FERVENT LOVE
Today’s Reading: 1 Peter 3-5
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
A visit to Rome is a feast for the eyes. In the centre is the Trajan’s Column with a church on either side. The larger church in the photo is the Church of the Most Holy Name of Mary at the Trajan Forum. At the very end of today’s reading, “Babylon” is mentioned. In Roman times the persecuted Christians called the source of their persecution, Rome, by the name of the capitol city of the ancient persecutors of the Jewish people, “Babylon” (Revelation 17:1-6).
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: 1 Peter 5:7
…casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
There are three points of emphasis here, all three mentioned more than once!
(1) PRAYER – 1 Peter 3:7 informs us that if we, as husbands, don’t honour our wives properly, our prayers may be hindered. Let’s not forget that elsewhere it says, “Let the wife see that she respects her husband” (Ephesians 5:33b). This is serious! Do we want God’s ears to be open to our prayers? Then pay attention to 1 Peter 3:9-12. Amen!!!
(2) A message from Jesus to those “spirits in prison” (3:19 & 20) and “those who are dead!” (4:6). This seems strange. Yet we understand that all who had died in faith prior to the Cross and the Resurrection were somehow incarcerated in a place where they could not enter Heaven above, because their sins were not removed until Jesus had paid the full price for their redemption by His blood sacrifice. It would be amazing to hear a replay of Jesus’ message to these people someday.
(3) “Love!” “Love!” and “Love!” (3:8 & 4:8). And this is to be “FERVENT LOVE!” We may think we know something about the meanings of the word “love.” But what about the word “fervent.” The dictionary says, “Displaying a passionate intensity – burning – glowing – boiling hot!”
O yes! Let’s read several times 1 Peter 5:5-9. “Be humble!” “Cast your cares on Him!” “Be sober!” “Be vigilant!” The result? The Devil may roar, but he can’t harm us!!! Let us be “steadfast in the faith.”
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray for all You have for me. I now am wide open to receive Your provisions. Thank You! Praise Your holy Name! I worship You with a fervent heart full of love for You, and for others. Through the world’s greatest Lover, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS (or more)
I’ve just read all of First Peter again. As I read Chapter 1 verse 3, the word “begotten” stood out for me. The same thing happened as I read 1:23 which says, “Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God which lives and abides forever.” Recently someone sent me a picture of Billy Graham and Chuck Templeton (below). I remember when Billy and Chuck worked together as Evangelists in the Youth For Christ Movement. Billy was steadfast in his faith and commitment to the Gospel, but Chuck went to a very liberal theological seminary, and it seems he lost his faith in Christ. He returned to Toronto, wrote books, and became a broadcaster of note. On one occasion I was interviewed by Chuck on national CBC television. Chuck said, “David, you talk a lot about being born again. The Bible only refers to this one time.” I responded in a way that I later apologized for. I said, “Chuck, you’ve not been reading your Bible lately! Jesus said those words twice in John 3, and there are other places where the ‘born again’ experience is found. For example, Peter wrote those words, ‘born again.'” Then I referenced other synonymous expressions of this truth. e.g. “a new creation” and “born of the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 5:17 & John 3:8b). After the live show was over (I would only go on live shows because they had in the past edited me to make me say what I did not!), I prayed about it, and that still small Voice said to me, “David, you do not love Chuck.” I repented, and the next time when we were together (off camera), I asked his forgiveness for my lack of love, and he graciously forgave me. In the late 80’s, when the TV Evangelists scandals broke, Chuck was everywhere on Canadian TV, radio, and in the press defending me as an evangelist of integrity. Shortly before his death, he said to an interviewer, “I love Jesus very much, and I’ve missed Him for a long while.” I believe I’ll meet Chuck in Heaven!
Yours because, as the Scriptures say over and over, “His mercy endures forever!”
David
Young Evangelists, Chuck Templeton of Toronto and Billy Graham of Chicago at the time.
Amen Pastor David to all your words today. Have a Blessed Day everyone. Eleanor M.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvGono8mqFg
I’ve posted this song before, but it is worth sending out there again as reminder to any Christian out there who might believe the lie our Lord Jesus has stopped loving them or forgotten them. He hasn’t, he as near to you as your next heartbeat, God cannot change, but our perceptions can, so trust the truth of Who God Is and not what mind tells you that contradicts the truth.
Amen! Donna
God will work a whole lifetime in a person’s life to see him come to Himself. Have witnessed it lately. Tells us we should never give up, Amen? Thank you David for your wonderful posting again. Am visiting two older men today in emerg. Please pray for me. God bless you all!
Praying for you, Ger! Your love for our Lord shines in you as you lift up the spirits of those who are ill and ailing. God bless you, dear sister-in-Christ!
Yes, thank you for sharing such an amazing testament, today, David. It is sad to know Chuck followed a separate path away from the Lord–the logic of theology overweighing trust and faith in the Holy Spirit and our reverance for Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Your honour to apologize to him, and his to forgive you, and thereby stand to defend you, shows both your admirable integrity. Love the photos, today! Wishing blessings of love and ease of pain to all saints!
Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him. Psalm 37:7
“Hold steady when the fires burn,
When inner lessons come to learn,
And from this path there seems no turn–
‘Let patience have her perfect work.'”
L.S.P from Streams in the Desert, Feb 21
Richard Smallwood – Psalm 118 [His Mercy Endureth Forever]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xjtD3pqPH8
Thank you Father for Your fresh bread daily as it is written in our Holy Bibles and brought to us faithfully through David Mainse and his family in this wondrous blog.
It is truly a blessing… God bless brothers and sisters…
Amen.
I have been asked by a few people to sign a Petition against so-called, Transgender Children from being allowed to use opposing Washrooms, Change rooms, etc.
I am feeling very confused and troubled as I know it is wrong to be “conformed to the world;” but also, we are to LOVE and save the little lost lambs/sheep and not get overtaken by a spirit of fear.
My heart goes out to these children, and their confused families, as well.
Any thoughts?
Pray sister, for the Lord to reveal what is best for you to do. The transgender situation is affecting us everywhere–at local gyms, schools, public transit…. Ask God to reveal to you loud and clear what to do. We know as God fearing, Bible reading and living Christians, by the Spirit of the Living God that lives and breathes in us, what is right and Holy.
My temptation is to do and say nothing; only pray and try to Love, with God’s Spirit. I see both sides of this issue and the overwhelming hurt, fear, pride, etc. that are at war.
Thank you for your response.
To laurie- Ask The Lord what to do; He has promised to answer us when we call upon His LOVELY NAME. (Jer 33:3) For the most part, (if not all) signing petitions commits one to the petition whether it is a good or bad petition & there is no changing of mind after your signature has been placed on the piece of paper and if you have doubts signing it after which you undoubtedly have seeing as you are unsure now by virtue of your request for advice, then I would strongly advise to take it to the LORD BEFORE DOING ANYTHING ELSE as HE will guide you and answer you in your heart; that way YOU will know for certain as to how (and if) to respond to this petition. Personally, my experience with petitions, is that by signing them, you have closed the door as to how and what GOD wants to respond to the situation, but more than that, others will use your committed signature to say things and possibly do things that are not Christian and that you do not necessarily agree with and you would never sanction these things in the first place, but giving them over to HIM in prayer for EVERY SITUATION THAT ARISES IN YOUR LIFE will open the door to the BEST solution because it will be GOD’S solution. HE is more concerned about YOU than any petition; that’s not to say that HE is not concerned about this particular petition- (HE is !) GOD is looking for the “OPEN DOOR” to provide HIS SOLUTIONS for our problems. We open that “OPEN DOOR” through P R A Y E R.
My apologies- laurie for using up so many words to express what was on my heart. I will be praying for GOD to answer your heart with HIS PRESENCE and HIS WISDOM. Rest assured –HE WILL.I guarantee it.
Rev. Terrence Felvus – Grassie on.
Amen!!
Thank You; Thank You; Thank You…..words of Wisdom, greater than gold.
I don’t remember reading in the Bible that Jesus asked for huge fancy buildings. He wanted Himself to be made known to the lost, not a fancy building in which to worship.
“Casting all my cares on You Jesus, because You care for m!”
Ps: 119:105 “Your Word Lord, is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path!” Thank You Lord!!!
Ps: 23:3 “You restore my soul: You lead me in the paths of righteousness for Your Name’s sake” Thank You Lord!!! Therefore, I can lean on You Lord and not on my own understanding. I Love You Lord…Thank You for Your stubborn Love for me!! Amen!!
How sad for Templeton to miss fellowship with Jesus…but praise God, it appears he opened his repented and is with Jesus now, for eternity!!!
Thanks for the pictures!!!
bathrooms should be built for transgender people! by having their own bathrooms they will not feel awkward and no one needs to make an issue of the situation! just my opinion but I somehow sense it would be the right move to make!
God bless everyone on this site!
I thought the same, but the problem and the implications are so complex.
Thank you for caring and responding.