Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

July 22
Tuesday


LOVE, INC

READ:
Colossians 3:12-17
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Whatever you do in
word or deed, do all in
the name of the Lord
Jesus.
__Colossians 3:17
_____________________________________

When I heard about the service agency called Love, INC, I assumed that meant Love, Incorporated. But it actually means Love--in the Name of Christ. The organization's goal is to mobilize churches to reach out to a hurting and needy world in the name of Christ.

Throughout history, people have said they're acting in Jesus' name. When in reality it was for their own advantage. During World War II, the horrors of the Holocaust were sometimes rationalized by those who labeled the Jews "Christ-killers." Today racist groups dare to use "Christian" in their name or literature while using violence and hatred to intimidate people.

The Word of God is so saturated with the word love that it's hard to imagine how anyone could justify doing hateful acts in the name of Christ. Love is at the core of the gospel: Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was motivated by God's love. "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him" (1 John 4:9).

As grateful followers of Jesus, we are told to "do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (col. 3:17). When we represent Him to other people in word and deed, they should see love, in the name of Christ.
__Cindy Hess Kasper
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````````````````Teach me to love__this is my plea;````````````````
````````````May all the Spirit's graces shine through me;````````````
`````````````Tear from my heart all hate, foolish pride;`````````````
`````````Help me to live like Christ the crucified. __Peterson`````````
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Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor,...
but have not love, it profits me nothing. __1 Cor. 13:3

**************Today's Bible Reading __ colossians 3:12-17**********

12 Therefore, as the elect
of God, holy and beloved,
put on tender mercies,
kindness, longsuffering;

13 bearing with one another
and forgiving one another,
if anyone has a complaint
agaisnt another; even as
Christ forgave you, so you
also must do. 14 But above
all these things put on love,
which is the bond of perfection.

15 And let the peace of
God rule in your hearts, to
which also you were called
in one body; and be
thankful. 16 Let the word of
christ dwell in you richly
in all wisdom, teaching and
admonishing one another in
psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing with
grace in your hearts to the
Lord. 17 And whatever you
do in word or deed, do all
in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God
the Father through Him.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The central of Colossians in the preeminence and supremacy
of Christ. Paul proclaims Christ as preeminent in creation, in
redemption, and in the church. In chapter 3, he calls for Christ to
be preeminent in the life of the Christian. He shows how Christians
ought to relate to one another to reflect the character of Christ,
even in idfficult circumstances. In verse 8, he lists five vices that a
Christian must put off--anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy
language. In contrast, believers are to put on five virtues__tender
mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, and longsuffering (v.12).
__Sim Kay Tee