“True Christian Love” by A. W. Pink

Love is the Queen of the Christian graces. It is a holy disposition given to us when we are born again by God. It is the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. True spiritual love is characterized by meekness and gentleness, yet it is vastly superior to the courtesies and kindnesses of the flesh.

We must be careful not to confuse human sentimentality, carnal pleasantries, human amiability and affability with true spiritual love. The love God commands, first to Himself and then to others, is not human love. It is not the indulgent, self-seeking love which is in us by nature. If we indulgently allow our children to grow up with little or, no Scriptural discipline, Proverbs plainly says we do not love them, regardless of the human sentimentality and affection we may feel for them. Love is not a sentimental pampering of one another with a loose indifference as to our walk and obedience before the Lord. Glossing over one another’s faults to ingratiate ourselves in their esteem is not spiritual love.

The true nature of Christian love is a righteous principle which seeks the highest good of others. It is a powerful desire to promote their welfare. The exercise of love is to be in strict conformity to the revealed will of God. We must love in the truth. Love among the brethren is far more than an agreeable society where views are the same. It is loving them for what we see of Christ in them, loving them for Christ’s sake.

The Lord Jesus Himself is our example. He was not only thoughtful, gentle, self-sacrificing and patient, but He also corrected His mother, used a whip in the Temple, Severely scolded His doubting disciples, and denounced hypocrites. True spiritual love is above all faithful to God and uncompromising towards all that is evil. We cannot declare, ‘Peace and Safety’ when in reality there is spiritual decay and ruin!

True spiritual love is very difficult to exercise because it is not our natural love. By nature we would rather love sentimentally and engender good feelings. Also many times true spiritual love is not received in love, but is hated as the Pharisees hated it. We must pray that God will fill us with His love and enable us to exercise it without dissimulation toward all.

 

Prayer for August 28, 2012

Prayer for August 28, 2012

Heavenly Father, I come to You, Father, in worship and praise for All that You are, and for all that You do. You are the Great God Almighty. You are the Eternal God who reigns forever more. Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your creation, for all that You’ve made, for I know nothing would be as it is if it weren’t for You. You have provided us all knowledge, all wisdom, all in the way of people and places and things. Everything we know is because of You, and if it weren’t for You we would have nothing, and be less than nothing.

Heavenly Father, I come to You tonight, Father, and I ask You to please forgiven me of my sins. That is my first request. Heavenly Father, that is where it has to start for I am first and foremost a sinner. I have done that which is wrong in thy sight, and I pray You forgive me for both those sins I’ve done by my own will, and those I’m not even aware of. I ask You, Heavenly Father, to wipe away my sin, and make me as new.

Heavenly Father, I ask You to take of my life and make of it what You will. I know Father, that by myself I am nothing, and I deserve nothing, and that it’s only through Your love and the death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, that I have anything. It’s only by Your grace and love that I have anything worthwhile in my life. So Father, I pray that You would empty me of all that is not pleasing in Your sight; that You remove from me all hint of sin, and anything that mars or stains that which You have placed within my heart. I pray that You would make me Holy.

Heavenly Father, I ask You to be with my family. Father, God, You know how much I love my family, and how I desire to give them all the love I can in You and through You. May I be a blessing to them, and a true representation of Your Son, Jesus, who lives in me. Help me to be a good example unto them, and to lead them in a way that will lead to You, and to Your Son, Jesus.
Heavenly Father, I ask that You with be with my internet family, and my church family, and those who lead it. I know Father, that a church is only as good as those who are committed to You, and to serving You, and to living their lives in humble adoration and submission to You.

Heavenly Father, I ask You to be with those who are sick, those who are ill, and in the midst of suffering, no matter what the form of that suffering might take. I pray that You place Your healing hand upon all those who are in pain, who are in mourning, who are struggling with untold burdens, and I pray that You will give them the peace, courage, and strength to deal with those things that come to us on a daily basis.

Most of all, Heavenly Father, I come to You on behalf of all those who suffer for Your name. Those who are living in and under the threat of persecution, and who are now even as I’m praying laying down their lives for their belief and love of You, and Your Son, Jesus.

Help me Heavenly Father, to give of my life for others. To set others and their needs and wants ahead of my own, and to use the gifts You have given me for the benefit of those who You might bring to pass my way. Help me Father, to honor You with my every word, thought and action…and to proclaim my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to a world in desperate need of Him. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.