FILL MY CUP, LORD - 2
Marilyn Barber
As printed in The Voice of Evangelism,
In February, much thought is
given to the subject of “Love”. Too
often, love is just an infatuation that is temporary. Is this the way our love is as a Christian? As we think about filling our cup or our
life, Jesus gave us the number one thing with which we begin. All else becomes nothing without sincere love
in our heart. Love provides the
beginning step in pleasing our Lord and following in His steps. John Peterson wrote a song, “Oh How He Must
Have Loved Us”. Those words have a
continuing thrill to my soul and I hope it thrills you, too, as we think of all
He gave up for us. Born to die. Phil.2:6-8
As we think of our love with
regard for the most important commandment (Lk.10:27),
how much do we love our Lord God? Perhaps
we should ask ourselves, “What do we hold back?” A very important word is used in this
verse. That word is “all”.
The first “all” is all of our heart.
The “heart” is often used in Scripture as the seat of the emotions. We have inner yearnings for self. These yearnings affect our attitudes and our
desires. Our mind may make decisions but
the heart adds the determination. 2 Cor.9:7
Our heart is an open book to Christ.
Lk.9:47 We often have the desire to be the one
who is right or the one who has the knowledge.
This emotion causes friction among brothers and sisters in Christ. Lk.16:15 God examines our hearts. 1
Thess.2:4 The Spirit searches our
hearts. Rom.8:27 What a praise to
know that God can strengthen our hearts.
1 Thess.3:13
We are to love the Lord with all
our soul or with all our life. Many in the past have given up their lives as
our Lord did because they were Christians.
Many today are being persecuted for the Lord and even to the point of
dying for Him. It is done as they know
that eternity with the Lord follows. Is
our cup filled with that kind of resolve?
The kingdom is the Lord’s so we seek that first. Matt.6:33;
Col.1:18 It is important that we
care for our bodies properly. 1 Cor.6:19,20 Greater importance is attached to our
discipline for the purpose of godliness.
1 Tim.4:7,8
All of our strength or our power is from God. But as human beings our power is nothing
except that which is given us by God. Eph.1:19; Eph.6:10 The glory for whatever we are able to
accomplish for the Lord is for Him and not for ourselves. 1
Pet.4:11 What we could never do
ourselves, God’s power in us can accomplish.
Matt.19:26
We are to love the Lord with all
our mind. Our minds can lead us astray. Prov.23:7 With the media of today, our minds can
drift places they should not go. We see,
we hear, and then we think and consequently, we desire. We must guard our minds. A wonderful filter for our thinking is found
in Phil.4:8. Once we let evil thoughts take root in
our minds, it is very difficult to dig them out. Our minds are like livestock. Once the livestock gets out of the barn, it
is work to get them back. It would have
been easier to keep the barn door closed.
The mind wins or looses the battle with sin. 1
Cor.2:16 The mind of a Christian is
to be renewed. Rom.12:2
All of the above is for love of
the Lord our God. Yet it is all
important also for the love of our neighbor for this pleases God. We are commanded to love God with our all so
we show our love for Him by keeping His commandments and pleasing Him. Jhn.14:15 We cannot say we love God if we do not
love our brother. 1 Jhn.4:20,21
Christians are to be a witness
for Christ but how can we be if we are not showing love for one another. Jhn.13:35 It becomes so easy to try to justify our
feelings against another. This attitude
is not found in the Word of God. To love
our enemies is found in Matt.5:44. We gain nothing if we love and do good to
those who return the same. Matt.5:46
Paul explains our love for one
another in Phil.2:2-4. Selfishness keeps us from love. We feel that we know best so our way should
be followed. Empty conceit is involved
in this attitude. Personal interests
become the thrust of our desire. To be
united in spirit and intent on the same purpose of furthering Christ’s church
and winning souls necessitates a humility that regards the other person better
or more important than ourselves. The
later kind of attitude occurs often and is divisive when it does not involve the
doctrine of the Truth.
Tolerance for one another in love
is important in preserving unity. Eph.4:2,3
Paul describes those who have been chosen of God. After mentioning eight attitudes, then Paul
says “Above all these things, put on love…”
Col.3:12-14
How different life would be if we
could always be devoted to one another (Rom.12:10);
if we would never wrong a neighbor (Rom.13:10);
and if we would remember to do everything in love (1 Cor.16:14). Sincere love
is so aptly described in 1 Cor.13:4-7.
The love that God and our Lord
has for us is boundless. Rom.8:38,39 May we in turn love our God and Savior
with our all and love one another as well.
1 Jhn.4:11
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