Love Grows out of Knowledge

By Jeff Curtis

Knowledge is the first essential for living a joyous Christian life, but having knowledge isn’t enough.

It’s a mistake to think that being a Christian consists only in getting a few facts straight. A believer absorbs the truth. He learns to love. No one knows all he should when he has memorized all the stops along Paul’s missionary journeys. Paul said, “We know in part” (1Corinthians 13:9). To live as a Christian requires the knowledge of facts, but it also consists in the application of knowledge to the heart.

It's not only the mind, but it’s the heart also that must belong to God. If any believer is to enjoy the “full reward” of Christian living, the heart has to change. Of all the emotions that stir human hearts, John brought love to the forefront. In doing that, he was in the mainstream of the biblical message, from Jesus to Paul. In his letters, John emphasized both love and truth. The apostle had no new commandment even when he insisted that, in Christ, the word “love” had been expanded and redefined. He called the new commandment “the one which we have had from the beginning” (2John v.5). The new commandment was the old one that believers had from the beginning. It was that should “love one another.” John wouldn’t leave it there. He went on to say, “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments” (2John v.6).

The “full reward” that Christians enjoy comes from cultivating the power of love that follows knowledge. No Christian should overlook the importance of cultivating love in their life. A believer can and must grow in love all the time. Love isn’t a thing that some people just mysteriously have. To know Christ is to want to love, it’s to learn how to love. Love is as broad and elusive as knowledge.

Finally. Believers don’t just sit down at some point and say, “There! I’ve done it. I have loved. I have obeyed God’s command. I have mastered knowledge and love. Let’s move on to the next commandment.” As believers “now in part,” the also love in part. Christians will never love perfectly, but by God’s grace, they may be able to say that they know more and love more deeply today than they did yesterday.

Meditate on this:

Proverbs 10:19

In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

Secrets of Growth:

A congregation will surely grow when…

1. Each member has a deep concern for the lost.
2. Each member enters the worship service with enthusiasm.
3. Each member is interested in an aggressive Bible study.
4. Each member is interested in improving their abilities.
5. Each member tries to put more into the work than they are taking out.
6. The preacher preaches the word in love.
7. Each member is personally involved in the work.
8. Each member lets love express itself to every member.
9. Each member “in honor prefers one another.”

Anonymous

Election by God: Israel’s and Ours

By Jeff Curtis

God chose Israel, or elected Israel to be His special people. Through the prophet Amos, He said, “You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth” (Amos 3:2). He didn’t choose them because of their goodness or greatness, rather, in His sovereign will, He determined that they would receive the gracious blessing of being His own people, therefore, He made a covenant with them. His election didn’t solely bestow blessings upon Israel; it also gave them responsibilities. It required them to obey God and to be a blessing to others. Because they failed to live up to the requirements of the covenant, God had determined to punish them.

Christians today have also been called, chosen, or elected by God to be His special people (2Timothy 1:9; 1Peter 2:5,9). God didn’t choose us because of our goodness or greatness; rather, we were saved by His grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) when we responded in faith and obedience to His call (Acts 22:16; Romans 10:13; 2Thessalonians 2:14). Neither was our calling just a means of providing blessings for us. We were chosen to serve, to glorify God and to bless mankind. If we don’t live up to our calling, we can expect to be condemned. It’s up to us to “be… diligent to make our calling and election sure” (2Peter 1:10). If we fail to do so, we can expect to be punished even more severely than those who have never experienced the blessing of being among God’s people (Luke 12:47-48; 2Peter 2:20-22).

Walking Together

Amos asked, “Do two men walk together unless they have made an appointment?” (3:3). This question is the first in a series of rhetorical questions. The prophet was not trying to teach that Israel must walk in God’s way to ne pleasing to Him. But, the question can be used to illustrate the need for agreement in differing human relationships. One speaker used it to demonstrate the need for harmony in our social and family relationships, and especially in spiritual matters. From a spiritual standpoint, we need to be united with one another, but that can only happen if we are united with Christ.

Meditate on this:

Deuteronomy 5:29

Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!