The Practical Love of Christ

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-Your peace-Your knowledge and discernment. Build my trust. I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name...

Verse of the Day: Galatians 6:7-8

7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Memory verse: Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV)

23  Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Today's reading:  Exodus 1-3 Matthew 14:1-21

The Practical Love of Christ

Looking more closely at the 'one another' commands in the Bible leads us to see how we move and minister in a practical way-in the practical love of Christ.

We can sit for days on the bank of a river and talk about how to fish and what equipment to use but until we fish we have not put anything into practice. We've just talked about it. This is the great danger in the Christian life. Listening to good teachers of God's word and practicing what we hear preached or what we say we believe-or not.

So, are we showing the love of Christ in a practical way? Has our 'holy' behavior made a difference in the life of anyone?

Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

1 Peter 4:10 "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace..."

Galatians 6:2 "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Let's look at one thing out of these three practical commands.

Is the word of God a living part of your life? Have you studied God's word prayerfully and deeply enough to share God's wisdom with someone you love? Have you seen God's word come true in your life in a time of hardship so you could share the wisdom learned? Has the joy of God's word come out in your individual worship and in the gathering of God's people? Has God's word made thanksgiving and gratitude a part of your daily living? Has God's word taught you how to be grateful for the smallest of things? Why?

Because...the 'one anothers' has two parts-the others that are ministered to, yes-but it starts with us-our being able, in the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit in the Holy Word to minister.

We can sit and talk-or listen to teachers on the web for days and months but until we obey and touch lives with Christ in us, we are not practicing the practical love of Christ Jesus.

Ask God to fill you with desire to 'fish'-to put into practice the wisdom in His Holy Word. He will do it.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Your name be praised. Your kingdom come and Your will be my desire. Give me desire today to live out Your practical love. Forgive me my reluctance. Lead me away from fear.

Merciful and mighty Father,

In the name of Jesus,

Amen