It's All About Love

My quiet time has been lacking lately, as i have allowed work to penetrate my time alone with God.  I pray that I don't do that again as it leaves me disconnected with HIM who loves me and leads me each moment of each day, if i am able to drop the veil that keeps me from HIM. 

 Letting the daily grind of life overwhelm me takes my mind and spirit captive, and often makes me forget the loving God who is there moment by moment showing me and guiding me.  Lord, never let it be so, never let me be separated spiritually from you for even a second.

The busyness of daily life can easily distract us from the voice of God, the nudges and prompts that HE gives to guide us, teach us, show us, protect us.  Sadly, and to our discredit, We can shut HIS voice off by leaning our ears to the busyness of life.  This morning i decided to sit quiet for a while and just take in what i see and hear, to pay attention to what God brings to my attention and ponder what God may be showing me or telling me.  We can choose to focus on the things of this world, or the things of God.

I know we must be responsible for our earthly things, our jobs, our children, our house, our bills.  But we must not let them consume us. I pray that i remember to take this time each day so that i may, each and every day, pay attention to the things God is saying.

I haven't read the bible in a few weeks, which is crazy.  So i started again this morning, and these are the insights given to me in the moments that i read today.  I read the book of Ephesians, which is only a few chapters.

In Chapter 1, of course my prayers are (for all those God has given me to intercede for),

17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,[h] would give you a spirit[i] of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the perception of your mind[j] may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.

And in Chapter 3, also:

16 I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, 17 and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, 19 and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

And in Chapter 3, also, this spoke to me:

11 And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. 14

Sin separates us from God.  We cannot enter HIS presence when we are filthy with sin. When the Israelites sinned, in order to regain access to God and his blessings, they had to sacrifice an animal and the blood of that animal covered or paid for their sin.   Then they could have access to God again.

Jesus' blood was the one time for all covering.. we always have access to God...even when we sin.  not a license to sin.. but an answer.  But of course, we must confess that sin, and ask forgiveness... if we don't, then it can keep us from God's presence.

1 John 1:9Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

In Ephesians 4, it spoke to me that we are to seek to walk worthy of the calling we have received... with HUMILITY and GENTLENESS, PATIENCE, LOVE

Also in Ephesians 4, it speaks of how, after  his crucifixion, HE descended into the lower parts of the earth before he ascended far above the heavens.  And HE gave gifts to people.  Grace is one of the gifts given, and each is given a certain measure of grace.. not all the same... it is according the measure of the gift.

7 Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of the Messiah’s gift.8 For it says:

When He ascended on high,
He took prisoners into captivity;[c]
He gave gifts to people.[d]

It speaks of how he gave some people certain positions

11 And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 

But the purpose of those positions is to train the saints.. to build up the body, until we all reach unity.  So the purpose of all the gifts, and the "positions" is to build up the body.  

12 for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.

And the purpose of all the members of the body, is the building up of the body.  And that is the purpose of speaking the truth in love... IN LOVE... not in criticism or to catch someone in their falsehood so as to maybe even bring about pride in ourselves.. but humbly.. in love we speak to others as the spirit leads to help them see stumbling blocks so that they may avoid them and be stronger in the Lord.

15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ. 16 From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.

Unity is the goal.  Finger-pointing has no place in unity. We are to build each other up, not break each other down.  That is why we speak the truth in love, but we cannot speak truth if we don't see truth ourselves.  We cannot speak truth in love about someone sinning if we are guilty of the same sin.  It is much more effective if we speak in love to help others break free from the sin that we have been successful in breaking free from.  Then we can be by their side, encouraging them, rather than standing over them as if we are better, and judging them.  There is only ONE GOOD, that is God.  The rest of us, shameless sinners.  We should be grateful we have been given the ability to be in the presence of God at all instead of being cast into the outer darkness, which is what our sin deserves. 

In summary of the section above:  the purpose of speaking the truth in love... growth of members of the body.  The purpose of each part of the body... growth of the body.


Let us be encouraged, not only to walk in a manner worthy, but in putting on the new self

Remember the fruits of the spirit?  They are the proof of this righteousness.  Our new nature should bring about these fruits, however, it may take some time for the good fruit to grow.  It takes nurturing by taking time with God, time in the word, time with other members of Christ, time worshiping with great music showing love to God.   All of these things drenching us with God's spirit.

the final thoughts of Ephesians 4 is showing the fruits of the spirit:

25 Since you put away lying, Speak the truth, each one to his neighbor,[m] because we are members of one another. 

26 Be angry and do not sin.[n] Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and don’t give the Devil an opportunity. 

28 The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need. 

29 No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need,[o] so that it gives grace to those who hear. 30 And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by Him[p] for the day of redemption. 

31 All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice.

32 And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you[q] in Christ.

In Ephesians 5, my mind's eye pays close attention to verse 16:

16 making the most of the time,[e] because the days are evil. 

Again... in LOVE, we need to be there for each other:

19 speaking to one another
in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,
singing and making music
from your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for everything
to God the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another
in the fear of Christ.

It is very important that our behavior be our first witness.  The words of our mouth often get us into trouble. In all things, doing them in peace, joy.  Our countenance should reflect that peace and joy, as well because our face often is the mirror, the physical reflection of our peace and joy.  If others do not see our love and our peace, then why on earth would they ever desire to be close to the God we attain to be close to.  If they don't see the joy in us who walk closely with God, then what would be the use of them doing the same? 

If we ourselves are perfect, then we might have the right  to judge the imperfection of others.  Then let us be the first to "cast the stone", however, if we are not perfect, then we will be judged by the same measure we judge others.  We should judge ourselves, and pray to God that HE help rid us of the sin that separates us from HIM.  And then in LOVE encourage others to do the same. 

In Ephesians 6, the word spoke to my spirit about doing good.  Doing good to help others is a great reward when you see how it blessed them, but the best thing about doing good is....

7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord.

In the final verses of Chapter 6, we are reminded that what we are up against is not physical, but spiritual.  So it does no good to try to fight a physical fight with words, this is not a physical battle.   Fighting amongst ourselves or with anyone else in the world is not fruitful.  In fact, these actions often have the opposite affect.  This battle is against the spiritual.  Spiritual forces coming up against us and those we love, blinding others to the truth of Christ.  So we don't need physical weapons, they are rarely effective even in the natural let alone the the spiritual.  We need spiritual weapons.  The fruits of the spirit are part of our weapons of warfare.  But there is more:

10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics[g]of the Devil. 12 For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. 13 This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.14 Stand, therefore,

with truth like a belt around your waist,
righteousness like armor on your chest,
15 and your feet sandaled with readiness
for the gospel of peace.[h]
16 In every situation take the shield of faith,
and with it you will be able to extinguish
all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 Take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit,
which is God’s word.

18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

I pray this goes well with you!  May the Lord bless you with all spiritual blessings and grow your spiritual fruit: