Do you need favor with your boss, direction for you life, health for your body? If so, you can find how to get all of those things in Proverbs 3:3-8:
3 Let not mercy and kindness and Truth (God's Word IS Truth! John 17:17) forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart. 4 So shall you find favor, good understanding, and high esteem in the sight [or judgment] of God and man. 5 lean on, trust in, and be confident in the LORD with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. 6 In ALL (emphasis mine!) your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and he will direct and make straight and plain your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the LORD and turn [entirely] away from evil. 8 It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones.
THESE promises were given to Old Testament believers, who lived and operated under the Old Covenant! We have a New Covenant, based on even BETTER promises than these (Hebrews 8:6)! Put this Word into practice and watch your life begin to change right before your eyes! He ALWAYS confirms His Word when it is spoken out and obeyed by His people! HALLELUJAH!
Jesus gave these instructions to His disciples in John 13:34-35:
34 I give you an new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you should love on another. 35 By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.
The "love" Jesus is speaking of here is the Greek word "agapao". This is what Vine's Expository Dictionary says:
In respect of agapao as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant "love" and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential "love" in them towards the Giver, and a practical "love" towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver.
Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered. Love seeks the welfare of all, Rom 15:2, and works no ill to any, 13:8,9,10; love seeks opportunity to do good to 'all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith,' Gal 6:10.
This LOVE is a CHOICE! God so greatly LOVED and dearly prized the world that he GAVE! That is what this love will do! We will give of our time, energy and resources, to HIM first of all, then, as the Holy Spirit directs, to others! This doesn't always mean acting or speaking "nice and sweet"! Sometimes it means speaking the Truth bluntly, but ALWAYS motivated by the desire to help someone and not to hurt them! Remember, as you decide what YOU are going to do with verse 34, LOVE never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8)! Here is a song by Hillsong United called "Like An Avalanche" that speaks about HIS Grace and Love!
The genealogy in 1 Chronicles 1-2 shows that, though ALL mankind originated from Adam, we ALL also originated from Noah! That was the official "restart" of the human race! Seeing it all listed here also helps us to understand that every people group originally had access to the Truth of God's Word! The world is really without excuse! Our "commission" is to remind them about the One, True God and His eternal plan! THAT'S Good News! Preach it!
Shalom in Him
