Encouraged to Live For Christ: Doing Good

Hello People!😀

Welcome to an August Devotional Wednesday

The theme continuing is “Encouraged to live for Christ: Doing Good”

Hope you have been having a blessed week and you are strengthened.

Let’s Jump in now to the Scriptures!

1 Peter 3: 8 – 17 and 1 Peter 4: 12-19 – Suffering for Christ Sake

1 Thessalonians 4: 9-10

AS believers we know very well to love one another and even strangers, however, God tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4:10 to do this “more and more”. Why does God do this? Well one, we can only love God if we do his commandment which is to love others and each other. Because we are God’s children, we are like him, a light in this dark world if we show love to others and are Christ to them. They, the world and even believers can turn to this light we have; Jesus if we love strongly, truthfully, and continually. 1 Peter 3:8 -12 tells us how we can love “more and more”.

We increase in Love by …

- Sympathizing

- Compassion

- Humility for others

- Not taking vengeance or returning evil

- Blessing others no matter their doing

- Living Godly lives as in Psalm 34:11-16

God tells us not to give up in doing good and in doing his will, he empowers us to continue by protecting us from harm and blessing us. The greater judgment is against us as believers (1 Peter 4: 12-19) vs unbelievers or sinners, therefore God encourages to godliness, no matter the cost. As true and faithful believers of Christ we must be ready to respond to anyone who is in wonder of our belief because of how we live. But we must respond to the wonder in a loving manner so that even though some intend evil or harm they will be ashamed. In everything done to God’s glory by our sacrificial living we are blessed.

Application to Life: I can see the admonition to love “more and more” speaking in my life. Sometimes I like to return to others when they offend me, but I must learn to not allow offence to take my peace and joy. It is a choice that I must learn to make to love others and family no matter what they do. Also, I am learning to put others first before my needs, giving of myself. Also, I can learn to not assume to be in the right and to allow the other person.

Prayer: Dear God empower me to continue loving you and loving others, doing good and remembering by your holy spirit the blessing of reward in you, lord Jesus Christ. Amen