Love Your Neighbor

October 25, 2021·Nicole Leao

How to live in harmony?

How to live in harmony when we feel we are failing so badly? After all, we are sinners struggling against our own flesh and against the evil that is in this world. But there is a way to live in harmony and it involves three blessed words, the first is love, the second is forgiveness, and the third is patience. The Bible teaches us to live in harmony by putting on these three acts, the first of which is the most important and determines the fulfillment of the other two, for as it is written in Colossians 3:14, love is the perfect bond. And in the next few days we will delve a little deeper into each of these acts, starting today with LOVE. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love This is one of the best known passages in the Bible, 1 John 4:8, but if only it were the most understood, it perfectly sums up the nature of our creator, that He is love, and what does that mean? Well, in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 we find the definition of love: love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does […]

devotional follow-jesus love-your-neighbor

October 13, 2021·Nicole Leao

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart

Today I want to bring here on the blog a story that is to fill our hearts with emotion and happiness. This weekend I had the opportunity to meet Anderson Novais, his wife and their little boy, a blessed family full of faith. Now you may be wondering, who is this young man and why was this an opportunity, and for this I will tell you how my family met him. But first, I ask you: are you faithful in little? A servant at the traffic light Last week my mother was taking my cousin to an appointment when the traffic light closed, and they were surprised to see a young man with a neat beard, suit and tie, selling candy at the traffic light. An unpredictable scene in the city of São Paulo, where we are usually approached by beggars and small children who should be at school. The young man approaches the car, very politely offers the candy he is selling and hands over a card with his phone number, Instagram, and professional information, such as the college he is attending. My mother is intrigued by the scene, praises his posture and asks why he is so dressed […]

devotional love-of-god love-your-neighbor

September 08, 2021·Nicole Leao

Is indifference the opposite of love?

There is a well-known phrase that says “The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference” (Elie Wiesel). Today we will talk about this and see what the Bible says about love. And for that we will start with some verses that define what love is: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not mistreat, it does not seek its own interests, it is not easily angered, it does not hold grudges. Love does not rejoice in injustice, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:8 Jesus answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39 But God demonstrates his love for us: Christ died on our behalf while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 God is love and He is not indifferent In 1 John 4:8 we […]

love-of-god love-your-neighbor

July 07, 2021·Gabriela Angerami

A powerful tool for connection

Do you know what one of the most powerful tools of connection is? Generosity! Keep this in mind: generosity is a powerful tool for connection. Let’s talk a little bit about it. Paul encouraged the churches to be generous It is interesting that in the apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, we see him encouraging the Gentile churches to contribute to the church of the Jews in Jerusalem. There were Jews in the Jerusalem church going through need. And Paul knew the weight that Gentile contributions to Jews would carry. The church of the new covenant in Christ Jesus, in which non-Jews, that is, Gentiles also became part of the people of God, was also new at that time. The Corinthian church’s act of generosity to the church of Jews in Jerusalem would symbolize the unity of the church. In this context, Paul was using generosity as an instrument of connection. The results of generosity in the Church In 2 Corinthians 9:13-14 it is very cool to see Paul pointing to what the results of that generous act of the Gentiles would be. “As a result of your service, (1) they will give glory to God. For your generosity to […]

devotional love-your-neighbor

July 02, 2021·Nicole Leao

Impact the lives of those around you!

Do you impact the lives of those around you? Better yet, do you positively impact the lives of those around you? These are questions that lead us to reflect about how we conduct ourselves before our neighbor and about something that we have talked a lot about lately here, about our ministry as renewed in Christ. You and I have a mission to be light of the world and salt of the earth, living this way for eternity, but have we been acting this way? I would like you to think in this moment: in the last week have I blessed lives, have I been indifferent, or have I caused harm to anyone? Of course, our first mechanism is to believe that we did everything right, but we need to take responsibility. To become responsible for our faith, for our mission, and for the mistakes we make. And as a sinner who is always learning and seeking to improve, I want to admit to you that in the last week I have failed to positively impact people’s lives, I was so focused on my own issues that I didn’t prioritize those around me and more than that, I negatively impacted […]

bible devotional love-of-god love-your-neighbor

May 28, 2021·Nicole Leao

Can Love End?

Today we will address a topic that can give much to talk about, so I want to focus on love between a couple, the love in the marriage, that is a great blessing from God. The Father created man and woman to be together. Love keeps the couple together, even in the most difficult times. In Songs 8:7, it is written, “Many waters cannot quench love; the rivers cannot carry it away in the current. If anyone were to offer all the riches of his house to acquire love, he would be utterly despised.” So you may wonder, why do we see love running out all over the place these days? Well, this is not an easy question to answer, but I invite you to come together to better understand why. Love is a decision The first thing we need to establish here is that love is much more than a feeling, it is a decision that must be made on a daily basis. We can say that when a man and a woman like each other, they need to decide: to love or not to love. Love is more than attraction, it requires wanting the good of the other […]

love-of-god love-your-neighbor

May 26, 2021·Nicole Leao

Prayer: For a world without hate!

The first biblical commandment, to love your neighbor, seems to be one of the most ignored in recent times, especially during the pandemic. Of course we also saw many acts of love and solidarity, but the excess of hatred was also noticeable. Relatives who no longer speak to each other because of differing opinions, attacks on the internet from all sides. I wonder where the wisdom that those transformed in Christ should have gone. As children of God, we are called to respect, to love, to be light in the world and salt on Earth. Called to be peacemakers, after all, as it is written in Matthew 5:9: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. This does not mean that we should not take a stand, but rather, that the reactivity that is so rampant out there leads nowhere. The soft word deflects the anger and it is in this space of dialogue where we can all grow with each other and as the body of Christ. So if you want to live in a world where there is more love than hate, I invite you to pray this prayer with me. I leave […]

love-of-god love-your-neighbor

May 24, 2021·Nicole Leao

We are adopted by God

You may be thinking: What do you mean adopted by God? Well, adopted by God are those who have been redeemed from their sins by the work of Jesus Christ. These are those regenerated by the Holy Spirit and justified by God through the merits of Christ. Those declared righteous by God are also adopted by Him as sons, members of His heavenly family. In Romans 8:13-17, the apostle Paul writes that believers have received the spirit of worship, and are now led by the Spirit of God. This means that it is the Holy Spirit who bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. But isn’t everyone already a child of God first? Having asked this question, I want to bring the reflection that, in fact, fallen man is a “child of wrath” due to his sinful state (Ephesians 2:3). Therefore, not everyone is adopted by the Lord, of course these people can be used, because when God wants to act, He uses people and situations. He has used even a donkey in the Bible. But to be adopted we must first recognize our salvation in Christ Jesus. (Matthew 13:38; John 8:44; Acts 13:10; 1 John […]

love-of-god love-your-neighbor

May 12, 2021·Nicole Leao

What does the Bible say about jealousy?

This week I wrote a prayer on the subject here on the blog and it was remarkable that there are many people dealing with this very bad feeling. So in today’s text we will better understand what it is to feel jealousy, how it arises, and what the Bible says about it. To feel jealousy, in and of itself, is not a sign of sin or a problem. The word jealousy originates from the Latin zelúmen or, again, from the Greek zelosus. Its origins are related to the word zelos, which means fervor, heat, ardor, or intense desire. And the apostle Paul, in his first epistle to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 13:4), says that “love does not burn with jealousy. This jealousy spoken of in this passage is the Greek zelosus. Which can be both good and bad, in the good sense it can mean a “zealous care” that seeks the good, protection, welcome, integrity and happiness of the other person. God Himself expresses His zeal and care for those He has created, saying, “You shall have no other gods before Me. For I am a jealous God” (Exodus 20:3,5). But unfortunately we live in a world corrupted by sin, […]

love-your-neighbor

May 03, 2021·Nicole Leao

Prayer: For the sick

These days passing in front of a hospital I got shivers when I thought how many people were there fighting against an illness or worried about a relative in a bed and today I wanted to pray for the sick of the nations. The last few years have not been easy for many with the worldwide crisis caused by the coronavirus, but I have faith that everything will get better. So today I invite you to pray for those who are sick, either in hospital beds or in their own homes. I leave here a passage especially for you today: Prayer made with faith will heal the sick; the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. James 5:15 Remember that you don’t have to repeat the prayer exactly as I am going to leave it here, because each one of us has a specific way of communicating with the Lord. But if you want to follow me, it will be a pleasure, feel free to speak it in your own way. Prayer Beloved God, first of all I want to thank you for your love, because I know that you are God […]

love-your-neighbor prayer

April 22, 2021·Nicole Leao

How to discover my purpose in God?

We, human beings, have the need to find answers for everything, because our Father made us intelligent beings capable of logical thinking. With this come questions about how we should live, what is our purpose in life, why we are here, and many others. Fortunately, we find answers to all of them in the Holy Scriptures and today we will understand a little better how to discover our purpose in God, after all, our Father has a purpose for the life of each of His children. Why are we here? For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16 No one is born by chance, we are here with a mission, and because the breath of life has blown upon us. With that I want to start by telling you that if anyone ever said that you were not worth it or that you should not exist, this is a lie. Such a person allowed himself to be used by the enemy to discourage you. The perfect creative God who created you would […]

love-of-god love-your-neighbor word-of-god

December 10, 2020·Nicole Leao

Learn to deal with different opinions!

Since childhood people have different opinions, either for simple everyday things or even more serious questions, topics that need further deepening and reflection. Even within the church there are disagreements or different understandings on certain issues. And one of the points that makes fellowship so important is this one, through these debates and conversation, one can help the other to see more clearly. The divergent opinions in the book of Job In Job’s book, it is reported that they and their friends had different opinions about the reason for the tragedies that affected his life. Eliphaz, for example, was sure that his friend had committed some serious sin and was therefore being punished, as described in Job 22. On the other hand, Job was convinced of his innocence and believed that even God would be in his favor. In the course of the book, Job’s four friends presented their different and divergent opinions. As we read a few paragraphs we can even imagine them exalted, with each one defending his point of view. But it is also remarkable that there was mutual respect there. Each one listened to the other attentively, at times it was almost a speech, the placement […]

love-of-god love-your-neighbor

September 18, 2020·Nicole Leao

Learning about the Fruit of the Holy Spirit: Love

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 Today we will start a series here on the blog, where we will delve into what is written in the Bible about each of results of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives, mentioned in the book of Galatians. The series “Learning about the fruit of the Holy Spirit” will feature 9 devotionals, which will be released every Monday here on the Bible Offline blog. Love My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12 Love is the first mentioned and to understand it a little better, let us draw on the passage in 1 Corinthians 13: 1-8, when the apostle Paul was teaching in a church about true love and said that even that he spoke all the languages that are spoken on earth and in heaven, if he had no love, people would not understand anything. Paul goes on to say that he could have the gift of announcing messages from God, have all the knowledge of the world, understand all the secrets that exist […]

love-of-god love-your-neighbor

July 30, 2020·Bíblia JFA // Bible Offline

Be the carrier of the Good News

Andrew was working with his brother when a stranger came up to him and said: I have a good job offer for you. In the segment where you already work, but earning more, much more! Paul was lost on the road driving, when out of nowhere a “car” appeared with the light in his face saying: you are on the wrong road. I will guide you on how to get to your destination! An IRS inspector was on the street in his hometown, when he was approached by a celebrity in the whole country, who was passing by and who told him that he would be a guest at his home. You may have already realized of whom I’m talking about … In these 3 situations, people were in their daily lives, when they were surprised with a Good News that literally saved their lives! Jesus changed the life of Andrew, Peter, Paul, Zacchaeus… and continues to change the life of anyone He approaches. Always with Good News: The good news of the gospel! You have been called to be a carrier of good news And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful […]

love-of-god love-your-neighbor

July 26, 2020·Gabriela Angerami

Ask for a generous heart!

Generosity is a virtue of the Kingdom of God. If being generous is a difficulty for us, we can ask God for a generous heart. We have a kind Father who wants to add to us the virtues of His Kingdom, such as generosity. Sharing a testimony I will start this text by sharing an experience I had last weekend. I was attending an online class and the teacher showed the case of a foundation that serves children and teenagers. It showed a particular action they took to encourage donations. In class we watched the video of this action. And in this action, they asked the children who received help from the foundation, that is, children in need, to donate a toy to other needy children. They not only asked them to donate a toy, but asked them to donate their favorite toy. When I saw the beginning of the video, I was sure the children would donate, but in the end they would get new toys as a reward for the gesture they made. But not! The video ended with the children donating and the call was “everyone can help”. I confess that I was trying to assimilate, you […]

heart love-of-god love-your-neighbor

July 16, 2020·Léo

Men of the Lord!

Today’s text is especially for men and I would like to ask: have we properly performed the role of men of God? Or are we disrespecting and not caring for the people around us? This is very important to talk about this topic, because many of us men do not understand what it is to be a man of God and end up acting in the way they think is best. Shall we talk about? A man loves! “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.“ 1 Corinthians 16: 13-14 One thing I find interesting about this passage is the way Paul talks about love. He doesn’t just tell us to love one another, but he tells us to do everything with love. But what’s the difference? The principle itself is the same, but the big difference is the verb “to do”. We can often think that love is just a feeling and that there is no need for anything else. However, it is extremely important to understand that love comes with actions. If we love Christ, we act as one. It should likewise work with the people around us. The Lord told […]

love-of-god love-your-neighbor

July 07, 2020·Léo

The importance of Communion!

Have we enjoyed the communion of people, even through technology? Have we spent time with our brothers / sisters in the faith? Or have we walked alone? Today I would like to talk a little about the importance of communion between the brothers. We often think that there is no need to be in communion! Is that really it? Let’s talk about? The Society! ” Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. “ Psalm 113: 1-3 As we have already said in one of the last texts, it is not new for any of us who live in society. And, because we live in society, we need to understand the value of relating to the people around us. Many times, people hurt us or we hurt other people and it ends up disturbing our relationships. In fact, many people turn away from God and stop attending churches, due to the attitudes of people who hurt them. But we need to understand that just as we have flaws, so do the people around […]

love-of-god love-your-neighbor

July 02, 2020·Léo

Be patient with the others!

Have we been thinking about each other? Have we understood that each one has their own time? Or have we easily lost patience? Today I would like to comment on a very interesting topic, which we often do not pay attention to! Will you join me? Self-control “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.” Proverbs 16:32 Self-control has to do with our ability to control our impulses, attitudes, behaviors and emotions. And it has everything to do with patience. Unfortunately it is very easy and common for us to get stressed and lose patience with the people around us, doesn’t matter if they are relatives, friends or even people we do not know. In my point of view, this happens because of the selfishness that exists within us. We always tend to think about ourselves before we think about other people. This is something of our nature and, consequently, we started to want everything to happen when and the way we want. Consequently, we tend to react in the wrong way to situations that are not as we wish. But that’s not how things are supposed to work, right? The service […]

love-of-god love-your-neighbor

June 26, 2020·Léo

Love and respect the others!

Have we been stressed easily? Have we respected and loved people, regardless of their opinions? Both Christians and non-Christians? Today I would like to talk a little about love and respect! I was talking to my psychologist, who is a Christian, and she showed me that love and respect goes beyond what I thought it was! Come on? Constant respect! “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,” Philippians 2: 3 In this conversation with my psychologist, I started talking about relationships with her. Through my speech, she noticed that my attitude / posture changed, depending on who I was talking to. When I talked to a person who respected herself and was respectful, I was respectful, but when I talked to a person who did not respect herself and was not respectful of others, my behavior was different. I thought about it a lot and went to research what the Bible said about respect. I found the above verse, which says that we must consider others superior to ourselves, that is, treat absolutely everyone with respect, listen to everyone and love each one of them. And that is totally related to the […]

love-of-god love-your-neighbor wisdom

May 21, 2020·Léo

Forgiveness that heals!

I would like to bring up a very important topic today: Forgiveness! Have we forgiven as Christ taught us? Have we been meek of heart? Or do I fear we are easily stressed, compassionate and resentful? The question of forgiveness is a very delicate one. A theme that must be rooted in our minds, so that the Body of Christ may be built and communion may grow. Why should I forgive or ask for forgiveness? “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:21-22 I believe that the biggest reason why we should forgive our brothers and accept a request for forgiveness is for simple fact that we are sinners and did not deserve God’s forgiveness, yet He gave His Son to forgive our sins, so if we are Christians (the meaning of the word Christians in Greek is “Little Christs”), we must follow the ways of Christ There is something very interesting about forgiveness in Jewish culture: in Judaism, it was considered honorable to forgive three times. However, in this line […]

love-of-god love-your-neighbor

May 19, 2020·Léo

A teachable heart!

Today, I would like to bring you a very simple and brief word! Have we welcomed the exhortation of our leaders and brothers in the faith? Have we submitted to the leadership that has been placed upon us, by God? This is a theme that I love to think and talk about, as it helps us to grow in communion and as the Body of Christ! Come on? Teaching in my life I have always enjoyed learning new and different things, but it was very common for me not to submit to the corrections and exhortations I received. This was something that God dealt with in me through the discipleship I participate in. It was very hard for me, and it still is, to hear corrections and to hear someone saying that I am wrong, because it hurts my ego. However, as time went on, I learned that the teachings I received was for me to improve and grow in my walk with God. I still need to learn a lot to control and repress my pride, but the Lord has clearly shown me what he says in Proverbs: “Because the Lord rebukes the one he loves, as well as […]

bible love-your-neighbor simplicity-en

April 17, 2020·Léo

Love your family!

I would like to bring a reflection to all of us in this moment of quarantine! Have we loved everyone around us the right way? As many people are staying indoors with their family for almost full time in this quarantine period, disagreements end up happening. At some point we will disagree with those who live with us. Disagreeing is natural, but we need to be very careful and always base our relationships on what the Bible says. Shall we talk a little about love? Come with me! What does the Bible say about love? “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4: 7-8 It is not new that we must love one another. The Bible makes it very clear, not only through Jesus’s commandments and teachings, but also through the disciples and apostles, that we owe others as we love ourselves. Right. But what would it be like to love? What would it be like to show love? How to love? For this, Paul wrote the following: “Love is patient, love is […]

love-of-god love-your-neighbor word-of-god

March 24, 2020·Léo

5 tips for your mental health

This text is for you who are quarantined and thinking about what to do with your free time. Come with us and we will give you some tips to preserve your mental health! Much has been said about the coronavirus. How to prevent, how to relate to people,the dos and don’ts. But we are human beings and we have our needs, so we need to talk about yours, mine and our mental health in this quarantine period! The current Society We are used to affection in our daily lives, that is because we spend the whole day with friends and family. As a result, we get used to warm hugs and greetings every day. However, now we are at a critical moment in our society and we need to give up our customs and desires for a greater good. But it is very difficult being away from everyone and being stuck inside the house! What should I do? Knowing this, we at the Bible Offline have separated some tips on what to do with your free time and how to spend this difficult time with peace and tranquility! Get along! 1 – Do different things Learn new things! Do you […]

love-of-god love-your-neighbor

March 12, 2020·Léo

The power of the word!

The “word” we are going to talk about is the one we utter, the one that comes out of our mouths! Have we used our mouths correctly? Have we praised God with our words or have we used them to hurt people and gossip? Words have the power to bless and curse. Knowing this, we need to talk a little bit about it to see if we are using it correctly! The word as a blessing. “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10: 9-10 The word can only be a blessing if we are with the heart in the right place. That is, we will only have the ability to bless someone’s life, once our hearts and our lives are centered and focused on Christ. Any goodness that exists in our hearts, whether it big or small, does not come from us, but from the love that the Lord deposits in us. By origin we are flesh, we are […]

love-your-neighbor