Love Works Wonders
By Julian Abraham Chua, 20, Singapore
Love can work wonders. It could keep the poor and destitute alive through the generous giving of strangers.
Similarly, because of God’s great love for us, we became the beneficiary of a great wonder. God “demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrased Romans 5:6-8 this way:
Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t been so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put His love on the line for us by offering His Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.
Below is an interesting posting I came across on the Internet that reiterated a similar point:
Now, take a look at this…
101%
From a strictly mathematical viewpoint:
What equals 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?
Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%?
We have all been in situations where someone wants you to GIVE OVER 100%.
How about ACHIEVING 101%?
What equals 100% in life? Here’s a little mathematical formula that might
help answer these questions:
If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26.
If:
H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%
And:
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%
But:
A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%
THEN, look how far the love of God will take you:
L-O-V-E-O-F-G-O-D
12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4 = 101%
(http://crazythingz.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/12/)
Indeed, love works wonders. While hard work and knowledge will get you close, and attitude will get you there, it’s the Love of God that will put you over the top!
(10 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading ...Why Are Close Friendships Especially Difficult in Church?
By Poh Fang Chia
Someone once asked me, “I’ve been in this church for more than six years. But I can’t name a single close friend. Why is it that we could spend innumerous time together in church, camps and Bible-study group, yet not forge any genuine friendship with anyone?” Perhaps, you have the same question: Why are close friendships especially difficult in church?
Check out this video insight on Help For My Life!
Why are close friendships especially difficult in church?
(1 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5) Loading ...Friends
By Cioloca Tabita, 16, Romania
When I saw the announcement that invites us to share our thoughts on the subject of friends and love, I told myself to give it a shot. Why? I do not have that many friends as to be an expert on this subject, but I have one Friend that counts more than any other.
In my fifth grade, I sat beside a nice girl who was also a Christian (there are few teens who love God and believe in Him in Romania) and we became best friends. Even though we sat at the same desk, we were constantly sending felicitations, drawings and thoughts to each other. On every card, we wrote “for my best friend.”
However our friendship drifted apart the following year. I tried to work things out but I don’t know what happened. In a strange way I was glad, because she disappointed me in her manner of speech and conduct. She didn’t seem to behave like a Christian. She was cheating in tests and she was perpetually having crushes on guys. But those were hard moments. I felt abandoned and lonely. It seemed that I had no friend. I know that Jesus was my friend but I wanted a friend whom I could feel is here—near me. With my brothers and sisters, we often argue and have disagreements. During those days, I would often sit in the bathroom and cry. I asked God for a new friend who is trusty and worthy.
In the seventh grade, a new girl joined our class. I liked her and we became friends. Not best friends but good friends. I felt a little sunshine from God. She wasn’t a Christian but she’s open to find out more.
Now we are in the same class and we sat at same desk in high school. She became my best friend. I talk with her about God and I try to be an example. Maybe one day she will receive Christ into her heart.
As humans, we will inevitably disappoint one another. But there is One who never disappoints—God. I don’t know if I could ever be as good a friend as God is to me. He never stops loving and caring for me. And He says “I have loved you, My people, with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3). Another encouraging message from God is in Isaiah 43:4 “Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to Me. You are honored, and I love you”. God is the only One who doesn’t judge us by our social status, wealth or knowledge. He loves us for who we are because He created us.
I wish that everyone would know God. For many so-called “friends” can become fast strangers but God alone is our faithful Friend. Moreover, friends are a precious gift and God is the Giver!
(5 votes, average: 3.80 out of 5) Loading ...The Value Of Friends
READ: 1 Samuel 20:12-17
Jonathan . . . loved [David] as he loved his own soul. —1 Samuel 20:17
John Chrysostom (347–407) was one of the great preachers in the early church. He was given the name Chrysostom, which means “golden-mouthed,” because of his eloquent sermons.
Here is one of his insights on the value of friends: “Such is friendship, that through it we love places and seasons; for as . . . flowers drop their sweet leaves on the ground around them, so friends impart favor even to the places where they dwell. With friends even poverty is pleasant. . . . It would be better for us that the sun were exhausted than that we should be without friends.”
The story of Jonathan and David illustrates the value of friendship. Though David was hunted by the demented King Saul, he drew encouragement from his friendship with Saul’s son. “Jonathan . . . loved [David] as he loved his own soul” (1 Sam. 20:17). Their relationship was characterized by trust, understanding, and encouragement. How difficult it would have been for David to endure this unjust persecution without the nourishment of friendship based in the Lord (v.42).
The ancient voice of Chrysostom and the witness of David and Jonathan are reminders of the need to nurture the friendships God has given us. — Dennis Fisher
Since I have no gold to give,
And love alone must make amends,
My daily prayer is while I live—
“God, make me worthy of my friends.” —Sherman
A friend is the first person who comes in when the whole world has gone out.
(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5) Loading ...
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