about what God is doing and show that beautiful unconditional love to one another than others will want to be apart of it because its the Truth. Do not worry so much about being uncomfortable or looking stupid by loving people so hard... when we are the most uncomfortable and weak than Jesus is strongest and most evident because we are not in the way. We have no control and so everything is up to Him. I would so much rather Him be the one working through me than me trying to make something out of myself!!
Excuse my word vomit. I let my fingers go to work and hope that God was the one moving them, which I know He was because I have no idea what I just typed and it took up a good 3 paragraphs! The power and love of God is something that can never be talked about enough. It can never be shown enough or shared with others enough. Its everlasting and constantly at work. If you are a believer I challenge you (as I am challenging myself) to step out in faith and show the love of Christ even when it feels uncomfortable. Whether that be a kind word, a serving spirit, a little generous gift- show someone love. You never know what might happen when you leave it up to God because He has no limits =)
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians 2:1-4
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