Is Loving God Enough?

Is loving God enough?

When I was first saved, this was the end of the matter for me.  Yet, as time has progressed, I find that is just not so. 

How?  In believing that this is the whole of my existence, to love Him and Him alone, I am neglecting His heart.  

Sure, to spend all my time with Him and to pour my love on Him, it tends to my heart and fulfills me and God wouldn’t deny me that. 

But there is a response that should come from loving Him.  A fruit that is birthed. 

The fruit of the Spirit is love…

And then, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

These fruit are not meant to nourish a relationship between  God and ourself but rather brother to brother and sister to sister.  These are the things created for us to nurture the bond of perfectness between us and to minister unity. (Colossians 3:14)

When  was the last time I fed my brother joy or gentleness?

How about meekness?  The meek shall inherit the earth.  I find it hard to believe that there is a greater inheritance than one another. 

And this thing about faith.  How could we possibly apply that to anyone other than God?  If faith is believing and speaking…  We must invest faith in one another.  Feed it to one another…the faith that is derived from love. 

What brought this on? 

I was reading in Psalm 16.  David said this and it’s believed that Jesus said these very words as He was going to the cross.

O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;

But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

Jesus Himself said that His goodness or His love did not extend only to God.  It didn’t stop there.  He had a love for the saints and to those who were His delight. 

And we all are His delight.

I have a quote on my wall at home, where my family spends the most time.  It says, “The best thing to hold onto in life is one another.”  I looked at that sign this morning and thought, “I believe that.”

I do.  With my whole heart. 

 

Reap! Don’t Sleep!

Psalm 13

How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

How long shall I take counsel in my soul, havingsorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;

Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

 

 

Isn’t it the nature of the humanity to continually ask, “how long?”

For any person who knows they have purpose, a calling, a destiny….

For any man with a vision so large that there is no end in sight…

For any person waiting…

There is a question of “when?”

But the question “how much longer?” will not make “when” come any sooner.

Somehow, time makes us feel “forgotten” by God.

It’s in waiting that we must never begin to take counsel in our “soul”, in the realm of our own reasoning, thought process or emotional deliberation.  These things will sow sorrow in our heart.

Lord, I pray that you would lighten my eyes. Let my faith behold Your face, that I would not grow weary in this season and allow “well-doing” in my life to cease. I want to reap and not sleep.  For God has dealt bountifully with me!

 

Free To Serve

For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.  1 Corinthians 9:19

It is my heart to serve but it wasn’t until just recently that I realized that I have never really been doing it in freedom. 

Seriously… I read this and read it again.  And then read it again and again.  And yes, again.

And then, guess what.  I said it.  And it felt good!  Real good! 

Like, I make my boast in the Lord, Holy Ghost….who the Son sets free is free indeed good!

It’s not man’s opinion, judgment or bias that sets me free. 

It’s not  man’s status quo.

It’s not man’s regard,  attitude, behavior or acceptance.

It’s not the rules and regulations, traditions or religious mindsets.

I am free from ALL men.

When we are enslaved to man…it becomes bondage to us. It’s  a debt we cannot pay.  We constantly have to work and work and work to no avail.  Life is taken from us.

But when we are free…we can give ourselves.  To give then is gain.

It’s “overturned” table manners.  (Matthew 21:12) 

 

 

Without Measure

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.   Matthew 5:14-16

I’ve read this many times over.  Sang it as a child even more times over and maybe even posted on it once, if I’m not mistaken. 

But, exactly what does the Lord mean by bushel?

A bushel is a utensil that measures.   An instrument the determines just how much.

We all know the saying… “I love you a bushel and a peck.”  I used to sing that little tune to my kids when they were babies.  It’s sad now that I think of it.

But this is what the Lord warns us of. 

He is using the analogy to urge us not to regulate the length, the depth, the height or the width of the light. 

Not to put a limitation on how far we will go, how deep, and how high. 

The bushel represents what is comfortable to us.   

In releasing ourselves to His vastness, we can then see for ourselves, beyond human boundaries.

And, in doing so, we can shine more readily, with a willingness to relieve others of their blindness.

The light is for ALL the house. 

It’s the light that glorifies God!  It’s time to quit being afraid of the dark!

 

Forsaking the Candlestick

Reading Matthew 5:14-16, I realize that there are times when we forsake the candlestick or even the city.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

You see, the candlestick is not just for one candle alone and neither are the lights of the city singular. 

The truth of the matter is, we shine brighter together.

 

Leave Your Gift

Matthew 5:23-24, Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Mark 11:25-26, And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Relationship is so important to God, that He would reject what we offer Him until it’s right. 

Our gifts before the altar are worthless to Him…whether it be monetary or perhaps even those of 1 Corinthians 12, the gifts of the Spirit. 

Even our prayers take the back seat to forgiveness.  

Relationship…above ability, skill, craftmanship, talents, works, etc.

If their mad at you…approach them.

If you’re mad at them…approach them.

It’s the picture of the Cross. 

Horizontal touches vertical.

 

Predestination

Since my last post, I have had such an interesting exchange.  The kind that provokes me.  You know…the “makes you stop and think” kind. 

I’ve been examining why I believe what I believe.

One of the questions that surfaced was that of “predestination”.   

For context purposes and because comments are public, for all to read, I will insert the question at hand.

So does it seem fair that God created people who reject Him even though He knew they would reject Him? Does that seem loving and fair to you? Similarly, what passages do you cite for evidence of Predestination?

Truthfully, I have always just read over the following passages and accepted them and never really gave thoughtful account to their application. 

Like I said, this is seemingly a divine exchange.  Questions asked (ultimately prompted by God) to draw an answer from me. 

Here is my answer and after you have read, I invite you to bring something to the table on this as well if you’d like.   I welcome the truth in love.  

I do not believe that God created a people who would reject Him. 

What is better?  To have a creation that “has” to love Him or “wants” to love Him?  It does seem loving to me that He would do this.  An arranged marriage is not based on “love”.  It’s based on “pre-destination”, according to man.  I would not want a man to be my husband based on that kind of “pre-destinatIon”, any more than I believe that God would want a “bride”, who has no choice in being His wife.  And we are His bride.

The scriptures I site for predestination are Romans 8:29-30 & Ephesians 1:3-14.

To my understanding, all predestination in the word of God is according to the Cross. 

Romans 8:29, ”For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

It begins with Jesus.

Predestination is God’s intent that nothing (no sin) could be against us, according to the acquittal in the blood of Jesus. 

Romans 8:30, “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

Ephesians 1:3-14 says,

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted  in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

You see, the seal of the Holy Spirit comes after we have believed.  Predestination is based on our decision…our CHOICE, after having heard the gospel and then believing (Vs. 13).  This is the earnest of our inheritance.  Our destiny. 

God desires a bride who agrees to be His. 

As I stated, even earlier in the exchange (and you can read it all if you like here),

Every man faces an eternity.  Whether it be heaven or hell is our choice. 

 

 

Philosophy 101

Colossians 2:8-10, Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;  and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Beware…this is a warning.  When you see this word on a sign, accompanying the words “of dog”, you know what to watch for, right? 

It’s to guard yourself.   Beware is  a preventative, protective word. 

The philosophy spoken of here is in direct opposition to the things of the Spirit and what God has provided for every believer through our Lord Jesus Christ.  

That list is miles long and is certainly not limited to this but here are a few things that you’ll find in the Word.

Salvation, Righteousness, Holiness, Sanctification, Acceptance, Relationship, Restoration, Health, Deliverance, Peace, Joy, Hope, Mercy, Grace, Prosperity, etc.

Because of this.  Because of Jesus…there is nothing more we can do! 

Praise God!

But philosophy would elude to something entirely different.  Philosophy sees things of the Spirit as illogical.  Philosophy is intellectual, rather than spiritual.  

Philosophy is mental assent.  It is not faith.

To govern with philosophy is to misuse it.  Rather, it should uphold a government…the truth…the Word of God.

According to the Word, it cheats us or as originally written in KJV, it spoils us. That means  that when we give ourselves to speculation or human experience…or even personal opinion, we then are deprived of something much greater and what is altogether Superior! 

In fact, if it spoils us…it has been at war with us and has carried away our spiritual goods!

For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.  Mark 7:8

Philosophy is merely the washing of pots and cups.  Clean on the outside.  The “perfect” picture.

But on the inside… powerless.  Empty.  (As noted in Colossians 2 above)

It’s a brand new car without a motor. 

The treasure box without the treasure.

The wallet without the money.

The tree without the figs.  (Mark 11:13-14)

I revisited this passage in Mark 11:

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,  and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.  And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: “‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

Perhaps it was philosophy that Jesus was dealing with.  The robber.

Communication & relationship with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ cleans us on the inside.  He’s the only One that can clean the temple. The only One with the right to.  His Word is all that is necessary or required.

 

 

 

Outstanding Debt

There is one debt we all owe. 

As recipients of His unfailing, everlasting love, there is a deficit in all of our lives.

We are never debt free.

Romans 13:8, Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  Galatians 5:14

To love someone as we love ourself.  This is thought-provoking.

How do I want to be loved?

How do you want to be loved?

Now do it.

 

What’s Revealed

Zephaniah 3:17, The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

I was pondering Zephaniah recently.  I had written it in my journal and a friend reminded me of this yesterday, when she posted something on the same note. 

I was thinking about how when we worship, it reveals the revelation we have of the Lord.  Our response in faith, in praise & worship, in character, integrity, etc.  reflects who we believe Him to be.  

How we live is fruit of our revelation.

That’s when God took me to this passage.  He joys over us with singing.  In some translations, it says He spins or dances (rejoices) over us. 

What does that say then of His revelation of us?  What does that say of what He believes us to be? 

That’s what we are each and every day discovering, as we discover Him. 

Because we bear His image.