“All your actions must be done in love.”
Often, we make things harder than they need to be. Doesn’t means they are easy to do.
If my actions are not motivated by LOVE, then I am doing it WRONG.
Often, I need to figure out my mis-directed heart before I figure out my mis-directed actions. Remember the whole log-speck lesson?
My meditation for today will be to base all may actions in love.
https://ref.ly/1Co16.14 via the Logos Bible Android app.
““And I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after these things do not have anything more to do. But I will show you whom you should fear: fear the one who has authority, after the killing, to throw you into hell!
Yes, I tell you, fear this one!
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered! Do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
We have nothing to fear but fear itself. While a great political speech, it is completely untrue.
We all have something to fear. Actually, we have someone to fear. We are to fear the One who can throw us into hell! Too many people punch out at this and lose the context of how to live with that fear.
Here is the good news, the One who can throw us in hell is also the One who values us more than many sparrows. (I’ve always wondered if this is an example of Biblical understatement. I hope so, otherwise it is not much of a compliment😁)
We all need to remember the order of the fear and fear not. Just because we are valued by God doesn’t mean He has relinquished His authority to punish. The fear of falling into the hands of an angry God underlies the gloriousness of the fear not.
We cheapen the cross when we stop appreciating the fearfulness of God. We steal the glory of grace.
A world that doesn’t fear the One who can throw them into hell is a world that has something to fear that is way more dangerous than fear itself. The only way to escape the fearful One is to flee to the merciful One, who is the same One.
My meditation for the day will be the wrath of God.
https://ref.ly/Lk12.4-7 via the Logos Bible Android app.
“Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are inscribed in heaven.””
There are numerous benefits to being born again. Let me begin to enumerate.
1. I am a child of God…if a child of God, then an heir. An heir of God and co-heir with Christ.
End of enumeration.
If that is not enough, then I must reconsider all my motivations. Take away all that you cherish from being a Christian with only reason #1 as the benefit, do you continue to follow Jesus?
If not, then you are not worthy of Reason #1.
My meditation for today is Jesus is my treasure.
https://ref.ly/Lk10.20 via the Logos Bible Android app.
“Therefore it is already completely a loss for you that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? But you wrong and defraud, and do this to brothers!”
It seems like the greatest of offense is to be triggered, insulted, ill-considered, judged, or maligned.
Have you considered that there is something worse than being ” wronged”?
Have you considered that there is something worse than being “defrauded”?
An unrighteous response to an unrighteous act just makes for a complete loss to unrighteousness! At that point,there is no innocent party.
Every wrong we expereience is an opportunity for gain…for righteousness to reign…for peace to prevail…and God to be glorified.
Let’s not waste a good mistreatment!
https://ref.ly/1Co6.7-8 via the Logos Bible Android app.
“Then Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you planned evil against me, but God planned it for good, in order to do this—to keep many people alive—as it is today. So then, do not be afraid. I myself will provide for you and your little ones. And he consoled them and spoke kindly to them.”
Aside the cross, Joseph’s is one of the most profound examples of forgiveness for me. Evil was done to him. He was hated, enslaved and imprisoned by his own family. Yet, when it was within his own power to return evil for evil, even justice for evil, he did not.
He actually consoled, spoke kindly, and provided for the needs of those who had planned and implemented evil against him. That is what forgiveness looks like.
How did he do it?
1. He didn’t focus on the wrongs done.
2. He didn’t focus on the wrong-doers.
3. He didn’t focus on himself.
4. He focused on God and the goodness of God’s plan.
5. He accepted his role in short-term suffering for the long-term glory of God.
Truly, a lesson to mediate upon.
https://ref.ly/Ge50.19-21 via the Logos Bible Android app.
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:2-5
My mortal body is often one of my most stringent usurpers of my soul’s control. Unfortunately, the whims of my flesh greatly influence my mindfulness of God’s benefits; how He has forgiven my iniquity, how he has healed me from sickness, how He has redeemed my life, how He has crowned me with steadfast love and mercy, how He completely satisfies me with His goodness.
Sleep is a precious commodity. Ask any parent of young children and they will tell you that their one wish is for a complete night’s rest. I no longer have young children who disturb my slumber. As of late, I have a misguided internal clock that is more effective than any wailing infant. I have taken to awaking at 2:30 in the morning, tossing and turning until 4:30, only to have my alarm disrupt my dreams at 5:30. I realize that there are many who struggle with insomnia to a far greater degree than I. I am thankful not to face their struggle.
This morning, I arose not very mindful of the benefits of my Lord. I was far more mindful of the benefits of sleep. It was a prolonged battle between soul and flesh, to drag my reluctant bones to my desk and open the precious words of God.
I know that if I had remained in bed that God would not have loved me any less. I know that I would not have been punished if I had missed this time of meditating on His words. I know that God’s blessings are not contingent upon fulfilling my allotted time of reading my Bible, journaling and prayer. I know that sometimes it might be best to just get the rest.
I also know that this is the most peaceful, refreshing, and renewing part of my day. I set aside this part of my day because I want to. I do not do it because I have to. I do it because as a child of God, I get to.
The battle then is most often with my mortal body. I am very easily inclined to become focused on the condition of my body and allow it to dictate my day. I am reminded of Paul’s admonition, “But I discipline my body and keep it under control….” (1 Cor. 9:27a)
It is when I allow my body undo control that I begin to forget the benefits of my Lord. I begin to think that the comforts that I feel are equal to the benefits of the glory of God. It is a sad state when a discomfort as minor as a little sleeplessness (I cannot even bear to call that suffering) is counted as worth some of the glory that is revealed through God’s word and by His Spirit (Romans 8:18).
So, I arose this morning and was incredibly blessed by the Lord. I have been reminded of His benefits:
How he has forgiven all my iniquity;
How I get to celebrate His mercy and grace this Easter;
How He has blessed me and my family with health;
How He has redeemed my life when I was without a redeemer;
How He has filled my cup to overflowing with His steadfast love and mercy;
How His goodness has made me content with where He has placed me.
My Lord has renewed my soul this morning more than any sleep could do.
The slight glimpse of His spectacular glory was so worth the two hours of sleep that I lost. I look forward to what He has for me tomorrow.
PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for that day in the future when you will fully reveal your glory and it will make the sufferings of the world, great and small, so very worth it. Thank you for renewing my soul. Amen
A DEVOTED LIFE 