A Faithful Bride

When public opinion becomes the basis for morality, a culture is broken. When Christians base their morality on love alone apart from the truth found in Scripture, the church is broken. The deification of man's opinion, even if the man is me, is spiritual adultery. Though we may call our choices--our words, "loving"--they are not. Loving God with all my heart is action--obedience. "If you love Me, keep My commandments," is the Bridgegroom's wooing of His bride. To not respond with the "yes" of loving obedience--in word and deed--is unfaithfulness, a betrayal of the God who so loved the world. For the Christian to respond with self-aggrandizing disobedience makes a mockery of grace--of the cross where Perfect Love died for the sins of the world--for my sins.

I cannot control public opinion.

I can by the Spirit's power love my Bridegroom with a life of obedience--a life of faithful love to His commandments--which, by the way, are not burdensome to genuine, committed love. "Love the Lord, God, with all your heart, and soul, and mind, and strength. Be a pure and faithful bride.

His Love and Judgment

God's patience is proof of His deep desire to heal and restore. His preference is to not have to judge us so He patiently gives us the time to honestly examine ourselves and judge ourselves--to look honestly into the mirror of the Word and embrace the changes that need to be made through the Spirit's transforming power. But He will judge, discipline, if His patience is abused--mocked. Don't confuse God's gentle patience with your rebellion as an excuse for continued deliberate disobedience. Don't think that He doesn't care about your holiness. His love for you is so much deeper and stronger than that. He longs for a renewal of your relationship with Him--and will do whatever it takes to stimulate your love. Whatever it takes. He is a faithful God, full of lovingkindness.

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Loss of spiritual power is always gradual like the slow graying of an old man's hair. May God keep us sensitive to the Spirit's prodding, eager for confession and intimacy, thankful for the Spirit's love.

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Self-sufficiency, ingratitude, self-pity are all sins against God's love.

Who You Are

Remember who you are:

His dearly beloved
His brother; His sister
His joint-heir--and His inheritance
His friend
His holy one--set apart one
His light to the world
His salt in the world
His "majestic one in whom He delights"
His royal priest
His sanctuary--His Holy of Holies where He lives
His adopted child--adopted because His heart's desire is to spend eternity with you.

There is no who or what or when that will separate you from such intentionally lavished, eternal love. "Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, rejoice!"

Fearless

Words for our walk in today's world:

"These things I have spoken unto you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage--be of good cheer--I have overcome the world."

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world--our faith. And who is the one is overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

"For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and sound judgment."

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid."

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not look anxiously about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you."

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the refuge of my life; whom shall I dread?

"The Lord is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"

Rest in His peace--the victory has been won.
Take courage--be of good cheer.
You are an overcomer.
Be bold. His power, love, and mind are in you.
Have an untroubled heart.
Do not fear. He is your ever present help.
He is your light, your salvation, your refuge.

I will not fear.

Love

We are in no greater spiritual danger than when we begin to love the blessings God has given us more than we love Him. Perhaps in our arrogance we begin to believe that we have earned them, that we deserve them. No one--individually or corporately--who loves the blessings more than the Blesser has ever maintained a deep, satisfying, loving relationship with Him. And they have always found the blessings to be decidedly ephemeral.

 There is no love better than God's love. "More secure is no one ever than the loved ones of the Savior."

Image Bearers

To present the image of Christ to the world, I must

Express forgiveness even to those who are responsible for my cross. The only reason I need for forgiving them is that they have done something that needs forgiving. That's why He forgave me.
Diligently seek time to be alone with the Father--those moments when I am least alone
Be enthralled by the beauty of the world--the sparrow, the lily, the grass of the field--and sense the sorrow that permeates such a temporary fallen world
Always be moved with compassion in the presence of the needy--regardless of the reason for their neediness. And it must be a compassion that acts with whatever resources are available--dedicated to Him.
Meet physical needs with physical things.
Meet spiritual needs with spiritual "things"
Love the loveless
Weep with those who weep
Defend those who are more committed to spending time in His presence, learning at His feet, than they are committed to spiritual busyness. They will undoubtedly be criticized for having such a priority
Worship Him extravagantly--pour out my best for Him
Weep for those who reject the Father's seeking
Encourage the one who betrays me--remind them that He loves them and desires them to feed His sheep. Tell them that their failures qualify them for service--are a necessary part of coming to know Him and of learning to rely on Him more deeply.
Have a singing heart on the way to my Gethsemanes
Adore the little children
Embrace my "family"--those who are committed to doing His will above all else
Seek only the approval of the Father. Seek always to please Him
Speak the truth--always graciously, in love--but speak the truth
Dance and celebrate with the angels when one comes to repentance
Remember

The Enemy

Jesus loved the rich young ruler. When Judas betrayed Him with a kiss, He called him, "friend." On the cross He was pleading with the Father, to forgive. He deliberately sought out Peter who denied Him with vehement swearing, Thomas the doubter, and Paul the blasphemer. May God grant us the power of such gracious love. No one ever cared for you like Jesus? How do you, as the bearer of His image care for others--all others.

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Anyone who tries to tell you that works are necessary for salvation is an enemy of the cross. Paul tells us that our attitude toward such people should be broken-heartedness. Tears. Love. And love is always expressed in prayer.