Eph 6:23-24 Peace be to the brethren and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
:24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with a love incorruptible.
The word incorruptible is one that speaks strongly to me.
The meaning is (861) unending existence (eternal) derived from (862) which means undecaying, immortal, perpetuity (lasting throughout eternity)
It makes me think of 1 John 4:10 that says that we love You because You loved us first.
Paul first prays peace, love with faith to the brethren.
Then he follows with grace to “all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with a love incorruptible.
Some believers are referred to as “brethren” and others as “to all those who..”.
It is true Father that Your children are in different stages of their spiritual growth and in their relationship with You. You love us all the same, with a love that is pure and eternal.
What does it mean to have an incorruptible love for You? According to the meaning we will love You with a love that does not decay. It never changes or vacillates according to our lives. It is pure, holy and unconditional. Just like Your love for us.
No wonder Paul prays for grace to all those who have this kind of love.
There are many who impact the world and pay a price for it.
Their love does not waver when persecution comes or the time comes that this incorruptible love for Jesus enables them to give their own lives for Him. It is happening every day in these times we are in.
But also this word, incorruptible, made me think of the “no matter what” kind of love.
As stated above, it doesn’t change. No matter what we see in a loved one, in our children, mates, family, co-workers, or friends we still maintain a deep love for them. No matter what tragedies occur, what sufferings believers endure, they still know that You are a faithful God and Father and that You care about them and love them. If anger tempts them to turn that anger toward You, Your grace is always there to keep their heart true to You.
This is truly a working of Your grace.
This kind of love comes only from the Your own love that You have demonstrated to us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. The more understanding of the Cross and what Jesus did for us, the greater capacity we have to have an incorruptible love for God the Father and Jesus Christ, His Son.
Teach me to have this incorruptible love for You Father that will manifest itself in this world I live in.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Love and Fatih
Love and faith is spoken to believers as coming from You and Your Son.
You say Father in Eph 6:23, “Peace to the brethren and love with faith through God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Tim 1:13-14 Even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. And yet I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;
: 14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
In Gal 5:6 Your word says that “in Christ Jesus neither circumcision or uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. “ To me that circumcision is works or something that is exterior, or something of us or others.
I had to stop and think about this. Love with faith. It seems that they cannot be separated.
When You grace us with Your real divine love, faith is ushered in.
For love displays itself in obedience to Your promptings.
And Your promptings are not always about us; they are for Your purposes (which may or may not include us), and we don’t always understand them. Yet we are compelled to obey because Your love has taught us to have confidence in You.
But obeying, doing as You direct, is exercising faith regardless of understanding or how we look to the world. We are trusting in You and in Your leadership, in Your love for us. Our confidence is in You.
Even Paul who was an aggressor and a violent person, who once acted ignorantly in unbelief, yielded his life to Jesus when he discovered faith and love in Christ Jesus. Christ revolutionized his life because through the love of Christ he was able to walk by faith.
Christ is our Redeemer. Enable Your Body to “be strengthened with power (Eph 3:16) through His Spirit so that Christ may dwell in our hearts and we can be rooted and grounded in Your love. To discover the height and depth and width of Your love for us in Christ, Our Living Lord.
Yes, by faith in Jesus and His love for me I am to walk daily.
You say Father in Eph 6:23, “Peace to the brethren and love with faith through God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Tim 1:13-14 Even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. And yet I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;
: 14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
In Gal 5:6 Your word says that “in Christ Jesus neither circumcision or uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. “ To me that circumcision is works or something that is exterior, or something of us or others.
I had to stop and think about this. Love with faith. It seems that they cannot be separated.
When You grace us with Your real divine love, faith is ushered in.
For love displays itself in obedience to Your promptings.
And Your promptings are not always about us; they are for Your purposes (which may or may not include us), and we don’t always understand them. Yet we are compelled to obey because Your love has taught us to have confidence in You.
But obeying, doing as You direct, is exercising faith regardless of understanding or how we look to the world. We are trusting in You and in Your leadership, in Your love for us. Our confidence is in You.
Even Paul who was an aggressor and a violent person, who once acted ignorantly in unbelief, yielded his life to Jesus when he discovered faith and love in Christ Jesus. Christ revolutionized his life because through the love of Christ he was able to walk by faith.
Christ is our Redeemer. Enable Your Body to “be strengthened with power (Eph 3:16) through His Spirit so that Christ may dwell in our hearts and we can be rooted and grounded in Your love. To discover the height and depth and width of Your love for us in Christ, Our Living Lord.
Yes, by faith in Jesus and His love for me I am to walk daily.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Our response to evil done
1 Cor 13:5 You made this stand out as I was reading this chapter.
"It (love) is not conceited-arrogant and inflated with pride; it is not rude (unmannerly). Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it-pays no attention to a suffered wrong."
“the evil done to it”.
You are saying that if someone really does an evil thing to us we do not take account of it. That made me think of my persecuted brothers and sisters in China, N Korea, and other countries where Your beloveds are being thrown in jail or murdered for meeting together to worship or sharing Jesus. Your love enables them not to take account of it but as VOM encourages them, to pray for them and love them. That is amazing.
Also, if we have suffered a wrong which could be even by a friend, or what we consider an offensive word spoken or thing done toward us, we are to not take it into account at all. Wow.
This is only possible by a heart infused with Your divine love.
“For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect) and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect). "
This reminds me that we only know in part what is in the heart of other people; we don’t know everything that is in their feelings, thoughts, and life. Not only that, but our knowledge of You, of Your word is only known in part. The depths of truth in You and Your word are deep enough to last more than a 1000 lifetimes. And deep enough to heal the hurt done by evil.
You end the chapter by saying that love is the greatest of faith, hope, and love.
1 Cor 13:13 ….“love, true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s love for and in us”…..
This is what You are teaching us. It is all about Your divine love dwelling within us that changes and transforms these hearts of ours. They are daily renewed by Your love.
Thank You Father for the wonderful super abundant grace that enables us to grow in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ toward His own.
How great a God You are!
"It (love) is not conceited-arrogant and inflated with pride; it is not rude (unmannerly). Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it-pays no attention to a suffered wrong."
“the evil done to it”.
You are saying that if someone really does an evil thing to us we do not take account of it. That made me think of my persecuted brothers and sisters in China, N Korea, and other countries where Your beloveds are being thrown in jail or murdered for meeting together to worship or sharing Jesus. Your love enables them not to take account of it but as VOM encourages them, to pray for them and love them. That is amazing.
Also, if we have suffered a wrong which could be even by a friend, or what we consider an offensive word spoken or thing done toward us, we are to not take it into account at all. Wow.
This is only possible by a heart infused with Your divine love.
“For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect) and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect). "
This reminds me that we only know in part what is in the heart of other people; we don’t know everything that is in their feelings, thoughts, and life. Not only that, but our knowledge of You, of Your word is only known in part. The depths of truth in You and Your word are deep enough to last more than a 1000 lifetimes. And deep enough to heal the hurt done by evil.
You end the chapter by saying that love is the greatest of faith, hope, and love.
1 Cor 13:13 ….“love, true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s love for and in us”…..
This is what You are teaching us. It is all about Your divine love dwelling within us that changes and transforms these hearts of ours. They are daily renewed by Your love.
Thank You Father for the wonderful super abundant grace that enables us to grow in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ toward His own.
How great a God You are!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Washing of water
Eph 5:25 Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her
: 26 that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
:27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and blameless.
Sanctify-37-hagiazo- to make holy; to set apart for holy use
Cleansed-2511- to free from defilement of sin and faults; free from guilt of sin, to purify; to consecrate by cleansing or purifying; to consecrate, dedicate.
Washing-3067-loutron-bathing, bath, the act of bathing
Water-hudor-5204 simply means water; waters
As I was reading, Father, there came to me this kind of picture of Jesus constantly taking water with his hand and lapping it over us. Kind of like a hand in water and constantly moving the water with the hand vertical and gently moving it over and over forward, always lapping it gently over our minds and hearts. That is very beautiful to me.
You say that You have already cleansed us. You have already freed us from defilement of sin and faults, and freed us from all guilt. Having been completely bathed, I am clean.
Your continual “washing” of your word over my mind and heart every day brings life. It is a refreshment and food for my soul. It magnifies Your presence.
What a tremendous privilege to be Your beloved.
Thank you for Your word.
: 26 that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
:27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and blameless.
Sanctify-37-hagiazo- to make holy; to set apart for holy use
Cleansed-2511- to free from defilement of sin and faults; free from guilt of sin, to purify; to consecrate by cleansing or purifying; to consecrate, dedicate.
Washing-3067-loutron-bathing, bath, the act of bathing
Water-hudor-5204 simply means water; waters
As I was reading, Father, there came to me this kind of picture of Jesus constantly taking water with his hand and lapping it over us. Kind of like a hand in water and constantly moving the water with the hand vertical and gently moving it over and over forward, always lapping it gently over our minds and hearts. That is very beautiful to me.
You say that You have already cleansed us. You have already freed us from defilement of sin and faults, and freed us from all guilt. Having been completely bathed, I am clean.
Your continual “washing” of your word over my mind and heart every day brings life. It is a refreshment and food for my soul. It magnifies Your presence.
What a tremendous privilege to be Your beloved.
Thank you for Your word.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Beloved Children
Eph 2:1 Be imitators of God, as beloved children,
:2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma (for an odor of fragrance).
This morning, Father, You brought to my mind how children like to imitate their fathers. I thought about my grandson. When he was little his Dad had bought him a miniature lawn mower. As his Dad led the way, he cut a path in the grass and Ethan followed behind him. He did not yet really know that he was learning to mow the lawn.
In thinking about that, it makes me mindful of Your way with us, Father. You have made the way through Jesus (John 14:6). You have prepared the path and equipped us to follow you because Jesus was an offering, a sacrifice to You, a fragrant aroma for our sake.
You are ready; you await our heart to seek after you and to imitate You by allowing You to conform us to Your image. You receive us every moment of our day to come follow You and walk in Your love and presence. In Your presence there is light (John 8:12). In Your presence there is joy (Psalm 16:11). In Your presence is true love. (1 John 4:16)
Though we may have to go through “high grass”, we know the way because You always go ahead of us. Mercy and loving-kindness follow us wherever we go (Ps 23:6). You guard our going out and our coming in. (Ps 121:8)
We are Your beloved children.
:2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma (for an odor of fragrance).
This morning, Father, You brought to my mind how children like to imitate their fathers. I thought about my grandson. When he was little his Dad had bought him a miniature lawn mower. As his Dad led the way, he cut a path in the grass and Ethan followed behind him. He did not yet really know that he was learning to mow the lawn.
In thinking about that, it makes me mindful of Your way with us, Father. You have made the way through Jesus (John 14:6). You have prepared the path and equipped us to follow you because Jesus was an offering, a sacrifice to You, a fragrant aroma for our sake.
You are ready; you await our heart to seek after you and to imitate You by allowing You to conform us to Your image. You receive us every moment of our day to come follow You and walk in Your love and presence. In Your presence there is light (John 8:12). In Your presence there is joy (Psalm 16:11). In Your presence is true love. (1 John 4:16)
Though we may have to go through “high grass”, we know the way because You always go ahead of us. Mercy and loving-kindness follow us wherever we go (Ps 23:6). You guard our going out and our coming in. (Ps 121:8)
We are Your beloved children.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Making Melody
Eph 5:19 ..speaking to one another (yourselves) in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.
20 Always giving thanks for ALL things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.
“Making melody with your heart…..” I love that!
This is the “normal Christian life”….making melody with the heart. This is the life that You desire for us Father. To have a melody in our heart as we live in the present day. The present day of our job, our work, our relationships, and the challenges of life.
How can this be, Father? Life is not always easy.
Jesus. Jesus is the Light of the world. Jesus is the avenue by which the melody breaks forth, even when things are not what we want them to be. He brings His light, His perspective to every detail of our life.
Seeing Jesus, knowing Jesus, experiencing Jesus moment by moment is the joy of life.
Seeing Jesus in the scriptures enables us to see others through His eyes and allows our hearts to yield to His love. And what heart cannot help but rejoice in experiencing perfect divine love…and forgiveness?
I heard a preacher talk about “enjoying God, enjoying life, enjoying our family and friends”. Without the melody in our heart, that is most difficult to do. The Song that Jesus puts in our heart is one of love and acceptance and forgiveness.
Jesus is my Song.
20 Always giving thanks for ALL things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.
“Making melody with your heart…..” I love that!
This is the “normal Christian life”….making melody with the heart. This is the life that You desire for us Father. To have a melody in our heart as we live in the present day. The present day of our job, our work, our relationships, and the challenges of life.
How can this be, Father? Life is not always easy.
Jesus. Jesus is the Light of the world. Jesus is the avenue by which the melody breaks forth, even when things are not what we want them to be. He brings His light, His perspective to every detail of our life.
Seeing Jesus, knowing Jesus, experiencing Jesus moment by moment is the joy of life.
Seeing Jesus in the scriptures enables us to see others through His eyes and allows our hearts to yield to His love. And what heart cannot help but rejoice in experiencing perfect divine love…and forgiveness?
I heard a preacher talk about “enjoying God, enjoying life, enjoying our family and friends”. Without the melody in our heart, that is most difficult to do. The Song that Jesus puts in our heart is one of love and acceptance and forgiveness.
Jesus is my Song.
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