A Selfless Life

Greetings godly sisters! 

Hope you're doing well in the Lord today! 

In this post I wanted to write a bit about the life we are to have in our service to God and others. We know through the gospel we submit to Christ. That is following after Him and obeying His commands. We know we cannot claim to believe in Him and not follow Him. So our life changes as we bring all our action into line with His ways. So in that we cannot live a selfish life but instead deny ourselves and live for Him. We know God is to be first...always. 

And as godly women we have our roles and we know that is, from the beginning, to be helpers to the man. And in Christ we also are to be serving others. But this does not happen in an instant. I mean we learn more and more about the depths of serving and laying aside our own desires as we grow.

We have specific commands in the NT for us women to be about such things as in Titus 2. And we see an example of a godly woman in 1 Timothy 5:10. She is mentioned as serving others and diligently following every good work! She would not be selfish like the widow a few verses earlier that was living in pleasure (self indulgent) and was spiritually dead while doing so. 

We know we are not to be servants to our own flesh. We cannot please God in the flesh (Romans 8:8). But we are to be servants to God and righteousness. 

I was thinking of the stiff-necked children of Israel. We don't want to be like that. We can learn much from them though. God Himself told us many things for our examples in the written word from them. We have so much truth today and will be held accountable. So what I'm reminding us sisters about is how we want to be moldable and not hard hearted. And God can show us where we need to change if we're willing. You sisters that I know encourage me in this because you're like that too. We want to yield ourselves to the work of the Spirit in our lives and be yielding more and more good fruit. 

There may be times that our flesh is hurt (intentionally or not) by someone else and we can't serve the feelings that come. While we want to not be effected by what others do or say to us we know what battles can go on in us because of them. Even if what we 'want' to do is a good thing and we can't do it we have to crucify our flesh in order to serve others and the Lord. And this could be in whatever circumstances we are in...a body of believers, a marriage, family, or a job etc. 

And oftentimes after we have overcome our flesh and moved on we can see that that thing that was taken away what we wanted to do was not as good as what we knew we should be doing instead. And we may find that our spirit wants to do something but our flesh is weak. But if we are truly willing to do that which is right and keep pressing on and bringing our flesh into subjection then we can live in victory over the flesh. 

I do know this can be hard and I am writing because I know some of the battles of flesh vs spirit within us. Part of us wants to feed our flesh in self pity but our spirit says no and wants what is good for the glory of the Lord. Our flesh can believe lies about someone else or a situation but in our spirit we know the truth...and with it we overcome our flesh. 

Here's some relevant scriptures to encourage us all in these things. 

And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

2 Corinthians 5:15

We see there that we who are alive from the dead are to live unto Christ and not ourselves.

For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.

Philippians 2:20-21

 

We want to be seeking the Lord's things...as in that verse where Paul was commending a caring brother. 

More here about not pleasing ourselves... 

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

Romans 15:1-3 

And we'll be seeking what's best for the other. And it's really because of love we have for one another. 

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 

 

And preferring others before ourselves... 

Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Philippians 2:2-4

...and that even if there has to be some or a lot of flesh killing in order to get to the place where it becomes who we are. We always want to be growing in the depths of a godly life and if we're willing and don't grow hardened we never will stop. 

It's connected with humility too isn't this all. Less about us and more about God and others. We know God hates pride. If we are in our correct place we just want to be tools for whatever purpose the Lord has in our lives. We know it isn't to go through life in ease fulfilling the desires of the flesh. We live to glorify God. And how do we do that? By being obedient to Him and shining our light which comes from Him anyway. 

 Thank you sister for this beautiful picture... 

And we sisters who are in close daily fellowship are learning to do that in deeper ways and as best we all can from afar. Christ's body is precious and the love we share deep. It comes with all wanting to please the Lord first and purge anything off our lives that is not good and pleasing to Him. Yes we may not like to face what needs refining in us as it may be hard...but we know it's for good. Keep pressing on in your love of the Lord sisters and in serving others!

--------------------

I love seeing the corn grow... 

And maybe that's because it's summertime here and the grass is mostly brown and dead all around, and green is such a refreshing colour. It means life. 

It is definitely peaceful to see God's creations...just doing what they're all supposed to. 

'Take' what you want sisters... 

Good treat blessings of good foods! (They are those date balls I posted a recipe to here recently.) 

Made some more simple no-knead bread today... 

And I hope to post the recipe tomorrow. 

Good to have with a bowl of fresh tomato soup... 

What great blessings...with the Lord providing our daily bread again this day. I may post a recipe for the soup at some point too. 

OK well I must go. May we all seek that selfless life loving others over ourselves so that the Lord is glorified! I appreciate seeing my sisters (that I know) be willing to learn the deepest and hardest lessons as we all grow in maturity in the Lord. 

Love in Christ, 

Sister Michaela 

Find the gospel explained here. 

Read more of "A Selfless Life"

Love of the Sisters

Greetings in the Lord to all you godly sisters!

How has your life in the Lord been? I hope and pray you held fast one more day and may the Lord give you His strength to press on one more day. 

Today I wanted to write some encouragement and edification for us sisters on love and what it might look like amongst us as saints. 

I read us sisters 1 Corinthians 13...

So let us have that kind of love and it is always something we can grow in and seek deeper because love...true godly love (and NOT the world's or false Christian's definitions of love) is of great importance in our life in Christ sisters, as I'm sure you all see! As it shows in that chapter, it is not selfish and self-seeking but seeking the good of the other. Well that chapter describes a lot for sure! 

I know in Titus 2 we are told women are to love their husbands and children. 

That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

Titus 2:4

That is a different Greek word to what the usual word love in scripture is. We have access to not only English translations of God's word but also greater study tools for seeing what the original writer (inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote)...so we have so much light amen sisters and so we will surely be held responsible to how we lived and sought after God and His truth. 

We also see that kind of love (as in Titus 2) for the brethren... 

(It's something each of us can do in our own study, look up what word is used where and study all the meanings and uses etc.)

A sister posted this verse... 

That shows again how important love of the brethren is does it not? 

We know godly women can teach other women to be good and pure and holy. Our love for each other would also surely be a part of that. 

We see the works of a godly widow mentioned in 1 Timothy 5...and we see works of love for the saints that she did. 

We know love will be a fruit of the Spirit in our lives... 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Galatians 5:22

 

Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Romans 13:10

 

And caring for a person's soul would be the best love we would have because one soul is more important than the whole world, amen? A soul is eternal. Let us all be prepared with the gospel! And that is to call sinners to repentance and to the love of God through Christ. And let us be caring for one another as sisters in the Lord. 

Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

James 5:19-20

But what are some actions of love we are to show? Our love for each other as the body of Christ will produce visible fruits of love. True love is most often an action rather than just feelings isn't it? Similarly we know that to love God is to keep His commandments and be doers of the Word. 

I'm just going to share a couple ways and some encouraging scriptures for us to ponder. We are to love all the brethren and I am writing to sisters and how we express love for each other (brothers/sisters) will vary of course. But let's just refresh with some scriptures... 

Bearing burdens:

Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

Rejoicing and weeping together:

That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

1 Corinthians 12:25-26

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Romans 12:15

Encouraging/exhorting:

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is ; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24-25

Edifying:

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:16

And for us today, it's a great blessing to have technology in order to do these things across the miles as we are mostly scattered and few and far between. 

Preferring one another:

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Romans 12:10

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

1 Peter 5:5

Praying for each other:

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

James 5:16

Sacrificing time or other things:

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Acts 20:35

Forgiving:

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:32 

If a sister hurts your feelings (unintentionally or not) you kill your flesh and forgive. And especially if she asks to be forgiven. 

Willing to die for them:

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:12-13

Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

Romans 16:3-4

So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

1 Thessalonians 2:8

Warning of sin and rebuking:

Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Proverbs 27:5-6

(See Matthew 18 and 1 Timothy 5 also). If you see sin in a sister's life, if you are sure and you see clearly (without hypocrisy etc Matthew 7) and you see in scripture that it is sin and you carefully consider, you should tell her about it in love. And if she is a true and godly sister she will be grateful and look into that in her own life. So if you don't warn her about it then you don't really love her. I know coming from the idea of what the world and most believers call love which is usually just to all get along and don't say anything to anyone etc that may potentially upset them this can not seem loving but when it really is the deepest love. Because that is not loving that sister's soul is it if you clearly see sin and know and don't warn her about it, amen? 

There is a time and place for rebuking too. Of course we need to make sure we do it with a right heart and with prayer and consideration etc and it is to warn of the danger of sin if she knows something is sin and doesn't repent. It is loving to rebuke...if done right. 

Oh I know there's so much more to all this but that's just a few things for us sisters to think about. 

How are we all going at this? Are we producing good fruits of true godly love for first of all God and then His saints and the lost around us. I'm sure we never stop learning the depths of this and becoming greater humble servants to others especially the body of Christ. 

I shall go now. I hope my post (which is small for such a large subject) on godly love for us sisters edified and blessed you. Let us strive on together to be good examples and shining lights to those around us. Why? So that God is glorified!

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, 

in word,

in conversation,

in charity, 

in spirit,

in faith,

in purity.

1 Timothy 4:12

Amen sisters...let us be examples in all these things so the Father will be glorified in us. Yes we all have different lives He has given us so how we love each other may vary for each of us but it's something we need to find a balance in especially considering how important love is as shown in scripture. 

And sisters, let's praise God that He loved the world and sent His Son! What a great hope we have of eternal life through Him! I'm so grateful and joyous we have His Word and we know the Way! It really all is to do with our love for the Lord and out of that comes love for each other especially of the saints as we all love Him together and walk in unity and fellowship. 

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

1 John 4:7-12

Much love to you all in the Lord, 

...from one of God's daughters

You can find the gospel explained biblically here. 

Read more of "Love of the Sisters"

Sending Sisterly Love

Greetings sisters! 

Here I am back one more day to write to you. I hope your day went or will go well in the Lord. In Christ, we can have the power to overcome all the things that come against us! Whether they be trials and persecutions, battles against sin and the flesh or whatever, He will give us what we need. Let us trust Him, sisters, with a childlike faith. 

I hope that whatever I share here on my blog may be encouraging and uplifting to you wherever you are on this earth. May the scriptures, God's precious words, edify you. 

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 5:6-8

Praise God for such love in sending His Son while we were yet sinners! Let us fear the Lord and strive to obey Him in all of our ways. As women may we also be content and joyous in our roles as godly women. 

"Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:" 

Matthew 3:8

We know that.... 

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." 

James 2:26

It seems most today have gone from one extreme to the other with the place of works in a person's life so may we truly seek out God's truth on that because it matters. 

So we know if a woman who refuses to obey what the Lord commands which is her works and her fruit she must have a dead faith. And we don't want that sisters! Let us also stand strong to be ready to warn others in love of such lies. 

And I share this picture which is about sisterly love and fellowship. A sister and I read and send scriptures to each other daily (for encouragement, not teaching except on women's subjects) across the world and I sent her a picture of me listening to hers and she sent it back with the scripture. 

Praise God for sisters who love Him and the brethren. In a wicked world, it is a blessing to have fellowship built on loving God and His truth first and loving each other with a godly fervant love. And the fellowship is not about sitting around and talking about idle things and gossiping. It is a blessing to edify and encourage each other in the Lord, rejoicing with those who rejoice, and weeping with those who weep, bearing burdens, pressing each other on to greater things. 

OK sisters I hope this has edified you. I hope you strive on in the things of God where He has you, and being content with such things as you have. 

One last picture which also summarises the kind of work many of us women do on a daily basis. Let us be thankful to do what we ought to be doing as godly keepers at home, helpers, and servants. 

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him."

1 John 4:7-9 

Much love in Christ, 

...from a servant of God

You can find the biblical gospel here. 

Read more of "Sending Sisterly Love"

True Godly Love, Where?

 

Greetings sisters! 

Today I have a quick post on an important subject. It's one that is to be a big part of our lives as believers as well as the reason we have hope because the Father sent His Son! God loved the world through Jesus! So we must come through Christ and His gospel in order to be loved as His children and find grace.  

I've written about this before here and there but I will put a few things together here that I have learnt and think about often. I'll share some scriptures...and I hope you ponder them deeply and are edified and encouraged. 

We want to be women who love God first, love the brethren, love our lost neighbours and I'll add, our enemies too as Jesus' taught. 

"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."
1 John 3:18

Our love as godly women to others will be backed up with actions, as that verse says, in deed and in truth. 

Reminds me of this one in fact... 

"If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?"

James 2:15-16

That's kind of what we see today in how people do not care for other people's souls as well. They don't truly care with godly love, though they may say "I love you" and "God loves you" but they do not love in deed and in truth. That is why we focus on the gospel of Christ because without that correct then no one has hope. Many people who claim to be believers though are more concerned about physical needs of those around them and ignore the more important spiritual food of the gospel. 

These verses summarise what I learned. Everyone was saying to love God but how can you do that? I didn't truly know. Of course God's Word has all the answers we need!

"And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself."
Luke 10:27

The answer...  

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."
1 John 5:3

Jesus says... 

If ye love me, keep my commandments.

...

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

...

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

(John 14:15, 21; 15:10)

So that would make me think "what are His commandments?" and I'd go looking and searching in His Word! And that is what I am and have been doing. And I have learned so much...and there are so many commands. But Christ alone is worthy and we are just servants doing our duties to please Him.  

All this truth is sinking deeper and deeper into me and so I thought I'd share it here as well. I am still grasping the depths of it the more I learn, but as a fruit of the Spirit too it will grow as I walk in the spirit and starve the flesh more and more. 

Sadly this is what we often see... 

"For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's."
Philippians 2:21

And this is what I want to do...

"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."
Philippians 2:4

If I think in terms of myself, and if I don't tell the truth to the lost, I perhaps see it as lack of faith in God and Christ and what He said about that the end is coming, hell and eternal destruction is coming for the disobedient and sinners, just as heaven and eternal life with the Father is coming for those who obey Him. If I truly believe all that by faith, then I may feel a bit like Noah did as it says in Hebrews 11, "and being moved with fear prepared an ark to the saving of his house". You fear God and so you look deeply what He wants from us as women and you obey that, and will be saved if you endure and have obeyed the gospel all through what Christ has done. And in love you want that for others too, to the saving of their souls!

And there is love of the brethren. That's an interesting one as we are all scattered and don't know of most of us of course. And it is such a precious and rare thing today too...well that's also because there aren't many brothers and sisters in Christ left really. The love of God is rare, the love of the brethren is rare and the love of the lost is rare. Where is the godly love? Praise God there are still a few who have it. May that be us sisters.  

If we were gathered together in a group of believers all living within close proximity (as in the early days in the book of Acts etc) well that would be a bit different. I think we would be sharing many things, meals, possessions, helping each other with work, gathering for teaching from the Word from the men, women teaching on women's subjects and encouraging each other, looking after children, and the elderly, and helping each other with house work. That would be nice wouldn't it sisters?! It would all be centred around the risen Saviour too. It's just how it all seems from the book of Acts. I like this account. 

"And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. 

And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.

And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. 

And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. 

But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. 

But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place."
Acts 12:12-17

Just a group of believers gathered together in Mary's house praying...and Peter, delivered from prison, knocks on the door. What a joy and miracle that was! 

"And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,"

Acts 2:46

But those days are seemingly long gone and so we are all scattered here and there where the remnant is.

And this blog is one way I can love in deed and truth to encourage and edify you sisters and as this verse says... 

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:"

Hebrews 10:24

It is my love for you. I do my best and I hope it encourages and blesses you. 

Love in Christ,

...from a daughter of God

See the biblical gospel to eternal life here. 

Read more of "True Godly Love, Where? "