____________________Putting Love Into Action
Romans 12:9-21(Amplified Bible)
9 [Let your] love be sincere (a real thing); hate what is evil [loathe all ungodliness, turn in horror from wickedness], but hold fast to that which is good.10Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another. 11 Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord. 12 Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of God's people [sharing in the necessities of the saints]; pursue the practice of hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you [who are cruel in their attitude toward you]; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others' joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others' grief]. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive), but readily adjust yourself to [people, things] and give yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is honest and proper and noble [aiming to be above reproach] in the sight of everyone. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God's] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord. 20But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head. 21 Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good.
Take a minute to write down all the specific actions Christians are to do as we live for Jesus and live like Jesus. How do these actions apply to your gift? Here again, it is a matter of preference, not a matter of duty. Which of these actions are just your natural reaction or inclination to situations?
I do not have permission from Don and Katy Fortune to post from their book anything except the attributes. Therefore, I will just post some scripture which illustrate Jesus's attributes of each gift. (One of my English teacher friends just informed me that it is correct grammer to put the 's on the end of a person's name that ends in "s". It goes against the grain for me because I didn't learn it that way in Freshman English. I'm sorry Mrs. Boatright!) See if you can list the attribute depicted from each verse. We'll start at Perceiver dtoday and go through each gift to Mercy by the end of the week.
John 12:49 I'm not making any of this up on my own. The Father who sent me gave me orders, told me what to say and how to say it.
– John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me.
John 4:18 You've had five husbands, and the man you're living with now isn't even your husband. You spoke the truth there, sure enough.
and
Matthew 12:34"You have minds like a snake pit! How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul-minded? It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words.
Mark 1:35 While it was still night, way before dawn, he got up and went out to a secluded spot and prayed.
Matthew 21:13 He quoted this text:My house was designated a house of prayer;You have made it a hangout for thieves.
Matthew 23:27 "You're hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You're like manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it's all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh.
These illustrate some attributes of the Perceiver. Okay... you don't have time to go looking up all the references. I understand that. The attributes are, speaking only what God says; the Truth is important above all things; He could see into people's hearts; He prayed and interceded; He hated evil; He was frank and outspoken.
Continue the Study...
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