… see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently…(1 Peter 1:22)
Notice how Paul and Peter say virtually the same things at times. Compare Peter’s exhortation to us with 2 Corinthians 6:6, where Paul expresses the fact that he indeed was behaving as Peter says we ought. The Bible is remarkably consistent, and the Apostles knew what the Spirit’s power could do in the life of a believer, and in uniting a fellowship around Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the bond between believers (Ephesians 4:3-4), and He provides the power that we need to stay in fellowship together. It is not simply tolerance, but togetherness, growing in grace and trust of God and each other. We are to be fervent for the spiritual growth of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ; after all, we are of the same body.
Fervently, think about that. When you love someone with a pure heart, and you love them fervently, you will stop at nothing to do what it takes to please them, to help them, to love them, no matter what. You are passionate about whatever it is you love fervently. You sacrifice for what you love fervently. You look to what you love fervently before your own needs. If what you love fervently has a problem you try and fix it.
This is just one more reason that believers must go to church; how can you love one another fervently if there are no “others”? Fervently doesn’t stay at home, fervently finds a way to fellowship. Fervently looks for the betterment of the whole fellowship. Fervently knows that everyone on the team is important. Fervently forges relationships that will stand the test of time. Fervently realizes that an on fire church starts with them. Is the whole of your fellowship fervent, and what are you doing to develop a fervent fellowship? If your church isn’t on fire, start a blaze by beginning to love others with a pure heart, fervently.
30 comments:
Hey J.D.
You have been roared.
http://gojirasstompingground.blogspot.com/2006/12/roaring-gojira-shout-out.html
By the way, excellent post.
Thanks for the links, I have some visitations to go on right now, but I will link 'ya when I get back, again, thank you for the kind words...
Awsome post. Short and to the point. I am a true believer in that. A dear friend of mine has been fervently loving me and my life has truly changed because of his love.
Thanks JD
JD, excellent thoughts again. Definitely something a pastors heart would say.
Wow, Jim! This is an awsome post! I wish my people could understand this. I continually point these truths out to them hoping to get them to be faithful to the services. It seems no matter how I plead with them in the a.m. service, the majority don't return for the evening service. That's not a little discouraging; especially when I think that if I had to listen to me preach, I might not come back either.
I suppose in order to fervently love one another there would have to be an act of participation, involvement, and membership as well as an act of obedience to those above us, but mostly to the God who gave us life eternal. Sort of make one want to get off his comfortable couch cushion and follow the prompting of those quills poking him/her in the… hmmm… "post"-end quarters!
Great Post JD, You are a blessing!
(grumbling) At the moment, I'm not feeling so fervent about loving a few people who are making things difficult for me.
Craver, once again you have inspired me...
Sandpaper People
Look for it soon...
Thanks Craver, pretty soon we won't have any excuses for our lack of fervency. :)
Yes, but if you had been in MY situation, and if you had to deal with what I have to deal with... Waa, waa, waa...
Do I hear a siren outside?
"When you love someone with a pure heart, and you love them fervently, you will stop at nothing to do what it takes to please them, to help them, to love them, no matter what."
This is a refreshing contrast to Rose's current post that emphasizes the exact opposite.
I guess beta is no better at keeping links, as they keep disappearing just like they did before...
Um hello... Don't leave me hangin' Buddy.
JD, if I say "knock-knock," it's because I want you to say, "Who's there." I say "Shave-and-a-haircut;" you say, "two bits." I say, "Waa, waa, waa... Do I hear a siren outside;" you say...
I was trying to think of something clever....I took my wife to lunch, and I told her you gave me the sign, and now, relating it to our post...here it is...
Sometimes when we are on the freeway of fervent fellowship, some aren't so keen at times, and so we might have to step out of the way for a moment while the
waaaambulance
goes by on its way to rescue a brother or sister who feels overly burdened...
Yay!!
Amen, Jonathan. It boggles my mind how they are so set on denying the very grace they claim is free.
Perhaps the FG'ers should call it Free Mercy instead...
Ahhh, can't WAIT for "Sandpaper People" - though I'm pretty familiar with this concept.
Hey Craver - Sometimes it's REALLY hard to fervently love some folks -I'm feeling it too! Of course, if you only knew what I'M going thru.... ;->
Lynda
Go to your church this weeknend and start a fire...
What's a weeknend?
dunno ...
If you cannot make it on Sunday (?) how about Wednesday night service? You sure cannot have a fervent fellowship without a fellowship..."Electronic church" is no sacrifice...
"Is the whole of your fellowship fervent, and what are you doing to develop a fervent fellowship?'
I have a splendid fellowship now. I'm not plugged in like I would like, but I do try to encourage my pastor, and the elders as much as I can.
The fervent love comes form beholding Christ. The more we behold Him in His truth, the more fervent we shall be.
It's the EGC's that can be tough. But when I remember that to someone else I'm an EGC, then it helps.
Great Post JD. We are the Body of Christ where you find the truest of fellowship.
Cristina
Christina and Don, thank you for your fervency...
12-06
This is one of those posts we revisit from time to time...it is part of our series on why going to church and being a vital member is so important, and so it is crucial to keep our understanding fresh in this area...also, we have new readers who might not have seen it the last time round...
Excellent. Even so, (and I enjoyed your post - it was fervent! ).... fervency isn't possible by mere fleshly attempts, but flows out of His life being nurtured in us. As to church, I offer humbly that membership to some church facility is not a requirement for salvation, neither is every church member a true member of the Body of Christ. You're so right to mention the need for us to love one another. I just don't see myself limited to church on Sunday morning, but loving others every day as the Lord brings certain people across my path:-) Fervency HERE, has found sweet fellowship among God's people, even those in the Body who are outside the four church walls. God never fails to bring us people to love.
Thank you for commenting, Vicki...I do appreciate your kind tone, and I hope my response is taken in the spirit of gentleness, although I must reply as to the sidestep of certian issues...
As to church, I offer humbly that membership to some church facility is not a requirement for salvation
I didn't say that, of course...
neither is every church member a true member of the Body of Christ.
Yes, of course not...
I just don't see myself limited to church on Sunday morning, but loving others every day as the Lord brings certain people across my path:-)
Yes, of course, again :-)...however, part of this is beign a part of a local felowship...please read the other 60 or so posts in the series, the NT takes it as given that believers should be loving others "outside the walls", yes, but also loving others with in the bounds of a assembled group of likeminded people in the faith...
God never fails to bring us people to love.
Surely that is true, but it is also true that many fail to bring that love to a place designed for fellowhip in the Lord, the local assembly...
I appreciate your points, but they do not negate the need for believers to assemble, they actually strengthen the point...
Love others, yes, everywhere you go, yes, AND ALSO in a local assembly, YES!
Again, please, if you would be so kind, look at some of the rest of this series and see that the NT deos not countenance the idea of people not gathering...
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