Are We Good Or Evil?

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. III John 1:11
 
Friend, don’t go along with evil. Model the good. The person who does good does God’s work. The person who does evil falsifies God, doesn’t know the first thing about God. III John 1:11 (The Message)

It isn't difficult to be confused on who truly knows God and who doesn't. It is easy to see God's goodness in the life of others. When we don't see goodness in others then it's clear they probably do not know God. But what if they profess to be godly or worse are cruel in the name of religion? 

The scriptures are pretty clear that it is not the talk but instead the walk of a person that speaks volumes!

 This is a picture of my sons dog taken June 26, 2009.

We Must Be A Shelter For Others

John 15: 12-13 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

Love is the greatest gift you can give to anyone and it is God's gift to us through Christ Jesus. God sent His Son to die on the cross to pay for our sin and He is asking us to love others. The cross was the ultimate sacrifice and Christ suffered, bled and died. His parting message to us were in those two scriptures as a command because loving others is a priority to our Heavenly Father.

Why would we have to be told to love others? Seems like an easy enough request but yet so difficult to see it accomplished. As children we begin to fight for our rights and what belongs to us; in other words selfishness comes naturally and God knows this about human nature. He is commanding us to love others! Have you ever commanded your children to do something that you knew would benefit them only to have them ignore you? I think we all have and it can bring on the most disappointing and hurtful emotions. We start to believe that our children are either mentally challenged or satanic forces have just overtaken them right?

God feels the same way about us when we don't follow His commands because He wants us to have the BEST life can offer by blessing us and those around us. Yet we are like our children, we want our own way and our own choices which brings no blessing but instead heartache and sometimes disaster. Seems so simple a command to love each other, protect each other, shelter each other.....There is so much hurt and pain out in the world today that we need to prepare our hearts, minds and soul to shelter those who are less fortunate than ourselves!

I took 4 different pictures that reminded me of the letters LOVE while visiting the historical district of Savannah, Georgia.

Be An Angel To Others

And the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So he arose and went down with him to the king. II Kings 1:15

I love that the angel gives Elijah a reminder not to be afraid because of his circumstances. I'm pretty sure if Elijah had not been afraid it would not have been necessary to have an angel bring him this message. Fear happens to all of us even a great prophet of God. 

When I become fearful it seems that I always have someone in my life such as one of my family members or a dear friend act much like that same angel to remind me, not to be afraid. Not in a condemning, self righteous or cruel way because that would only cause me more fear. Just yesterday a friend hugged me and told me she prayed for me that morning. I realized then I was not fearful of a circumstance that particular day because someone had taken time to pray for me.

We need to always pray and encourage each other because we never know how others are struggling. Let's remove whatever unkind cruel spirit there may be in others around us by praying for them too.

 This picture was taken by my beautiful niece Theresa on a walk in Delaware, May 2014.