In looking at the word tolerance once more, Father, You gave me a different perspective on it. This view is of the other person that You call us to be tolerant of.
Eph 4:2 ..with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love.
It’s true, Father, for Your body to be in harmony, we must call on Your grace to show tolerance for one another in love.
#430 anechomai is the Greek word used in this passage for “tolerance”.
It means to hold up, to hold one’s self erect and firm; to sustain, to bear, to endure.
This word to me usually meant “putting up” with someone and their ways.
Actually though, You brought to my mind that “love covers all transgressions”, as Your love has more than covered our sins but made them of no account in our relationship with You.
This Greek word You use gives me the idea of holding someone up and not shooting them down because of our disagreement or aggravation toward them.
They too belong to You and You deeply love them because You sent Jesus to free and deliver them from darkness also.
Help us draw on Your super abundant Grace to set the boundaries that need to be set and to cement them in Your love. To have Your wisdom in relationships with other believers in their weaknesses or peculiar ways as they seek the same toward us.
How great and wonderful a God You are that You see the heart that is willing to follow You and to use us as we are!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Liberty
You are speaking to me this morning about the great freedom Your divine love brings to one's soul. Freedom to be the peculiar people we are! Freedom from criticism, blame, condemnation, and guilt. Being ourselves, not hiding what part of ourselves we think is unacceptable but knowing that you Father, are working within us to align our hearts with Your word.
When we know that Christ, the lover of our souls, loves us deeply, we are released to be who You created us to be. There are no fears of rejection, no constantly looking for approval of man, no feigning and insincerity of heart.
The word "sincere" in the Greek can mean "found pure when unfolded and examined by the sun's light". I love that Father. Real, undisguised, and no hidden agenda. A sincere heart has no desire to control the conversation or to control what others feel or say. It simply accepts people where they are and by the grace and love given to us, we speak truth or we don't speak at all.
Not being afraid to be real or genuine is liberating!
The most wonderful thing about the liberty You give to us Father, is that You enable us to give it to others. It shines with Your light and Your love.
Thank you Father that You say in Your word that "where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty". 2 Cor 3:17 The risen Christ abides within each believer and He is our hope.
When we know that Christ, the lover of our souls, loves us deeply, we are released to be who You created us to be. There are no fears of rejection, no constantly looking for approval of man, no feigning and insincerity of heart.
The word "sincere" in the Greek can mean "found pure when unfolded and examined by the sun's light". I love that Father. Real, undisguised, and no hidden agenda. A sincere heart has no desire to control the conversation or to control what others feel or say. It simply accepts people where they are and by the grace and love given to us, we speak truth or we don't speak at all.
Not being afraid to be real or genuine is liberating!
The most wonderful thing about the liberty You give to us Father, is that You enable us to give it to others. It shines with Your light and Your love.
Thank you Father that You say in Your word that "where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty". 2 Cor 3:17 The risen Christ abides within each believer and He is our hope.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
White as Snow
The other day You gave me a sense of how terrible accusation and condemnation are. They bring great damage and a tearing down of the body of Christ.
Rom 8:1 There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
To the lost, it decreases their opportunity to experience the love of God.
How fragile emotions and feelings can be in the moment. We are so vulnerable to receive an accusation spoken out of anger or frustration. And if not mature in the love of God, the heart and mind retains the condemnation without even realizing it and the enemy has a lie to establish a stronghold over time. To lead us to believe greater lies about not only who we are but also to destroy relationships.
Thank you for reminding me that You see us always and forever with eyes of love.
Thank you that Your Holy Spirit reveals to us the truth about our relationship with You.
Thank you Father that Your Spirit enables me to see other believers with Your eyes, clean and white as snow.
Rom 8:1 There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
To the lost, it decreases their opportunity to experience the love of God.
How fragile emotions and feelings can be in the moment. We are so vulnerable to receive an accusation spoken out of anger or frustration. And if not mature in the love of God, the heart and mind retains the condemnation without even realizing it and the enemy has a lie to establish a stronghold over time. To lead us to believe greater lies about not only who we are but also to destroy relationships.
Thank you for reminding me that You see us always and forever with eyes of love.
Thank you that Your Holy Spirit reveals to us the truth about our relationship with You.
Thank you Father that Your Spirit enables me to see other believers with Your eyes, clean and white as snow.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
This Great Love
1 John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called children of God; and such we are.
You made me to think of the love I have for my spouse, Father. The highest kind is to love him so much that I release him to You to live, and breathe, and move in Your Spirit.
To not hold him so tightly to my heart or my desires that it hinders Your Spirit’s moving.
When we truly love you, the Almighty God, all things are released to You. Every possession I have does not hinder me in any way from obeying, from loving You in return for the surpassing love You pour out to me daily.
All things includes my time, money, gifts, material things owned and this great love .
This love most of all things possessed is the highest jewel entrusted to me.
It is entrusted to be given away.
Teach me to let go of all things.
You made me to think of the love I have for my spouse, Father. The highest kind is to love him so much that I release him to You to live, and breathe, and move in Your Spirit.
To not hold him so tightly to my heart or my desires that it hinders Your Spirit’s moving.
When we truly love you, the Almighty God, all things are released to You. Every possession I have does not hinder me in any way from obeying, from loving You in return for the surpassing love You pour out to me daily.
All things includes my time, money, gifts, material things owned and this great love .
This love most of all things possessed is the highest jewel entrusted to me.
It is entrusted to be given away.
Teach me to let go of all things.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Built Together
Ephesians 2:21-22
“In Him each separate piece of building, properly fitting into its neighbor, grows together into a temple consecrated to the Lord. You are all part of this building in which God Himself lives by His Spirit. “
There is no doubt about it Father. We are to “fit together” with other believers. Once again, You express Your heart to me as You tell me how You view Your children. A building growing, increasing as Your dwelling place, a holy temple.
In this passage in Ephesians You were speaking to the Jews and Gentiles who had a “a barrier of a dividing wall” between them for centuries. Through Christ You brought peace to those who were “near" (Jews) and to those who were “far off” (Gentiles) by taking away the enmity (Law) between the two and establishing peace. You reconciled them both into one body and now they, together in Christ, as one body have access to the Father. This speaks so strongly of unity and oneness.
This passage gives me a sense of Your view of believers. It’s not just about me! You see the whole picture…You have an earthly temple in your children not just individually; but we are to be “fitted together , united in Him, bonded together, closely joined together, and welded together” as the various translations so interpret the scriptures in these verses. This is for the purpose of being “a holy temple in the Lord-a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated and sacred to the presence of the Lord.”
The Greek word, sunoikodomeo, for “built together” as used in Eph 2:22 means to “put together or construct by building, out of several things to build up one whole”.
That is we being the “pieces” one by one make up the whole temple, and that temple is increasing and growing constantly….praise God!
Over and over You show me the importance of unity among believers. Of loving others as You love me. Seeing them as You see me, without spot or blemish. Of obedience to Your Holy Spirit as He prompts me to share Christ so that Your temple grows and grows.
For Christ is the Uniter and is above all (Eph 1:21)and our eyes are to be on Him in others. With His Spirit and His love indwelling us we have the essentials to do our part for the harmony of the body. We can depend on Your wisdom and understanding for other believers as we seek You in our earthly relationships that are difficult.
Seeing the wholeness of the body of Christ, Your holy temple, enables me to see the importance of loving others in their weaknesses just as I desire to be accepted and loved in my own.
When I let reign the negative toward others, seeing and dwelling on their faults, it is like I tear down the body that You have paid such a high price for. Jesus’ body was torn apart for our salvation which includes our healing. Tearing down is like taking away from that building, the temple that You want to increase and grow.
So help me allow the Cross of Calvary to lead me into harmony with other believers and to heal that which needs healing in my relationship with others of Your temple.
“In Him each separate piece of building, properly fitting into its neighbor, grows together into a temple consecrated to the Lord. You are all part of this building in which God Himself lives by His Spirit. “
There is no doubt about it Father. We are to “fit together” with other believers. Once again, You express Your heart to me as You tell me how You view Your children. A building growing, increasing as Your dwelling place, a holy temple.
In this passage in Ephesians You were speaking to the Jews and Gentiles who had a “a barrier of a dividing wall” between them for centuries. Through Christ You brought peace to those who were “near" (Jews) and to those who were “far off” (Gentiles) by taking away the enmity (Law) between the two and establishing peace. You reconciled them both into one body and now they, together in Christ, as one body have access to the Father. This speaks so strongly of unity and oneness.
This passage gives me a sense of Your view of believers. It’s not just about me! You see the whole picture…You have an earthly temple in your children not just individually; but we are to be “fitted together , united in Him, bonded together, closely joined together, and welded together” as the various translations so interpret the scriptures in these verses. This is for the purpose of being “a holy temple in the Lord-a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated and sacred to the presence of the Lord.”
The Greek word, sunoikodomeo, for “built together” as used in Eph 2:22 means to “put together or construct by building, out of several things to build up one whole”.
That is we being the “pieces” one by one make up the whole temple, and that temple is increasing and growing constantly….praise God!
Over and over You show me the importance of unity among believers. Of loving others as You love me. Seeing them as You see me, without spot or blemish. Of obedience to Your Holy Spirit as He prompts me to share Christ so that Your temple grows and grows.
For Christ is the Uniter and is above all (Eph 1:21)and our eyes are to be on Him in others. With His Spirit and His love indwelling us we have the essentials to do our part for the harmony of the body. We can depend on Your wisdom and understanding for other believers as we seek You in our earthly relationships that are difficult.
Seeing the wholeness of the body of Christ, Your holy temple, enables me to see the importance of loving others in their weaknesses just as I desire to be accepted and loved in my own.
When I let reign the negative toward others, seeing and dwelling on their faults, it is like I tear down the body that You have paid such a high price for. Jesus’ body was torn apart for our salvation which includes our healing. Tearing down is like taking away from that building, the temple that You want to increase and grow.
So help me allow the Cross of Calvary to lead me into harmony with other believers and to heal that which needs healing in my relationship with others of Your temple.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Blameless
The word “blameless” alone is liberating. It is very personal.
In the Strong’s Concordance it is the Greek word , amomos#299, meaning
1. a sacrifice without spot or blemish
2. without blemish, faultless, without spot.
In Eph 1:4 Even as (in His love) He chose us-- actually picked us out for Himself as His own---in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless in His sight, even above reproach before Him in love…
This same exact word,used to describe believers, is used to describe Jesus’ blood in 1 Peter 1:19. It describes how we were ransomed…:19 but (you were purchased) with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
In Your eyes, Father, I am seen the same as how You view Your Son Jesus. Because He was the perfect sacrifice, I am seen by You as being perfect because of Him and being covered by His perfect blood.
Blameless, faultless, and without spot.
As believers we are able to take this truth very personally! It’s for me, to impact my life and to constantly remind me of Your unfathomable love.
It is such a beautiful and amazing truth. You are pleased and delighted when You look at me. No one will ever look at me with more perfect love than the way You look at me!
Your bride ( all believers) is beautiful to You.
You are the only one true living God. Thank you for Jesus who willingly made it possible for me to know You and be accepted by You. Thank You for the precious blood, the blood of Christ.
In the Strong’s Concordance it is the Greek word , amomos#299, meaning
1. a sacrifice without spot or blemish
2. without blemish, faultless, without spot.
In Eph 1:4 Even as (in His love) He chose us-- actually picked us out for Himself as His own---in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless in His sight, even above reproach before Him in love…
This same exact word,used to describe believers, is used to describe Jesus’ blood in 1 Peter 1:19. It describes how we were ransomed…:19 but (you were purchased) with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
In Your eyes, Father, I am seen the same as how You view Your Son Jesus. Because He was the perfect sacrifice, I am seen by You as being perfect because of Him and being covered by His perfect blood.
Blameless, faultless, and without spot.
As believers we are able to take this truth very personally! It’s for me, to impact my life and to constantly remind me of Your unfathomable love.
It is such a beautiful and amazing truth. You are pleased and delighted when You look at me. No one will ever look at me with more perfect love than the way You look at me!
Your bride ( all believers) is beautiful to You.
You are the only one true living God. Thank you for Jesus who willingly made it possible for me to know You and be accepted by You. Thank You for the precious blood, the blood of Christ.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Holy and Blameless
Father, You have spoken to me once again of the glorious work of the Cross.
In looking up all the ways You use the word "blameless", it renews my amazement of Your love for me. Especially seeing the “holy and blameless” is used only 3 times in the N.T. and it is referring to me and to all true believers in Christ.
(Eph 1:4, 5:27, and Col 1:22)
According to the Greek word “hagios” used in these passages, You are saying to me that I am a most holy thing, a saint. What is amazing is we so often forget that we are holy and blameless “in Your sight” (Eph 1:4). We tend to consider our failings, faults, sins, and our less than perfect ways and lives.
But what a wonderful thing, a marvelous comfort to renew our mind to this awesome Truth. I am holy and blameless, a saint “in Your sight”.
You enable me to gratefully run back to this Truth, to be refreshed by it, and to bask in the forgiveness that has already been given to me at the Cross 2000 years ago through Our Lord Jesus Christ.
I love You Father and may I learn to immerse myself, to continually receive the love You have already proved to me through the Cross of Our Lord Jesus.
In looking up all the ways You use the word "blameless", it renews my amazement of Your love for me. Especially seeing the “holy and blameless” is used only 3 times in the N.T. and it is referring to me and to all true believers in Christ.
(Eph 1:4, 5:27, and Col 1:22)
According to the Greek word “hagios” used in these passages, You are saying to me that I am a most holy thing, a saint. What is amazing is we so often forget that we are holy and blameless “in Your sight” (Eph 1:4). We tend to consider our failings, faults, sins, and our less than perfect ways and lives.
But what a wonderful thing, a marvelous comfort to renew our mind to this awesome Truth. I am holy and blameless, a saint “in Your sight”.
You enable me to gratefully run back to this Truth, to be refreshed by it, and to bask in the forgiveness that has already been given to me at the Cross 2000 years ago through Our Lord Jesus Christ.
I love You Father and may I learn to immerse myself, to continually receive the love You have already proved to me through the Cross of Our Lord Jesus.
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