Tag Archives: love

Christian Love, Part 1

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We are instructed in Scripture to examine ourselves, to see if we are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). How can one know if “Jesus Christ is in” himself, or herself? Is there a measuring stick we can use for this purpose? Is it how often we attend church services, or church activities? Is it what church we belong to? Is it Bible knowledge? Or something else?

Jesus said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: `You shall love your neighbor as yourself'” (Matthew 22:37-39). We are instructed to “walk in love” (Ephesians 5:2). John wrote, “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (I John 4:8). We are to strive to become like God (Leviticus 19:2; Matthew 5:45).

Scripture says, “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him” (I John 4:16). But merely professing to love God or our neighbors is not enough. We are to love “in deed and truth” (1 John 3:18).

But what is love? How is love defined? Are there specific items we can examine to test how we measure up, and how we can improve? Find answers in this message, as these questions are addressed in some detail, so we may follow the admonitions we are given, and with God’s help, improve our standing before him in terms of love.

Copyright © 2024 by Messenger Church of God

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

cogmessenger.org

Messenger Church of God
PO Box 619
Wentzville, MO 63385
USA

What Are True Values?

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Not infrequently in public discourse we hear the word “values” mentioned. Many of the issues we face as a nation and a world boil down to a question of values. For example, the questions of abortion, human rights, women’s rights, homosexual rights, religious expression, family, out of control government spending and national debt? Do these issues have anything to do with values?

Nearly every political and social issue you can name touches on the personal values of citizens and the public values of the nation. There is a sense among many people that the United States, as well as other nations, has abandoned sound values and that fact accounts for many of the problems the nation faces, along with the world in general.

The profound changes that have occurred in recent decades in the nation’s values are seen reflected in pathologies such as the dramatic increase in out ­of ­wedlock births, incidence of drug abuse, proliferation of pornography and social changes such as legalization of abortion, same-sex “marriage,” dramatic increases in criminal activity, and many other aspects of personal behavior and public life.

What are values? Are values important, and if so why? Does it matter what your values are? Finally, what are the “true values”? The Bible has answers to the question of values that may surprise you.

Love In Action

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In the world, the idea of love has been distorted and perverted in any number of ways. Understanding the truth about the meaning of godly love and how to manifest it is vital to the practice of true Christianity and God’s way of life.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Messenger Church of God
PO Box 619
Wentzville, MO 63385
USA

cogmessenger.org

Gold Refined

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Prophets and the faithful down through history have risked and not infrequently forfeited their own safety, comfort, property and lives for the sake of truth, or to save the lives of others.

Godly character is often forged in the crucible of extreme trials. Such trials may come on suddenly and unexpectedly, or they may be perceived ahead of time as possible or even likely. Indeed, the Bible warns us that the faithful will be subject to various trials and tribulations (Matthew 24:9; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 1:3-9).

Listen as Rod Reynolds reviews some examples of how some in the past have expressed love for fellow human beings, at the risk of their own lives, in the direst of circumstances, and what we can learn from such examples.

“Gold Refined” audio recording by Rod Reynolds, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

cogmessenger.org

Messenger Church of God
PO Box 619
Wentzville, MO 63385
USA

Challenges in the Face of Disaster

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Various devastating disasters have occurred over the centuries that have challenged the capacities of people to react in ways that are a test of character. While not pleasant to contemplate, the Bible warns of increasing evils as we approach the end of this age. We should be prepared as Christians to meet the challenges of potential future disasters, situations that will be a test of our faith and character.

In “Challenges in the Face of Disaster,” we examine some prophecies that we need to be aware of, and discuss spiritual principles and concepts that with God’s help will enable us to meet in a godly manner whatever such challenges we may face as the world becomes more perilous.

“Challenges in the Face of Disaster,” a message by Rod Reynolds, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

cogmessenger.org

Messenger Church of God
PO Box 619
Wentzville, MO 63385
USA