Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

All too often, children see their parents putting on a façade to strangers or people outside their immediate family. The children must often think, “if only these people knew how bad and unliving it is at home.”

Marriage, home, and family are obviously, and without doubt, the first place we should display fervent love. It is those who are closest to us who really know us and know how true and fervent our love really is.

1 Peter 4:8 says: “Love shall cover the multitude of sins.” Fervent love is the antidote to bitter debate, slander, criticism, tale-bearing, and gossip. The old maxim says: “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.”

It is only fervent love that covers a multitude of sins. Some may argue the point concerning the subject of “covering a multitude sins.” They think they are doing right by telling the world about the sins, weaknesses, and failures of others. They even enjoy doing it for it makes them appear more righteous than those they are running down or whose reputation they are destroying.

To be honest, I think it should give us great pain to talk against people we should be loving. It can be appropriate to seek godly counsel from church leadership if you are concerned that innocent people are being hurt or could be hurt. In some cases, it is appropriate to stand up and say something if it is not with the intention of spreading gossip, hatred, or malice.

You may need to execute the biblical premise of Matthew 18:15-20. Very often matters can be cleaned up by going to the accused first and hearing their side of the accusation.

We should never say something bad about someone behind their backs that we have not already spoken to them face to face. When Jesus went to the cross, He did not to go condemn, criticize, judge, or slander the world. He went to the cross to save the world. We can never take John 3:16, 17 for granted: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

Jesus was the greatest example of fervent love “covering a multitude of sins.” His blood covers more than a multitude of sins for it covers all of the sins of the world from Adam to the end of time.

More to come on this subject next post.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

God intends the family to be the greatest institution on earth. We are living in a world where the home and family is being attacked, and in many cases, abandoned. Abandoned by fathers who have never been taught the importance of their role in raising and providing for their family’s needs.

Mothers likewise have abandoned their nests for the glamor of the corporate world. They do not realize they are destroying the “cradles” that become the next generation, children who were destined to be born to make the world a better place.

Marriage and family are the first institutions God created and marriage was mandated to be fruitful and multiply and rule over the whole earth (Genesis 1:26-28). The importance of the family should never be underestimated, and if so, we do to our own peril.

Love begins in the marriage and is revealed and manifested in the raising of the nuclear family which means “father, mother, and children.”

The family is the primary institution where the graces and character of our Creator God should be taught. Dedicated parents, who understand the importance of their respective roles will mirror these roles to their children, along with revelation of God’s character.

We should not mistake God’s love for the casual, half-hearted love we often experience today. God’s love is hot and intense. It does not come from our fallen nature but directly from the new nature provided by the new birth in Christ. It is best taught by example from the moment the child is born, continuing day by day throughout the child’s learning years.

There should never be a doubt in the child’s mind that his/her parents do not love them with heart-felt fervency. This is the way God loves us and expects us to love one another. This kind of love is the essential element of the Christian family home.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Gene is releasing this song for free for you to be blessed. You can pick it up on this link: https://www.collisionpointpublishing.com/standfortheflag

Here are the words:
Verse 1:
She’s stood over battlefields
Wept over soldier’s graves
Been wounded by the cannon fire
Been tattered, torn, and frayed
She’s bowed to weary warriors
For their sacrifices made
She’s sung the song of freedom
When freedom’s voice was stayed
She’s a symbol to the fallen and the brave
A reminder of the freedom won
For president’s and slaves

Chorus:
I’ll stand for the flag that waves proud and free
I’ll stand for the flag that stands strong for me
I will stand for what is true
Of the red (and) white and blue
I will honor all she is with all I have
I will stand for the flag

Verse 2:
As she waves in the stormy winds
She echoes freedom’s cost
Reminds us all to not forget
The heroes that we’ve lost
And she honors those around us
Who still fight for us today
On the streets in our home towns
And in countries far way

She’s been spit upon, and ridiculed, burned, and torn apart
By the angry who’ve cursed her with the freedom she has bought

Chorus: