Sharing Love From Sweden - "ARE THE POOR WELCOME IN THE CHURCH?" - Eva Haglund

ARE THE POOR WELCOME IN THE CHURCH?

by Eva Haglund, Sweden

Nowadays you can read about Christian conferences, which at times can cost a lot of money for one person to attend. If your family wants to go to the conference that would indeed be a lot of money to pay.

What happens then for those Christians who cannot afford to pay? They are then unable to go to any conference. Are not Christian conferences for the poor also?

I understand that it costs money to operate a church building. But to have people stopped at the door because they cannot afford to give? I know of such places. 

If people hear about meetings in that building, and they are not saved and yet try to visit, is it any wonder if they are also stopped at the door because they do not have money to give? Would they ever try to visit a Christian meeting again?

There are many Christians who do not have much money. While some Christians can afford to go on trips to many locations, there are others who cannot even afford to buy a book. Some of these hardly even have food. Yet are these sisters and brothers in the Lord still welcome in church? Are there people who are not saved, and poor, who are not welcome in the church?

A church congregation ought to be there for the poor in church also. In John 17:21 we read that love is a testimony to the world. If people in church are met by love it is a testimony. It is written, "that they all may be one, as You Father are in Me, and I in You that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."  Jesus says also in John 15:12, "This is My commandment that you love one another as I have loved you." We ought to do the same.

In Acts 2:46 we read that Christians "sold their possessions and goods, and divided them  among all, as anyone had need." I do not think we always have to sell all our possessions and divide them, but we see here the heart they had for sisters and brothers in the church who were poor. We see here the care for the poor, to help each other when there was a need. 

Many people are poor in the world and they need to feel welcomed in church. Jesus was generous. He also said, "Feed My sheep." In John 21:17 we are to show care in different ways. Jesus gave His Bread, which is His life. (John 6:51)

In Acts. 3:6 Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." I do not think Peter had money here either, as he said, "silver and gold I do not have". But he gave what he had.

We understand that Jesus identified with the poor. He came into the world and was born in a stable. Even as a newborn He identified with the poor and homeless. He was not welcomed in the hostel. As in some places today, doors can also be closed.

If there are economic needs in church, these needs should be met in a way other than making people pay to go to a church gathering. In the Bible we see that the Christians collected as they could and helped the poor. In Luke 10 we read that the Samaritan reached out and helped a man who was wounded emotionally and physically, having no money to help himself. We are to do as this example was given to us.

The church needs to reach out and assist the poor. There needs to be a welcoming church for the poor. We are called to be Jesus' hands and feet on earth, and welcome the poor into our midst. Then we will be demonstrating the true love of Jesus to the world, as we welome the poor into our churches.

Sharing Love From Sweden - A CHURCH FOR THE WOUNDED by Eva Haglund

A CHURCH FOR THE WOUNDED

Sharing Love From Sweden

By Eva Haglund

Some people have not gone through so many trials while others have. Some have suffered very much. Those who have not suffered much do not understand people who have gone through many difficult things. Some have family and friends who go home and do not understand the pain. They look down at those who are sick, poor and wounded, They do not care while there are others who show compassion and love.

In Job we read that he was ill and suffered much. He went through a lot of trials. Some Christians who look down at people who are ill and wounded seem not to have read Job's story, where Job too was ill and wounded. Some of his friends did not understand him in the trials and spoke words which were of no encouragement. Job however was not bitter towards them but forgave them and prayed for them. Job's faith was tested in all trials, but he kept standing. His wife told him to curse God and die but Job refused and he kept the faith. He knew God was good.

Sometimes we go through tests of our faith. We need to keep standing as Job did. In the end of Job's book we read that he got back all that he had lost, and even more. In Luke 6:21 we read, "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets." This is a good word in the Bible as it also gives comfort!

Wounded people who has suffered much need comfort. It is important we share comfort. In Isaiah 40:1 is written, "Comfort, yes comfort, My people," says your God.

We can show comfort in different ways, such as counseling, talking, fellowship, and also buy flowers to someone as a present. Practical love heals. God is a God of comfort. We need to seek Him in the Bible where there are a lot of words on comfort. I also think that friendship and fellowship is healing for wounded people.

In Luke 10 we see a man who was wounded. He was wounded emotionally, physically and was robbed. He had no money. The one who helped him was a person other people looked down at, but he showed compassion and helped this man. In James 2:17, is written "Thus also faith by itself , if it does not have works, is dead." Faith ought to be shown in love.

Many people are wounded today. They need compassion, understanding and love. People as us can reach out and help. It is also important to know that all people have the same value, Jesus says in Matt 25:40, "Assuredly, I say to you, in as much as you did it to one of the least of these of these of my brethren, you did it for Me."

Many are wounded and suffer today in the world but love shared can be like a miracle.

In Rom 12:15 it is written, "rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep."

When there is compassion for people there sometimes also can be tears, When we read "weep for those who weep" we understand a heart of compassion, a heart which is touched and in intercession. There can sometimes be tears in pain for anybody in prayer.

The one who has suffered most is Jesus as He hung on the cross for us. Jesus identifies with wounded people. When we cry, He cry. He cares.

In Isaiah 53:4-5 we read, "Surely He has born our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."

In Isaiah 53:3 we also understand that Yeshua/Jesus was a "man of sorrows." He suffered so much because of His love for you and I. In His name is salvation.

Sharing Love From Sweden - "TOGETHER HAVING THE SAME VALUE - BUILDING A LIVING TEMPLE" - Eva Haglund

TOGETHER HAVING THE SAME VALUE 

- BUILDING A LIVING TEMPLE

Eva Haglund, Sweden

As the members in the human body are connected to each other, and together form a complete body, we need each other in Body of Christ. This is taught in 1 Cor 12. We need each other. Not to just meet on Sunday in a church building.

We do not go to the church - we are the church. The church is not a building. Even if we have a building to meet in, it is good to also meet in homes. We know that Jesus also taught in a home where Martha and Mary lived. We can seek God together along with friends. 

About gifts - we all have our own calling and gifts, unique  as we are. As members in the human body need each other, so we need each other with these unique gifts and callings. It would be boring if all had the same calling and gifts. But God has given us different gifts to build beautifully together. 

Sometimes some gifts are looked down at by people. Sometimes practical gifts are not counted as high as theoretical gifts but this is not as God looks at the gifts and callings. 

As flowers in creation are beautiful together so we are beautiful with our gifts and callings together. Our gifts are not just for a church building but also to be used in other places. In 1 Corinthians 12 we can see that all members are needed with different gifts, and each have the same value. It is written in the verses 15-18, "For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, "I am not a hand therefore I am not of the body, is it not therefore of the body? If the whole body were an eye where would be the hearing?" 

Here we see that all have their unique callings. We need to share our gifts with each other. Even a cup of coffee can encourage, and a smile shared with another. 

David took care of sheep in the Bible. God cared about the sheep and David was taught how to take care of sheep. He also was learning how to know God in a deeper way as he sought Him alone and sang beautiful songs to the Lord. 

Our gifts also can be seen in our friendships. Fellowship is important among Christians and is more than just doing things for God. The most important friendship is with Jesus, but it ought to go hand in hand with friendship among Christians. God is love and that love ought to be seen among us. We need each other.

In Acts 2:46 we understand that there were Christians who lived close to each other and met. I think God wants to restore more of this among us. In church meetings I think we need to hear not just leaders preaching but also other people. For instance, one can share a prophecy, a Scripture, an experience or a dream. In small home meetings this becomes more natural. 

I think gifts are like bread, which we need daily. We have all pieces of bread and together it forms a full loaf. 

The church, the Body of Christ, is also like stones. As it is written in 1 Peter 2:5, "You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house." We are different stones, but together we build the temple , with Jesus as the Cornerstone. I think that more of the stones will be connected to each other in the new prophetic time, as the living stones will create a temple of the Lord.

Love is important. In 1 Corinthians 12:13 we read "But now abide faith, hope and love, these three,but the greatest of these is love."

Yeshua (Jesus) is love. He gave all in love for us. We read in Isaiah 53 so that anyone who believes in Him will be saved. Get to know Jesus.

Sharing Love From Sweden - LOVE IN THE CHURCH IS NEEDED - Eva Haglund

LOVE IN THE CHURCH IS NEEDED - Eva Haglund

In the world today we find egoism and lack of love. Also among Christians we can find lack of  love. The church has  sometimes become more of a club than a family as it was meant to b. Some  think the church is a usual building and that we go to church - not that we are the church.  As a temple can be built God also wants this temple of living stones to come together, with Jesus as the cornerstone.

In 1 Corinthians 12 it is written that as in a usual body the members need each other. We need each other with Jesus as the head. We need contact with Christians,  not just in a church building. There needs to be more fellowship and real friendship. Jesus talks about love among Christians in John 15: 12-13 when He says, "This is My commandment that you love one another as I have loved you." He wants it to be deep friendship among Christians. Jesus also says in John 15: 13, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down his life for his friends." He talks here about real friendship among Christians. 

Jesus showed his disciples, His friends, to wash each other's feet. I think it can be a picture of showing care and love to each other, humility as a servant. Jesus gave all for us like a servant in love. He showed the greatest love at Calvary, suffering so much by free will for us. We need friendship with Jesus first. We can understand about having first love for Him in a relationship in the Song of Solomon about  His Bride - the church.

To show love among Christians is like a sermon we can give to the world - that God is love. The world is full of people who need love. Sometimes people who are ill and poor are looked down at even among some Christians. God wants love to flow and that all people are treated with respect and love and seen with the same value.

In John 17:21 Jesus prayed that love will be a testimony to the world. I think it also means  in attitudes and about fellowship, friendship and care. If also Christians stand together as one in an area it is a testimony to the world. Christian cafes can be good when Christians from different Christian backgrounds get together.  Fellowship, care and love also open up for sharing the gospel and caring about people. Talking to people can give opportunities to share the faith.

In John 21 we see that Jesus was eating breakfast with the disciples and had fellowship. In Acts 2:46 the disciples ate in the houses and had fellowship. I think God wants to restore more of this among us. Abraham had a heart of love and care as we see when the angels came in Gen 18. The Bible also talks about hospitality. When Jesus was teaching in a home where Mary was listening at His feet I also think there was fellowship.

We  can read in Rom 9:1-3, "I tell you the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh." We find  here a heart full of love. Sometimes Christians live far from each other but in Acts I do not think people who lived in one area lived so far away from each other. You can have good friends in other parts of the world.  I also think it is good to have close friends where we live . In  Ps 133:1-3  we also read about living close to each other.

It is written, "Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. It is like the precious oil upon the head running down the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion, for there the Lord commanded the blessing, life forevermore."

Even when we go through times of loneliness, as for instance David, God can give back in this area, too. In times of loneliness we can learn to know Jesus better as our first Friend as David and Joseph did. We need  Jesus first but we also need fellowship and love among Christians. I think we are in a new time when God wants to restore more of the love in the church, the spiritual temple, as it was meant to be in preparation of Yeshua/Jesus coming back. We need each other and the world also needs love from Christians.

Sharing Love From Sweden - FREE TO DO THE WILL OF GOD by Eva Haglund

FREE TO DO THE WILL OF GOD

Eva Haglund, Sweden

A bird flies free without anything hindering it. God wants us to fly free like birds without anyone hindering us. We need to be free from control by anybody else. We need to make our own decisions in what we feel peace in and not let other people rule over us who want to control. We must not do what we do not feel peace in. We need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

There are some people who are very dominant and want to rule over others by controlling them. I am not talking about the usual way of being submitted to leaders you have confidence in but when a person wants to control a person in a wrong way.

There are certain people who want to take over the leadership in a congregation if they are allowed controlled by the spirit of Jezebel. We must not be bound but must say no when it needs said, and not let any one rule over with this spirit.

Christ has called us to freedom. There are certain Christian leaders who do not know the heart of the Father with love and compassion. They have hard hearts and are controlling the members in certain congregations. Some members do not dare leave the congregation or to say no. All leaders do not know God's heart of love and do not have love for the sheep. We need to choose a congregation where the leader/leaders love Jesus and have His love for the people. By their fruit you will know the tree, as Jesus said.

As Christians we also can hear from God. We can get teaching from the Word. We also need good advice from spiritual mothers and fathers in Body of Christ who are mature persons in Body of Christ. I believe there needs to be more spiritual mothers and fathers after God's heart in the Body of Christ. In some congregations there are just young people, but old and young need each other. Jesus says in John 19, "Mother, see your son!" and "Son, see your mother!"

In Proverbs 29:25 is written, "The fear of men brings a snare" but we need to be like eagles who fly high. We all have our unique calling and it is written in Joel 2:8 "They do not push one another.

Everyone marches in his own column."

There are some people who are manipulative and who have egoistic motives. They want to control others. We need to say no when we sense it is wrong. It is more love by saying no because then you can teach that person that this behavior is wrong. It is good to help other people but it needs to be in a right way.

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Parents ought to be the ones who are the ones who decide and not the children who rule over the children. God wants us to have have our freedom in Christ and not let our wings be bound and heavy.
We also need to tell the truth in situations as Paul did to people.

Esther, Stephen and John were also bold and we can learn from them. There are situations when we also need to be quiet as Jesus was in Mark 14:6, where we read that He "kept silent and answered nothing."

In another situation Jesus spoke as in Luke 16:14: "Now the Pharisees who were lovers of money , also heard these things and they derided Him. And He said to them, "You are those who justify themselves before men, but God knows your heart . For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God." Jesus told the truth. We can also be bold and say the truth in situations, but it is good to have patience and not be angry and condemn anybody.

In Luke 6: 22 is written, "Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven. For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets."

We can sometimes get badly treated following God but then the reward is great in heaven. It is good to know when it is tough that God gives back. God is faithful and good to know that Jesus suffered most and suffered this because of His so great love to us.

He gave also His life for all people. We read in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." 

In Yeshua/Jesus name is salvation.

Sharing Love From Sweden - FRIENDSHIP WITH JESUS - by Eva Haglund

FRIENDSHIP WITH JESUS

by Eva Haglund

God is not a God Who want us to just come and ask things from. He is a person, as He wants us to have a relation with. He is not a boring but a wonderful Friend full of love. It is not boring to get to know God and to have Him as a friend. He is also a God who tells jokes in a relation with Him when we are sensitive to hear. It was He who made laughter.

If we are in a period of loneliness we can learn to know God as our Friend. When David was outside with the sheep he learned to know Him as a friend. He was worshiping Him. David took time with God in a relationship. Sometimes worship is not counted so important but the Bible tell us to sing to God. We see that David was worshiping God. 

We read in Acts that Paul and Silas were worshiping in prison. In Psalm 139:3 it is written, "Let them praise His name with dance." We also need dance in a relation with God. Some think that dance to God is just for some but I think it is for anybody and that it also can be strong spiritually and that we need it. We can see already small children moving in dance to music.  David danced to God and so did Miriam. We can do it, too. Sometimes people do not like it but as David experienced it is good to continue. To worship and dance to Jesus has relationship with God. He is in the centrum. We also need the prophetic songs and dance.

Worship I think feels like giving our hearts to God in a relationship. It  is important. We lift God up and He is in centrum when it is from our hearts to Him. It is also good to sing Scriptures and Jesus is also the Word.

With Jesus it is good to know that He is not just a friend who is with me in prayer in the morning or evening but who is with me in the day whom I can talk and listen to. It is good to take time with Him and to learn to know His voice with the inner voice and try to hear things He wants to say. It is easier to learn to know God when we read the Bible constantly. To learn to know Him is to learn to know a God of love and in this relationship He speaks to us in friendship. 

Artwork by James Nesbit

In Song of Solomon we see that the bridegoom's heart was crushed for the bride by his love. In Song of Solomon 4:9, "You have ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse. You have ravished my heart with one look of your eyes, with one link of your necklace." We see here the deep love. This is how Jesus looks at us personally and His Bride - the Body of Christ. His heart is crushed for us.   When He looks at us He also sees no spot in us because His blood cleanses us. 

We read in Song of Solomon 4:7 "You are all fair my love. And there is no spot in you." We are  accepted and loved. Jesus as our Friend has so much love for us and He wants to be a close friend. Sometimes thanksgiving is not considered so important but to thank God is not anything unimportant for Him. In Psalm 100:4 we also read "Enter into His courts with thanksgiving."

If we love Jesus we can imagine He gets glad when we thank Him. We have much to thank Him for. He who suffered so much because of His love for us is worthy our thanksgiving. He suffered much more for us than we can understand. If we have suffered much it is just like a drop of the suffering Jesus suffered for us at Calvary. He did it because He loved us. 

If circumstances are difficult we can always have something to thank God for. We can thank Him for the fact that He suffered so much for us. We can simply thank Him for our being able to walk, or see, or eat, or other things. His grace is forever and He always loves us. We can thank Him for different things. Paul worshiped God when he was in prison. The Bible tells us to make sacrifices of praise. In Heb 13:15 it is written "Let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruits of lips that openly profess His name."

When we begin to give thanks to God and when we worship God it is also a help. It is a help in trials. In worship we also can sing thanksgiving to God. When Jesus is our Friend we can talk with Him sitting in a sofa or maybe take a walk and when we are alone and eat we can talk with our Friend Jesus.

Jesus is the Word and the Word is then like our bread. Jesus is the Bread of life, as it says in John 6:35. The Word  is also like water in a desert. We need this clean water. We need to spend time with it and with Jesus in prayer. He also wants to speak with the inner voice. It is important to know in a relationship with Jesus that we are so loved by Him.

We can tell Him that we love Him and thank Him for all His sufferings for us at Calvary. 

Sometimes Christians can be so busy doing things for God but do not think it is so important to take time in a relation with God. If He is our Friend then it so natural that we also take time to talk to and listen to our best Friend. As we need time with friends we need time with Him. He is the most wonderful Friend we can have and it is good to learn to know Him more and more and His Kingdom. 

In Isaiah 45 it is written about hidden treasures. We need MORE of God! To learn to know Him is like digging in a golden mine. Jesus is full of love and He is not boring. What a privilege to learn to know Him as a friend! To talk to Him face to  face like Moses in 2 Exodus 33:11, "So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face as a man speaks to his friend." We can have a meeting with Jesus when we read about the woman at Jesus' feet. She was so crushed by His love. She cried and cried. She received Jesus and her sins were forgiven. Her heart was so touched by His love. She wanted to give Jesus a most precious present - precious perfume expressing her love to her Savior . She also gave her life in Jesus' hand.

I am thinking also about Song of Solomon who shows not a dry , intellectual relation to God. When we also think about a relationship as it can be between bride and bridegoom, but also between Jesus the Bridegoom and his Bride the church, when the heart is touched by God's love and it is a relation with the best friend. In Song of Solomon is written about this relation. In verse 6:3 "I am my beloved`s and my beloved is mine." It is talking about a relation where the heart is touched. It is not a relation when you come to Jesus just when you ask for things.

I believe God's love for us is much bigger than we understand. It is a very strong love. His love reaches higher than the stars. Jesus loves to have a relation with us. In Song of Solomon it is written, "Oh, my doe in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.” In Song of Solomon we can see much about a relation not just between a usual bride and bridegoom but about the relation with the first love from the Bride to the Bridegoom – from our hearts to Him. To be in love with our Bridegoom Jesus we can then see how He is crushed by His love for the Bride. In Song of Solomon 4:9, ”You have ravished my heart, my my sister, my spouse, you have ravished my heart with one look of your eyes,with one link of your necklace.”

Artwork by James Nesbit

We find  that the bride is expressing love to the bridegoom. In Song of Solomon 5:10, "My beloved is white and ruddy, chief among ten thousand." She is in love. We can think about the relation to Jesus that we can be in love with Him - the first love from the Bride to the Bridegoom - Jesus our Savior. 

In the book of Ruth we see how Boaz was kind to Ruth and treated her with respect and care when she came as a stranger to a new place looking for a job and watched so she was not badly treated. He also helped her so she got food in Ruth 2:14. When I read this story I think about the heart Jesus has for us. He treats us with love and cares about us. When we read that Boaz cared we can think about how Jesus cares about us in a relation. He showed us the deepest love giving everything for us at Calvary. He loves all people and wants all to receive Him.

In Rev. 3:20 we  read "Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." He wants  to become a Friend to people who do not know Him and that all will receive Him. When I read that He wants to come into all and dine with them, I am also thinking about a relationship where we eat with someone to have fellowship with them. 

 Yeshua/Jesus is a wonderful Friend who gave His life for us.

Sharing Love From Sweden - JESUS SHOWED THE WAY OF FORGIVENESS - Eva Haglund

JESUS SHOWED THE WAY OF FORGIVENESS

Eva Haglund

The Bible tell us not to be bitter to others but to forgive others. It is so easy to judge one another but we are not called to judge others. Bitterness does not lead to anything good. We just do not feel well ourselves by being bitter.  In Eph5:31 we read “ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God in Christ forgave you.”

It can be easier to forgive when we think about that we have been forgiven OUR sins - when we received Jesus because He as a lamb without fault paid the price for us. Jesus wants us to show mercy to each other as He has shown mercy to us.  It does not mean we cannot say no and to admonish anybody. If people are bitter to anybody it sometimes can be followed by judging words being angry and gossip and a lot of wrong talking about this person can be the result. But Jesus taught us to show love and forgive.

Peter said in Matt.18:22, ”Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, up to seven times but up to seventy times seven.”

In Gen 37:23-24 we can see when Joseph's brothers treated him bad and cast him into a pit. Then he was sold by his own brothers to a foreign country as a slave. The brothers I think were jealous of Joseph and chose to sell him. This must have felt like a shock for Joseph to be sold to a foreign country as a slave leaving his home. Still Joseph forgave his brothers. In Gen 45:2 is written about him when his brothers came to Egypt and met him: “And he wept aloud and the Egyptians and the house of Farao heard it.”

We see here the love Joseph had for his brothers in spite of what they had done to him. He cried when he saw his brothers again. His heart was touched by his love for them when he saw them anyway.

In Matt 26:49 we read when Judah betrayed Jesus “Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying “Whomever I kiss, He is the one, seize Him. Immediately he went up to Jesus and said “Greetings,Rabbi!” and kissed him. But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Judas treated Jesus bad and betrayed Him and gave Him a kiss to show who it was, who was Jesus.

Jesus could have been bitter to him having been betrayed by Judah, but he was not. Instead He called him friend and wanted to help him and admonishing him and we read the words in Luke 22.48 “ Judas are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 

In Matt 5:43- 48 Jesus says “You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy” but I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do so?.” 

Here we see that Jesus wants us to forgive people, to love also our enemies. He tells us to bless them who curse us. He tells us to pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you and I have noticed that it can easier to forgive anybody if you begin to pray for the person who offended you.

In Acts 7:59 we read about when Stephen was stoned for his faith. “And they stoned Stephen and he was calling on God and saying “Lord, Jesus receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice ”Lord, do not charge them with this sin.”

In Isaiah 61:7 we see that the Bible tells us “Instead of your shame you will have double.” In Luke 6:21 Jesus says that “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” Blessed are you when men hate you and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven."

Christians can be bad treated but the reward is then big in heaven. He tell us to rejoice then. We must not forget that we also can get spiritual attacks. In the the Bible are many words of comfort. In Isaiah 54:17 it is comforting to know “no weapon formed against you shall prosper,and every tongue which rises against you in judgement you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of Lord and their righteousness is from me.”

If we have been bad treated we can get comfort in the Word of God. In Isaiah 40:11 we find the words ”Comfort, comfort my people.” It is good to give comfort to people. Many need comfort. Jesus was very bad treated even before He was crucified. He met a lot of hate and rejection.  He knows what it can be to be abandoaned also by friends. Just before His big suffering His friends left and His close friend Peter denied Him three times. We read in Luke 22:60-62 that He was mocked and scourged, being very painful. In Isaiah 53 it is written that “He is despised and rejected by men.”

Jesus choose anyway to suffer because of His love for us. It can be easier to forgive when we think about how much Jesus loves us. He suffered so much for us. Jesus showed the way of forgiveness when He endured the deepest pain at Calvary, and yet saying in Luke 2:34 “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

I do not think we understand a drop in a sea of the pain Jesus carried at the cross. In this pain He choose to forgive and gave His life also for the soldiers who hated Him. Jesus really showed the way of forgiveness. To forgive is also showing love.

Jesus/Yeshua showed the greatest love to us.

Eva Haglund

Sharing Love From Sweden - "PRECIOUS FOR A GOD OF LOVE" - Eva Haglund

PRECIOUS FOR A GOD OF LOVE

I think it is important to know that we are loved by God. Many suffer today and need to hear about a God who loves. When people get saved one of the basic teaching is to talk about a God who loves. God also wants to heal wounds people have pain from.

In Psalm 139 is written "You know my sitting down and my rising up." It shows in these verses and much in this Psalm how much God cares about us. He cares when we rise up and sit down and He is with us wherever we are. His love is following us through the day. He is with us every second because He cares. We can read in Psalm 139:13, "that it was He who made us in our mothers womb. You formed my inward parts. You covered me in my mothers womb."

Even in the beginning God as our heavenly Daddy was THERE. We are beautiful in His eyes, for the Word of God says in verse Psalm 139:14, "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderful made." We did not just happen to come into the world. God made us because of His love.

In Luke 12:7 is written that He counts our hairs. If He counts our hairs it really shows how much God loves us that He do not miss one hair.  When He even counts our hairs it shows our value before Him - that we are so precious for Him.  If He counts our hairs it also tells us that He cares both about small and big things. He did not miss anything and we can pray about small and big things.

We are more precious for God than all silver and gold in the world and all beautiful things in nature. When Adam and Eve fell in sin, God's heart loved them so much that He wanted to do everything for them.

He sent the most precious gift He could give. He gave his Son for us as a sacrifice for our sins and for salvation for everyone who believes in Him. God's heart was crushed for us. We were so precious for Him that He was willing to show the deepest love.

In the world and also among Christians sometimes people are not treated like they have the same value, but for God all people have the same value. He loves all people.

In Psalm 23 we read "The Lord is my shepherd." Jesus says He is the Good Shepherd. A good shepherd cares for his sheep and wants to help them.  In John 10:11 we see Jesus as the good shepherd who loves the sheep. He laid down His life for His sheep. It shows a very big love for the sheep. It shows that Jesus as the good shepherd was willing to do everything for the sheep. It cost His life as He it did. His heart is to do everything for the sheep. He really cares. In Isaiah 40:11 we know more of God's love.

He carries us as a lamb. He loves so much - we are as a very precious lamb in His arms. He loves the lamb so much, holding it safe in His arms. It is like anyone who loves a puppy or a kitten and holds it in his/hers arms.

In Isaiah 43:4 we see "Since you were precious in my sight, you have been honored and I have loved you." It talks about a God who loves His children.

Jesus loves all. In Matt 18:12-14 we see Jesus' love to anyone who does not know Him. He wants that person to get saved. If a shepherd has many sheep but one is lost he cares about the one which is lost and looks for it, to find it and rejoice when He has found it. He has a heart for anyone who does not know Him. That person is like the precious sheep He is looking for.

In the parable of the lost son we can see that the father loves his son. The son left his father but the father was longing for him to come home. When he finally came home the father was so glad when he saw him in the distance he ran to him and embraced him and gave him a party because he was so glad that he had returned. This parable shows the heart God has for people who do not know Him, that He loves them so much. It also shows the heart of God as a heavenly Daddy. He loves anyone who knows Him, too. His heart is a Daddy who cares, runs to you and embraces you.

He is not a hard God. His heart is love for a person, because He cares, like a parent for a child he/she cares about.

In Song of Solomon we can read about a love between a bride and a bridegroom, but we also can see Jesus' love for us as the  bridegroom. In Song of Solomon it is written in verse 4:9 “You have ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse. You have ravished my heart with one look of your eyes, with one link of your necklace.” We can understand here that Jesus is deeply touched by His love for His bride.

In several Scriptures in Song of Solomon we read about Jesus' love to His bride. In verse 4:7 is written, “You are all fair My love and there is no spot in you.”

When we have received Jesus and His redemption His blood cleanses us from  all sin and He sees no spot in us. Rom 8:1 says, ”There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” It is just in His blood that we are cleansed, by believing in Him.

In Isaiah 53 we can see in the text that Jesus did not open His mouth. He suffered by His own free will. He did not protest. He suffered because He choose to carry the terrible pain, because of His deep love for us. He also loved the soldiers who hated Him and also gave His life for them.

He hung on the cross because of love. He loved all people so much.

In Gethsemane Jesus had so much agony His sweat became like drops of blood. I think Jesus knew how much He would have to suffer. It was a terrible pain we do not understand. This is one reason He had so much agony. He knew how much He would have to suffer for us but He choose it ANYWAY because of His love for us.

I think as a child of God we need to feel secure in His love. In Romans 8:15 is written when get saved that “For you received not the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba,father.”  In this Spirit of adoption it is not meant to have fear but that we feel loved by God. It does not means that God does not want us to grow and to be free from things. To a child you care about you say, "No, this is not good for you. I do not want you to do that or have with these things to do."

To have God as our Daddy I picture when a daddy carries a baby. The baby feels safe and feels well in the arms of the parent and does not feel afraid. They are just glad to be close to the daddy.

This is the relation He wants us to feel as children of God. He as a Daddy is waiting for the sons and daughters who do not know Him to come to Him as in the parable of the lost son.

God is Abba – a heavenly Daddy who loves and Jesus gave all in love for us. God is love 1 John 4:8.

Eva Haglund

Sweden