Love & increase

Father God, thank you for Your love, Your love that has caused us to be born into the Kingdom of Your Beloved. 1 John 3:1 reminds us, what manner of love that we should be called children of God. We give you all the honor and praise. May Your name forever be glorified in all the ends of the earth in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Just as I was pondering on an example of God's love in action, the early church paints a picture in Acts 2:46-47 (NKJV)

"46.So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,

47.praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."

Amen, thank you LORD.

Before Jesus physically departed from the earth, He gave a new commandment to His disciples and His body, to love one another as He has loved us (John 13:34 & John 15:12). When you read the above lead Scriptures, they demonstrate a church that walked in love. It appears that the more they received of God's love, the more they were able to love each other which in turn gave them favor with all the people and increased the church of the Lord Jesus. In Acts 2:41, when Apostle Peter gave his first sermon, three thousand people got saved, were baptized and added to the church on that day.

Whenever God's people came together for His cause, an increase and an abundance always took place. For example in the Old Testament, when the LORD shared with Moses the pattern for building a tabernacle that would house God's presence, God's people came together and gave an abundant supply for all that was needed to complete this work. Exodus 36:5 says, "...The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the LORD has commanded us to do."

Again in the Old testament, we see God's people giving towards the building of God's temple, a desire that King David had expressed to the LORD God. However, King David's son, Solomon, completed the building of this temple according to God's instruction (1 Chronicles 28:6). Again, we see the people were united with one heart as they willingly gave towards the necessities of building God's temple.

Today, as ministers of the new covenant, we are building God's temple on Jesus' new commandment and Apostle Paul reminds us of God's sufficiency at work in us by His grace. In 2 Corinthians 3:6 NKJV, he continues to say, "who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." A new minister of the covenant is not limited to the pulpit. It is faithfully serving the LORD wherever He has called you to. This could be at church, in your workplace, your home, your business, etc. This is because today God no longer dwells in physical temples but among His children.

Ephesians 2:19-22 NKJV says, "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." It appears, this temple built by God which is you and the people you are serving; thrives and increases best on God's new commandment of love that in turn enables us to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace with one another (Ephesians 4:3).

I'll end with this Word found in Romans 2:29 (NKJV)

"but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God."

Amen, thank you LORD.

Invitation to salvation:. If you would like to know and experience this love of God that is found in His Son Christ who forgives your sins, cleanses you and makes you whole, I invite you to a personal relationship with Him where He is no longer only God to you but also Father. If this sounds like you, please confess the prayer below,

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour today and forever." AMEN!

Congratulations, by grace you are saved and are now a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old life has passed away and you have received the free gift of salvation into your life (2 Corinthians 5:17). To the glory of the Almighty God. Amen.