Seize the Moment – Day 329
The Efficacy of Faith is Love!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, February 9.
Right now, a lot of people are talking about the efficacy of vaccines. I actually sat through a zoom meeting last night listening to an international health care expert talk about this. But, what about the efficacy of our faith in Jesus Christ?
The conversation about faith may not feel as urgent as vaccines, but it is definitely more important as the implications are much bigger and longer lasting.
Listen to Peter explain this in 1 Peter 4:7-9, “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint.”
Love that is given to another person in the form of forgiveness and sincere fellowship is evidence of your faith in God—that your sins are forgiven! Apart from your love, there is no actual evidence.
Jesus, in all of His authority as the Son of God and Savior of the World, boiled down Christianity to this one commandment, from John 13:34-35: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John later commented on Jesus’ command: “the one who loves God should love his brother also” (1 John 4:21).
Seize the moment and practically love people in your life by forgiving them of their sins and having sincere fellowship with them. This is what Christ first did for you!
How can you say you are a Christian if you hold someone’s sins against them?
Let’s recite our memory verse for this week together. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).