DRAWING NEAR
February 19
Avoiding Indiscriminate Love
I pray "that your love may abound still more and more in real
knowledge and all discernment" (Phil. 1:9).
Christian love operates within the parameters of Biblical knowledge
and spiritual discernment.
As a Christian, you are a repository of divine love. More than
anything else, your love for God and for other believers marks you as
a true disciple of Jesus Christ (John 13:35).
In addition to possessing God's love, you have the privilege and
responsibility of expressing it to others on His behalf. That's a
sacred trust. Paul qualifies it in Philippians 1:9, which tells us
love is to operate within the sphere of biblical knowledge and
spiritual discernment. Those are the parameters that govern God's
love.
No matter how loving an act or word might seem, if it violates
knowledge and discernment, it is not true Christian love. Second John
5-11 illustrates that principle. Apparently some believers who lacked
discernment were hosting false teachers in the name of Christian love
and hospitality. John sternly warned them, saying, "If anyone comes
to you and does not bring [sound doctrine], do not receive him into
your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him
a greeting participates in his evil deeds" (vv. 10-11). That might
sound extreme or unloving but the purity of God's people was at
stake.
In 2 Thessalonians 3:5-6 after praying for the Thessalonians' love to
increase, Paul then commanded them to keep aloof from so-called
Christians who were disregarding sound teaching. That's not
contradictory because Christian love guards sound doctrine and holy
living.
Unfortunately, today it is common for Christians to compromise
doctrinal purity in the name of love and unity, or to brand as
unloving some practices that Scripture clearly commands. Both are
wrong and carry serious consequences if not corrected.
Be thoughtful in how you express your love. Abundantly supply it in
accord with biblical knowledge and discernment. Excellence and
righteousness will result (Phil. 1:10-11).
Suggestions for Prayer:
Thank God for the love He has given you through His Spirit (Rom.
5:5). Ask for opportunities to demonstrate Christ's love to
others today. Pray that your love will always be governed by
deep convictions grounded in God's truth.
For Further Study:
What do the following passages teach about love? How might you apply
them to your life?
Romans 12:8-10; Romans 5:5; 1 John 4:7-10; Galatians 5:22; 1 Peter
1:22; 4:8.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
John 13:35 (NKJV)
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for
one another.
2 John 5-11
5 And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new
commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning:
that we love one another.
6 This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is
the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you
should walk in it.
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess
Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an
antichrist.
8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked
for, but that we may receive a full reward.
9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ
does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both
the Father and the Son.
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not
receive him into your house nor greet him;
11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
2 Thessalonians 3:5-6
5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into
the patience of Christ.
6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and
not according to the tradition which he received from us.
Philippians 1:10-11
10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may
be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus
Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Romans 5:5
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured
out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 12:8-10
8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he
who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what
is good.
10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in
honor giving preference to one another
1 John 4:7-10
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone
who loves is born of God and knows God.
8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has
sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through
Him.
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and
sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
1 Peter 1:22
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the
Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently
with a pure heart
1 Peter 4:8
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love
will cover a multitude of sins."
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
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In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
http://www.gty.org/Gospel/
http://www.nwbible.org/
To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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