Dear Brothers and Sisters.
I hope the Lord will speak to you through this devotion.
Raising the Standard.
Today I have been asking a few people for a character reference for a job I am
applying for. Some reckon I am a real character, maybe that�s why I�m a bit of a
Larrikin. It is apart of character. Always ready for a bit of fun, but always there to
help where I can.
While I was thinking about the characteristics of a larrikin it made me think of what
characteristics a Christian should display. When Paul wrote to the Church at Rome
he gave some practical advice. In Romans 12:9-21 we read �Love must be
sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in
brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but
keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in
affliction,
faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who
rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not
be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be
conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the
eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with
everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it
is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If
your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In
doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil,
but overcome evil with good.�
So let�s put this term we can understand.
1/ Your love must be real. People can see through phoney love. Jesus showed us
what real love was all about when he died for us.
2/ Hate what is evil. We can not serve two masters, we must love one and hate the
other. We, as Ranger leaders have chosen to follow Jesus, therefore we must
not allow satan any ground in our lives.
3/ Hold on to what is good. If you have two apples and one is rotten, what do you
do with it, you throw it away and keep the good one. We must throw off all
forms of evil and hold on to the good things that come from heaven.
4/ Love one another like brothers and sisters. Philadelphia means a special
brotherly love for members of Christ�s body, the Church. Read 1 Corinthians
13:4-8. This is the love we must share.
5/ Give each other more honour than we want ourselves. Being pleased that some
is being honoured before us.
6/ Do not be lazy, but work hard, serving the Lord with all your heart. We need to
become zealous in all we do for the Lord.
7/ Be joyful because we have hope. Don�t go around looking like you have just
sucked on a lemon or got baptised in vinegar. Jesu has given us a New Hope,
hope in our salvation.
8/ Be patient when trouble comes. Trails are meant for us to learn and grow by.
9/ Pray at all times. How can we live a Christian life without talking to our Father.
He made us and He wants to talk to us each day.
10/ Share with God�s people who need help. Look for ways way you can be a
blessing to those who have a need.
11/ Bring strangers in need into your home. Jesus always met the person�s need
first before he told them about His Father. And you just never know you could
be welcoming an angel.
12/ Wish good for those who harm you and do not curse them. (See point 22)
13/ Be Happy with those who are Happy.
14/ Be sad with those who are sad. We are in this world, but not of it. We must
reach each person at their point of need before we can share the gospel with
them.
15/ Live in peace with each other. Don�t go looking for conflicts with others,
there�s enough conflict in the world now without us added to it.
16/ Do not be proud. God resists the proud and uplifts the humble.
17/ Make friends with those for seem unimportant. If you have an ingrown toenail
on your little, your whole body knows it. These people are the backbone of the
Church. They are the ones who get in there and clean the toilets, wash up after a
Church meal and do those tasks other will not.
18/ Do not think of how smart you are. In Proverbs 3:5-8 it says �Trust in the
LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your
ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in
your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.�
19/ If someone does wrong to you, do not pay him back with by doing wrong to
him. Let the Lord take care of it.
20/ Do your best to live at peace with everyone, even that person who rubs you up
the wrong way.
22/ Do not try to punish others when they do wrong, but wait for God to do it with
his anger. Our Father doesn�t like others mistreating members of His family and
it His prerogative for vengeance.
23/ If your enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him a drink, Do not let
evil defeat, defeat evil by doing good. This is the best way to turn an enemy into
a friend. By treating them this way you make them ashamed of their actions and
lead to their repentance.
If we put all these points into practice then we will see a revival breakout, not
only
in our own lives, but also in the life of our churches. Anyone for a Revival?
Amen
P.S. Thanks to Ps. David Goodwin for providing the notes from which this
devotion is based.
There's a storm coming, our Storm.
PROCLAIMING GOD'S LOVE TO A DYING WORLD
Say to the captives, 'come out,' and those in darkness, 'Be free!'
Isaiah 49:9
Love in Jesus
Adrian Bonham aka Morning Light, The Larrikin
I looked to the heavens to where God dwells
I looked into my life to see he lives there as well.
Outpost 49
Hawkesbury Royal Rangers
Windsor, N.S.W.
Australia
F.C.F. 94
http://www.summit.net.au/~founder1/
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