The love of many will grow cold

The love of many will grow cold

Because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. – Matthew 24:12

2 Timothy 3:1-5

 1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.

 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.

 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.

 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.

 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly.

The Wild West spanned from the Civil War’s conclusion in 1865 until the dawn of the 1900s. It was the result of Western expansion into the “frontier.” The journey westward was driven by a collective drive for freedom and opportunity, technological advancements, and government incentives. It was a period of severe challenges, including widespread disease, frequent violence, and the westward journey itself.

The Wild West is often depicted in movies and books as an era of lawlessness filled with uncertainty, unbridled freedom, and adventure. Cinematic portrayals have painted this epoch as teetering on the edge of anarchy, replete with ongoing conflicts, dire living conditions, and rampant lawlessness across the expansive frontier. However, these depictions amplify the myths, portraying a far more romanticized reality than actual history.

The gunslinger, a mainstay of Western cinema, did exist, but not in the glorified manner often portrayed. Instead, they more closely resembled modern serial killers. They would exploit their superior skills against inexperienced victims. They frequently attacked from ambush rather than face-to-face gunfights.

Contrary to the enduring myth of a perpetually violent Wild West, historical analysis reveals that this era was significantly calmer than many 21st-century American cities, upending the widely held view of an endlessly tumultuous frontier (Independent Institute).

Lawlessness dramatized by Hollywood’s Wild West was far less violent and unrestrained than what is prophesied concerning the last days.

REFLECT & PRAY

In the last days, the spiritual climate will be characterized by sin with an increase in lawlessness and a decrease in selfless love.

Father it is so easy to turn inward, selfish, and hardhearted. Encourage me to rise above it and supersize my love for you and concern for others.

INSIGHT

At first glance, the Lord Jesus Christ indicates a correlation between lawlessness and love. A correlation is a statistical measure that expresses how two variables increase or decrease together. Lawlessness and love are negatively correlated. When lawlessness increases, love decreases.

Matthew 24:12 Lawlessness will increase, and the love of many will grow cold.

The Greek word for increases is plēthúnō. Plēthúnō means to become bigger or greater in amount, to grow or increase. Plēthúnō is not merely additive but multiplicative. That is, it means to multiply. In the fast-food industry, we would say supersized. Lawlessness will be supersized.

The Greek word translated as lawlessness is anomia. Anomia does not simply mean being without law, that is, ignorant of it. Instead, it is far more sinister and pejorative, indicating contempt for law and authority. Lawlessness is a lifestyle that rejects the acknowledgment of any divine command or moral order. Lawlessness violates the Father’s ethical standards and principles, resulting in iniquity, wickedness, or sin.

People will become increasingly coldhearted. The Greek word translated as cold is psucho. It literally means to grow cold. It is used metaphorically with the sense of waning zeal or love. The King James translates it as wax cold.

Matthew 24:12 indicates that as society becomes more lawless, agape or selfless love will become less common. People’s hearts will grow colder, and they will become more indifferent to the needs and well-being of others. This cooling of love is seen as a symptom of moral and spiritual decay, contributing to the breakdown of community and compassion.

The apostle Paul turns up the heat a bit, indicating that people will not merely be coldhearted but become savage in their godlessness.

2 Timothy 3:1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.

The Greek word translated as difficult is chalepos. In Matthew 8:28, chalepos describesdemonic vicious ferocity. The word means violent, dangerous, perilous, harsh, fierce, and savage. 

Are the times in which we live becoming more and more lawless and savage?

The last prophecy of the Old Testament speaks of these times directly preceding the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is bad news, but there is also good news.

It will be a time of division among families. Fathers and children will become estranged, broken up, and disconnected. This is happening before our eyes in unprecedented ways.

However, the good news is reconciliation and restoration are coming.

Malachi 4:5-6

 5 Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the LORD arrives.

 6 He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers.  

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© Dr. H 2024

We were once dead ∙∙

We were once dead ∙∙

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. – Ephesians 2:1

Ephesians 2:1-10

 1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins.

 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,

 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

The mention of cancer often elicits intense fear and anxiety. However, it’s important to note that our immune systems are inherently equipped to combat cancer effectively. A healthy immune system routinely identifies and eradicates cancer cells. Conversely, a weakened immune system allows cancer to proliferate and pose a significant threat to life.

Every normal cell in our body has a built-in termination date. When they are no longer needed, they commit suicide. This is also called Programmed Cell Death (PCD). However, some cells are abnormal and do not die off. They continue to divide and multiply indefinitely. The term “cancer” refers to the unchecked growth of deviant cells that refuse to die.

For those diagnosed with cancer, the realization of their condition and its potential lethality without treatment is daunting. Yet, in the modern era, early detection and appropriate medical intervention make survival possible.

Sadly, many people think of sin in much the same way they think of the early stages of cancer. They underestimate its severity. They may be ill, but they will probably survive.

However, the Bible offers a starkly different perspective on sin. It doesn’t equate sin with an illness that can be treated or a fatal disease that will eventually lead to death. This may surprise you. But what comes next is even more surprising.

All of the descendants of Adam and Eve are fallen creatures and inherit human sin in the same way they acquire DNA from their parents. When they inherit sin, they inherit death!

Ephesians 2:1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.

It’s conceivable that, in the future, medical science will find a cure for cancer. But there is absolutely nothing that sinful people can do to cure sin. It may sound extraordinary, but at the moment we are born and breathe our first breath of life, we are already dead.

What people could never accomplish; the Father God has accomplished!

Ephesians 2:4-5

 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,

 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

That is one of the remarkable miracles the Father has done on behalf of each child of the King and explained in His word. Why would the Father do such a wonderful thing for us? It was part of His plan for all children of the King from the beginning.

REFLECT & PRAY

The Father has mapped out a spiritual path for every child of the King to follow. It is our responsibility to allow Him to show us His path for us. We need only accept His path as our path.

Father thank You that although I was completely dead in my sins and transgressions, You chose to make me alive. Help me to see myself as You see me, a masterpiece in the making.

INSIGHT

But there’s more. The Father has great dreams and plans for each child of the King. Now that we are alive, He is at work in us to fulfill those dreams and plans. He never makes mistakes! Often, it may seem that way to us, but that’s only the way it seems. “God doesn’t make junk” (Ethel Waters).

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

The word translated as masterpiece, handiwork, or, more commonly, workmanship comes from the Greek noun poiema. It is derived from the Greek verb poieo, a common word translated as do or make. The English word “poem” is derived from this Greek word. Each child of the King is one of His intelligently conceived poems.

When the Father looks at one of His children, He sees the finished product of His artistic creativity. On planet Earth, we are a work in progress. But from His perspective, His work is already finished, and we are a completed masterpiece, a work of art. The Father is the great master artist, and each of us, while on earth, is one of His unfinished canvases.

But to what end? The Father has a purpose for each of His spiritual poems, His works of art. He has created us anew in the Lord Jesus Christ so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. – Ephesians 2:10

Our task is to do good all the days of our lives. Because of our new life in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are now the “living dead.” As such, we are to do good for the benefit of others and the Father’s kingdom. That is precisely what He is equipping us to do.

From the Father’s eternal perspective, His work in us is already finished, and our work for Him is already completed.

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© Dr. H 2024

The God of all comfort ∙

The God of all comfort ∙

God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. – 2 Corinthians 1:3

Romans 15:1-7

 2 We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.

 4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

 5 May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.

 6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 7 Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.

Comfort Keepers is a leading provider of in-home, non-medical care for seniors and other adults who need assistance with daily activities. Their goal is to provide care and comfort to loved ones who need extra assistance in the comfort and familiarity of their own home for as long as safely possible. This is a dream come true for many elders.

Through their unique approach to caregiving, known as Interactive Caregiving™, their comfort keepers (caregivers) provide professional in-home care services with a personal touch. The comfort keepers cultivate genuine friendships with their clients, addressing their emotional and social needs. Their services include help with cooking, housekeeping, and personal care.

Since its establishment in 1998, Comfort Keepers has expanded to over 700 locations worldwide. For ten consecutive years, INC. Magazine has recognized Comfort Keepers as a world-class franchise and listed it among the fastest-growing franchises.

Our merciful Father is the God of all comfort. He has promised to comfort those in need, as a loving mother comforts her child.

Isaiah 66:13 I will comfort you as a mother comforts her child.

When comforted by the Father, those whom He comforts are prepared to comfort others in the same way we have been comforted. The Father has had a worldwide comfort-giving network in place for millennia. His network consists of all children of the King who have received His comfort.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.

 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

Each child of the King is to be a comfort courier.

REFLECT & PRAY

So often, we have a misconception of what the Father is like. He’s not a vindictive judge out to punish the children of the King. He is “not called the Father of judgments or vengeances but the Father of all mercies and comfort” (Bernard).

Father thank You for being my comforter and my encourager. Thank you for providing me with strength in moments of weakness and despair. Empower me to offer comfort to others, mirroring the comfort You have graciously extended to me.

INSIGHT

In 2 Corinthians 1:3, the Father God is identified as the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. This designation, “Father of mercies,” has been translated as “the all-merciful Father” (NEB), “a gentle Father” (JB), and simply “the merciful Father” (Knox).

The Greek word for mercies, merciful, or compassion is oiktirmos. Oiktirmos is a rare word only used five times in the New Testament. Oiktirmos is a deep awareness of and sympathy for others who suffer. The root Greek term oiktos means lamenting or regretting a person’s misfortune or death, then metaphorically sympathy or pity. Oiktirmos is typically translated as mercy, compassion, pity, and sympathy.

The Greek word translated as comfort is paraklesis. Paraklesis is comfort given to strengthen and establish. It involves exhortation, encouragement, and admonition. Paraklesis comes from the same Greek root that designates the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, Comforter, Helper (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7)

The Father is concerned for the welfare of all the children of the King. He is not merely called the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. He is the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. He is the embodiment of these roles. He demonstrates Who and What He is in the actions He performs. He provides comfort and consolation through decisive intervention in real time.

“God’s comfort strengthens weak knees and sustains sagging spirits so that one faces the troubles of life with unbending resolve and unending assurance” (Garland). Comfort not only connotes emotional relief and a sense of well-being, physical ease, satisfaction, and freedom from pain and anxiety. But it is so much more. The English word comfort is derived from the Latin term confortare, which means “to strengthen much.” It is composed of the Latin com + fortis. Fortis means brave, strong, or courageous. This is the kind of comfort that Paul has in mind (Garland). He not only comforts and encourages us, but He also makes us stronger in the process.

“The supreme result of all this is that we gain the power to comfort others who are going through it. Paul claims that the things which have happened to him and the comfort which he has received have made him able to be a source of comfort to others . . .. It is worthwhile experiencing suffering and sorrow if that experience will enable us to help others struggling with the stormy seas of life” (Barclay).

“J. M. Barrie tells how his mother lost her dearest son, and then he says: ‘That is where my mother got her soft eyes and why other mothers ran to her when they had lost a child.’” (Barclay). We are enabled to comfort others because of the comfort that we received in our times of trial and suffering. The Lord Jesus Christ shows us the way.

Hebrews 2:18 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

The Father lovingly prunes us through the process of suffering and comfort. “Pruning means cutting, reshaping, and removing what diminishes vitality. When we look at a pruned vineyard, we can hardly believe it will bear fruit. But when harvest time comes, we realize that the pruning enabled the vine to concentrate its energy and produce more grapes than it could have had it remained unpruned. Grateful people are those who can celebrate even the pains of life because they trust that when harvest time comes, the fruit will show that the pruning was not punishment but purification” (Nouwen).

The Father has commissioned every child of the King to be a comforter courier. He comforts us so that we may be able to comfort others. We are to pay it forward.

2 Corinthians 1:4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

“We are not comforted to be comfortable but to be comforters” (BBC).

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© Dr. H 2024

We can only receive what God gives ∙

We can only receive what God gives ∙

God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. – John 1:6-7

John 3:22-30

 22 Then Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem and went into the Judean countryside. Jesus spent some time with them there, baptizing people.

 23 At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism.

 24 (This was before John was thrown into prison.)

 25 A debate broke out between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over ceremonial cleansing.

 26 So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.”

 27 John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.

 28 You yourselves know how plainly I told you, “I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.”

 29 It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success.

 30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

George Washington set a precedent by gracefully stepping down and passing the mantle of leadership to the incoming president, John Adams. From his late 20s, Washington had always preferred the tranquility of private life over the demands of public service. Even after retiring from his role in the Virginia militia, the call to lead the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War saw him reluctantly return to public life.

Upon the Revolutionary War ended, Washington eagerly relinquished his commission and returned to his private life, intent on never wielding power again. However, the people of the United States would have none of it. The Founding Fathers called on him to once again be their leader. After serving two terms, Washington chose not to seek re-election, demonstrating his humility and setting a powerful example by stepping down willingly.

On September 19, 1796, Washington delivered his Farewell Address, a significant moment in American history. In this address, he shared his decision to retire to Mount Vernon, emphasizing his desire for a private life and setting a high standard for future presidencies. Washington was acutely aware of the precedents his actions would establish. He aimed to prevent the presidency from becoming a lifelong position or a monarchy, striving instead for a legacy of democratic governance and peaceful transitions of power.

His Farewell Address played a crucial role in shaping the tradition of peaceful power transfer that has endured for over two centuries, marking a foundational principle of American democracy.

John the Baptist had an extraordinary attitude. He recognized that the Father gives different missions to different children of the King. The Father assigned John and the Lord Jesus Christ significantly different responsibilities. There was no reason for competition or envy. Knowing who we are and what specific area of service the Father has designated allows us to embrace our roles joyfully. We can delight in serving the Father and find meaning and fulfillment in our assignment.

The disciples of John the Baptist were loyal and deeply devoted. They were protective of him and sought to safeguard his area of service. They felt that the Lord Jesus Christ was intruding into John’s turf. Large crowds were now coming to the Lord Jesus Christ. Close your eyes. Can you see John’s whiny, complaining disciples grumbling and discontent? Look a little closer and see John standing there resolutely and gently soothing their concerns gracefully, calming them down. It was easy for them to harbor resentment. But the time had come to let go of the things they needed to relinquish.

John clearly understood his purpose and mission. He was the forerunner of the Messiah. The Father sent him into the world to announce the coming of His Son. John knew full well that he was not the Messiah. He was sent as a messenger to announce His arrival. As the Messiah’s coming drew near, John recognized that his assignment as the forerunner was ending.

“John’s consciousness of the subordinate and temporary character of his mission was expressed in the single sentence” (Tenney).

John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

John was fully conscious that his mission was nearing its end. With this awareness, he gracefully stepped aside. He understood that his time in the limelight was over.

John 5:35-38

 35 John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message.

 36 But I have a greater witness than John – my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me.

 37 And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face,

 38 and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me– the one he sent to you.

REFLECT & PRAY

When we allow the Lord Jesus Christ to occupy His proper place in our lives, everything else comes together.

Father how often have I put myself first and focused on my needs and wants? Help me to look outside of myself to You.

INSIGHT

John the Baptist epitomized a life devoid of envy or jealousy. He was born to prepare the way of the Lord. He embodied true humility by understanding his role and finding joy in helping others succeed in their efforts. He recognized the distinction between being a bridegroom and being a friend of a bridegroom. But

John drew upon the poignant Jewish tradition of the shoshben. The shoshben was the groom’s closest friend and was responsible for arranging the wedding details and safeguarding the bridal chamber. This role is akin to what we know today as the best man at a wedding in American culture. John sees himself as playing the role of “the friend of the bridegroom.” Competition between the groom and the friend of the groom was unthinkable.

After successfully uniting the bride and groom, the best man’s job was considered complete. He eagerly waited to hear the bridegroom’s voice from within the bridal chamber when, for the first time, the bride dropped her veil. I can only imagine the bridegroom saying something like, “How lovely!” The bridegroom’s friend then went away rejoicing, for his mission was accomplished, and the lovers were together (Barclay).

In answer to their complaints, it would have been very easy for John to feel injured, neglected, and unjustifiably forgotten. But John was above that. His credo was extraordinary.

John 3:27 No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.

The Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples three things.

1) John told them that He never expected anything else.

2) No man could receive more than what the Father gave him.

3) John called Jesus the bridegroom and himself the friend of the bridegroom.

Once his mission was accomplished, John the Baptist willingly and joyfully stepped back from the limelight and prominence of center stage.

Imagine the jealousies, the heartaches, and the bitterness that every child of the King could avoid if we simply acknowledged that the success of others is a gift bestowed upon them by the Father (Barclay).

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© Dr. H 2024

Terminals or channels? ∙

Terminals or channels? ∙

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, “From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” – John 7:38

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

 4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.

 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.

 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

 8 To one person, the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another, the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.

 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else, the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.

 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.

 11 The one and only Spirit distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

For centuries, ships had to sail around the tip of South America to reach the West Coast of America. This was very time-consuming and often fraught with hazards. Recognizing the need for a more direct maritime path, the Isthmus of Panama was chosen to become a channel for maritime trade. The construction of the Panama Canal stands as one of the most significant and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken. It is a testament to human ingenuity and determination. But the Panama Canal was well worth the effort.

Under the leadership of President Theodore Roosevelt, the United States embarked on the monumental task of constructing the canal across a 50-mile stretch in Panama starting in 1904. Through groundbreaking public health efforts, the threat of yellow fever was eradicated. Its source was identified and eliminated by ridding the area of disease-carrying mosquitoes. In 1914, the Panama Canal was inaugurated, creating a crucial maritime corridor between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

The area where the canal was to be built was part of Columbia. The nation of Panama did not exist. An independence movement resulted in the formation of the Republic of Panama. The United States recognized it on November 6, 1903. The United States was granted exclusive and permanent possession of the Panama Canal Zone. In exchange, Panama received $10 million and an annuity of $250,000 beginning nine years later.

A terminal signifies an endpoint of something. South America was the natural divide between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The Pacific Ocean terminated at the West Coast of South America, while the Atlantic Ocean terminated on the East Coast of South America. The Panama Canal transformed these coastal terminals into a channel between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. The creation of the Panama Canal bridged these vast bodies of water.

This transformation from a terminus to a channel mirrors a broader spiritual principle, emphasizing the importance of being conduits of connection and flow rather than endpoints. Just as the Panama Canal serves as a channel for global commerce and navigation, the Father intends for each child of the King to be a channel, not a terminal.

John 7:38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, “From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.”

“Jesus was referring to the experience of Israel recorded in Exodus 17:1-7. That water was but a picture of the Spirit of God. Believers would not only drink the living water, but they would become channels of living water to bless a thirsty world! The “artesian well” that He promised in John 4:14 has now become a flowing river!” (Wiersbe).

The Lord Jesus Christ assured that those who place their faith in Him will have streams of living water flowing from the depths of their being. As children of the King, we are called to be channels of this living water. We are to be channels, not mere repositories and terminals.

REFLECT & PRAY

As the Father quenches our spiritual thirst, we are to pay it forward and satisfy the spiritual thirst of others.

Father thank You for Your kind intention of making each child of the King a channel of blessing for others in need. Please make it so.

INSIGHT

Something entirely new was about to happen to all who place their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He promises that the Holy Spirit will enter every child of the King when they believe in Him. His work within our hearts is likened to abundant streams of flowing out water of us to enrich and benefit others.

John 7:38-39

 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”

 39 (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

The Holy Spirit fulfills a similar role on a spiritual level. The Holy Spirit spiritually satiates the deep thirst of the soul and satisfies the inner person, empowering them to bear spiritual fruit. “The expression ‘out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’ means out of the person’s inward parts or inner life would flow streams of help to others” (BBC).

“All who believe on Him will have their own needs supplied and will receive rivers of spiritual blessing that will flow out from them to others. All through the Old Testament, it was taught that those who accepted the Messiah would be helped themselves and would be channels of blessing to others (Isaiah 55:1)” (BBC).

This is similar to what the Lord Jesus Christ said to the Samaritan woman. He offered her living water. He told her that it would become a spring of water welling up to eternal life (John 4:13-14). This closely resembles streams of living water flowing from the heart.

Children of the King are members of the body of Christ. Each is given a spiritual gift, ways to serve, and the results of their service.

1 Corinthians 12:4-7

 4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.

 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.

 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

Children of the King are diverse in their natural and spiritual makeup. These gifts are not intended to be bottled up or terminated. Instead, they are designed to be used for the common good. With these gifts, we are to help and build each other up.

“‘To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for mutual benefit.’ The gifts are given to individuals so that they may benefit others and serve the whole body” (Garland).

“No one can be indwelt by the Spirit of God and keep that Spirit to himself. Where the Spirit is, He flows forth” (Temple). Could it be if there is no flowing forth, the Holy Spirit is not there?

How is your flow?

1 Peter 4:10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

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© Dr. H 2024