INSTITUTE OF LOVE

The Attractive Church
Text Box: “And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.” Acts 2:44-47 NLT My experience over the last years is that many are longing and looking for the kind of lifestyle these believer had. The world is tired of organized religion without genuine love and power. Onlookers want to see TRUTH manifesting through Christians, like it says in John 13:35: "By this all will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another." A great example of how the church has become, is found in the book of Revelations, where God exhorts and confronts the loveless church: "I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen from your first love! Turn back to me again and work as you did at first.” Revelation 2:2-5 NLT This is in contrast to the faithful church in Revelation 3:9 where God says about the people: “Look! I will force those who belong to Satan — those liars who say they are Jews but are not — to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love.” Revelation 3:9 NLT It is because of our genuine love and faithful commitment to God and to one another that even unbelievers will be attracted and ultimately will worship the Lord. “If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn't love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn't love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatso-ever.” 1. Corinthians 13:1-3 NLT “There are three things that will endure — faith, hope, and love — and the greatest of these is love.” 1. Corinthians 13:13 NLT Copyright©2007 Sophia & Edwin Christiaan Text Box: By Edwin Christiaan