Men, don't be an atmosphere breaker. Psalm 133 1-3 says, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life forevermore."

People can spend a lot of money on the decor of a house, and I am not opposed to this for it can help the atmosphere, even as beautiful music builds an atmosphere. However, it's very surface. To have a real true "Home, Sweet Home" atmosphere it takes fathers and others, along with their children, to be constantly filled with the love of God.

When love is flowing it creates a rich and beautiful atmosphere. Love is not sterile. It is tangible. It pulsates and throbs with unity and peace. This love is something you can actually feel. It is not physical, yet it affects the physical and expresses itself through each individual in order to bless others with acts of lovingkindnesses.

However, this atmosphere of love, this jewel of beauty, this crown of all crowns can be squelched, dampened, and grieved by thoughtless, selfish, prideful, worldly, moody, and carless individuals who have not learned how to value this precious treasure of all treasures.

Men, I believe it is very important to teach our families how to appreciate and value the atmosphere of love. There is life, laughter, and healing in the atmosphere of love. You cannot afford to be without it. We must guard against being a loving atmosphere breaker.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Men, many Christians homes lack the godly atmosphere that is so vital to the well-being of the whole family. Opulence and grandeur tend to stimulate our fleshly senses, and yet do nothing to minister to the needs of the inner man. It would surprise us to know how many of the mansions of the nation are filled with tension, strife, selfishness, independence, unhappiness, and sadness. In many cases, everyone is doing their own thing. Wealth does not create a lasting atmosphere that ministers life to the spirit. It can be very surface. I am not saying that a mansion cannot be filled with the atmosphere of love, for indeed it can. Jesus said, "In my father's house are many mansions" (John 14:2). Everyone one of these mansions is filled with a loving and godly atmosphere.

The atmosphere I am talking about does not come from the mansion itself, but rather from the hearts of the people living in it. I believe it would be better to live in a tent where there is genuine true love than in a beautiful mansion with out. However, both cases can lack it, and both cases can have it.

The mansion does not manufacture satisfying love, and yet many people think they would be happy and satisfied by living in a mansion and that somehow it will minister to their inner needs. The love that ministers to the inner man, that heals his wounds and comforts his heart and soul comes only from God and should flow like a river through us to everyone in our home.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but THE GREATEST OF THESE is charity (love.)."

Men, there is no doubt that the doctrines of faith, hope, and love are important and daily abiding doctrines. If we put greater emphasis on other doctrines rather than these three major doctrines, we do so to our own disadvantage and peril. Putting it plainly, we need to be men of faith, hope, and love. But, the greatest of all these is to be men of love.

Can I ask you honestly? Is this the greatest truth in your life? Are you indeed a most loving man? Does your wife experience this about you ? Do your children experience this about you? If not, why not?

Everyone one we contact in our lives--our family, neighbors, and communities should know and experience when they meet with us that we are a most loving man. At least, we should be men who make this our chief objective in life. We may not have arrived yet, but we press forward with the help of the Holy Spirit to reach the goal.

Because love is the greatest of all abiding truths, don't you think we should make this truth our greatest matter for prayer? I believe so. It is not so important what church we attend, how much knowledge of the Scriptures we have, or how much zeal we have for God, but rather, how much love flows through us in our home, church, and communities.

How great is your love today?

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Men, there is no better way to serve the Lord, our family, our fellow Christians, and all others than through the love of God. All other ways, whether dramatic, heroic, sacrificial, expensive, sensational, or admirable, can never hold a candle to the true love of God demonstrated in Jesus Christ--His life, crucifixion, and resurrection on our behalf.

Not only is this love the MOST EXCELLENT WAY but it is also the MOST EXCELLENT LOVE. There are two main types of love expressed in the Greek in the New Testament. Agape love, which Paul accurately describes in 1 Corinthians 13, the love which gives and expects nothing in return.

The other kind of love is phileo love which means "to be a friend, have affection for, personal attachment." It is often called "brotherly love."

Men, the greatest and most excellent love is agape love where personal reward, acclamation, or honor is not even thought of. It is a pure love where you do not consider yourself, but only the object of your love. This is the most excellent love.

We must give this love our fullest attention. We must not be casual or half-hearted about this MOST EXCELLENT LOVE and MOST EXCELLENT WAY.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Men, in concluding this great chapter, 1 Corinthians 13 on the subject of love, the Apostle Paul states in verse 8 that prophecies, speaking in tongues, and knowledge shall vanish away, but God's agape love will never fail.

How tempting it is for us to allow the good to become the enemy of the best. Are we content as fathers to role model that which is good and miss out on that which is excellent? Men, I believe our families need fathers who have their spiritual priorities in such a place that this kind of love will be at the top of all virtues. There is nothing greater than love, for love is the predominate virtue of God's character.

The Apostle John in 1 John 4:7-8 states, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." God is love personified.

To be a "good father" is not good enough. Our families need loving fathers. They don't only need gifted fathers, knowledgeable fathers, prophetic fathers, hearing fathers, tongues speaking/interpreting fathers, faith that moves mountains fathers, as good as these things are. They need loving fathers who reflect and represent the greatest likeness of our Heavenly Father.

Love is par excellence.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Men, the devil and the world point to the cross of Christ and say, "Love failed. It ended upon a cross. It is foolishness." 1 Corinthians 1:18 says, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." To us who are saved, the cross means "unfailing love." We know the love God has given us to role model, first in our own home and then to the world, is the love that "never fails."

The truth is that love that involves sacrifice and death to self is the love that never fails. This is Calvary love. This is what Jesus meant when He spoke in Matthew 10:38-39, "And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."

The devil meant the cross of Christ to be the biggest failure in the history of the world. Instead, the cross became the greatest triumph in the history of the world, for dying love never fails. Calvary love cannot fail. It is impossible for it to fail.

The devil, the wisdom of this world, and even false religion laughs and scoffs at Calvary love that endures the cross and despises its shame. But, God Himself approves it and crowns it with the highest honor.

Men, we must, at all costs, role model to our wife and family this sacrificing love that never fails.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Men, no matter how bleak and stormy the horizon of life may appear, never give up loving. Even when the object or objects of your love refuse to acknowledge your acts of love, and you are forced to be shut out of their lives, never stop being a loving person. The rejecters of your love are the losers. But, you can be the winner because you never give in to hate, spite, and a host of evil things that the rejecters of love get into.

We need to remember that there are many that reject God's love and are the worst off for doing so. One could easily think that God's love failed. It is true that some fail to give the correct response, but no one in hell will be able to point the finger at God and say, "God, you did not love me." God has only to point their attention to Calvary's cross to show them how much He loves. God never gives up on HIs love. I do not for one moment think that God enjoys to see even one sinner in hell. God's love never fails. The rejecters of Christ are the rejecters of His unfailing love.

Did God give up loving Israel when he turned His love toward the Gentiles? No. Isaiah 49:15-16 says, "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." And Romans 11:1 says, "Hath God cast away his people? God forbid... God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew."

Even when your love may have been despised and rejected for a long time and you have had to turn to others who will receive your love, never give up loving. Never permit the battle you are going through to turn you into an unloving and unforgiving person. Your love in Christ is forever unfailing. It is forever forgiving. In some cases it may be forever rejected, but rejection has no authority to change you and stop Christ's love in you from always flowing.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Men, the love that God has for us and wants us to role model to our family, as well as to our fellow man, is a love that endures all testings and trials that come our way. We live in a time of epidemic marriage breakdown and the love of many Christians is waxing cold, not only toward their spouse, but also toward Christ (Matthew 24:12).

Men, our children desperately need parents who will stick to their love for one another "come what may." We may have to endure great financial loss, rising health care costs, the loss of employment, friends who have turn against us, or perhaps the loss of a loved one. All these losses can be most difficult to endure, but none should be allowed to in anyway limit our love and commitment to one another. In fact, all these trials can be used to draw us close to each other and to become more dependent on one another for mutual encouragement and wisdom.

I do not believe that God expects a woman to endure a violent husband who could do her physical or mental harm. Nor does God expect a woman to endure a husband who perverts his marriage relationship with pornography, homosexuality, or other sexual perversion. However, there are such things as lacking wisdom and certain immaturities that God calls us to endure with one another. We are fallen creatures. We all make mistakes and blow it from time to time. We must make allowances and not expect perfection from one another.

The love that "endures all things" is talking about the trials that come our way in life that will not compromise our personal salvation and righteousness. We are told to "resist the devil," not to endure him!

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

The Greek word for "endure" is "hupomeno" meaning "to stay under, to remain, to undergo, i.e. bear trials, to have fortitude, to persevere, to abide, to take patiently, to suffer." This love that "endures all things" was most excellently role modeled by our Savior, Jesus Christ throughout His pilgrimage on earth.

Oh the love that drew salvation's plan,
Oh the love that brought it down to man,
Oh the mighty gulf that God did span,
At Calvary.

The love that so richly dwelt in Christ our Savior was not a fluffy, flaky, wimpy love that melted like chocolate ice cream at the first sign of trials and temptations. We would be still in our sins if His love was not enduring enough to submit to His Father's will and accomplish His death upon the cross.

Men, the same love that enabled Christ to endure the cross is the same love that has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit to enable us to keep loving on and on, no matter what may try to extinguish it (Romans 5:5).

No matter how big the crowds may be in the church, no matter how attractive the sermons, no matter how great the offerings, no matter how big the outreach programs, if we do not have the love that is enduring enough to keep our marriage and family together, then it is all false and a sham. As Jesus said, it's hypocritical! He said to the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:27, "Hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness."

We desperately need a revival of the love that endures all things. When the crowds come to repentance, then we are talking about Biblical revival. Crowds are not usually attracted to repentance. It takes a sovereign move of God for this to happen.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Men, as we seek to role model the love that "hopes all things" we can expect Scriptural blessings to come upon us. For example:

Good courage and a strengthened heart (Psalm 31:24).
God's eye will be upon us (Psalm 33:18).
God's mercy will be upon us (Psalm 33:22; 130:7).
God will hear us (Psalm 38:15).
He will lift us up from discouragement and sadness (Psalm 42:5, 11; 43:5).
He will hold us up (Psalm 119:116).
We will be happy (Psalm 146:5).
The Lord will take pleasure in us (Psalm 14:11).
We will have gladness (Proverbs 10:28).
We will be blessed (Jeremiah 17:7-8). And what is the blessing? Here is the full Scripture, "For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."
We will have a song in our hearts (Hosea 2:15).
We will rejoice (Romans 5:2; Romans 12:12).
We will not be ashamed Romans 5:5).
We are saved through hope (Roman s 8:24).
We will have joy and peace (Romans 15:13).
We will have patience (1 Thessalonians 1:3).

Men, Romans 15:4 is a great Scripture, for it encourages us as fathers to make sure that we, and our families, should be strongly immersed in the Scriptures. It says, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."

How can we have the love that "hopes all things" if we do not know the Scriptures? It is in the Scriptures that we find the "all things" of comfort and hope. Fathers, this is why the Lord is exercising me to exhort you to not fail to have Family Devotions (Family Bible Reading and Prayer) with your family each day. This is part of role modeling the love that hopes all things.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

The love that we role model to our families is not a hopeless love. The words "all things" are vast in their scope. They are as vast as Matthew 11:24, "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

The phrase "all things " is incredible and could include vast multitudes of personal desires, as well as impersonal. However, we cannot expect God to answer any prayer that is outside of His character and will for our lives. We are only entitled to hope for "all things" that are within the boundaries of His will.

For example it would be a false hope to fall in love with an unbeliever and expect God to answer our prayers to meet our needs in this matter. If we go into a joint business with an unbeliever and expect God to bless us, we may well be very disappointed. God may want to bless you, but may not want to bless the unbeliever, and you may end up losing all.

To get to the point, we fathers are to role model a love, that despite all hardships, persecutions, nay-sayers, and negative circumstances, always keeps on believing God, never quits praying, and always keeps hoping for the best.

Men, do your children observe you as a hopeful father, always optimistically hoping that one day all godly desires and prayers will be answered?

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Men, another important ingredient to love that we as fathers and husbands need to role model is hope. If we do not physically demonstrate this hope dimension of love, it remains an abstract and dormant something that cannot be explained. The Apostle Paul, in revealing the all important "agape" love, states that it "hopes all things."

Hope is an unfulfilled expectation that we trust will one day be fulfilled and continue to be fulfilled. It is something we believe for but have not yet fully received.

When we fell in love with our wife, we hoped that our advancements toward her and our very special interest in her would arouse a reciprocal love. We eagerly and anxiously hoped that one day, in the not too distant future, we would be engaged and married. Likewise, we are to love our wife and family with an ever continuing hope. We believe that our love for them will produce an ever increasing and meaningful intimacy, as well as rich relationships, that will be mutually satisfying to all parties.

In this way, hope not only has the present in mind, but also a better future.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

WHO WE TRAIN OUR SONS TO BE AT HOME IS WHAT THEY WILL BE IN THIS WORLD!

One writer states, "Every man steps from the home door into the social, moral, and civil world. What he is upon the home step he will be in the field of life."

Jesus said, "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand" (John 3:25 and 5:20). The reason for this is that God believed all things concerning His Son.

Men, our families desperately need fathers who will daily demonstrate the love that believes that in God all things are possible. To say that we love when we do not actively demonstrate we believe in the subject or object of our love is hypocritical. In a natural sense, there are those who love money and they demonstrate their belief in it by working hard to get it and get lots of it! The same applies to foods that we love. In eating them we demonstrate we believe in them to satisfy our appetite in some way.

In the same way, every wife needs a husband who not only says that he loves her but demonstrates his love by his faith in her. He trusts his home and family into her care. He should also be able to trust his check book into her care, as well as many other things (Proverbs 31:10-31).

The same principle of love applies also to his growing children. There will come times when his love for them will be demonstrated by his belief that they will drive the family car and look after it. He will trust his sons and daughters to look after the family home and lawns, etc. He will trust his tools, tractors, and many things into his sons hands because he believes in them. When they blow, or mess up his trust, he does not stop loving them, training them, and believing in them.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Role modeling the love that "believes all things" is possible with Jesus Christ. Men, the truth is that when we discipline our children for misbehavior, it is not because we do not believe in them or that one day they will become a mature person. It is quite the opposite. We discipline them because we do believe in them. We discipline them because we love them. To not discipline them when they need it would be to discredit and harm them. I do not believe that children can become mature good people without some form of discipline, when needed, while growing up.

No matter how far one of God's creatures, whom He loves, falls into sin and rebellion God's love will come to the rescue. God believes that His love, displayed through the cross, will redeem, rescue, and deliver any soul who will put faith in His saving grace.

All things are possible with a love that believes that all things are possible with God. God believes in this love that believes all things are possible. Therefore, we should also believe and role model this love to our family. Obviously this does not mean we are to believe everyone at all times, period. This would be foolish. This is what we should always want to do, but until Christ works in any particular person you want to believe in, one's faith can be quickly dashed to pieces.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Men, our children need fathers who are always willing to believe that their children will succeed, will do well in life, will do the right thing for their God and their fellowman, and will make their parents proud of them. Putting it straight and to the point, every child needs parents who will always be willing, no matter what, to believe the best for their children.

What a blessing it is for every child to know, without a doubt, that his parents honestly believe in him or her. This assists children to grow up not willingly wanting to disappoint their parents. What a tragedy it is for children to grow up hearing their parents say, "You will never amount to anything," ":You are useless," "You are a failure," or "You don't have what it takes."

Leon Morris in his commentary on this Scripture says that "believing all things" points to the quality of love which is always ready to allow for circumstances and to see the best in others. The Moffat's translations says, "Always eager to believe the best." If children have parents who believe in them and do their best to provide for them, they should not have to go through so much trouble and failure.

This type of love must be role modeled in our homes first. How easy it is for us to write people off too quickly. Most children will have to learn from their mistakes, and some are slower than others. However, given some time to wise up, especially with a father figure who believes in the best for them despite their failures, this love will not fail in most cases. This love that believes all things and always hopes for the best does so because it knows that all things are possible with God.

Be encouraged.

COLIN CAMPBELL

Men, the love that "bears all things" does not compromise or tolerate all things. Banish the thought! When it is within our power to turn off the TV because the program is not conducive to a godly atmosphere in the home and the lives our family, then act and turn it off. Ezra 10:4 exhorts us, "Be of good courage, and DO IT." Don't grin and bear it because some members of the family want their flesh to be entertained by it.

Lot's righteous soul was VEXED from day to day with the filthy manner of life of the (2 Peter 2:6-8). And yet, for some reason Lot chose to live in Sodom. He could have chosen to live somewhere else. Lot was not forced to live in Sodom. He did not have to "out of love" bear with the sins of Sodom. For the sake of his wife and family he should have removed himself long before the angels had to forcibly rescue him out of that sinful place (Genesis 19:15-16). His choice to live in this city was a bad decision and cost him the lives of children and grandchildren.

There are many trials, sicknesses, pains, personality differences, intellectual weaknesses, immaturities in children, and immaturities in Christians. Even Jesus was wearied with having to put up with the unbelief of his disciples (Matthew 17:17). We must also bear persecutions from enemies , and sometimes, friends. Men, are we truly role modeling the love that does not write people off that do not agree with us? Our love for our families, as well as our fellow Christians, has to be a love that covers a multitude of sins, weaknesses, and differences. Our Heavenly Father loves us despite our many frailties and failures. Should not we fathers do the same?

The children of Israel had to wander in the wilderness for 40 long years until they learned to stop their moaning, groaning, and complaining. They could not leave the wilderness until they had learned to experience God's love that "bears all things" without complaining.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

In our home and before our family we are to role model what it means to bear the infirmities of the weak. Romans 15:1 says, "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves." The word infirmities" in this Scripture means "scruples of conscience" and it is the only time where it is used.

We may invite a guest into our home who, for conscience sake, will not eat certain foods or drink any type of wine, etc. In such cases, because of the love that "bears all things" we should not offend them by disputing with their belief, or even violating their conscience by doing in front of them what would offend them. Even when we do not agree with their opinion, it is better to keep the unity of the Spirit in forbearing love than offend for the sake of food and drink.

Galatians 6:2 says, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." It is in our home first that we are to bear one another's burdens. Whatever burdens our wife is bearing, as a husband we must lovingly bear them with her. This means we are to roll up our sleeves and help her when she is over-burdened with the huge task of mothering the children and managing the home or is sick. Perhaps the children are sick or facing some of the many challenges involved in growing up. We must do our part to help our wife with the burden she carries. Having first role modeled this love that bears all things in our home, we then love our neighbors with this burden bearing love as we would have ourselves to be loved. In doing so, we fulfill the law of Christ.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

The Greek word for "bear" is "stego" meaning "to roof over, to cover with silence, endure patiently, forebear, suffer." There are some things in life that we find difficult to change, and in some cases, cannot change, at least without divine intervention.

Currently, we are stuck with an extremely socialistic government who are forcing upon us a health care law that cancels out previous benefits and forces Christians to pay taxes on contraception, sterilization, and abortion. This goes against our Christian convictions. In the end we have to pray that this will be struck down in the next elections, if not before.

If we are living in states that recognize and legalize homosexual marriage, we must continue to resist and pray. However, until God intervenes in some way we will just have to "bear" the injustice of it all, although we never actively stop resisting evil.

We may be called to "bear" with droughts, famines, and wars. We may have to bear with infirmities, sicknesses, and trials. For the sake of Christ we may be called to bear with difficult family members and neighbors, as well as judgmental and critical tongues. This is all part of role modeling the love of God.

However, we must never mistake "bearing all things" to mean compromising, giving in, or becoming soft toward evil. Never, never throw in the towel and give up the fight against abortion, homosexuality, unwarranted divorce, pornography or any form of evil.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Men, how true it is that you can give without loving, but you can never love without giving. Rejoicing in the truth is a form of giving the right response toward truth. Just as "God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7), He also loves His people to rejoice in the truth.

Fathers, as we seek to role model this love that rejoices in the truth, may our wives and families never observe us dragging our feet when it comes time to attend church services. They should see us rejoicing to worship, pray, and seek truth together.

Psalm 122:1 says, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord."

Psalm 100:4 says, "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name."

Fathers, we must demonstrate before our families at our Family Devotions each morning and evening that we actually ENJOY Family Devotions. We should show that we ENJOY reading God's Word and ENJOY our prayer times together. If we rejoice in the things of God, our families will be motivated to do the same.

We must resist the temptation to drag our feet in the call to prayer. Not only will God not accept this attitude, but our families will be negatively affected. When it comes to all matters concerning God's truth, wouldn't it be good if our families could observe our enjoyment, smiles, hearty agreement, our brightened eyes, and glad exclamations? This will encourage them in a godly way.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell