1st Thes.3:11 thru13
11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. 12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13 To the end he may establish your hearts UN-blameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints
What are you Goals for this new year? Resolutions? Like most, I do. Today's reading captures mine. Those I write to or for have become a family, a congregation of sorts. What ever you want to call it, I live with the loving burden to see that all of us, myself included, live as close to the cross as we possibly can. It is as Paul says my desire to see everyone increase and abound in love. You can never separate loyalty to Christ and Lordship. Lordship is positional. It is the way I pray we are "Minded" to God. It may be overly simplistic, but he is the boss, we do as he directs. It may be an act of faith at first, but then God will make the wisdom of humbly following; his direction clear. When we dwell in him we are set free to Love. We are free to love as Christ loves us. Jesus said the commandments are summed up in this, “love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark12:34 to 40)
Holiness is not only being separate for Gods use, but a lifestyle of purity and clean living. We should live a lifestyle that shows we are not only his, but one filled with Joy. Joy to be saved, joy at the fact that we are his. A lifestyle of Pure Joy. Perhaps that is my true wish for you today. I wish you Joy. Pure, sanctified Joy and the peace that surpasses all understanding. Let us pray:
Lord, today we are celebrating a New Year. A day to contemplate the new and to break with the past. This is our plea this day. That we may draw closer to you. To live in the shadow of your cross every day. It is my prayer that there would be Joy for all as you increase in Christ and decrease in yourselves. More of You and less of me. We are the tools, you are the master craftsmen. Work us into your image. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. 12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13 To the end he may establish your hearts UN-blameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints
What are you Goals for this new year? Resolutions? Like most, I do. Today's reading captures mine. Those I write to or for have become a family, a congregation of sorts. What ever you want to call it, I live with the loving burden to see that all of us, myself included, live as close to the cross as we possibly can. It is as Paul says my desire to see everyone increase and abound in love. You can never separate loyalty to Christ and Lordship. Lordship is positional. It is the way I pray we are "Minded" to God. It may be overly simplistic, but he is the boss, we do as he directs. It may be an act of faith at first, but then God will make the wisdom of humbly following; his direction clear. When we dwell in him we are set free to Love. We are free to love as Christ loves us. Jesus said the commandments are summed up in this, “love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark
Holiness is not only being separate for Gods use, but a lifestyle of purity and clean living. We should live a lifestyle that shows we are not only his, but one filled with Joy. Joy to be saved, joy at the fact that we are his. A lifestyle of Pure Joy. Perhaps that is my true wish for you today. I wish you Joy. Pure, sanctified Joy and the peace that surpasses all understanding. Let us pray:
Lord, today we are celebrating a New Year. A day to contemplate the new and to break with the past. This is our plea this day. That we may draw closer to you. To live in the shadow of your cross every day. It is my prayer that there would be Joy for all as you increase in Christ and decrease in yourselves. More of You and less of me. We are the tools, you are the master craftsmen. Work us into your image. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
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