Truth Matters 81: What Does Love Require?

Welcome to Truth Matters with Dr. Cheryl Davis. Another benefit to studying prophecy that we find is in Colossians. Colossians chapter 3 verses 1-4. If we understand the future and the coming again of Christ, we will respond to life spiritually, not fleshly.

Let me say that one more time. If we understand the future and the coming again of Christ, we will respond to life spiritually, not fleshly. We will set our affection on things above because we know that is where Christ is and from where He will come to receive us to Himself.

Another benefit of studying prophecy is found in 1 Thessalonians 3, 12-13. If we are to stand blameless before Him at His return, we must relate to one another in love during His absence. Our personal relationships are affected by a proper understanding of prophecy. The question that we should be asking is, what does love require?

I know there are difficult people in our life that come in and out and there are relationships that take work. But really, what does love require? For Christ, it required His death.

What does love require for us today? Another benefit of prophecy we find in 2 Timothy 4, 1-2. I charge you, therefore, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom, preach the Word.

Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and teaching. 2 Timothy exhorts pastors to preach the Word. Paul is writing this letter to Timothy exhorting him to preach the Word and do the ministry God has given in light of the return of Christ, at which time an account will have to be given for our works. The return of Christ affects our ministries. There should be an urgency to our ministries. The return of Christ is imminent.

Hear what I'm saying. The return of Christ is imminent. Therefore, there should be an urgency in our ministries. But I want to ask you, is there an urgency today in our ministries? Are we working to evangelize this nation as if the rapture is imminent?

Another benefit of studying prophecy is found in Hebrews 10, verse 25. These are really one of my favorite verses in the Bible because it really tells us the importance of church. The closer we get to the day of Christ appearing, the closer we should be drawing ourselves together. And the more often I know the pandemic has challenged that. But we should be assembling ourselves together all the more often because the closer it is to Christ appearing. As the clouds darken in this world and the last days, every believer will need the church more than ever to remain strong. Another benefit of studying prophecy is found in James chapter 5, verses 7 through 8. As a farmer learns to wait patiently for his seed to bear fruit, so we wait patiently for the final harvest of God.