Fellowship

We are doing things a little differently this week.  Tomorrow is my last final, and I will be heading home so the weekly blog is being moved to tonight.  However, I want to change it up a bit.  Each week God puts something on my heart for me to share with You all, but this week, I feel as though He is calling me to hear from you; to hear what is happening in Your lives, and to get to know my friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ a little better. 


I urge you all to Facebook me, call me, text me, or e-mail me (jacob_wager@hotmail.com) and let me know how God is working in your life, how I can pray for you, or just anything at all.  This life is about sharing with each other, growing in love, and helping to develop our faith and relationships with Christ.  


Verses:
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
~Colossians 2:6-7


Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
~Philippians 2:1-2


We are called into fellowship, to be one in Spirit and in mind, to join together to serve our Master and King.  I am continually praying for each and every one of you and only hope to hear from you over the next week.  Much love and God's blessings on you all!

Living in Love

God is love, and if we are to truly be followers of Christ, then we have got to live a life that reflects that love.  God, Himself, said that faith, hope, and love will last forever, but the greatest of these three things is LOVE. He loved us enough to send His Son to die on a cross for our sins, knowing we would betray and defile His gift, but He did it anyway.  That is what true love looks like.


Tonight, I just ask that you examine your hearts, your motives, your lives, and despite it being a stressful time of year, really take a look at what you are reflecting.  Are you demonstrating this love that Christ has shown, or are you living a life more focused on serving yourself?  I don't write this to condemn anyone, as I am just as guilty as the next, but I do think it is important to gain perspective on how we walk and live as Christians.  It should be our ultimate goal to live out the love Christ has so perfectly demonstrated for us, and what better time to start than now?  We are called to love, to serve, and reflect the example that Christ left for us.  Take a look at the following verses, and spend some time with Him.  Talk to God, and see which areas of your life could use a little more love.  


Verses:


And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
~2 John 1:6


“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
~John 13:34-35


Let love be your highest goal...
~1 Corinthians 14:1


The greatest example of love that will ever be shown for us is exemplified in the following verse


For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
~John 3:16


He set the example, and we are called to continue living in that love, spreading it to any and all who need to hear it.  He is love, and He is ours, so let us go forth and live in the love He has called us to.  

Reach

Look around you. This is what you've been given, what God has blessed you with.  Now it is time to take these blessings, this life, and live it striving to reach out, not only to others, but to God Himself.  Consider the time we take on Facebook, watching tv, or procrastinating in a given day.  Would it really hurt us to give up at least some of this time to reach out to someone in need, to reach over that proverbial line, or to reach up to Him?  

It is not supposed to be easy, any good and meaningful relationships we have in life are ones that have taken a little work.  God is no different.  He has laid the groundwork, clearly displaying His affections for us on the cross, and demonstrating His undying love for us.  Now we must simply respond by spending time with Him, getting into His word, and spreading His love to those who so desperately need to hear it. 

Verses:

Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.

~Romans 6:13

Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.

~John 12:25

It is truly amazing what we can gain in this life by giving it up; again, easier said than done, but the results are worth it.  By giving up our plans and our control for the ones that He has created specifically for us, we are declaring our acceptance of His gift of life.  We are reaching back up to God, allowing Him into our hearts, and loving Him in return for all He has done.  Reach out to Him, reach out to others, and give God some of the time He so rightfully deserves.  You will not end up disappointed.