Gospel News — Mar-May 2012

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love his brother whom he can see, how can he love God whom he has not seen?" (1 John 4:20). "By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brother. But whoever has this worlds good and sees his brother in need and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? Let us not love in word and tongue, but in deeds and in truth" (1 John 3:16-18).

Anyone who dismisses those in need as in the word of James: `Depart in peace, be warmed and filled', but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?" (James 2:16).

Brothers and sisters, "If anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules" (2 Tim 2:5). Let us draw a lesson from what could be said about a fictitious elder of the church at Ephesus – he had good works, labour, patience, he could not bear evil and he disapproved of failed apostles – but he failed in one thing: love (Rev 2:4). "For whoever shall keep the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:20).

Brothers and sisters, the time is short, the Lord is almost coming. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord"(Col 3:16 and Eph 3:17) – and the Lord is the judge of the whole world. Before he sets the sheep on his right hand and goats on His left hand, choose today where you shall stand on that day, for we shall all want to hear his voice: "Come you blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world," or it could be "Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt 25:34, 41). "For if we wander from the way of understanding, we shall

rest in the assembly of the dead for ever" (Prov 21:6) like the beasts (Ps 49:14).

Let every individual pray as follows: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties, and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Ps 139:23-24).

We Want to Be Strong in Faith

Bro Blessing Ngigwe (Mbalse, Nigeria)

The apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians that he hoped to see them so that he could `perfect what is lacking in your faith". Let us examine our hearts to see whether our faith is strong: if we find that this is not the case, we have to do everything in our power to gain strength and fortify our faith. Yes, we are children of God. The word that is proclaimed to us is the word of God. These are the true apostles who have been commissioned by the Lord. Our Lord's return is imminent. We expect it any day.

There are various signs that indicate a weak faith. One of these is that our prayers diminish in frequency and intensity. We may no longer pray as fervently as we used to, so that our prayers become superficial. Maybe we forget to pray together. Let us be alert here. If we notice something is wrong, let us begin today and seek a connection to our Heavenly Father in prayer.

Hesitating when it comes to offering is another sign that indicates a weak faith. If we neglect to give and to do our share because we think that first of all we have to see to our own needs this is a sign that our faith is inadequate. This realisation would help to remind ourselves of all the good and all the gifts we have received from the Lord. Contemplating these things creates thankfulness