Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

September 24
Tuesday


A FRIEND
IN NEED

READ:
1 John 3:11-18
___________________________________________________________________________________

My little children let us
not love in word or in
tongue, but in deed and
in truth. __1 Jon 3:18
___________________________________________________________________________________

Not long ago my wife, Janet, and I bought a quantity of beef from a friend who raised cattle on a small farm. It was less expensive than meat from a grocery store, and we put it in the freezer to use throughout the coming months.

Then a terrible lightning storm cut power throughout our area. For the first 24 hours we were confident that the freezer would keep the meat frozen. But when the second day came with still not word of getting our power back, we began to be concerned.

We contacted Ted, a member of our Bible-study group, to see if he had any advice. He canceled an appointment he had and showed up at our doorstep with a generator to provide power for the freezer. We were thankful that Ted helped us, and we knew it was because of his love for Christ.

The old saying "a friend in need is a friend indeed" took on new meaning for us. John reminds us in 1 John 3:18, "My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth." Sometimes this means inconveniencing ourselves to care for the interests of others or receiving that help when we ourselves are in need. After all Christ has done for us, it's a blessing to be His hands and feet in loving one another. __Dennis Fisher

``````````````Father, thank You for making me a part of Your ````````````
``````````````family by giving Your Son Jesus for me. Help me````````````
`````````````to accept the care of others and also to serve them```````````
```````````````out of gratitude and out of my love for You.```````````````
__________________________________________________________________________________________

When we love Christ, we love others.

*****************************Today's Bible Reading -- 1 John 3:11-18*****************************

11 For this is the message
that you heard from the
beginning, that we should
love one another,
12 not as Cain who was of the
wicked one and murdered
his brother. And why did
he murder him? Because
his works were evil and his
brother's righteous. 13 Do
not marvel, my brethren, if
the world hates you. 14 We
know that we have passed
from death to life, because
we love the brethren. He
who does not love his
brother abides in death.

15 Whoever hates his
brother is a murderer, and
you know that no murderer
has eternal life abiding in
him.

16 By this we now live,
because He laid down His
life for us. And we also
ought to lay down our lives
for the brethren. 17 But
whoever has this world's
goods, and sees his brother
in need, and shuts up his
heart from him, how does
the love of God abide in
him? 18 My little children,
let us not love in word or
in tongue, but in deed and
int truth.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Christians are hated (v.13) because the world is at war against God
(John 15:23-24; Rom. 5:10; 8:7). Jesus explained that this is so
because the world hated Him first and because christians are not
of this world (John 15:18-19; 17:14). This is consistent with similar
warnings He gave to His disciples (Matt. 10:22; 24:9). Those who
live godly lives will suffer persecution (2 Tim. 3:12). But we
can take comfort in Jesus' promise of victory (John 16:33) and in the
knowledge that those who are mistreated because of Him will be
blessed (Matt. 5:11-12).