All together as one.

Acts 11:28-30
One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

This verse exemplifies a biblical basis for both missions work and helping those in need within the body of Christ. If they have needs, all sacrifice as if those needs were their own. Notice that each one provided help as they were able and not beyond their means. This plan working hinges on each one giving something every time they are able. If only few give, more is required of the few and that plan will leave needs unmet. The body should function as a body; together in unity and sacrifice. Such is a loving church - living and thriving depending on God together.

Verse/Commentary courtesy of 'Verse-A-Day' android app.
http://market.android.com/details?id=com.idelata.VerseADayFree

Love never stops.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Here Paul lists the qualities of love. I would like you to consider 4 of these things today. Love is not self-seeking, it keeps no record of wrongs, it rejoices with the truth, and then focus on the “always” attributes: protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres. Survey these things from God’s perspective, then from your own. For example, consider that God keeps no record of the wrongs you have done against Him in forgiving you through the blood of Christ. Then ask yourself what records you keep on others, and whether they are records that should be kept or left behind.

It breaks my heart to see in the news how quick people divorce now. Each time, I ask myself did these people understand what love is or is that how much they belittle the sacred vow of holy matrimony? If it was love and not lust in the beginning, then nothing should separate the couple. But today as God is absent in the lives of people it is no wonder that they don't fast and pray to save their marriage but rather, they seek what financial gain they can reap in compensation. May God open our eyes to the truth in Jesus' name!

Love and nothing else.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Whatever we do in the absence of love towards others is good for them but it's not the best. The person will gain physically the service being rendered and it ends there. But when you put your heartfelt love into what you are doing not only does the person you're helping sense God in you because He is love but you also receive love in return from the person to whom the service is rendered. When this occurs, there's a spiritual door that is opened and God Almighty sends forth His blessings to you having your name also written in one of His special books in heaven!
God is love. (1 John 4:16) Any word, any label at His disposal and He chose love. There’s more than one word for love in the Greek, and this word love is ‘agape'. This is deep, lasting, unconditional love. So when someone says, “God loves you”, it means something awesome and amazing. Let love drive your service to God and your relationships with others. Holy Spirit, please anchor our lives in this kind of love. Spiritual gifts mean nothing if they are not practiced in love. Seek to love others in this most excellent way.

The Word is pure.

Psalm 12:6
And the words of the LORD are flawless,
like silver purified in a crucible,
like gold refined seven times.

A crucible(NIV) is basically a framework that is used to heat or purify substances. The other 3 translations use the term furnace. The idea here is that the word of the Lord is as good as it gets. Nothing is truer, sweeter, or more accurate than the Word of the Lord. Immerse yourself in the Word and hunger and thirst for more. Today, setup a plan to read one of the gospel books (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) this month. Commit yourself to staying in the Word of God and include in your effort being open to be led by the Holy Spirit into all truth.

Don't take bad advice.

Job 13:13-16
Keep silent and let me speak; then let come to me what may. Why do I put myself in jeopardy
and take my life in my hands? Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face. Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless person would dare come before him!

Most times we have made great errors in our lives people were involved whether they be friends or family members. Many people for example, would have still be virgins before marriage but due to peer pressure gave in and now regret doing so today. How many people have divorced due to external influences, how many people are smoking, drinking and taking drugs due to the influence of someone. It is not wrong to take advice but pray before following it. Great decisions have also be made by following advice from those who know you best!

After we hear some bad advice from Job’s friends (Job 4-12), we see here his response. Take a moment today and consider Job’s statement in verse 15, “God might kill me, but I have no other hope.”(NLT) In that statement, Job shows us a desperate dependence on God for everything. He recognizes that he has no hope separate from God Himself, and cries out to God honestly! Bring all that you are to God, do not “fake it” or hold back with Him. Lord, we are desperate for you! Praise God that you receive us as we are, and not only as we ought to be.

We are one

1 Corinthians 12:12-13
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

When we become one in spirit, how we are in the physical should no longer count. There are many churches today that exist all over the world, where segregation is still practiced. If you are white there are certain churches that will nit welcome you and vice versa. I know of different instances where people have left a church for thus reason and many such like ; such as nit having the right type of dressing or coming from a particular social class! All if this nonsense should stop and for the first time let us truly represent Christ indeed by welcoming sinners to repentance. No one is perfect but we are perfected in Christ Jesus, the author and finisher if our faith. When we can be blind to our differences then can we begin to see the way God sees us.
We all drink of the same Spirit and were baptized by the same Spirit. This is the Holy Spirit, the same spirit that hit the apostles at Pentecost after Jesus went back to Heaven. We form one body and are united under one head, Christ Jesus. We should celebrate, encourage, and pioneer the development of one another’s gifts. Each gift is given so that the body of Christ may be complete. Do not covet the gifts of others; God chose your gifts especially for you. Your offering for Him is hand-picked and cherished. Experience peace with that and use what you have been given.

Even the devil sees God.

Job 1:6-8
One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

Remember that Satan who is called Lucifer in Scripture is an angel, so that gave him the right to be in the meeting. He may now be a fallen one but he's still a servant of God. He is more faithful in his work in destroying believers than Christians are in doing the word of God. Sit down and think for a moment - Satan has direct access to God while you who have been a Christian before Adam was created can not even testify to seeing an angel! This is a slap on Christians. When are we going to decide to stop following this world system and start living out the word of God like Job? When last did god testify of you?

If you've ever doubted that evil seeks to destroy your relationship with God – that ends today. In this passage, Satan shows Himself before God. God mentions Job to Satan. Here you have Job, someone who is doing right by fearing God and shunning evil. Why mention him to Satan? The Lord did this with Job (it’s right here in scripture), and He could do it with you if you are living right before Him. He is sovereign and if He wants to prove a point to Satan through your obedience, He will. Your role in the equation is to continue to be obedient. His love for you remains strong.