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“Valiantly Always Love Emphasizing Now Totally Immanuel's Nurturing Emancipation! (V.A.L.E.N.T.I.N.E)”
Ramesh C. Reddy “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, NIV)
APPROACH QUESTION:
OBSERVATIONS: I learned in my study of Scripture that whatever is repeated in Scripture has a significance for me to focus on. In this case, love is used 11-14 times in this passage with other repetitions emphasizing a comparison/contrasts. There are 8 things love is and love is not. What love is:
1. Love is
patient What love is not:
1. Love is not
envious.
INTERPRETATION:
I asked myself the significance of what
love is not?
APPLICATION: That is a terrible predicament to be in knowing I cannot love as Scripture defines love! That shows the condition of my soul and the depravity of it which can only be fixed by the One who made the criteria. It needs fixing because sin is what depraves our soul. The criteria of love can only be met by the Word. Jesus is the Word and gives Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth (B.I.B.L.E) for our lives. The acronym is actually a Christian song. In those instructions, I realize what a sinner that I am and I am in need of a Savior who alone can take away my sin and make me whole. Jesus Christ became that Savior for me when He took my sin upon Himself and died on the cross of Calvary shedding His precious blood so that I can have new life. He did this for me because of His love for me. His love is what leads me to repentance and new life. His love is what shines the light in the darkness of my soul to receive Him. I need the help of Jesus to fix my soul so that sin does not control me but His love controls me. When that I happens, I can love others as I should as long as my focus is on the Lord meditating on His Word day and night. In Psalm 1, Bryan, Josh, Kristen, Pastor Ed, Lyd, Steve, Zela, Edwin, Marie, Winston, Jiaokim, Vicki, and myself reflected on what it means to mediate on His Word day and night at Living Acts, last night. As I understand Jesus' love for me and allow His love to permeate my life, the fruit will be reflected in the lives of others that I come across. Even when I mess up, I can know whom to go to that can help me love as I should. This is exciting to know that I can love because Jesus first loved me. It starts with Jesus and the initiation process of love started with God and not man. I can only love as God wants me to love because I let God's love rule me. God is love and He has to be an intricate part of my life to love in the different kinds of love whether it is family-based, romantic-based, or friendship-based.
HOW
GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING V.A.L.E.N.T.I.N.E: Once at the hospital, there is a GREAT PHYSICIAN that waits. The sick are slowly gathered from all corners of the earth and told about this hospital. This hospital is called CALVARY HOSPITAL OF SALVATION and the EMERGENCY WARD is called GOLGOTHA. The GREAT PHYSICIAN is not like other doctors who can only treat patients with physical ailments but this GREAT PHYSICIAN is much more and knows He has to stay 72 HOURS there for every dying person who came be healed. He knows what He has to do! This GREAT PHYSICIAN knew that only His BLOOD can wipe away this epidemic VIRUS, so for you and me He went to the blood transfusion room where people were about to die. There He lay down on the bed made of wood. The surgeons walk into the room. They turn this GREAT PHYSICIAN on His back. Instead of using an IV, a WHIP with sharp glass, etc is used to draw out the BLOOD from the GREAT PHYSICIAN'S back! It does not stop there but to elevate the head on the bed of wood, a CROWN OF THORNS is used which draws more BLOOD. As the head is elevated, the GREAT PHYSICIAN's hands are stretched wide on the wooden bed. Then the feet are bound together. This is done for the BLOOD transfusion to begin. Instead of using an IV, NAILS and a HAMMER is used. The NAILS are pounded through the hands into the wooden bed with a HAMMER so the BLOOD flows and that BLOOD is saved. The NAILS are pounded through the feet into the wooden bed with a HAMMER so more BLOOD flows and that BLOOD is saved. As the BLOOD continues to flow from the GREAT PHYSICIAN's body, the GREAT PHYSICIAN flat lines. Then the surgeons insert a SPEAR into the heart to make sure all the BLOOD is out. All the BLOOD is out! Now, the GREAT PHYSICIAN is moved into the JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA MORGUE being guarded by security. Now the CALVARY HOSPITAL OF SALVATION has a BLOOD DONOR whose BLOOD can be used to save everyone there from this EPIDEMIC VIRUS. Those dying need to be taken there to receive the BLOOD transfusion that is available. However, the BLOOD will not be forced upon those dying! THE PUREST RED ANTIDOTE is only given to those that are willing to receive the BLOOD TRANSFUSION so they could LIVE. All that accept the BLOOD are being CLEANSED of this EPIDEMIC VIRUS in their system that is infecting the mind, body, and soul. This BLOOD goes into the dying person's mind, body, and soul and eats away at the virus cleaning them and making them pure. This VIRUS is SIN. The BLOOD is the PRECIOUS CLEANSING BLOOD OF THE GREAT PHYSICIAN, JESUS CHRIST. The WOODEN BED is the CROSS OF CHRIST where the dying need to be led too. 72 HOURS is the 3 days! JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA MORGUE is the tomb where Jesus was buried for 3 days. LATER, there is a commotion at the JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA MORGUE. THE GREAT PHYSICIAN is not there anymore and the ANGELS that visit tell loved ones who came there, that THE GREAT PHYSICIAN IS ALIVE. This is the RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. It is true even to this day, for all that come to the CALVARY HOSPITAL OF SALVATION (Cross of Calvary) come to realize that His CLEANSING BLOOD shed on the WOODEN BED (CROSS) will never run out. Anyone infected who wants to be healed of their sickness can accept what Jesus did for them and be covered in His precious CLEANSING BLOOD always each and everyday because of His love for us. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have Everlasting Life!" (John 3:16, NIV) For Valentine's, love is seen in the shape of roses, in the shape of hearts, but for me love was seen in the shape of a cross. As an Indian growing up, I never heard of Valentine's Day. Little did I know that Jesus would reach me on Feb 14, 1985 which was just a date for me at the time. On that day, Jesus Christ came into my life and became my Lord and Savior. It is on that day 25 years ago that I had given my life to Him. Only when I was asked to put a free ad regarding love did I discover the significance of Feb 14 which was celebrated as Valentine's Day. I did take out an ad and my ad said, "Jesus loves me, Jesus loves you, if you want to learn more about Jesus, watch WPCB Channel 40". That was my first moment of evangelism and it was done in writing. Knowing that Jesus reached me on a day that American's celebrate as Valentine's Day has become so much special to me because it is on that day that I was born-again. It is on that day that my spiritual birthday in Christ began. It is Valentine's Day that makes me reflect on the love Jesus Christ has for me and how He became my Valentine even when I did not know the significance of that day until later. Jesus is my Valentine and He showed it on the cross for me. I want Jesus to be my Valentine everyday taking His Word for my instructions for daily living knowing that 'Breathe In Bible Live Eternally' becomes a reality in Christ alone. No one but Christ alone could save me and He did save me. He continues to work in my life showing His love for me wanting me to imitate His example. I want to do that and as exciting as Valentine's Day is to love our significant other, it can become that much more exciting and fruitful with Jesus Christ in the mix. Any relationship without Christ will falter because without Christ, living out 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 or any other Scripture is not possible at all. It is Christ's love in my own life that can help me love others as I focus on Him wanting Him to be my first Valentine. He has become my Valentine and He can becomes yours too. Oh yes, He can friend. He will help you becomes someone else's Valentine too in His timing.
I ask you now dear friend, 'How will you be
someone's Valentine using 16?' I have done that friend and know that at the foot of the cross where Jesus died shedding His precious cleansing blood for my sin and the sins of the world, I can find forgiveness and grace. Thanks be to God that Christ's death on the cross and His resurrection made a way for me to be saved on that Valentine's Day. He can save you too. To this day, all who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved when they acknowledge what Jesus Christ has done for them and what He can do for them. Friend, Jesus loves you so much and if you were the only one living on earth, Jesus would have done the same for you. What I shared with you was an analogy but in real life it has happened. Jesus went to the cross for you and me and His precious cleansing blood was shed so you and I could have life. Jesus came back to life 72 hours later and is alive but His blood continues to heal people on every corner of the earth to those that accept Him. You can become the Valentine of Jesus letting the world know that Jesus is your first love. You should do that friend knowing how much Jesus loves you. When you make Jesus your first Valentine, everything else will fall in place in its season. The Lord knows the seasons and what fruit to bear in that season. When Jesus becomes your all in all, your perspective will be changed and your delight in Him will give you the desires of your heart and all you do with prosper according to His will. So, make Jesus your #1 and leave the others things to Him such as who will love you, who you should marry, when to be engaged, etc. Focusing on Jesus and wanting Him in your life, will make all the other relationships fruitful and love will be lived out using 16. I can only love my family, friends, and girlfriend only when I let Jesus show me how to live out 16 forever. You can too! May you experience the POWER OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION this day, and give Him the LOCKED areas of your life too so you can experience His PEACE as you become an ACTOR in the film called LIFE being directed by your DIRECTOR, JESUS CHRIST who comes to give JOY and PEACE. You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to LIVE out your actions. How do you look at GODISNOWHERE? One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo SHARED this example one Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship: If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace. But as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE. Yes, friend God is aLIVE and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and LIVE with us. Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE. When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and RESTORE us to Him and we will find peace in Him. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV) "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV) Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross. "For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV) Come to Jesus as you are and pray this prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. He will transform your life around! Praise the Lord! You don't have to have all the answers! You can come as you are! May the Lord Jesus guide you in His love leading you! Amen! "Valiantly Always Love Emphasizing Now Totally Immanuel's Nurturing Emancipation!" (V.A.L.E.N.T.I.N.E)/"How will you be someone's Valentine using 16?" If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray this prayer, meaning it in your heart. You can invite the GREAT PHYSICIAN right now as you make this your prayer. Dear Jesus, I want to be free. I don’t know everything about you. I still have a lot of questions. What I do know is that you died on the cross for my sins. When it comes to sin, I am a paralytic Oh Lord. I am infected with this deadly disease known as sin. I am not perfect but a sinner who needs your cleansing blood to clean me of my sin. I confess to you my sin and repent of my sin. I know you have forgiven me when you died on the cross and shed your blood. I want to accept that forgiveness. Thank you for shedding your cleansing precious blood for me. You were nailed to the cross because of me. It is like I actually held the hammer and pounded the nails. Thank you for willingly dying for me Jesus. Thank you for taking the shame and pain for me. Thank you for doing that to set me free. I come to the cross and ask you for your healing in my life. Thank you for the power of your love using your Blood to redeem all humanity that comes to you. Thank you for coming back to life to save us and give us Eternal Life as we yield to you. Your blood can heal us where we are. I love you Jesus. I want you Jesus. Even with my questions, I come to you now and accept you into my heart. Please Jesus come into my heart and make my heart your home. Give me a transfusion of change. Live in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus. I acknowledge you now as my Lord and Personal Savior. Please be the Lord and Savior of my life. Thank you for being my Lord and Personal Savior Jesus and because of what you have done for me when God looks at me, He now sees me covered in Your blood and His judgment passes over me. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me. Thank you for being with me Lord. Thank you for saving me. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus I now belong to you and never need to be alone! You will always be with me and have given me Salvation. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen! May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14) No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help! But beware of churches who do believe in the Word of God completely but there is no freedom in Christ but legalism involved.
As a professional, it is not too late to join a
church! As a student, it is not too late to join a fellowship on campus this new year of 2010! May the Lord's presence and peace fill you with His
love now and forever! Amen! Spend time in His word and let the Lord speak to you! Start out in the Gospel of John! You can also check out the Gospel of Mark which are the devotionals I have been going through. Learn from Jesus through study and prayer. Also find yourself a church fellowship and a college fellowship you can be part of where you can be part of a community of believers to supplement your own walk with the Lord. Let it be a Bible-believing and Bible-breathing church! Believe in Bible LIVE Eternally! Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-641-9426 "This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)
Love in Christ,
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 2010 DEVOTIONALS: "Who do you become an A.T.T.R.A.C.T.I.O.N to and why?" (Feb 05, 10, 9:43 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy "How can you be a S.A.L.T in someone's life today?" (Feb 04, 10, 11:27 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy "What do you help your friends E.S.C.A.P.E from?" (Feb 03, 10, 12:30 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy "Why bother with H.E.L.L in life?" (Feb 02, 10, 2:39 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy "When are you planning to cut your hand, foot, or eye to escape Hell?"" (Feb 01, 10, 1:41 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy "Why heed Jesus' W.A.R.N.I.N.G in your life?" (Jan 30, 10, 12:41 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy
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Oakland
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