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Love is the key!

God’s will is for us to be free to be able to serve Him with joy and peace. Paul cautions us to be careful with our freedom. Many use their freedom to do what pleases their sin nature. We are called to serve one another with love. The scriptures teach us to love our neighbor the same as we love ourselves. That is a tall order, but the Holy Spirit will give you the grace and strength to do so. It’s time to reject actions and behaviors that cause us to hurt each other and tear each other apart. It’s time to get back to loving each other like God loves us.

Galations 5:13 “My brothers and sisters, God chose you to be free. But don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful selves. Instead, serve each other with love. 14 The whole law is made complete in this one command: “Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.” 15 If you continue hurting each other and tearing each other apart, be careful, or you will completely destroy each other.”

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It’s more blessed to do this!

I remember a commercial quite a while ago where the actor was asked for help and he responded: “What’s my motivation? What will it do for me?” In other words, he was more interested in what he could get out of the situation versus how could he help. In Acts 20:35, the Apostle Paul echoed the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, who said: “‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” The Greek word for blessed is multifaceted. It means: supremely fortunate, happier, Part of the nature of being blessed is that it is of the highest good.” So   Jesus revealed that is is more blessed, (more fortunate, happier, it is of the highest good) to give than to receive. Consider how happy we are when we give gifts to our children or to a loved one. I don’t know who is happier; the one receiving the gift, or the one who has given the gift? I remember on Christmas Day, I would be so excited to see my children open their gifts. I could hardly contain myself! As the giver, it gave me great joy to give something to my loved ones that I knew was going to make them happy! In actuality, mankind is at his highest joy when he/she is helping others. Part of our DNA is to give to others. God is the greatest giver. He gave us the greatest gift on the cross! Reject this culture of selfishness and become a great giver. Give love, joy, grace, patience, kind words, forgiveness, revelation, affirmation, help among other things. Remember: it is more blessed to give than to receive!