“The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost” (Rom 5:5; KJV). In the Greek this form of love is agape (noun), an unconditional love. The word agape was not really used in the Greek until its use in the bible. The Greek verb phileo is the more commonly used word for love in non-bible Greek and is a brotherly love or affection that is dependent on our ability to love a person because of mutual attraction and feelings.

When Jesus asked Peter if he loved him in the 21st chapter of John’s gospel, Jesus used agapao (verb) but Peter could only reply with phileo. God commands us to use agape (John 13:34). With agape we can love the unlovable by faith. We may not be naturally attracted to some people but we are commanded to love (agape) them. Our greatest example of love (agape) is that of the Father for us: “For God so loved (agapao) the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16; KJV). Christ died for us while we were sinners.

 If you want to understand love (agape) then read 1 Corinthians chapter 13, especially verses 4-8a: “Charity (agape) suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth” (KJV). This is how God loves us and how we should love him and each other. Don’t get me wrong, we can have affection as well, but we must love all people with God’s unconditional love. Is that wow or double wow? Enough said.

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Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others. 

Living in Saskatchewan we are all familiar with sowing and reaping. But did you realize that this principle is throughout the bible and affects every aspect of our lives? Isaac sowed in the land and reaped a hundred-fold return, God blessed him (Gen 26:12).

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to you again" (Luke 6:38; KJV).

It’s Interesting that how we give affects how we receive.

In Galatians 6:7 we are told that God is not deceived, we reap what we sow. Sowing and reaping affects every aspect of our lives not just farming and financial or material giving. Job lamented that: “they that plough iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same (Job 4:8). Hosea observed that those who have: “sown the wind”; “reap the whirlwind” (Hos 8:7). In Proverbs chapter 18 and verse 24 we read that to have a friend we must be a friend. Again, in Proverbs chapter 18 and verse 21 we are taught that; “death and life are in the power of the tongue”. Our words reap a harvest good or evil.

Have you noticed that everything reproduces after its own kind? I think a pig would be surprised if it produced chickens. Let’s meditate on our giving and receiving; sowing and reaping today. Let’s do a checkup today; we need to be reminded that how we give in every aspect of our life determines what we will receive, good or evil.

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“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Rom 8:2). God set laws in place that govern our lives and cannot be changed. Without Christ we live under the curse of the fall of man. Adam sinned and this brought spiritual death to us all (1 Cor 15:22). We are spirit beings and we live in bodies and have souls, our minds, wills and emotions (1 Thess 5:23). When we accept Christ as our savior the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us to bring new life in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:11) and our spirits are made new, are born again (John 3:1-7). Our bodies and souls are not born again but have to be renewed and disciplined (1 Cor 9:27; Rom 12:2).

But the kicker hear is that we have to make the decision to walk in the Spirit, be led by the Holy Spirit and allow the Holy Spirit to change us (Rom 8:14). Paul describes the battle between his flesh (body and soul) and his spirit in the 7th chapter of Romans; his spirit wanting to be led by the Holy Spirit of God and his flesh rebelling. However, he goes on to say that in Christ we have the victory (Rom 8:1-2). It’s a decision, we can choose to be carnally minded and operate in the soulish realm or we can choose to be spiritually minded, to allow our spirit, guided by the Holy Spirit, to govern our lives and decisions (Rom 8:6).

Often our first reaction to a situation is to wrestle in our minds and react, bringing turmoil. But look at verse 6 of Romans Chapter 8: “To be spiritually minded is life and peace”. O Lord, help us to learn to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as the Spirit speaks to our spirits. How do we know it is the Holy Spirit speaking? Well that guidance, that inner voice (1 kings 19:12) or sense of conviction (Rom 9:1), will be full of peace (James 3:17). We need to read our bibles, pray and let the Holy Spirit rule our spirits and lives, the results are awesome.

Please pass this on. All rights reserved.

Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others. 

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Cor 10:13; KJV).

This is one of those special verses for me. The Greek word for temptation has a wider meaning than just temptation to sin; it can mean trial and adversity. So, what this verse means is that the trials you face are no different than from what everyone faces, so don’t feel you have been picked out for unique treatment. Be encouraged as the apostle Paul teaches us in this verse that God will not allow the trial to overwhelm you and he will provide the way out; praise God.

So how will God help? Well first of all he exhorts us to cast our cares on him as he cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). Be patient (Heb 6:12), get into the word and prayer so you can hear from him. One of the main ways he will show us the answer to our tests and trials is in his word. Find the direction for your situation in the Bible. For example, if you need healing, meditate, confess and build up your faith with scriptures such as: “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by E-sai-as the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses” (Matt 8:17) and “by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:24). Focus on God’s promises, speak them and the answers will come. We serve a faithful God who never changes (Heb 13:8).

"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Mic 6:8; KJV) When I see phrases like: “He has shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of thee”, in the Bible, I figure God is trying to get something significant across to me. So, what does the Lord require from us in this verse from the prophet Micah? To do justly is to act according to God’s divine laws and commandments.

Mercy is often translated as loving kindness and also includes the sense of faithfulness, tenderness and unfailing love. Kindness is really goodness in action; practical goodness. God said to Israel that “I will have mercy and not sacrifice” (Matt 12:7) and a cardinal command is to love: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34).

In God’s word we are commanded to: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6). “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). To make ourselves low or humble seems very alien to the world’s behavior but someone once told me to look at what the world does and do the opposite.

“With the measure you use it will be measured back to you” (Matt 7:2). Let’s be quick to obey, the blessings are beyond measure.