love

True Love

Posted on by BCI Step by Step
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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 KJV)

It is hard to prove a person’s love without proving his patience. The Bible says, “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17 KJV). That means a person who truly loves will always be loving even in adversity or difficult circumstances. This is the reason why many relationships do not succeed because they have mistaken lust for love. People say “Love is blind”. Soon when romance fades, they will be able to see each other’s weaknesses and undesireable character. One way to prove a person’s love is that he is willing to wait. Friendship is a good foundation for relationships. 

True love involves sacrifice, concern for another person’s welfare, growth, not self-seeking, nor taking advantage for selfish motives and fleshly satisfaction. A person who loves will not ruin your life or pull you down but rather lift and build you up.

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
(Proverbs 27:17 KJV)

Christ demonstrated His love by His sacrifice. 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

It is by knowing Christ that you will understand what is God’s love.  

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. (1 John 4:10-11 KJV)

If you focus on the wrong aspect, soon you will understand that it is just temporal but true love endures. 

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:16-17 KJV)

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
(1 Corinthians 13:13 KJV)

Always put God first in your life and seek His best plan for you. 

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
(Psalms 27:14 KJV)

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
(Psalms 37:4 KJV)

RELATED LESSONS:

Defining True Love

True Love Relationship

Why do you have to guard your heart

What does the Bible say about your heart?

Reasons for loving one another

The Greatest Gift that You Can Receive

Build Friendship on Solid Ground

Posted on by BCI Step by Step
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Pray for and with your friend

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 KJV)

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. (Colossians 4:12 KJV)

Be patient and understanding of your friend’s shortcomings.

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
(Colossians 3:13-14 KJV)

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:1-2 KJV)

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
(1 Corinthians 13:4 KJV)

Help your friend to grow

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
(Proverbs 27:17 KJV)

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 KJV)

Share your meditations

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
(Colossians 3:16 KJV)

Be a good testimony

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 KJV)

Protect from the wrong influence

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (Psalms 1:1 KJV)

Participate in the ministry

I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth. (1 Corinthians 16:15-16 KJV)

RELATED LESSONS:

Characteristics of a true friend

Friends in the ministry

Somebody loves you

Posted on by BCI Step by Step

Somebody Loves You

Dear Friend,

Hello! How’s your life? I hope that you are striving hard for success and great accomplishments. You know that life is very short and soon it will end. I believe that regardless of your condition and success in life, there is a constant battle going on within you. There are unsettled problems and unanswered questions in your heart and mind. Let me ask you some questions: Do you know the very purpose of you existence? Where will be you be after this life?

I would like to let you know that you are very precious in Gods sight. He loves you so much and He wants you to experience an abundant and eternal life (John 10:10). However, there is a big hindrance to the experiencing of such a wonderful plan God has for you. The Bible calls this SIN (Rom. 3:23). Sin has separated you from God (Isa. 59:1-2). No one can say he is without sin. All men are found guilty of sin before the eyes of God; this, all deserve death and punishment in “the lake, which burns with fire and brimstone”. ( Rev. 21:8). What a horrible torment awaits the sinner…suffering in hell for eternity.

My dear friend, it is not God’s plan to place you in hell. You must realize that because of His great love for you, He sent His only begotten Son to die on Calvary in order to save you from condemnation. Right now, He is offering salvation freely on the basis of His death on the cross (Rom. 3:24,24). You cannot save yourself by your own effort and good works (Eph. 2:8-9). The only way to be saved is by completely trusting Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord.

My friend, if you have been ignoring His love and salvation by living your life according to your own way, your are making a grave mistake. Although God is a God of love, remember that He is also a God of justice. He will surely execute judgement upon those who reject the pardon that He offered through Christ. If you die right now without Christ, the Bible teaches that you will certainly go to hell (Luke 13:3, II Peter 3:9). Life without Christ is indeed miserable. God loves you, but, if you reject Him, you will miss the joy of living with Him. Will you now let Christ reign in your life?

Sincerely yours,

Concerned Christian

Start answering a lesson entitled, Understanding Man’s Sinful Condition