A house with fertile soil full of plants of love

When we come together, be it in a house, hall, temple or kingdom hall, and intend to exchange our thoughts in community about God, His word and commandments, our attitude towards each other must be according to the standards of God.

The ecclesia is a house of God and there is no room for jealousy, envy or jealousy, but there must be mutual love for each other.

Those who gather to attend a service for God are committed to delving into the Word of God, but also into the love of God. Thus they study the character of the Most High and see the character of His sent son. It does not escape their attention that Jesus had an unselfish love. He had a love that « doesn’t envy ». In front of us we see a man who radiated a love that was generous. So must our love be, so that we may see others flourish and rejoice in their prosperity, even if our own affairs are not so prosperous for a while.

It may be safe that we experience difficult days. Days we can even hate. But these must not undermine us. They must not drag us into the depths. Above all the inconveniences and difficulties, we must have such confidence in God that we rise above these difficulties and continue to act as a peacemaker who wants to share his love with many.

The love of and imitator of Christ is one of generosity, the reverse of jealousy and envy, which arise from a perverse nature. This world is overflowing with people who want to reflect on others. Social media is excellent proof of this, how people even go so far as to no longer be themselves towards others. All around us we see people looking forward with jealousy to what others have already achieved or are envious of what they already have and they do not. There, we clearly see the roots of envy, which is selfishness. We must realise that envy will not grow on the root of love.

And to build a good ecclesia we need to plough a fertile soil and sow good seeds on it, choosing to raise only loving plants. In this way, we will keep our thoughts open to warmly welcome everyone who comes by, and have a taste of our hospitality. In doing so, our love will rejoice with those who rejoice, in the prosperity of every good word and work, and in the progress in Christian grace and in the divine service of all who are driven by the divine Spirit.

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Previous articles

1. God’s Words for the Pilgrimage #3 A road on a global scale littered with obstacles
2. A meeting place to share peace and love with each other
3. Opening speech at the Service for Unity in Our Faith Community
4. Grow love and make progress
5. Love in the ecclesia
6. Love expressed
7. Paul’s exhortation to unity in love
8. We must be faithful to God

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Additional reading

1. The sin of partiality
2. Matthew 8:14-17 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-law
3. Matthew 10:11-15 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Searching for the Sheep
4. Matthew 13:36-43 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Parable of the Zizania in the Field Explained
5. Matthew 25:31-46 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Judgment on the Realm of Heaven #2 Matthew 25:34-36
6. Matthew 25:31-46 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Judgment on the Realm of Heaven #3 Matthew 25:37-40
7. Today’s Thought (August 03): Hospitality without grudging
8. Today’s thought “Darker days, presents and Love for others” (December 13)
9. Necessity to be cheerful to help yourself and others

We must be faithful to God

 

Just as the Jews were supposed to be faithful to the One True God, today it is still expected that those who want to belong to God will be faithful to the Only True God, the Elohim Hashem Jehovah.

Especially those who want to belong to a community of believers that bears the name of the son of God must do everything they can to be as faithful to God as possible. All who want to be members of an ecclesia.

10 not stealing from them,+ but showing complete trustworthiness, so that in every way they may adorn the teaching of our Savior, God.+ (Titus 2:10)

Impeccability is expected from ecclesia members.

16 Likewise, let your light shine before men,+ so that they may see your fine works+ and give glory to your Father who is in the heavens.+ (Matthew 5:16)

Such persons do not lie and behave as best as possible towards others, full of love for the fellow brothers.

5 A faithful witness will not lie, But a false witness lies with every breath.+  (Proverbs 14:5)

But there may be moments when someone will have to reprimand in the ecclesia if they do something wrong. That will have to occur as an act of love for that person.

19 “‘All those for whom I have affection, I reprove and discipline.+ So be zealous and repent.+ (Revelation 3:19)

Our zeal in the ecclesia will have to be as a testimony of our faithfulness to God. Because we are convinced that later we will be able to sing along with the Israelites that we will also have a « strong city. Jehovah who has exalted himself high will look to us. As Brothers in Christ, we want to make known everywhere on earth Who is our Most High and how He is faithful to us and how His loyal love lasts forever.

106 Praise Jah!*  Give thanks to Jehovah, for he is good;+ His loyal love endures forever.+  (Psalm 106:1 )

 4 And in that day you will say: “Give thanks to Jehovah, call on his name,Make his deeds known among the peoples!+ Declare that his name is exalted.+  (Isaiah 12:4)

26 In that day this song will be sung+ in the land of Judah:+  “We have a strong city.+ He makes salvation its walls and its ramparts.+

 2 Open up the gates+ so that the righteous nation may enter, A nation that is keeping faithful conduct.

 3 You will safeguard those who fully lean on you;* You will give them continuous peace,+ Because it is in you that they trust.+

 4 Trust in Jehovah forever,+ For Jah* Jehovah is the eternal Rock.+

 5 For he has brought low those inhabiting the height, the lofty city. He brings it down, He brings it down to the earth; He casts it down to the dust.  6 The foot will trample it, The feet of the afflicted, the steps of the lowly.”  7 The path of the righteous one is upright.* Because you are upright, You will smooth out the course of the righteous.

 8 As we follow the path of your judgments, O Jehovah, Our hope is in you. We* long for your name and your memorial.*

 9 In the night I long for you with my whole being,* Yes, my spirit keeps looking for you;+ For when there are judgments from you for the earth, The inhabitants of the land learn about righteousness.+ (Isaiah 26:1-9)

That Father in heaven is a trustworthy God we can count on.

 4 For the word of Jehovah is upright,+ And everything he does is trustworthy.  (Psalm 33:4)

To Him we want to entrust ourselves and be faithful to Him.

19 So, then, let those who are suffering in harmony with the will of God keep on entrusting* themselves* to a faithful Creator while they are doing good.+ (1 Peter 4:19)

Whatever may happen to us and our loved ones will not blow us away. We realize that even though we may be baptized and see the world in the fellowship of brothers and sisters, we will not let ourselves be reduced by the inconveniences of this life.

10 Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer.+ Look! The Devil will keep on throwing some of you into prison so that you may be fully put to the test, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Prove yourself faithful even to death, and I will give you the crown of life.+ 11 Let the one who has an ear hear+ what the spirit says to the congregations: The one who conquers+ will by no means be harmed by the second death.’+ (Revelation 2:10-11)

28 And do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul;+ rather, fear him who can destroy both soul and body in Ge·henʹna.+  (Matthew 10:28)

6 And he will pay back to each one according to his works:+ 7 everlasting life to those who are seeking glory and honor and incorruptibleness+ by endurance in work that is good; (Romans 2:6, 7)

There is reason enough to persist in goodness and in our faithfulness to the Supreme Creator of heaven and earth.

12 Happy is the man who keeps on enduring trial,+ because on becoming approved he will receive the crown of life,+ which Jehovah* promised to those who continue loving Him.+ (James 1:12)

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Preceding

There were also loyal persons among the Jews