The Grace of Love

When we talk about true, heart love, we are speaking of the GRACE OF LOVE which, like faith, is the gift of God. We are born loving ourselves, but not others. We are born with hatred for God. “The natural mind is enmity toward God.”

The grace of love comes only with the new birth. Then this grace of love gives us the spirit or attitude of love which is included in the fruit of the Spirit. “Everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God” (1 John. 4:7).

Then the spirit of love leads to works or labors of love. We love ourselves by nature; therefore, we make ourselves happy, comfortable, and content. When we are given the grace of love, we begin to think of others and seek to make them happy, comfortable, and content. Pastor Henry T. Mahan (Bulletin 1985)

“Some people need their faith to lean on.”

This is what my wife’s oncologist said to us when we told him we were believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. He had just told my wife there was no cure for her brain cancer, and being a very nice man he proceeded to offer his sympathy. This is when I told him we were believers in the Lord Jesus, and this is when he said, “Some people need their faith to lean on.”

I wanted to scream out, “No, I am not leaning on my faith; I am leaning on the Lord of glory.” My poor, weak faith can’t hold itself up, much less can it hold us up with our present burden. Some people talk about faith as if it were their god. “Oh,” you hear them say, “I would never have made it without my faith. Oh, I am so thankful my faith was strong. Oh, I am so happy I hung on to my faith, etc.”

A faith that has itself for its object is a shadow. A faith that feels itself strong is no more than presumption. Faith looks away from itself to Jesus (Heb.12:2). Faith leans wholly upon it’s beloved as it sees him revealed in his written Word. “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?” (Song Of Solomon 8:5).

True faith never leans on itself!

Pastor Bruce Crabtree

SAFE IN HIS HANDS

"His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me" (Song of Solomon 2:6).

Our salvation in Christ is sure, safe and certain as the powerful hands of God (Dan. 4:35; John 10:27-30). Believer, you are in good hands with Christ, being made one with Him (John 17:22).

His hands are sovereign hands able to save. "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7:25).

His hands are strong hands able to keep us from falling. "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy," (Jude 1:24).

His hands are tender hands able to teach us the way of salvation. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matt. 11:28-29).

His hands are wise hands able to guide us. "For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand (Psalm 95:7).

His hands are loving hands that were wounded to put away our sin. "Now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself " (Heb. 9:26).

His hands are caring hands able to supply all our need in Him. "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19).

His hands are victorious hands able to receive us to Himself in glory forever. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:3).