Not Acting Out of Love

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Acting out of love eliminates the inclination to judge those around us – or in Paul’s words, “bite and devour one another” (Galatians 5:15). A harsh, critical attitude doesn’t represent our freedom well. There’s nothing compelling about us if we act just like people who have never experienced the all-surpassing love of Christ.

Commentary from the In Touch devotional by Charles Stanley, April 4, 2023.

Free Indeed

The term for “alienated” means “estranged,” “cut off,” or “separated.”  Before they were reconciled, all people were completely estranged from God (Ephesians 2:12,13).  The term for “enemies” can also be translated “hateful.”  Unbelievers hate God and resent His holy standard because they love “wicked works” (John 3:19,20; 15:18,24,25).  Actually there is alienation from both sides, since God “hates all workers of iniquity” (Psalm 5:5).  Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross that paid the full penalty for the sin of all who believe made reconciliation possible and actual (Romans 3:25;5:9,10;8:3).

Commentary from the MacArthur study Bible, notes for Colossians 1:21.

To: Would-be terrorists

As you continue your attempts to purchase the favor of your god with the souls of men, consider:

For the entire law is fulfilled 

in one statement:

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Galatians 5:14

and this:

Therefore, whatever you want others

to do for you,

do also the same for them-

this is the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:12

You must really hate yourselves.  

It appears that you hate God as well, because you do not fear Him.