Col 1:19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, strong grows with a growth which is from God.strong
NCV
They do not hold tightly to Christ, the head. It is from him that all the parts of the body are cared for and held together. So it grows in the way God wants it to grow.
On reading this, what stood out today is that You are the One that is causing the Body of Christ to grow. I have so often looked at the Body of Christ as we know it in America and wondered at all the complications, wrong thinking, sin, etc that seems to make the Church look like the world. I have often thought that it does not appear any different than the world. But focusing on these things brings self righteousness which is as gross a sin as any; and not only that, not a true picture of Your Body.
You are the one that causes us to grow and You are the one that is always working to complete what You have begun in each believer. And as C reminded me, You are doing great and marvelous things in Your Body and many are testifying to Your faithfulness and love.
In this verse You say that you supply, nourish and hold together and unite Your Body by it joints and ligaments.
Joints (860) are a bond, connection and ligaments (4886) are “that which binds together, a band or bond”.
Our bond in the Body of Christ is through Jesus; His love and His forgiveness, His gift of righteousness, and His unending grace. All of these, as we learn to walk daily in these, are extended to other members of His Body, pouring out to them the fruit of His Spirit.
This is where peace lies, in the unity and love for other believers.
Seeing others and receiving them as God the Father does through the blood of His Son.
Not focusing on faults and failures, but on Jesus and what He has done for all of us at the Cross. That they are as loved and accepted as I am.
Thank You, Father for reminding me that You ARE doing marvelous works throughout the Body in the lives of so many believers.
But once again You return me of Heb 4:6-8 where King David is quoted by Paul:
“just as David also speaks of blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works:
7 Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered
8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.”
My prayer today Father, is to open the eyes of my understanding that I may always remember that You are growing Your Church. You are preparing the Bride for the return of Jesus.
And You are the one that enables me to love as You have loved me.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
The Gospel Springs Forth Love
Col 1:4 We always thank God, The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints—the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you.
This caught my eye Father. That faith and love spring forth from the Gospel.
The Gospel is something that is totally complete and sufficient for every believer.
The answer to all of life’s problems and questions are found in the death, life, and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord.
There is no end to the living truths that it contains. If a person was to live a thousand years, they would still be finding life changing truths in what Jesus has done for us at the Cross.
Father, You are Holy and True and You knew what it would take to reconcile mankind to You.
Paul writes that they had heard of the faith and the love for all the saints that the Colossians had. It was from the Gospel that love came forth in their hearts because of the truth they learned about their future in heaven through what Jesus did for them.
From this hope came forth the love for others and the desire to share with them this true and genuine love that now dwelt within them.
As I have stated so many times, Your love Father as demonstrated through Our Lord Jesus is an amazing kind of love. It is pure and without conditions.
Through Your love for them, a believer is able to know what a genuine love really is and come to understand Your abounding grace toward us. The Colossians discovered Your grace in the truth and hope of the Cross.
Not having Jesus is not having love because the love of an unredeemed heart cannot attain or experience God’s love until they receive the finished work of the Cross through Jesus’ own love and sacrifice for us. That is when blind eyes are opened.
I am so deeply grateful and privileged to experience this love You have for me.
This caught my eye Father. That faith and love spring forth from the Gospel.
The Gospel is something that is totally complete and sufficient for every believer.
The answer to all of life’s problems and questions are found in the death, life, and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord.
There is no end to the living truths that it contains. If a person was to live a thousand years, they would still be finding life changing truths in what Jesus has done for us at the Cross.
Father, You are Holy and True and You knew what it would take to reconcile mankind to You.
Paul writes that they had heard of the faith and the love for all the saints that the Colossians had. It was from the Gospel that love came forth in their hearts because of the truth they learned about their future in heaven through what Jesus did for them.
From this hope came forth the love for others and the desire to share with them this true and genuine love that now dwelt within them.
As I have stated so many times, Your love Father as demonstrated through Our Lord Jesus is an amazing kind of love. It is pure and without conditions.
Through Your love for them, a believer is able to know what a genuine love really is and come to understand Your abounding grace toward us. The Colossians discovered Your grace in the truth and hope of the Cross.
Not having Jesus is not having love because the love of an unredeemed heart cannot attain or experience God’s love until they receive the finished work of the Cross through Jesus’ own love and sacrifice for us. That is when blind eyes are opened.
I am so deeply grateful and privileged to experience this love You have for me.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Real Knowledge and All Discernment
Phil 1:9
And this I pray that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
: 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;
Paul prayed for love to abound more and more in real knowledge and discernment so that we could approve the things that are excellent and be found sincere and blameless.
This was brought to my attention: that it is important to know love in such a way as the outcome is sincere and blameless as verse 10 states.
So we must learn to love with real knowledge. Real “knowledge of doctrinal and practical truth” according to one commentary online. But also knowing Your word and knowing You Father, is vital in discerning truth.
Knowing You in the sense that we live every moment in fellowship with you, hearing You, receiving Your love, obeying Your Spirit’s prompting. This brings forth true spiritual discernment.
Approving what is excellent takes this discernment. The Message in verse: 10 says “so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not in sentimental gush”.
I like that. That seemed to clarify for me what Paul is saying. Because we can “love” out of sentimentality which would not necessarily mean we have discernment in that love.
Discernment meaning depth of insight, understanding, and judgment. Seeing things as they really are or seeing into the “love” and discerning its true character and motives.
What we might call “love” can have selfish or carnal motives as its foundation. As believers we are called to a higher love, to the kind of sacrificial love that Jesus Christ demonstrated toward us at the Cross. A no matter what kind of love.
Thinking of this makes me realize the importance of growing in this knowledge, not only of Your Word, but in our relationship with You, Father. And spiritual discernment will enable us to see our true heart as well as the heart of others. Thus we will better be able to be sincere (pure in heart) and without fault in those works that You created us to do while we remain on this earth.
I am so thankful that You Who began a good work in me, will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phil 1:6)
And this I pray that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
: 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;
Paul prayed for love to abound more and more in real knowledge and discernment so that we could approve the things that are excellent and be found sincere and blameless.
This was brought to my attention: that it is important to know love in such a way as the outcome is sincere and blameless as verse 10 states.
So we must learn to love with real knowledge. Real “knowledge of doctrinal and practical truth” according to one commentary online. But also knowing Your word and knowing You Father, is vital in discerning truth.
Knowing You in the sense that we live every moment in fellowship with you, hearing You, receiving Your love, obeying Your Spirit’s prompting. This brings forth true spiritual discernment.
Approving what is excellent takes this discernment. The Message in verse: 10 says “so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not in sentimental gush”.
I like that. That seemed to clarify for me what Paul is saying. Because we can “love” out of sentimentality which would not necessarily mean we have discernment in that love.
Discernment meaning depth of insight, understanding, and judgment. Seeing things as they really are or seeing into the “love” and discerning its true character and motives.
What we might call “love” can have selfish or carnal motives as its foundation. As believers we are called to a higher love, to the kind of sacrificial love that Jesus Christ demonstrated toward us at the Cross. A no matter what kind of love.
Thinking of this makes me realize the importance of growing in this knowledge, not only of Your Word, but in our relationship with You, Father. And spiritual discernment will enable us to see our true heart as well as the heart of others. Thus we will better be able to be sincere (pure in heart) and without fault in those works that You created us to do while we remain on this earth.
I am so thankful that You Who began a good work in me, will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phil 1:6)
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Your Love Stretches
Your love stretches me Father.
You say in 1 Cor 14:1 to pursue love. Not to just sit and let life bring it to me when it will but to pursue it. By Your grace, You enable my heart to allow You to teach me how Your arms are stretched out to all You have created, even to those who deny You.
The stretching reminds me of reaching out, gathering in , encompassing all that it can. I am in awe of it.
The various translations have different ways of saying we are to pursue love.
Follow the way of love...make love your aim...Hotly pursue this love...make love your great quest...seek this love earnestly.
No matter what, Your love remains constant.
When everything is washed away, it remains.
It is an amazing thing to this heart of mine.
How far are your arms stretched out, Father?
Do they ever tire of our human failings, our very human ways,
When we have the Spirit of Life within us,
Yet we constantly revert to our natural life?
It seems no human words can totally express the breadth, length, width, height and depth of it.
Yet we are encouraged and assured by Paul in Eph 3:17-18 to be rooted and grounded in Your love so that we may be able to apprehend and grasp the experience of it in our lives.
Yes, Your are more than willing to teach us about the Cross, which is the perfect expression of Your love for us. There are many inspired songs and writings about this love but You use simple words to express it best..."For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..."(John 3:16).
Love gives. And You gave Your Son for me.
You say in 1 Cor 14:1 to pursue love. Not to just sit and let life bring it to me when it will but to pursue it. By Your grace, You enable my heart to allow You to teach me how Your arms are stretched out to all You have created, even to those who deny You.
The stretching reminds me of reaching out, gathering in , encompassing all that it can. I am in awe of it.
The various translations have different ways of saying we are to pursue love.
Follow the way of love...make love your aim...Hotly pursue this love...make love your great quest...seek this love earnestly.
No matter what, Your love remains constant.
When everything is washed away, it remains.
It is an amazing thing to this heart of mine.
How far are your arms stretched out, Father?
Do they ever tire of our human failings, our very human ways,
When we have the Spirit of Life within us,
Yet we constantly revert to our natural life?
It seems no human words can totally express the breadth, length, width, height and depth of it.
Yet we are encouraged and assured by Paul in Eph 3:17-18 to be rooted and grounded in Your love so that we may be able to apprehend and grasp the experience of it in our lives.
Yes, Your are more than willing to teach us about the Cross, which is the perfect expression of Your love for us. There are many inspired songs and writings about this love but You use simple words to express it best..."For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..."(John 3:16).
Love gives. And You gave Your Son for me.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Incorruptible Love
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.
: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.
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!
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