Guidelines for living.
August 21st, 2026

Here’s The Only Way to Begin to Love

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:10-11



The greatest rivers in the world usually begin on the cold, frozen slopes of high mountains as the sun begins to melt snow and ice, and from the trickle of crystal-clear water a steam begins to flow and eventually a cascade of water plummets down the mountain. In the valley far below, the stream becomes a river, then a great river which we call the Nile, the Amazon, the Ganges, the Rhine, or whatever. By the time these massive bodies of water reach the ocean, they may be kilometers wide, and they are muddy and polluted.

Now, apply that same concept to the biblical truth that God is love. John tells us this in the New Testament, and the farther we are from Him, seemingly the more polluted love becomes. By the time it has been filtered through human lust, what we call love is a far cry from the compelling love which caused God to send His Son long ago.

Love is not a platitude, it is an action, an unconditional commitment to care, a decision of your heart. True, love is what the world needs. The words of a song popular a generation ago said it all: “The world is dying, dying for a little bit of love,” says one verse.

If you’ve been following this series based on Paul’s great chapter on love, found in the New Testament in 1 Corinthians 13, you have focused on love’s characteristics, but any discussion of the subject would be incomplete without a few words of encouragement for you whose river of love has either evaporated in the desert of life, or else become so polluted you hardly know what the real thing is.

When God touches your heart, your life will change. God takes up residence in your life, and the mud of sin is washed away. When pollution is eliminated, you start loving. This is the miracle of conversion. This is the answer to the lovelessness and the selfishness which destroys relationships.

Joining a church, turning over a new leaf, going to confession, just “being religious,” is not the solution. A relationship with God through His son is the only way you will really begin to love.

I will give you three simple guidelines that will help.

Guideline #1: Acknowledge you need a relationship with God and confess that sin has stopped the flow of love in your life. It’s easy to point a finger and say, “Well, it was his fault; her fault.” The solution is saying, “God, I need you. Forgive me. Touch my life.”

Guideline #2: Ask God’s forgiveness for your failure—not the other person’s—and ask Him to be Lord and Savior. Jesus gave us a promise. He said, “I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and have fellowship with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). That promise has your name on it, friend.

Guideline #3: Begin loving in simple steps, one day at a time. When you fail and fall back into those old habits and a loveless way, quickly admit your wrong; ask God’s help to overcome it.

Friend, you can talk about love until you have calluses on your vocal cords, but until you get back to the fountain and the source of love, who is God Himself, you’ll never lay hold of the real thing: the God kind of love that changes the world. So, go back to the source. It’s the only way to fill your cup and have enough left over for someone else in your life. Love is not a pious platitude. It’s the answer.



Resource Reading: 1 John 4:1-21

*From Death to Life*

Many of us unfortunately know what it feels like to lose a loved one. And we've longed to have just a few more hours with them here on earth.

*John 11* tells the story of Lazarus—a man who died but, by the power of God through His Son, Jesus Christ, was brought back to life four days later. It was a miracle! What was dead became alive again! And yet, we only know that Lazarus’ physical body was resurrected.

*Romans 6:5 "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection. "*

In this passage from Romans, Paul writes about a different type of resurrection—the best kind of resurrection. Unlike Lazarus, Jesus' resurrection wasn't merely physical, but also one of the Spirit. It wasn't temporary, but permanent.

But before Jesus’ resurrection, He willingly faced a painful, slow, emotional death. Jesus died that death for you. He suffered on the Cross for humanity. He bore the weight of all sin and affliction so that we might live with Him forever.

The Bible tells us how this story ends, but on the day that Jesus died, the people who loved Him did not know its end. They mourned, they grieved, they wept. Jesus' death felt final, but it wasn't.

We might have a friend or family member who’s far from God, who doesn’t know the good news that comes after mourning. Or we might be in that same period of uncertainty—feeling like we don’t know the rest of the story. 

When we've been united with Jesus by accepting the truth that He died in our place, as well as His free gift of grace, we can know that we have passed from death to life—forever! Our eternity is secure with Him. We can have joy and hope, and we can share it with others, and should/must share the experience.

*Prayer*

Everlasting Father, You made it possible for us to go from death to life, and to spend eternity with You! We can't fully comprehend or express how amazing that is. We don't deserve this kind of unconditional love, but we are grateful for it and overwhelmed by it. Thank You that this story isn't over, and You will have the final victory over sin and death. Amen!

*Learning to Live Humbly*

Have you ever met an angry Christian?

You may have come across Christians who seem to grumble, complain, or even speak harshly about other people. Maybe we’ve even been that person at times in our own life.

If we're not careful, we can easily become self-righteous within Christianity. After all, we know the truth and others may not. We might see how tempting it can be to look down on others, demean them, or consider them as worse off than ourselves.

But this misses the point of the Gospel of Jesus.

The Gospel tells us that all of us begin at the same starting point. And it’s only by Grace through faith that we come to Salvation and learn the truth about God’s love for us.

That doesn’t make us any better than other Christians! In fact, as Paul says in *Ephesians 4:2,* we should actually be humble and gentle with others, rather than harsh and critical. He says we are to be patient with one another, helping each other in every way possible so we can all grow together.

These ideas aren’t original to Paul. They actually came from how Jesus lived His life. As followers of Jesus, we too should strive to be gentle, humble, and patient with everyone in our lives. Regardless of whether they look or think a different way, every person deserves dignity, patience, and love.

Let's take some time today to consider a few ways that we can grow in patience, humility, and love with others. It could be slowing down long enough for people to know we care, saying something encouraging to someone, or admitting that we’ve made a mistake.

Let's make the decision today to live in humility and grace with others.

*Prayer For Love*
Father God, Your Word inspires us to be humble and gentle; to lead with patience and unconditional love. But we can't live that way without Your help. Teach us how to extend grace and forgiveness to those around us. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

ABUNDANCE RICHES

The abundant riches of God refers to God's unlimited wealth, not primarily in money, but in everything He possesses and freely gives to His children. It includes His grace, mercy, love, wisdom, power, peace, joy, provision, and eternal life. God's riches are infinite—they never run out.
Here are some key Scriptures:
Ephesians 2:7 – "That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19 – "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Romans 11:33 – "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!"
Ephesians 3:16 – "That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man."
What do God's abundant riches include?
Abundant grace – Forgiveness and unmerited favor.
Abundant mercy – Compassion even when we fail.
Abundant love – An unconditional, everlasting love.
Abundant wisdom – Guidance for every situation.
Abundant peace and joy – Inner stability regardless of circumstances.
Abundant provision – God meeting our needs, whether spiritual, emotional, or physical.
Abundant spiritual inheritance – Every blessing we have in Christ, including eternal life.
So, the abundant riches of God are the fullness of everything God is and has, generously made available to those who belong to Him through Christ. Material provision can be one expression of His care, but His riches are far greater than financial wealth—they encompass every blessing needed for life and godliness.
A helpful way to summarize it is:
The abundant riches of God are His limitless resources, character, and blessings, which He pours out on His children according to His perfect will and glory.

God commands us to love our enemies because it mirrors His own unconditional character, breaks the destructive cycle of retaliation, and acts as a transformative witness to the world.

~. . . And the evening and the morning were the 224th day. Good Morning, God's Beloved. On this 225th day of 2026, might I submit to you that God's love for you is not only unconditional. It is also unstoppable . . .==> "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." [Lamentations 3:22-23]
[And as you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, Please PLAY NICE, PRAY for one another, Distance-CHECK on your neighbors, and Keep a SMILE on your Faith.]
(For more videos like this, subscribe to my YouTube channel, MelzMark Video Productions, at www.youtube.com/[VStMelz])
https://youtube.com/watch?v=UIAB2ZPja6U&is=XBmBghw8BmnifYeL

Brothers and sisters in Christ,
Please hear my heart: this is not an attack on anyone, nor am I telling you to leave church. No, no I am still in church, and I am still part of what we call church in this modern day.
For a very long time, God has been showing me clearly through His Word that much of what we see today is not His original design. Many have come against me and tried to convince me that these modern setups are from God, but when I open the Scriptures, I see something completely different.
I am not telling you what to do with what I share in this group. All I know is that revelation does not mean leave, and revelation does not mean attack.

Revelation means:
Question and search the Word (Acts 17:11).
Test all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
Read and study the Scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15).

Most importantly, PRAY.
When the disciples walked with Jesus, received all His wisdom, knowledge, and revelation, they didn't go out to fight the religious leaders or destroy the system the Pharisees had built. Instead, they asked Jesus one specific thing: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1). They knew that prayer is the ultimate source of power, the answer, and the only thing that brings true change from our Heavenly Father.
So yes, if you want to do something about what you read here, you have my full support: pray for the Body of Christ and for HIS Church not mine, not yours, but the Church of King Jesus Christ.
Amen, brothers and sisters

Exposing Religion, Restoring Covenant, and Understanding the True Body of Christ

THE ROOT PROBLEM: ADAM'S BLOODLINE VS. THE LAST ADAM
To understand what the Church is supposed to be, we must first understand why we needed Jesus in the first place.

The Inherited Condition: In Genesis 2:21-23, Eve was taken out of Adam’s side they shared the same life and blood. When Adam sinned, spiritual death and corrupted iniquity entered the human spiritual DNA.

The Transmitted Curse: Just like a child born with a condition inherited from their parents through no fault of their own, every human born of human seed inherited Adam’s fallen nature (Psalm 51:5, Romans 5:12).

The Pure Virgin Birth: This is why Jesus could not have an earthly human father. The Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary (Luke 1:35). Jesus was born with pure, heavenly, undefiled blood bypassing Adam's fallen seed.
"The first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit."
1 Corinthians 15:45

Key Insight: Salvation through Holy Communion and the Blood of Jesus acts like spiritual dialysis filtering out the toxicity of Adam's sin and replacing it with the pure, incorruptible life of King Jesus!

GOD’S DESIGN FOR MARRIAGE AND COVENANT
Why did God create marriage, forbid sex outside of it, and tell us not to be unequally yoked (2 Corinthians 6:14)?

God is Eternal Community: God exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Love requires relationship. When God said, "It is not good that man should be alone" (Genesis 2:18), He wasn't just fixing Adam's loneliness He was creating humanity to reflect His relational, self-sacrificial nature.

Godly Offspring: Sex inside marriage creates a covenant shield over the home. Malachi 2:15 asks why God made two into one: "He seeks godly offspring." Born-again parents create a holy atmosphere covered by prayer (1 Corinthians 7:14).

Important Note: Born-again parents give their children a spiritual foundation, but every child must still reach an age where they personally accept Jesus as their Savior. God has children, not grandchildren!

Marriage as a Prophetic Picture: In Ephesians 5:31-32, Paul reveals that marriage between a husband and wife was created from Genesis to be a prophetic mirror of Christ and the Church.

THE TRAP OF MODERN RELIGION, CULTURE, AND TRADITIONS
In Matthew 15:6–9, Jesus confronted the religious leaders of His day with a severe warning:

"You have nullified the word of God for the sake of your tradition. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules."

When the modern Church strays from the Holy Spirit, it falls into three traps:

Religion: Replaces raw intimacy with God with mechanical checklists and outward appearances.

Culture: Waters down the Gospel to avoid offending people offering a soft "love" without Truth that leaves people bound in sin.

Tradition: Protects "how we've always done it," defending empty human routines even when the Holy Spirit wants to move.
The Pool of Bethesda Warning (John 5)
A paralyzed man lay by the pool for 38 years. He said, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up." He was inside a place called the "House of Mercy," yet he was totally isolated by religious crowds pursuing their own blessings. Jesus bypassed the crowd, spoke Kingdom power, and commanded him to rise! The Holy Spirit does not need a human run-sheet; He needs obedient vessels.

TRUTH AND LOVE: THE GREAT PHYSICIAN
Modern churches often preach Truth without Love (Legalism) or Love without Truth (Compromise). Jesus came full of Grace and Truth (John 1:14).

Truth without Love - Brutality: Uses Scripture like a hammer to condemn people without helping them.

Love without Truth - Deception: Tells a drowning person they are fine while they perish in their sin.

The Doctor Analogy: A good doctor hates the cancer, but loves the patient.

To the woman caught in adultery (John 8): Jesus offered unconditional Grace ("Neither do I condemn you") AND uncompromising Truth ("Go and sin no more").
Why Jesus Acted Differently with Different People:

To the broken, lost, and hurting sinner: Jesus was gentle, patient, and merciful (Zacchaeus, the woman at the well).

To the hypocritical religious leaders: Jesus was sharp, bold, and uncompromising ("Woe to you, hypocrites! White-washed tombs!" - Matthew 23:27).

WHAT IS THE TRUE CHURCH (EKKLĒSIA)?
If Jesus walked into our towns today, He wouldn't look for a brand name, a denomination, or a big building. The word "Church" in Greek is Ekklēsia, meaning "the called-out ones."

The Origin of the Setup: For the first 300 years, the early Church met from house to house as a family (Acts 2:46). When Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in 313 AD, church life was merged with Roman pagan structures building giant basilicas, introducing altars, and turning active believers into passive spectators watching a priest or pastor perform on stage.

What is a "Saint"? In Scripture, every born-again believer is a saint (Ephesians 1:1). The "assembling of the saints" (Hebrews 10:25) was never meant to be watching a weekly 90-minute show. 1 Corinthians 14:26 says: "Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation."
Whose Church Does Jesus Visit?

Where believers gather in HIS Name (not human brand names - 1 Corinthians 1:12-13).

Where people worship in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:24).

Where genuine Love is shown to the broken (John 13:35).

Where Jesus is not locked outside the door by human programs (Revelation 3:20).

REVELATION IS A CALL TO PRAYER, NOT REBELLION
Testing what we hear against Scripture is biblical the Bereans were praised because they searched the Scriptures daily to verify what Paul taught (Acts 17:10-11).
When God gives you revelation to see the flaws in religious traditions:

Do not use it to destroy or attack: Revelation is not a weapon to throw rocks at the Bride of Christ.

Use it as an assignment to intercede: In Luke 11:1, the disciples didn't ask Jesus how to preach or do miracles they asked, "Lord, teach us to pray."

Follow Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer (John 17): Right before the cross, Jesus prayed for the protection and supernatural unity of His believers ("that they all may be one as We are one").

OUR CALLING AS STEWARDS
We do not own the Church; we are only stewards of what Jesus built. It was already perfect in the New Testament. We don't need to reinvent it with human business models or cultural traditions.
It is time to be soft and compassionate toward the broken sheep, but bold and uncompromising against the religious spirit that keeps people trapped.
Let us return to the original blueprint: living in the pure bloodline of Jesus, worshipping in Spirit and Truth, loving one another, and being His living Body on the earth! Amen!

Amazing Facts.
Daily Devotionals

Patience and Fortitude.

August 12th, 2026

The two stone lions in front of the New York Public Library were named Patience and Fortitude in the 1930s by then-mayor Fiorello LaGuardia for the qualities he felt New Yorkers would need to survive the Great Depression. The two lions in front of the public library in Manhattan have enchanted New York residents and tourists since the library’s dedication on May 23, 1911. The lions received several affectionate monikers over the years, but the names that finally stuck were Mayor LaGuardia’s.

When Jacob met the woman of his dreams at the well in Haran, little did he know how much patience and fortitude their love story would demand of him! First, he had to serve his father-in-law for seven years to acquire his bride. Then Laban tricked Jacob into marrying Rachel’s sister. When Jacob finally got to marry his dream girl, they were struck with the painful reality of infertility.

Then the poor man had to endure his wives’ sibling rivalry and Rachel’s obsession with becoming a mother. In Jacob’s culture, a woman’s value stemmed from childbearing, and Rachel was keenly aware of this societal pressure. When she was finally able to conceive, she died while giving birth to their second son.

No matter how “perfect” a potential mate seems at first sight, time reveals all faults. Not only are our loved one’s faults magnified under the microscope of intimacy, but our own faults show up as well. Christian music artist Stephen Curtis Chapman says, “Without my marriage I may have actually been able to get through life under the illusion that I’m a pretty decent guy.” Paul says that love is patient, kind, and long-suffering. Marriage offers the opportunity to learn—and demonstrate!—the unconditional love shown to us by our great God.

Key Bible Texts
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. (Genesis 29:20 KJV)

God's love is unconditional, endures through our failures.

#Lordsbook #GodIsLove #UnconditionalLove #1John416 #GodLovesYouAlways

Heavenly Father, Creator of all things,

Open my eyes to see Your Divine Image in every person I meet today. Remind me that every soul carries a spark of Your presence, and that no human being is ever empty or worthless.

Forgive me for the times I have let unchecked anger take root in my heart. Forgive me for the moments I have used my words as weapons to shame, belittle, or tear down the character of my brother or sister. Purify my lips so that I never destroy the dignity of my neighbor through humiliation or cruel speech.

When I am wronged, grant me the patience to pause before I react. When I need to offer correction, help me to do it privately, gently, and only out of deep, unconditional love. Let me never speak to feed my own pride or anger, but only for the healing and good of the other person. If my words cannot come from a place of genuine care, give me the wisdom to remain silent.

Make my heart like the heart of Christ—able to see past the surface, hating the wrong, but fiercely loving the soul. Let my words be a tool for healing rather than a weapon of judgment, and may everything I say today draw others closer to You.

Amen.