Posted on Fri, Dec 20, 2013 at 06:11 p.m. (EST) & 04:41 a.m. (IST), DEC 2013 Edition
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“Love Others Very
Enthusiastically! (L.O.V.E)”
Ramesh C. Reddy
SCRIPTURE:
APPROACH QUESTION:
OBSERVATIONS:
OBSERVATIONS:
INTERPRETATIONS:
INTERPRETATIONS:
It is especially loving what Joseph
did because according to Jewish law what Joseph thought he knew
could have given him reason to stone Mary but love for Mary
overruled what should have been done when he thought Mary was
guilty. Also, it is Joseph's relationship with God that revealed his
true love towards Mary in a world of false hope because his ultimate
true hope is in God in a world of false love too.
IMPLICATIONS:
HOW
GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING L.O.V.E:
I learned in the course of my own marriage about the power of true
love. No matter how many times I have messed up in different areas
with my dearest wife Chandraleela, she always loves me more and more. She
exemplifies for me what 1 Corinthians 13 is especially about love
does not demand it's own way and love does not keep record of no
wrongs. I am very grateful to be learning about how true love lived
out looks like in the confines of our own marriage. It is her love
for the Lord Jesus Christ that shows in our marriage. I want to show
that kind of love to my precious wife too.
I would not have even been at
Oakland International Fellowship (OIF),
if it were not for the Lord Jesus Christ using
Pastor Hugo Cheng,
Edwin, and
Kristen of
Oakland International Fellowship about 3 years ago. The Lord Jesus
has used them to show me how love looks like no matter how many
times I had messed up as a leader and congregation member. Even when
my mistakes have been exposed to me by them, I rarely ever felt they
were being judgmental towards me but always showing love.
Speaking about the pastor, I don't ever
remember being offended by what Pastor
Hugo said to me even if there were
times I felt distressed, confused, and even disturbed. A lot of
times instead of telling me how wrong I have been in certain areas
of my life, he let me see it through using examples and anecdotes.
The most powerful being using the Word of God
and the examples of biblical characters to make me see my own
shortcomings without making me feel judged. He always does things to
be of service to me. It is for me to grow in the Lord and experience
Jesus' true love in a world of false hope so that my living the life
will be reflected by my imitating the Living Lord's ways for my life
through the Lord's transforming grace.
It is true love that changes people and
brings them back for more whether it is hearing about Jesus, living
in community, etc. Sometimes it just takes that one person to make a
difference which is multiplied.
God's Truth expressed in love will look
like how Jesus approached the Samaritan Women at the Well in John 4.
For my own life, it has been experienced through how the Lord Jesus
has used my mommy while growing up and currently uses my sweetest wife
Chandra.
Truth expressed in Christ's love is what is biblical. We
never shy away from expressing the Truth of God's Word because we do
not want to offend anyone. But, we ask the Spirit of the Living God
to help us reveal His Truth in love. It can be done because I have
seen it happen in my own life.
As I thought about Joseph, it reminded me
of God's true love for me no matter how many times I have messed up
and wronged the Lord. There were areas of my life that should have
been exposed to public disgrace and God could have divorced me from
His presence forever because of the way I have lived my life so many
times but God's true love for me in this world of false hope
revealed Jesus Christ to me and what Jesus Christ can do for me
instead of abandoning me. Thank you Father God! Despite my soul
sickness, as Jason and
Andrea, staff workers of
Asian InterVarsity
Christian Fellowship like to use for sin, Jesus Christ did not
abandon me.
If anything He revealed His true love to me
despite how many times I have sinned by my actions. Jesus' radical
way of dealing with people including me shows that when the love of
Christ is shown in people's lives by Proclaiming the Truth and
Living the Truth, lives can be transformed by His grace through
love. That's what happened to me. It is my mommy that instilled in
me the love of Christ by loving me and rarely being
judgmental! When my brothers and I doubted our own walk with the
Lord, she had encouraged us to keep reading the Book of Romans to
show God's love of infinity towards us in Jesus Christ. To this day,
my mommy has us focus on what Christ's love can do for us. Thank you
Jesus. Now, what an awesome wife I have in Chandra and a beautiful
14.5 month, 5 days old daughter in Esther
:)
All this testimony will be for naught if I
do not share with you all where this Truth comes from in love. It is
Jesus Christ for me. My love cannot influence anyone's life if that
love is not rooted in the love of Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth,
and the Life. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. It is
His Way, His Truth, and His life that leads us to true love and true
hope. It is found in Him. Jesus loves us so much that if we were the
only one living, He would have still died for us and come back to
life to save us from all our sin. It is His love for us that
made Him shed His blood on the cross of Calvary to cleanse us from
all our sin so that we can be seen as righteous in the eyes of the
Lord when we come to Him. Jesus gave us the free gift of His grace
to save us and redeem us. Jesus did everything for us so that we
will not feel judged but loved by Him. It His love for us that moves
us to action.
We are not saved because of the good we think we do
but we are saved because of the good that Jesus has done for us. So,
no matter how our life is and how much we have messed up, we are
never out of His love and never out of His reach. He loves us as we are inspite
of our shortcomings. He wants us to come to Him in our soul
sickness, so He can work in us and transform us for we cannot ever
get rid of sin no matter how much we try. Only Christ can do that for
us and will do that for us. But for that to happen, we should turn
our lives over to Him and experience His love.
To show that love he places people in our
lives and especially His Word to reveal His love to us. You can have
that love too because it is only His true love that can give us true
hope in a world of false hope and false love. I hope you find that
as I have. Knowing how Jesus loves us and understanding the
implications of Joseph's actions, Jesus' actions towards the
Samaritan woman in John 4 and Adulterous woman in John 8 should move
us to true love in a world of false hope. So, as we look to the
Advent season, let us remember Jesus who wants to be our Lord and
Savior to give us true love in a world of false hope.
I ask you now dear friend how has your
L.O.V.E
influenced others in life?
Sadly, we live in a society where love can
at times just become a four letter word and not have a true meaning.
Many times it is only love when things go our way but when things
don’t love is shattered. A wrongdoing can easily turn human beings
heart to hate which is sad if they are not careful.
When that happens we are not satisfied with
our own hurt but want the other person to be hurt too. The best way
people do that is trying to publicly disgrace someone for their
wrong doing. I have experienced that in the past and it is so
terrible. The pain and humiliation is awful too. I have also been
guilty of doing that to others :(
It does not show love but our own
vengeful spirit for what happened. I have been guilty of that too
but reading this passage made me realize how I need to change and
let love rule me.
Sadly in ministry people are more publicly
disgraced than in other professions. I believe if we allowed love to
rule the situations, things would be different. This does not mean
that if a person’s actions are in the wrong, they are being approved
of. Just as Joseph thought of ways, I believe we can think of ways
too to rectify a situation where we have been wronged but allowing
love to influence us.
Friend, maybe you have been at the
receiving end of a wrong and do not know anymore how love can
influence you. But, I want you to know that whatever has happened
to you, Jesus wants to show you what true love is. No matter what
has happened, the Lord Jesus can pick you up and put you on solid
ground as you turn to Him this Christmas season! Yes, He can! Even
if you have been humiliated, don’t let that rule you but allow Jesus
to come and heal you. Love has come into this world and He will
encompass you with His love.
Maybe you are at the giving end and have
publicly disgraced others. If that happened, you can know there are
alternatives to handle a situation. Ask the Lord for forgiveness and
see how you can handle a situation from now on allowing love to
influence you. That is what Joseph did.
Wherever you are Jesus wants to be there for you. A year ago,
Pastor Michael and the youth group
shared a powerful skit called Ragman, Ragman, Ragman the Christ
about how Christ's love influenced Him to take all our dirty rags
and put them on Himself. He took our filth, our pain, our hurts, our
diseases and bore them upon Himself so that we can have new life.
This December no matter where you have been or what you have done,
you can experience the love of Christ as you come to read the love
Jesus has for you in His Word. Come as you are friend and receive
the help you need in Christ for He is our Hope, our Salvation, and
our Peace!
May you allow the Lord Jesus Christ’s love
to influence you this Christmas season now and forever! Amen!
"Love Others Very Enthusiastically!" (L.O.V.E)/"How
has your L.O.V.E influenced others in life?"
Prayer:
Lord Jesus,
You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace,
Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a
life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I
need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround
me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your
presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you
love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek
your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for
your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case.
Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN!
(Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)
If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a
daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be
alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them
come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to
wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as
you pray the prayer below, meaning it in your heart.
No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in
and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with
the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend.
You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word
reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you
and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before
moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to
which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be
part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible
believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to
Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who
brings us hope, healing, and help!
No matter who you are, it is not ever too late
to join a Bible-believing church or a college fellowship. I highly
encourage each of you to come to Transformers Small Group on Friday
nights at 7:00 p.m. and Oakland International Fellowship on Sunday
mornings at 9:30 a.m. for prayer, 11:30 a.m. for worship, 10:30 a.m. for
Sunday School, and 12:30 p.m. for fellowship lunch.
May the Lord's presence and peace fill you with His love now and
forever! Amen!
Feel free to email
me at
reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com
if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with,
talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is
412-641-9426
"This is my
work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work
within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB) |
ADVENT DEVOTIONALS: "What does your P.R.A.I.S.E report consist of?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Dec 18, 13, 07:23 a.m) "What does God do with your D.O.U.B.T.S in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Dec 17, 13, 10:47 a.m) "What K.I.N.G.D.O.M will you be part of in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Dec 16, 13, 10:55 a.m) "What does it mean to experience the F.A.V.O.R of the Lord ?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Dec 14, 13, 7:17 a.m) "What can G.R.E.E.T.I.N.G.S do for you and others in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Dec 07, 13, 6:19 a.m) 2013 DEVOTIONALS: "What are A-Z things you have witnessed that you can give T.H.A.N.K.S.G.I.V.I.N.G to the Lord for?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (Thurs, Nov 28, 13, 11:51 a.m.) Mark 8:34: "Why D.E.N.Y youself in the one life you have to live?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (Sat, Nov 16, 13, 08:13 a.m.) Philippians 4:9: "How do you know your P.E.A.C.E is real?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Sat, Oct 19, 13, 08:17 a.m.) Philippians 4:9: "What kind of S.O.L.D.I.E.R will you be?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Sat, Oct 12, 13, 11:29 a.m.) Psalm 139:13-18: "Who cares for your B.I.R.T.H.D.A.Y in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Sat, Oct 05, 13, 1:00 p.m.) Philippians 4:8: "What is your T.H.I.N.K.I.N.G based on?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Mon, Sept 25, 13, 10:29 a.m.) Philippians 4:6-7: "How do you handle A.N.X.I.E.T.Y in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Sat, Sept 21, 13, 08:18 a.m.) Philippians 4:4: "When do you R.E.J.O.I.C.E in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Sat, Sept 14, 13, 12:36 p.m.) Philippians 4:5: "What measure of G.E.N.T.L.E.N.E.S.S do you have?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Mon, Sept 09, 13, 12:03 p.m.) Philippians 4:3: "How have you C.A.M.P.A.I.G.N.E.D for Jesus Christ in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Sat, Sept 06, 13, 07:17 a.m.) Philippians 4:2: "How do you respond to a P.L.E.A.D in life?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (Wed, Sept 04, 13, 12:00 p.m.) Philippians 4:1: "Where do you S.T.A.N.D on love in your life?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (Tues, Sept 03, 13, 12:00 p.m.) 1 Thessalonians 1:3: "What does your L.A.B.O.R show in life?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (Mon, Sept 02, 13, 10:04 a.m.) Philippians 3:18-19: "Why shed your T.E.A.R.S for others in life?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (Wed, Aug 21, 13, 08:26 a.m.) Philippians 3:15-17: "Who are what are you willing to P.A.T.T.E.R.N your life after?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (Mon, Aug 19, 13, 10:08 a.m.) Philippians 3:12-14:"How can you deal with the P.A.S.T in your life?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (Mon, Aug 15, 13, 04:21 a.m.) Philippians 3:1-11: "Why for R.E.F.O.R.M.A.T.I.O.N you need the transaction of the cross?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (Wed, Aug 14, 13, 05:55 p.m.) Philippians 2:25-30:"When will your H.O.M.E.C.O.M.I.N.G begin?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (Tues, Aug 13, 13, 10:39 a.m.) Philiippians 2:20-24: "How can you Q.U.A.L.I.F.Y well in other people's lives?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (Fri, Aug 09, 13, 08:38 a.m.) Philippians 2:17-19: "When do you live out your F.A.I.T.H in life?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (Thurs, Aug 08, 13, 03:19 a.m.) Philippians 2:14-16: "What does your B.E.H.A.V.I.O.R do for others in life?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (Wed, Aug 07, 13, 12:03 p.m.) Philippians 2:13: "How do you W.O.R.K out your Salvation?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (Mon, Aug 05, 13, 01:33 p.m.) Philippians 2:13: "What path have you taken for S.A.L.V.A.T.I.O.N in your life?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (Mon, Aug 05, 13, 01:33 p.m.) Philippians 2:12-13: "What is the point of O.B.E.D.I.E.N.C.E in life?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (Sat, Aug 03, 13, 01:28 p.m.) Philippians 2:9-11: "How do you handle the N.A.M.E of Jesus in life?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (Fri, Aug 02, 13, 07:58 a.m.) Philippians 2:8: "What can the C.R.O.S.S do for you in life?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (Thurs, Aug 01, 13, 08:03 a.m.) Philippians 2:5-7:"How do you match Jesus' A.T.T.I.T.U.D.E in life?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (Wed, July 31, 13, 10:50 a.m.) Mark 10:6-9: "What does Jesus want for your M.A.R.R.I.A.G.E in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Tues, July 30, 13, 11:24 a.m.) Philippians 2:3-4: "How do you respond to God's C.O.M.M.A.N.D.S in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Mon, July 29, 13, 09:53 a.m.) Philiippians 2:1-2: "What C.O.N.D.I.T.I.O.N are you in?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Sat, July 27, 13, 11:42 a.m.) Philippians 1:29-30: "How do you handle S.U.F.F.E.R.I.N.G in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Fri, July 26, 13, 10:02 a.m.) Philippians 1:27-28: "How do you C.O.N.D.U.C.T yourself in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Thurs, July 25, 13, 11:17 a.m.) Philippians 1:22-26: "What are your C.H.O.I.C.E.S based on?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Wed, July 24, 13, 09:50 a.m.) Philippians 1:21: "Why D.I.E for Christ?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Mon, July 22, 13, 3:33 p.m.) Philippians 1:21: "Why L.I.V.E your life to be appreciated by others?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Fri, July 19, 13, 10:20 a.m.) Philippians 1:20: "Where do you need to have C.O.U.R.A.G.E in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Thurs, July 18, 13, 05:17 a.m.) Philippians 1:19: "Who should you C.A.L.L often in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Wed, July 17, 13, 09:41 a.m.) Philippians 1:19: "What reason do you have to R.E.J.O.I.C.E in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Tues, July 16, 10:23 a.m.) Philippians 1:15-18: "How are your M.O.T.I.V.E.S in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Mon, July 15, 04:57 a.m.) Philippians 1:12-14:"What have your C.H.A.I.N.S done to others in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Thurs, July 11, 10:40 a.m.) Philippians 1:12: How can you A.D.V.A.N.C.E the Gospel?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Wed, July 10, 11:46 a.m.) Philippians 1:9-11: "What is your L.O.V.I.N.G response based on?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Mon, July 07, 03:24 a.m.) Philippians 1:7-8: "How can your A.F.F.E.C.T.I.O.N grow towards others in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Thurs, June 27, 10:21 a.m.) Philippians 1:7-8: "Why can you only be saved by G.R.A.C.E alone?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Wed, June 26, 10:42 a.m.) Philippians 1:3-6: "Where are you C.O.N.F.I.D.E.N.T in?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Tues, June 25, 12:42 p.m.) Philippians 1:3-6: "How can you attain a P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S.H.I.P in the Gospel?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Mon, June 24, 11:22 a.m.) Philippians 1:1-3: "How will others R.E.A.C.T towards God when they remember you?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Sat, June 22, 11:34 a.m.) Philippians 1:1-2: "Why bother to let others T.R.A.I.N you when you are already a leader?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 21, 10:58 a.m.) Philippians 1:1-2: "When do you B.L.E.S.S others in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 20, 08:33 a.m.) Philippians 1:1-2: "Who will you be a S.L.A.V.E to in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 19, 1:26 p.m.) Philippians 1:1: "Why should you believe you are H.O.L.Y instead of a sinner?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 17, 11:38 p.m.) Psalm 46:1: "Where do you need R.E.F.U.G.E from?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 14, 08:30 a.m.) Proverbs 14:12: "Why seek God's R.I.G.H.T over our right?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 14, 08:30 a.m.) Psalm 42:5: "Why H.O.P.E and praise the Lord in your distress?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 13, 01:36 p.m.) Psalm 40:1-5: "Where do you need to be L.I.F.T.E.D up in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 13, 01:34 p.m.) Mark 9:28-29: "What can P.R.A.Y.E.R to Jesus do in your friends lives?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 11, 07:53 a.m.) Mark 2:2-5: "What kind of F.R.I.E.N.D will you be thought of as?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 10, 07:03 a.m.) Mark 3:14-15: "Why S.P.E.N.D time with Jesus daily?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 08, 11:07 a.m.) Psalm 34:4: "What can you do with your F.E.A.R.S in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 07, 2013, 8:43 a.m.) Psalm 33:4: "What will you do with F.A.I.T.H in your classes?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 05, 2013, 9:31 a.m.) Mark 1:43-44: "What does your disobedience C.A.U.S.E for others in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 03, 2013, 2:57 a.m.) Mark 1:41-42: "What past do you need to be C.L.E.A.N from?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 31, 2013, 10:54 a.m) Proverbs 29:25: "Where will you take a S.T.A.N.D without wavering?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 30, 2013, 07:43 a.m) Matthew 18:21-22:"Why F.O.R.G.I.V.E when it will happen again?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 29 2013, 09:35 a.m) Psalm 27:14:"How do you C.O.P.E with your hurt?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 27, 2013, 11:13 a.m) John 12:24:"Who do you remember physically and spiritually on this M.E.M.O.R.I.A.L day?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 27, 2013, 11:13 a.m) "What has the law P.E.R.M.I.T.T.E.D you to do but it goes against the Lord?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 09, 2013, 6:57 a.m) "Who do you become an A.T.T.R.A.C.T.I.O.N to and why?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 08, 2013, 6:58 a.m) "What has A.N.G.E.R done to your relationships?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 29, 13, 1:28 p.m.) "How can the L.I.G.H.T impact your life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 06, 13, 11:48 a.m.)
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