Tag Archives: jesus

ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Rom 8:28-30).

These are some of the most beloved scriptures in the Bible. God’s Word brings great comfort to all believers. It points to the assurance of salvation and to God’s constant presence in our lives. It reminds us that God alone knows the end from the beginning. This is a categorical statement. It is not a prayer. It is a doctrine. It must be believed without any doubt! Amen!

We are told that all things work together for good, not to all people, but to a special group called the lovers of God. There are only two groups of people in this world: those who love God and those who hate God. We are all born sinners; all hated God, needed forgiveness and a Savior. “For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another” (Tit 3:3). A sinner is not just indifferent towards the God of the Bible. He hates God! He hates Jesus! These are some manifestations of hatred towards God: Like Peter, we deny that we know God. We ignore God or take Him for granted. We argue with God and His Word. We disobey His commands and feel no shame or regret. We insult God and take His name in vain by using the name of Jesus as a curse. When things do not go the way we want it, we blame God for our troubles. We think that God is unfair. We misuse God. We take His gifts, but we do not praise Him or thank Him. The Bible says that all sinners are under God’s wrath and judgment. There is no escape. The wrath of God is not hidden. It is revealed to man thru His Word. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them… 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” (Rom 1:18,19, 28-32). We don’t care about God’s feelings. We sympathize with sinners in their evil.

The great promise in Romans 8:28 does not apply to sinners, to those who hate God. It does not apply even to the religious unbelievers, people who attend church, but are not saved. All things do not work together for good to them. The religious unbelievers try to apply this scripture to their lives, but they get disappointed with God. Later, the devil uses them to discourage the true believers saying that God does not care, and God will not answer their prayers. Lesson: we should not be intimate with unbelievers. For example, if a believer marries an unbeliever, all things will work together for good for the believer but not for the spouse. That brings conflict in the marriage. Selah!

The next thing we can say about this scripture is that it applies to all things in life!!! It does not only apply to ‘the good things’, prosperity, peace or health. The promise includes ‘all things’, including trials, sicknesses, seasons of poverty, loneliness, spiritual evil attacks, mistakes and sins. Many believers get confused about this doctrine. They ask themselves: how can God use sickness or sins for our good? The truth is that God is not the author of sin. He does not tempt men. “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone” (Jam 1:13). But God can use everything, including the devil, for His own glory and for our good. “All power belongs to God” (Ps 62:11). He can over-rule our mistakes or the consequences of our sins, extending His grace and mercy to the worst offender. Note that these things are not good in themselves. They do not work together for our good by their own power. It is God who uses them in such a way that eventually they work for our good. This is the mystery of the sovereign omnipotent God!

How does God use painful things for our good? First, difficult things like sickness, disappointment, or poverty, humble us. When things are good, we tend to become spiritually passive. Suddenly, we got sick. We experience pain and remember our body’s weakness. The sickness is uncomfortable. It is a shock to us! We suddenly ‘wake up’ and feel the need to draw closer to God, fast and pray. We now discover that our good health and prosperity contributes to our drifting away from God. We become humble and grateful for everything, including the pain. We can now say with the Psalmist: “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes” (Ps 119:71). But the unbelievers suffer in vain. They waste their pains. They even become angry at God for allowing them to suffer. We now remember that we need forgiveness for sins and strength in our weakness. We reject the spirit of pride that so easily entangles us. Humility leads to wisdom and safety. It is during this strange process of things working together for our good that we re-discover the depths of God’s Love, His mercy, patience and Grace towards us. We may have known these blessings as doctrines, but now, we experience them personally. It is a pity that God needs to use pains to train us in godliness. There is no other way. Because of our sinful past, we tend to get easily distracted and forget spiritual things. We either get infatuated with the pleasures of life, or we get too worried about the cares of this world. Either way, we become too busy with the things of this world. Our focus in life becomes too small. We only care about our bodies and material things. We forget heaven. We forget the glory promised in Christ! Trials wake us to the eternal realities of God’s Kingdom. Our prayers and worship become purer. We start to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2Pet 3:18). This is the way to have an established testimony before men and that alone is a mighty gain! Praise the Lord!

God says: “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things” (Isa 45:7; KJ). In Hebrew, the word ‘darkness’ also means ignorance, wickedness, sorrow and death. The word ‘evil’ means calamity (a sudden violent event that brings great loss and sorrow). Here, Jehovah God takes responsibility in creating not only light and peace, but also darkness and evil, terrible disasters. Because we think of God as ‘a good man’, incapable to cause pain to us, this revelation is confusing. But this is the truth. God has created the devil and the demons as angels in heaven. But Satan rebelled against God. Some angels followed him in rebellion. God threw them away from heaven to earth. Working all things together for our good is not an encouragement to commit sin. God hates sin. Evil is always bad. Sin is never good. What God does is that He controls evil. The devil is not free to ‘kill, steal, and destroy’ as he wishes. God limits and redirects the amount of destruction coming from the devil. Jesus said that we pray like this: “lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil” (Matt 6:13). Why then God allows us sometimes to enter temptation and fall into sin? Why does God allow Christians to backslide sometimes? One reason is that we discover the truth about ourselves. He exposes the pride, deception, the foolishness of our hearts. We can easily become proud and get a false sense of confidence. We feel that we do not need God anymore. The truth is that we always need God, until our last breath. God allows us to fall to become humble and draw closer to Him. God is an excellent Father! He trains His children well. See how the Father of the Prodigal son used pains to achieve the necessary humility and godliness in his son!

God’s will is revealed in the Bible. It is described as sovereign, good and acceptable (or permissive) (Rom 12:2). God permits ‘bad things’ to happen to the believers thru His permissive will. God allows us to experience some things, even though these things do not bring pleasure to Him. God allows certain things to happen, even sinful things, that indirectly accomplish His sovereign will. God created the universe, and the natural world. He also created man. Man was deceived by Satan and chose to disobey God. Sin entered humanity and has negatively affected everything and everyone since then. God could have prevented Adam from falling. But He chose not to. God had a strategy to deal with sin and Satan. God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to pay for the sins of men. As a Man in Heaven, and Lord over all, Jesus Christ has now received all the glory due to God alone. Because God knows everything and God is sovereign, for any evil to happen, God must allow it thru His permissive will. God never makes mistakes. God does not force man to do His perfect will. He allows man to decide between His perfect and permissive will. But once we choose a sinful path, there are consequences. We cannot avoid these consequences. Thru pain, we learn from our past mistakes and try to obey God’s perfect will in the future. We experience God’s permissive will every day. For better or for worse, God allows us to make decisions: what we eat, how we spend our time, where we work, whom we marry, and much more. Some of our choices have lifelong consequences, but some won’t. Other people’s choices may affect us negatively. Sometimes, unpleasant events come our way. But we should remember that whatever is happening to us is part of God’s permissive will. God is still on the throne. God has never given up on His total control over His creation! No matter what we experience in life, God is fully in charge!

In God’s permissive will, evil is allowed to function, but God’s perfect plan triumphs every time. For example, God allowed the kidnapping and enslavement of Joseph. Each time Joseph suffered, God had the power to intervene, but He sovereignly “permitted” the evil. Note that God’s permissive will never counteract His sovereign will or His overall plan for man. God allowed the sins of Joseph’s brothers to bring about a greater good. When Jesus was arrested, He told His enemies, “This is your hour—when darkness reigns” (Luke 22:53). Evil had been granted a window of opportunity, and evil men were taking full advantage of it. That was indeed a dark night, but the final result was the salvation of mankind. God only permits that which will lead to His sovereign will being accomplished for His glory!

God may ignore the evil unbelievers do but He surely disciplines His children. “You only have I known of all the families of the earth; Therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities” (Amos 3:2). “For whom the Lord loves He chastens and scourges every son whom He receives” (Heb 12:6). There is a warning about taking the Holy Communion in a wrong manner. “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks [g]in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep” (1Cor 11:28-30). We are told that taking the Holy Communion in careless, disrespectful manner, can result in weakness of the body, sickness or even untimely death.

Another way that God makes all things to work together for our good, is by withholding some blessings. All believers have experienced seasons of spiritual dryness. They felt far from God, and their prayers did not rise to heaven. These seasons of spiritual wilderness are unpleasant. During these difficult times we humble ourselves and continue to pray to God. Sometimes, not always, The Holy Spirit reveals why we need to pass thru the valley of the shadow of death. This is necessary so that we cooperate and even appreciate the pain coming from the hand of our loving Father. Eventually, the darkness is over and ‘joy comes in the morning!’. The times of ‘reconciliation’ with God are sweeter than ever. We learn to appreciate God’s presence even more and our love for God increases! Hallelujah! 

“And we know that all things work together for good…”.  Apostle Paul takes it for granted that as believers we should “know” these things. I may not know the reason for the pain, or how long the trial will last, but I know that God is with me in the pain, and He will bring good to me at the end. I may not understand everything that happens to me in this life on earth, but I am sure that my salvation and place in heaven is guaranteed. We are not promised a life free from trials or pains. But we are promised victory in Christ and to have God’s Presence with us to the end of time. Jesus said: “I WILL NEVER [under any circumstances] DESERT YOU [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], NOR WILL I FORSAKE or LET YOU DOWN or RELAX MY HOLD ON YOU [assuredly not]!” (Heb 13:5; AMP). The hope of heavenly glory is found in Christ alone. This hope sustains me on earth during seasons of spiritual darkness. Because my soul is anchored in heaven, my hope is strong, and I know that I will make it to the other side. Unbelievers never see any good thing in the trials of life. But we see Christ, who suffered like us and now, He is glorified in heaven. Little by little we see that testing times are growing times and healing times. Look at all the people who suffered, Joseph, Job, David and others. They remained faithful in their suffering. They became better at the end and God was glorified in their lives. By God’s grace, this is our portion too!

The promise that “all things work together for good” applies only to a group of people: these are the ones who Love God and are the called according to His Purpose. Loving God and being called by God are other ways to describe the true believers in Christ. Why did Paul describe the Christians as those ‘who love God’ and not as those who have faith in God. Because to love God is more powerful in describing the believer than to say he trusts God. Love is greater than Faith and is a more sensitive test of being a child of God. Loving God is more than an emotion. To have faith, you need only your mind. But to love, you need your whole body, soul and spirit. This is the first Commandment: “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mk 12:30). The act of love involves 100% of your emotions, will, mind and the physical strength of the body. Demons believe in God, but they hate God. “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” (Jam 2:19). Unbelievers can’t love because their minds and hearts are darkened and blind to spiritual realities (Eph 7:17,18). They are God haters. They cannot love God!

What are some tests that you are saved, and that you love God? “We love Him because He first loved us” (1Jn 4:19). Loving God is our response to His own first Love. If you discover that you can love God, then you know that you are a believer in Christ, and all things will work together for good for you. The first test of love is your attitude during trials. He who loves God will endure the trial and pass the test successfully. The one who does not love God, during trials, he will be angry, blaming God. Watch the way Job and his wife react to the same trial, and to the same pains. After they lost their children, and their property, and Job got sick, his wife challenged him to curse and deny God. She said: “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips” (Job 2:9,10). One of the signs that you don’t love God is that during trials you want to curse God and die. That is the foolishness of unbelief and a sign of hating God. But Job loved God. In all things, he continued to worship God. For such a person, God will bring an expected end and bless him at last. “Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning…” (Job 42:12). Amen!

Believers are also described as “the called” of God. There is a general call and an effectual call of God. We tell all people everywhere about the Gospel of Christ crucified and resurrected. People all over the world are commanded to repent of sins and turn to God (Ac17:30,31).  But not all people who hear the Gospel will eventually believe. Those who truly believe, they will love God. Faith leads to Love! They respond to God’s call of grace. They become born-again by the Holy Spirit. These are “The Elect or the Called”. The rest continue living in sin until they die. Only God knows who are the called. How do you know that you are among “the called”? You testify that the Holy Spirit has convicted you of sin. You repented of sins. You are hungry and thirsty to know God more. You study God’s Word. You pray. You love God and you love the brethren. You love to go to church. These spiritual emotions are real. Because you know that you are a child of God, you also know that all things work together for your good because God is totally in charge of your life. That gives you the confidence to endure during trials. You know that you are called, therefore, you are justified and surely glorified! These are all in past tense! Heaven is sure!

THE STORY OF JOSEPH – GOD MEANT IT FOR GOOD!

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

The meaning of Joseph is ‘increase’. Joseph’s brothers hated him. They wanted him dead. Joseph suffered much because of them. Yet, he forgave them freely. How was he able to do that? What is the secret of Joseph in displaying such grace and mercy? His secret is found in his theology. Because he knew God intimately, he behaved like God. This is Joseph’s basic doctrine: “you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good” (Gen 50:20). Lesson: if we believe like Joseph, we can also forgive and love like Joseph and God will use us for His glory!

The Bible Story of Joseph is found the Book of Genesis, chapters 37 to 50. It is one of heroic redemption and forgiveness. Joseph was the most loved son of his father, Israel, who gave him a robe of many colors, a symbol of leadership. Lesson: parents, it is not good to have favorites! When Joseph reported having dreams of his brothers bowing before him, their jealousy grew into action. They sold him into slavery to a traveling caravan of Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard. In Egypt, the Lord’s constant presence with Joseph enables him to find favor with Potiphar and later, with the keeper of the prison. With God’s help, Joseph correctly interprets the dreams of two prisoners, predicting that one of them will be reinstated but the other put to death. Joseph then interprets the dreams of Pharaoh, which anticipate seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Pharaoh recognizes Joseph’s God-given ability and promotes him to be to the chief administrator of Egypt. Shortage of food in Canaan forces Jacob to send his sons to buy grains from the Egyptians.  Benjamin, Joseph’s younger brother, remains at home as Jacob fears losing him, as he did Joseph. When Joseph finally encounters his brothers again, he conceals his identity. He accuses them of being spies and tells them to return with Benjamin or he will not sell them grain. The ongoing famine forces Jacob to reluctantly send his sons back to Egypt with Benjamin, and they are unexpectedly invited to dine at Joseph’s house. Joseph tests the character of his brothers by placing a silver cup in the sack of Benjamin and falsely accusing him of theft.  When Judah offers to stay in place of Benjamin, Joseph knows that his character has changed and reveals to them that he is their brother. Joseph says that they need not feel guilty for betraying him as it was God’s plan for him to be in Egypt to preserve their family. He told them to bring their father and his entire household into Egypt to live in the province of Goshen because there were five more years of famine left. Joseph supplied them with Egyptian transport wagons, new garments, silver, and more donkeys for the journey. Jacob is joyously reunited with his beloved son Joseph. This is an interesting note: Joseph became prime minister at 30. (David became king at 30. Jesus started His public ministry at 30). Joseph died when he was 110. For 80 years he was a great leader in Egypt. But with all his success, Joseph did not regarded Egypt as his own country. He told his family to carry his bones to the Promised Land. That was faith (Heb 11:22)! More than 400 years later, during the exodus, the Jews carried his bones and buried them in the Promised Land.

Joseph is about 40 years when Jacob came to Egypt. He was about 57 years old when his father died (Gen 47:28). He is now at the peak of his power and success in Egypt. After Jacob dies and is buried, Joseph’s brothers felt guilty and afraid. They knew that they planted evil. They must now harvest evil. Without their father, they assumed that Joseph would now seek revenge and punish them. But Jospeh’s words toward his brothers are words of mercy and love. Before he revealed himself to his brothers, they lived in torment, in unconfessed sin. This always makes men guilty and angry. They hate Christians who speak the truth. It affects their relationships with others. Joseph’s brothers’ sin affected their relationship with their father. Lesson: Sin must be confessed and repented of. The only solution is the mercy of Jesus!

This is a reminder of the power of love released when the Kingdom of God is active among men. “When the righteous are in authority and become great, the people rejoice; But when the wicked man rules, the people groan and sigh” (PV 29:2; AMP). Here we see the reason why Joseph was a great man. Joseph was great not because of his dreams, his intelligence or his hard work. It is because of his godly character, the man he has become thru all the trials of life. His brothers wanted to kill him. Eventually they sold him. What effect do you think that action will have upon a 17-year-old boy? Potiphar’s wife lied that he wanted to rape her. Before Joseph was 30 many people betrayed him and tried to destroy his character. But thru it all, Joseph trusted and loved God. He gave his two sons Hebrew names: Manasah (God has helped me to forget the suffering in my father’s house) and Ephraim (God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction). Joseph had a relationship with God even before the trials came. Joseph knew that God would make him fruitful no matter what happens to him. God allowed him to suffer until he could be able to forgive and freely love his selfish brothers. He could not be promoted until Love won his heart. A proof that Joseph truly forgave them is that he encouraged them not to fear him. Joseph did not see himself in the place of God. He knew that vengeance belongs to God and not to man. Lesson: True forgiveness releases the victim from fear of punishment and comes from a humble and loving heart.

How to forgive others? Joseph saw his brothers as an instrument of God! Joseph does not even want his brothers to grieve over their sin. He encourages them because he loves them, and he has forgiven them. Lesson: if you have suffered and you still want others to suffer, you are bitter. You have not forgiven. I am not saying that the pain is not real. But like Joseph, look unto God and see everything as God sees. Joseph focused on the plan of God and left vengeance to God. He realized that God has a purpose for his life and trusted God to fulfill that. Joseph’s life is a proof of the sovereignty and grace of God for those who live faithfully and righteously. Despite being sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph remained faithful to God and trusted God to deliver him from trials. His story shows how God’s plan may not be obvious to our limited perspective but indeed “all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Lessons: Your God given dreams may disturb others. Nothing stops God’s plan for you. Prosperity is not just material wealth. It is being in God’s plan. God’s presence with you means prosperity. Joseph was called prosperous even as a slave (Gen 39:2-6). Obedience and Truth always defeat rebellion and lies. God will test and discipline you. Forgiveness and giving others a second chance is proof of love. It is worth it. Trust God during trials, knowing that God will deliver us! He will display His Justice, love, mercy and grace!

Finally, you look for a mentor, look for one who knows God, who is responsible, faithful, kind and one who fears God! Joseph is the only person in the Old Testament who has no record of guilt. He is a type of Christ! He was a man who knew God and was in touch with God. He has surely learned about God from his father, Jacob. Joseph’s relationship with God started when he was a child, long before his trials came. Joseph found favor with God and with man (with the community). He was faithful in his responsibilities. He had the fear for God. When Potiphar’s wife tempted him, he said that adultery is a sin against God and not only against man. He knew how to say no to sin. But his greatest moral quality manifested as love and forgiveness. He could have sold his brothers into slavery or kill them. But he forgave them and spoke kindly to them. He did not allow his suffering to make him bitter. He kept his heart pure. Joseph became Pharoah’s mentor. He did not corrupt Pharoah with bitterness. Joseph suffered a lot, but when he died at 110, he was the greatest man in the world at that time. This is truly amazing! This is true greatness! Worship the Lord!

DRIFTING AWAY FROM OUR FIRST LOVE

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

“Therefore, we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” (Heb 2:1-4).

This is a reminder that we have an enemy who hates us. The devil wants you to be ignorant of God’s love for you! The real danger is that if we neglect so great a salvation, we will drift away from our first love. To Give heed it means to pay closer attention, to be cautious about, to be on guard, to beware of danger ahead, careful not to take unnecessary risks. It also means to listen and to follow!!! The command applies to the ears and to the feet. If we do not listen to God’s Word and ignore the leading of the Holy Spirit, we become spiritually lazy, or passive. From that position of weakness, the strong currents of the powers of darkness will carry us away from Christ’s love. It is like falling asleep in a boat that is not tied down to the shore. The river will eventually carry the boat away by its gentle currents. By the time we wake up, we see that we are in a different area we never planned to go before. The gentle river has now become fast and rough, and we wake up in a strange place of danger. To neglect it means to be careless, to fail to give attention or to respect the things that are your responsibility to keep and protect. Neglect is worse than ignoring. You can ignore to clean your house. That is not sinful. But child neglect is sinful. For a doctor to neglect his patients, that is criminal. To neglect God’s Word is like holding a treasure in your hand, but your fingers are not tight on it. The gold falls from your hand, and you are not aware that you have lost it. It means that you failed to value the revelation of God’s Word that you have received in the past! Because of your negligence, you are now becoming poorer. Neglecting the supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit is a sign of drifting from your first love! Selah!

These are some of the common situations that can lead to the sin of neglect of God’s Word. These are like strong currents of a river:

*The anxiety of life, the cares of this world. They prevent God’s Word from taking roots and producing fruits in your spirit. “The cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mk 4:19). These produce weakness of the mind and of the body. You become spiritually weak and discouraged. As our Lord was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, drops of blood falling from His brow. But the disciples became so grieved that they fell asleep. “Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt 26:40,41). Medical science has proven that the brain shuts down during times of great stress. To watch and to pray takes a lot of energy. This spiritual warfare is done only by the power of the Holy Spirit. But if you ignore watching and praying, you will fall asleep spiritually and you will drift away from the safety of truth. Selah!

*Pleasures of life. It’s easy to forget God and His Love when you seek only for pleasures. To always look for fun is the world’s mentality. “The heart of the wise [learns when it] is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is [senseless] in the house of pleasure” (Ecc 7:4; AMP).  Seeking the pleasures of life can become an idol. “Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play” (1Cor 10:7). Seek God and His Kingdom! Let God chose what pleasures and the level of pleasures you may have in this life. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt 6:33).

*Overfamiliarity with God and the Bible. To be overfamiliar with someone means to be extremely close, or intimate. You feel that you know that person too well. You have seen him and heard him so many times that the person now becomes boring to you. Other similar words with overfamiliarity are ‘being bold, forward, presumptuous, or disrespectful’. To be overfamiliar with God is always a sin. Its root is pride and Presumption. Presumption means to take someone for granted, to jump to conclusions without knowing the whole truth. It means to disrespect. God punishes it. “The prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die” (Deut 18:20). It is true that we are one with Christ. But we must still fear God! No one knows God totally. “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable” (Ps 145:3). Whatever we know about God is what God has revealed to us, in Christ, by the Holy Spirit. That is all! Love always honors the Lover!

*Getting older. As we grow older, we change. The body gets weaker. The mind starts forgetting things. People close to us die. We become lonely. The strength we had as young people is replaced by a gradual weakness of body and mind. The zeal to study God’s Word, to pray or to serve God is less. We feel we know everything, and we don’t need to learn new things. To love others requires too much sacrifice. We give up on ourselves. Reading the Bible, praying, attending church services becomes routine and boring. “Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor Him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore” (Ecc 12:1;NLT). Old men may experience apathy, a lack of mental energy, emotion, passion, or excitement. To some old people, Love becomes burdensome. This apathy may lead to depression and to drifting away from the truth. The cure is to come back to your First Love!!!

FROM NOW, I WILL PRAISE THE LORD!!!

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

“From Jesus Christ, the faithful and trustworthy Witness, the Firstborn of the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who [always] loves us and who [has once for all] freed us [or washed us] from our sins by His own blood (His sacrificial death); and formed us into a kingdom [as His subjects], priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the power and the majesty and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (Rev 1:5, 6; AMP).

This is an amazing praise to the Lord Jesus Christ. John recognizes the greatness of our Lord. He “always loves us”. That verb is in the present tense, not past tense. It is true that 2000 years ago, because Jesus loved us, He died for us. But here we are told that Jesus loves us right now! He loves us now, and forever! His love is relentless. This Agape Love is relentless (strong, persistent, and without interruptions). It is pouring continually like rain from heaven. It never stops. It is the engine of our strength to love Jesus and other people. Everything in the life of believers ought to be based upon the Faith in the Love of Jesus. It is the most wonderful thing, to know in our hearts that though we were born sinners, and we still sin even today, yet He loves us! What a difference it makes when you experience the eternal love of God in your very soul right now! Do you feel His amazing Love right now?

John dedicates the book of Revelation to Him who loves us and, in addition, has freed us from our sins with His blood. In Greek, the word ‘freed’ means to loosen, to release and wash a prisoner. By His Blood, King Jesus breaks the chains of evil habits in our lives. He sets us free from sinful addictions that we have allowed to bind us. Those who have struggled with alcoholism know its terrible grip. We are all sinfully dependent people, shackled by sin one way or another: greed, selfishness, anger, quarrelling, lustful passions, cowardice and pride. Fear of man is an addictive strong bondage. “The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe” (PV29:25).
Cowardice is more than weakness of character. It is a sin! Cowards are in the same company with unbelievers, adulterers, liars, idol worshippers and the witches. If it is not confessed and repented of, cowardice blocks the way to heaven (Rev 21:8). God’s Word commands us to stand and always confess the truth. “If anyone sins after he hears a public adjuration (solemn command to testify) when he is a witness, whether he has seen or [otherwise] known [something]—if he fails to report it, then he will bear his guilt and be held responsible” (Lev 5:1; AMP). Because you fear offending a criminal, even after you heard the Judge placing a curse upon his sin, and you keep quiet in the court, that is sinful cowardice. Perjury means willfully lying under oath in the court. Perjury is an attack against truth and justice. (In Nigeria, it is punished with up to 14 years imprisonment). Spiritually, giving false witness or keeping quiet about another’s sin, grieves the Holy Spirit and wounds your conscience. These are bondages only the Blood of Jesus can break. Repent! Be free!

Here we see that Jesus is the One who has freed us from these bad habits by the sacrifice of His own life. But more than that, Jesus has made us a Kingdom of priests to serve our God. We are free to worship! A priest stands before God on behalf of men. Sinners feel separated from God. By their evil thoughts, they cut themselves off from a holy God. They need to repent. They are to be brought near God by the priests. That is the work of believers today. We are to exercise the ministry of reconciliation in the name of Jesus. We are to help lost people realize that God is longing to draw them to Himself. For this work Jesus has made us a kingdom of priests. Do you ever think of yourself as a priest? Or as a king? Or as a citizen of God’s Kingdom? This is your destiny and ministry, to serve God forever!

NO QUARRELS IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
“Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. 2 I implore Euodia, and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life” (Phil 4:1-3).

Apostle Paul addresses the Christians in Philippi as ‘beloved and longed-for’. He truly loves them. He tells them to stand fast in the Lord. The word means to stand firm, to persevere against opposition. He is calling the brethren to behave as citizens of heaven. There is no quarrel in heaven! They must settle their differences. Euodia and Syntyche, two Christian women in the church, were quarreling. Euodia means ‘Sweet Fragrance’ and Syntyche means ‘Fortunate’. They were possibly part of the first group of women that started the church (Acts 16:13). Each woman worked hard in the church. There were once sisters in Christ and ‘fellow workers’ with Paul. But now, they separated themselves and each tried to gather followers, dividing the Church. Paul reminds everyone that the Church belongs to Christ who died so that our names are in the Book of Life. Study the way Paul is talking. He has a pastor’s heart, a father’s loving heart. He loves the Lord, and he loves the brethren. Note that he does not command the two women to settle for his sake, to protect his reputation as a pastor. He does not tell the women to settle even for their own sakes. No! He ‘implores’ them, he begs them, to stop the quarrel for Christ’ sake!!! Apostle Paul is truly a humble man who honors God! To settle people who quarrel in the Church is difficult to do, as delicate as doing brain surgery. Paul applies Love, divine wisdom, humility, and great discernment. The unity of the Spirit is essential for the growth of God’s Kingdom thru the Church.

We see the ideal relationship between a pastor who displays agape love and his congregation. This is a reminder that the Body of Christ is One! If one member suffers, all suffer. We all must be peacemakers. The unity in the Church is not based on social status, age, level of education, race or tribe affiliation. The Spirit is one! The Lord Jesus Christ, the King of kings, is One! We are together as co-laborers with God and with one another. We labor in the Gospel. The power of the Church depends on two major factors: The preaching of the Gospel and the agape Love between the brethren. The pastor preaches the Gospel of Christ Crucified and Resurrected. Preaching false doctrines weakens the Church. Quarreling grieves the Holy Spirit. It is not only the pastor who preaches. All believers must do their part to preach the Gospel to others. The Church expands as each believer tells others about Jesus, shares his testimony and lives a successful Christian life. Preaching the Gospel is done not only by mouth, but by actions. Our attending church services encourages the pastor and encourages others. Praying, helping your pastor in any way you can, is also a way to preach the Gospel. May we stand strong and honor God always!

Jesus said that division destroys relationships and families. “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand but is coming to an end” (Mk 3:24-26). Love is a glue. It binds people together (Col 3:12-15). The Body of Christ is made of many, but it is one. The Holy Spirit is one! The evil spirits are many. One of the works of the flesh is contention, a hot argument that divides people (Gal 5:20). Apostle Paul says that we should avoid people who quarrel and divide the Body of Christ: “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them” (Rom 16:17). They invent and ‘manufacture’ stumbling blocks to make others fall. We should avoid them! It means that these are religious unbelievers, false brethren who crept into the church to divide the Body. Selah!

LEAH – THE UNLOVED WIFE (Genesis 29)
Leah was the first wife of Jacob, later called Israel. She lived almost 4000 years ago. Her name means ‘weak eyes’, possibly means poor vision. She stands for weakness of flesh and strength of the Spirit. Leah was the mother of six of Jacob’s sons and the ancestor of these tribes: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. Judah was the ancestor of King David and, in the lineage of Jesus (Matt 1:1-16).

This is the story: After Jacob had deceived his father, Isaac, and deprived his brother, Esau, of his birthright and blessing, he fled from the wrath of Esau and took refuge in the household of his uncle Laban. There he immediately fell in love with Laban’s younger daughter, Rachel and worked for Laban seven years to win her hand in marriage. On the night of the wedding feast, Laban deceived him by sending Leah to his tent. According to the Eastern’s tradition, the bride was veiled, and Jacob was surely drunk. In the morning, Jacob discovered that he slept with Leah and not with Rachel. Laban compelled Jacob to work another seven years for Rachel. Here you see that Love is not cheap. For many years, Jacob did not love Leah. But God consoled her by giving her the gift of motherhood. God gave her six sons and a daughter, Dinah, before allowing Rachel to become pregnant. Rachel had two sons, Jospeh and Benjamin. She died young. She was buried along the road. Leah lived until her old age. She died before the family went to Egypt. She was buried in the cave of family grave at Machpelah in Hebron. This was great honor. Before his death in Egypt, Jacob told Joseph to carry his corpse to the Promised Land and bury him alongside Leah, in Hebron. Jacob said: “There I buried Leah” (Gen 49:31). He was buried next to Leah, alongside Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Rebeccah. Leah was a godly woman, much more suitable for him as a wife than the worldly-minded Rachel. Though not loved, she was faithful to her husband until the end!

It took many years before finally Jacob learned to love and respect Leah, who remained faithful and loving to him. This speaks of true endurance as a woman of God. For example, when coming back to the Promised Land, Jacob was told that his older brother Esau was coming towards him with 400 men. Jacob was afraid. He divided his children and his people. He put the two maidservants and their children in front. That was the most dangerous place in case of an attack. Then he put Leah and her children next to the maidservants. Finally, he placed his beloved wife Rachel and her son Joseph, at the rear, which was the safest place (Gen 33:1,2). These arrangements prove that even at this time, Leah was treated just a little better than the servants.

God always protects the weak, the victims of human’s oppression. In the Old Testament, God’s word commands that in case of polygamy, men should not discriminate the children of the unloved wife. “If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and they have borne him children, both the loved and the unloved, and if the firstborn son is of her who is unloved, 16 then it shall be, on the day he bequeaths his possessions to his sons, that he must not bestow firstborn status on the son of the loved wife in preference to the son of the unloved, the true firstborn. 17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his” (Deut 21:15-17). All children should be treated well!

Jacob obeyed God’s command. Just before his death, Jacob blessed his sons. In particular, his son Judah, meaning “Praise”, which is the fourth son of Leah, receives the highest blessing. He becomes the leader of his brothers. This is prophetic. Judah is the direct ancestor of King David and Jesus Christ. Jesus is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah. This is according to what Jacob prophesied: “Judah, you are the one whom your brothers shall praise; Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; Your father’s sons shall bow down to you. 9 “Judah, a lion’s cub; With the prey, my son, you have gone high up [the mountain]. He stooped down, he crouched like a lion, And like a lion—who dares rouse him? 10 “The scepter [of royalty] shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh [the Messiah, the Peaceful One] comes, And to Him shall be the obedience of the peoples” (Gen 49:8-10; AMP). Hallelujah!

LESSONS FROM LEAH:
*This is a story of Grace! God truly cares for those unloved and rejected by men. God comforts and compensate the lowly, in His way, His own time. Through their troubles and afflictions, they learn to look to Him for happiness, help and success. Leah was emotionally rejected by her father, her sister and her husband. Like David, Leah could have said: “Although my father and my mother have abandoned me, Yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child]” (Ps 27:10; AMP). When Jesus came to the earth, He was rejected by men! He died on the Cross! But God raised Him from the dead and gave Him a name above every other name! Jesus knows how it feels to be rejected! Trust Him to vindicate you! God often chooses to work thru those who are rejected, unloved and marginalized. Rachel captured Jacob’s heart. But Leah captured God’s heart! Leah’s life is a story of endurance, strength, perseverance and faith!

*God is sovereign in every matter. He demotes and He promotes as He wishes. Nobody stops God from doing His own will. “The Lord puts to death and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol (the grave) and raises up [from the grave]. 7 “The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low, and He lifts up. 8 “He raises up the poor from the dust, He lifts up the needy from the ash heap To make them sit with nobles and inherit a seat of honor and glory; For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, And He set the land on them” (1Sam 2:6-8; AMP). Amen!

*To be a parent is a blessing from God. God rewards obedience, faithfulness and labor of love. Children are God’s reward. “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. 5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed but shall speak with their enemies in the gate” (Ps 127:3-5).
Leah suffered in her marriage. For many years, she was lonely and unloved by her husband. But God blessed Leah with the gift of motherhood. Her son Levi is the ancestor of Aaron, the head of priests to serve God in the temple and of Moses, the greatest leader of Isreal. “When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren” (Gen 29:31). At last, Leah’s descendants became greater than the descendants of Rachel (Joseph and Benjamin). Her son Judah is the ancestor of Jesus Christ, the Lord!

*Leah learned contentment. That makes her a mature woman of God. To be content it means to be satisfied with God and with yourself. It is the knowledge that things are OK exactly as they are, right now. It is a spiritual secret that few people learn about. Some call it ‘the deep knowledge of enough’. It is one of the highest achievements of human well-being. Contentment is more powerful than happiness. Seeking happiness in this life leads to anxiety and depression. Contentment is peace, joy, and the courage to live well. Apostle Paul credited the secret of contentment as one of his greatest achievements. “Not that I speak from [any personal] need, for I have learned to be content [and self-sufficient through Christ, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy] regardless of my circumstances. 12 I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret [of facing life], whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need. 13 I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]” (Phil 4:11-13; AMP). May God grant us the grace to experience contentment in life! Amen!

*Only God changes a man. An unloved wife is so grieved that only God can help her. Leah was ignorant about how men think. She thought that just by sleeping with him, her husband will love her. She was wrong. A man can be sexually attracted to a woman even if he does not love her. Later, Leah tried to win her husband’s love by having children. But even after having many sons, Jacob still did not love her. Marriage certificate, sex, or having children does not make a man love his wife. “Under three things the earth is disquieted and quakes, And under four it cannot bear up: 22 Under a servant when he reigns, Under a [spiritually blind] fool when he is filled with food, 23 Under an unloved woman when she gets married, And under a maidservant when she supplants her mistress” (PV30:21-23; AMP).

*Praising God changes lives! Leah’s hopes to find love thru her children are dashed at the beginning. But once she has Judah (Praise), she changed her focus, from hoping in her husband, to looking unto God. She now decided to praise God! From this moment on, she is free. She is a different woman. She can now thank God for what she already has and not for what she misses. Her words change from a piteous “woe is me” tone to “what good fortune!” and “how happy and blessed I am!” (Gen 30:11-12; NIV). While Jacob may have “settled for” Leah, Leah herself doesn’t settle. She grows spiritually. She let go of her idols of marriage, children, and family, and set her sights on higher things than her circumstances. She chooses to praise God! It is then that God demonstrates how He faithfully loves her and blesses her! Stop looking for validation from men. Go to God. He will be enough for you. Jacob’s infatuation with Rachel was “love at first sight”. It is more of liking than loving. But Jacob’s willingness to labor seven years for her demonstrates feelings deeper than flattery or casual interest. Deep down, most women long to captivate a lover this way, to be pursued and cherished by a committed heart. We’re made to yearn for belonging and completion. The best place is standing before God. You are safe there! God has a special place for the rejected. God has big plans for little people. Leah is a symbol of what God can do with the rejected, who chose to praise Him, no matter the circumstances!

*We don’t know Leah’s feelings when her father told her to go into the tent deceiving Jacob that she is Rachel. Jacob deceived his father Isaac and now he will have a taste of his own medicine. At that time, women had little to say about any matter. The men were the total rulers of their homes. We can imagine that it was not easy for Leah to surrender her body as a young virgin woman, to a man who was possibly drunk, and calling her Rachel. In her mind she may have thought: Will this marriage work? Can a marriage with a foundation of sin, of deceit ever be happy? What will her sister say about this? Will Jacob ever love her? Will God give her children? Will people ever respect her? Will God bless her? She did not know at that time that God allowed this deception so that He will take the glory at last.

*Ignorantly, because of her broken heart, she loads the children with her emotional burden. The first three sons knew that their mother was looking for love thru them. It is not good to use children to find love in marriage. Only God can do that!

*God does not look at the outward appearance but at the heart (1Sam 16:7). God does not appreciate physical beauty. He rewards faith, humility and submission to His will. Leah tried to compare herself with her sister beautiful Rachel. Comparison leads to disappointment, jealousy, anger, bitterness, and depression. Be grateful for who God made you to be! We all hunger for significance in this world. Significance means to be seen as important, worthy of attention and respect, to be loved and appreciated by others. Sometimes, there is a delay in significance. That delay is painful. God gives you dreams of greatness. For a long time, the dreams seem dead. Initially, the beautiful Rachel was the star. Her husband loved her openly. Leah became jealous of her sister. But later, after Leah became a mother, and Rachel was still barren, the tables turned. It was Rachel that became jealous on Leah. The tables have been turned! “Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die!” 2 And Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” (Gen 30:1, 2). It was then that Leah discovered that her significance is in God. This is what God wanted Leah to discover. That God is enough for her! Jesus said: “My grace is enough!” (2Cor 12:9). For now, you may be sad. God’s dreams for you are not yet fulfilled. You may even have to wait until you go to heaven before you can see the majesty of God’s Love for you. Remember this. God’s promises are worth waiting for!!!

*Leah tried to please her husband, to win his heart. But no man will accept and love you unconditionally. Only God can do that. Apostle Paul was a servant of God and not a man pleaser. “You can see that I am not trying to please you by sweet talk and flattery; no, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to please men, I could not be Christ’s servant” (Gal 1:10; AMP).

*Jesus understands women. Even if the husband or the father does not understand you, Jesus understands you. This Jesus redeems sinners like Mary Magdalene, who was once possessed by demons. Jesus saved and honored the sinful woman who washed His feet with her tears. Jesus saved and honored the woman with the issue of Blood and the woman accused of adultery. Jesus loves women! Jesus loves sinners. He died for them. He saved them. He loved them. Like Leah, after having Judah, she declared: From now on, this time, I will praise the Lord! Say it: This time, and forever, I will praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

*Leah was a woman of God. She left behind a great legacy. People did not forget her. Her memory was not forgotten by future generation. When Boaz married Ruth, the witnesses prayed for his bride: “The Lord make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel… ” (Ru 4:11). Leah had Levi: Aaron and the priesthood came from Levi. The greatest leader in the Old Testament, Moses, came from Levi. The Law, the Ten commandments, the worship at the temple, all came from Leah. Also, from her son Judah, King David was born and later, Jesus Christ! God cares for the lonely, the rejected. Leah did not know how great a legacy she leaves behind. It is only in heaven that she discovered how special she was to God, and even to her husband, to the nation of Isreal and to the Church of Christ. She finally saw that God has honored her. Try to imagine how Leah felt in heaven when she heard the name of her son, Judah, connected with Jesus, the King of kings, seated on His throne. “But one of the twenty-four Elders said to me, “Stop crying, for look! The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, and proved himself worthy to open the scroll and to break its seven seals” (Rev 5:5; AMP). To God be all the glory! FROM NOW ON I WILL PRAISE THE LORD!!! Worship the Lord!!!

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

Jesus commands the believers to love even the enemies. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matt 5:43-48).

These are the eternal words of our King. Jesus makes a clear difference between the way the Pharisees understood the law and the way the Law of God must be interpreted. The religious leaders said: “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy”. First, we must say that there is no place in the Old Testament where you find these exact words. The Pharisees invented that law. Possibly, they were inspired to say this because in the Old Testament, God commanded His people to kill the Canaanites and take over the Promised Land (Deut 20:16-18). Why did God say that? God is the owner of the whole world. He gave the Canaanites 400 years to repent of their sins. He told Abraham that the sins of the Amorites are not yet complete; their cup of wickedness is not yet full (Gen 15:13-16). God could have killed them with a plague. But God chose Isreal to kill the Canaanites and to take over their land.

Some of the Psalms have strong words to curse Isreal’s enemies. These are called ‘imprecatory’ Psalms. For example, read what David prayed to God about his enemies: “Let their table become a snare before them, and their well-being a trap. 23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see; And make their loins shake continually. 24 Pour out Your indignation upon them, and let Your wrathful anger take hold of them. 25 Let their dwelling place be desolate; Let no one live in their tents” (Ps 69:22-25). Reading these words, you can imagine why the Pharisees said that they should hate their enemies. But if you read these psalms, David prayed to God not because he was wicked, or because of selfish ambition, but he asked God to vindicate him when his enemies wanted to kill him. David refused to kill King Saul even when Saul was in his power. This psalm is not an invitation to personal hatred against human enemies. It is the appeal of an oppressed person that God should help him. David trusts God for justice and vindication. He wants the glory of God to be revealed in his life! Amen!

In the Book of Matthew, chapter 23, our Lord speaks curses upon the religious leaders, the hypocrites. Reading those lines is painful. The word ‘woe’ is a curse word, mixed with grief and sadness. The religious leaders did not know God. They mispresented God. They were proud and wicked. They led the people astray. Here we clearly see that God (Jesus) cares for the people, that they should know God. There is a greater condemnation upon the religious leaders and teachers of God’s Word who are considered shepherds to God’s flock! These are the very people who plotted the arrest and the death of the Son of God! Selah!

The Pharisees said that a Jew should love and help only another Jew. Every other person should be considered an enemy to be hated and even killed. The Jews hated all the Gentiles and called them ‘dogs’. The problem with their interpretation is that they did not understand the purpose of God’s Law. God commanded that the Canaanites should be killed as an act of divine justice. It was not because of personal hatred against them as individuals. But the Pharisees used God’s divine justice to apply it to their personal relationships with people. Any man they did not like, even if that man was a neighbor, they hated him. They justified their hatred, lack of love and wickedness by saying that it is God’s Law. Hatred of people is always wrong. You can hate the devil, sin and evil in evil men. But you should not hate people!!!

How can a Christian replace the sinful selfish hatred in his heart with the Love of God? Jesus commanded us to do three things: Bless, do good and pray for others! He commanded us to “bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you”. You replace hatred with loving words. Love has a language. You bless people with your words. Saying to someone: “God bless you!” even when you don’t feel like it, is a powerful manifestation of Agape Love. Love is never rude. Love never curses a human being. Another way to show Love to others is by doing good to them. Righteousness means ‘be good and do good’ for Christ’ sake. You do good by greeting, shaking hands, hugging, helping others, and by giving gifts without waiting for appreciation from men. Doing good is a great form of evangelism. Many sinners came to Christ because Christians chose to help them especially in their time of need. Doing good never fails. Please examine your motives: You don’t do good because you want to convert the person. You don’t do good because you are religious, but because love is your nature as a child of God and a citizen of God’s Kingdom. You trust God to bless your ministry and life. No matter what people say to you, God blesses righteous deeds. Finally, choose to pray for people, even for those you dislike and persecute you. Prayer is a responsibility and a mighty blessing. The greatest example of prayer for the wicked was heard on the Cross. Jesus said: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Lk 23:34). When Steven was dying as a martyr, he prayed for the men who were stoning him. “Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (Ac 7:60). This is Agape Love praying! May prayer and worship never cease from our lips! Amen!

There is a great difference between loving and liking a person. To like someone is more natural. There are attitudes you observe in a person that connects with you. Love is different. Love is spiritual. You love because God loves you. You extend Love to others, even to the unlovely, because God loves you and He has saved your soul. Like is instant. It is effortless. Love is deep. It takes time and effort to develop. You may have to go to battle to win and protect love. When you like someone, you must agree with that one. His negative ideas may provoke you. But you can love someone unconditionally, even when you don’t totally agree with him. To like someone, you must stay close to that one. Love endures even if the person is far away. The closer you get to someone, the less you may like the person. But love, increases as you get closer to that person. You like only friends. You love both friends and enemies!

Please note: Only Agape love can love even the enemies. Why? This is because if you love someone, you see him thru the eyes of Christ. You see him the way God sees him. You know that he is a victim of the devil, and he is blind to God’s way of salvation. If Agape Love is in your heart, you can help another even if you dislike him. How do you do that? Treat another person like you like him, even if you don’t. Don’t complain again about your enemies. If you don’t have enemies, how can you love your enemies? The Law of Love is stronger than the law of sin, hatred and death. There is always grace available to treat others with kindness and love. They may not deserve kindness, but kindness is your attitude to all. You don’t pay evil with evil. You don’t react with evil when you are provoked. That is the way of the world. You don’t react. You chose to act. With wisdom, peace, love and respect.

Why do we need to behave well, to show love and kindness to all? It’s a visible proof that God is your father, and that you are a citizen of His Kingdom. God sends rain and sunshine to all men. It is not only the Christian farmer that enjoys rain on his field. That rain goes to the wicked too. We must treat others with respect, kindness and love because we are God’s children, Christ’ ambassadors and citizens of His Kingdom. Love is the atmosphere of the Kingdom of God. As God never fails, as love never fails, so the Christians who walk in love will never fail to fulfill God’s purposes for their lives. This love is the engine of revival in the church and outside the church! May God help us!