This Is Love

 

It's not our love for God but it's God's love for us that sent Jesus to die the death we deserve to give us what we don't deserve (forgiveness, salvation, eternal life with Him in Heaven). Sin separated us from God. God loves us and wants to have a relationship with us. Because God is holy, righteous, and just, sin has to be dealt with. Out of love, God gave His one and only Son to be the atoning sacrifice (propitiation/the mercy seat) for our sin (to pay the penalty for our sin once and for all/to satisfy God's justice and wrath towards our sin), in order to restore our relationship with Him.

God is the Source of true love (agape). Agape love is unconditional, sacrificial, and selfless. It seeks the highest good for another no matter what the cost may be, as shown by Christ's sacrificial death on our behalf. God offered His Son to rescue us regardless of our decision to accept or reject Jesus, His gracious Gift. "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Christ died for our sins even when we're still enemies of God. God loves us first before we turn to Him...before we seek Him...before we love Him. He did not wait for us to love Him first before showing His love to us. God's love for us does not depend on who we are or what we do. God loves the guilty, the rebellious, the wicked, the unworthy, the ungrateful, and the unloving. God's amazing love for us never changes. God loved us to death (literally) before we did anything deserving of love. Christ's death on the cross was the ultimate expression of God's love for mankind. The most glorious display of His lovingkindness! We must follow God's example. Take the initiative in loving others, loving everyone, including the unlovable. Love like Jesus!

"When you love the unloving, you get a glimpse of what God does for you." (Max Lucado)

"We cannot choose whom we will love if we claim to be Christians." (Unknown)

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me before I even knew You! Thank You for Christ's sacrifice for my sins! My heart is overwhelmed with Your unfailing & unconditional love for me. Please love through me...help me love others with Your agape love. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.

Confess and Be Cleansed

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

Our sin separates us from God. Even for those in Christ, sin hinders our fellowship with Him. The word "confess" comes from the Greek word, "homologeo," meaning to say the same thing. When we confess, we say the same thing that God says (in His Word)...that what we did is sin. If we confess our sins (sins of commission and sins of omission), He will forgive us, cleanse us, and restore us to Him. This is a beautiful promise of God. 

Gossip

"A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much." (Proverbs 20:19 NIV)

"He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore, do not associate with on who flatters with his lips." (Proverbs 20:19 NKJV)

A gossip is an idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others (definition from dictionary.com). A gossip includes telling others what someone has told you in private (revealing secrets) and making statements that defame someone's character and reputation (slandering/backbiting). A gossip betrays trust and destroys friendship. Listening to gossip is just as bad as spreading gossip. "Anyone who will gossip to you, will gossip about you." (Unknown) Gossip is sin; it's unkind and unloving. We are to avoid anyone who talks too much, flatters with his/her lips, and/or cannot keep secrets because they are insincere and not trustworthy. We are not to mingle with talebearers, babblers, and flatterers. They are a danger to us. "A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin." (Proverbs 26:28) "Those who flatter their neighbors are spreading nets for their feet." (Proverbs 29:5) Let's also make sure that we ourselves guard our tongue and don't become talebearers, babblers, and flatterers. Let's make it a habit to walk away from gossip and from conversations that aim to tear others down. 
"Gossip is saying behind their back what you would not say to their face. Flattery is saying to their face what you would not say behind their back." (Unknown)
 
Prayer: Abba Father, please help me not to gossip and not to listen to gossip. I want to be a trustworthy person whom others can confide in and feel safe. Please enable me to guard my tongue. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.

The "R" Factors

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Blessed Redeemer (Lyrics by Avis B. Christiansen, 1895-1985, Music by Harry Dixon Loes, 1892-1965)

A Hill with Three Crosses--
One cross where a thief died IN SIN
One cross where a thief died TO SIN
A center cross where a Redeemer died FOR SIN

~Unknown

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:23-24
"In Him (Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." Ephesians 1:7

Christ, our Redeemer, has paid the price of our redemption in full and has reconciled us to God. How should we then respond?
Repent. Turn away from your sins and turn to God.
Receive Christ into your heart/life as your Lord and Savior. Receive His grace..mercy...His gift of salvation.
Remain in Him. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5
Reflect Him. "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18
Represent Him. "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20
Remember what Christ has done for you and remember to tell others about Him. "Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel." 2 Timothy 2:8
Rejoice. "And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:2b  "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4

Sadly, many choose to reject Him, refuse His offer of salvation, and rebel their way to hell. God gives us free will; the choice is yours!

Have a blessed Resurrection Day...celebrating our Risen Redeemer!
~To visit other Spiritual Sundays participants, please go here.

Asleep In The Light

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Asleep In The Light (words, music, and performed by Keith Green)

Do you see, do you see all the people sinking down?
Don't you care, don't you care, are you gonna let them drown?
How can you be so numb not to care if they come?
You close your eyes and pretend the job's done.

"Oh, bless me, Lord, bless me, Lord," you know it's all I ever hear.
No one aches, no one hurts, no one even sheds one tear.
But He cries, He weeps, He bleeds, and He cares for your needs.
And you just lay back and keep soaking it in.

Oh, can't you see it's such sin.
'Cause He brings people to your door and you turn them away
as you smile and say, "God bless you, be at peace,"
and all heaven just weeps...
'Cause Jesus came to your door.
You've left Him out on the streets.

Open up open up and give yourself away.
You see the need, you hear the cries, so how can you delay?
God's calling, you're the one, but like Jonah you run.
He's told you to speak but you keep holding it in.

Oh, can't you see it's such sin.
The world is sleeping in the dark that the church just can't fight,
'Cause it's asleep in the light
How can you be so dead when you've been so well-fed?
Jesus rose from the grave and you, you can't even get out of bed.
Oh, Jesus rose from the dead, come on, get out of your bed.

How can you be so numb not to care if they come?
You close your eyes and pretend the job's done.
You close your eyes and pretend the job's done.
Don't close your eyes, don't pretend the job's done.


‎"Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, SINS." (James 4:17)
"Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did." (1 John 1:6)

If you missed the Keith Green 28.28.28 event on Wednesday, you can still view it here.

Refiner's Fire

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This song is my prayer!  Lord, please cleanse me from all impurity and conform me into the image of Jesus Christ!
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

In Christ Alone

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Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

This is one of my all-time favorite songs.  In Christ alone, I am who I am today...born again and blessed!
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

Do you seek hope, security, fulfillment, comfort in people, wealth, things, career, achievement, fame, or religions? If so, you are seeking in the wrong place. Jesus Christ is the answer you need. You will never be truly content until you realize that you are complete in Christ alone.

In Christ we have...
a love that can never be fathomed,
a life that can never die,
a peace that can never be understood,
a rest that can never be disturbed,
a joy that can never be diminished,
a hope that can never be disappointed,
a glory that can never be clouded,
a light that can never be darkened,
and a spiritual resource that can never be exhausted.

                                                    ~Anonymous

Previous Songs:
- Sweetly Broken
- Be Thou My Vision
- God With Us
- Offering- Christmas Version 
- How Many Kings
- Give Thanks
- When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
- He Knows My Name
- Oh Lord, You're Beautiful!
- What the Lord Has Done in Me
- I Surrender All
- Mighty To Save
- Could I Be Called a Christian?
- Cry Out to Jesus
- Jesus, Be the Center
- God of Justice
- Love That Will Not Let Me Go
- I Will Offer Up My Life
- When It's All Been Said and Done
- Knowing You, Jesus

Magic Is Tragic

In our family, we use the word “illusion”, not "magic" when we talk about the tricks performed by illusionists. There’s another kind of magic that is dangerous, harmful, and tragic...the kind that God hates. It is witchcraft/sorcery.

“Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or cast spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord.” Deuteronomy 18:10-12a

“Do not practice divination or sorcery.” Leviticus 19:26b

“They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sorcery and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking Him to anger.” 2 Kings 17:17

“Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against your magic charms with which you ensnare people like birds and I will tear them from your arms; I will set free the people that you ensnare like birds.” Ezekiel 13:20

“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21

“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars–their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Revelation 21:8

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” Revelation 22:14-15

This is not something to be taken lightly. The Lord hates it; we should also hate it and avoid it at all cost. Some Christians think it is not wrong to read books and/or watch movies that contain magic/witchcraft/sorcery. Some also think it is not wrong to celebrate Halloween (which tends to glorify death, fear, witches, ghosts, and spiritual darkness) and dress their kids up as witches or wizards.  They probably can come up with lots of reasons to justify why they disagree with me :).  Even if they assure me that those books, movies, or Halloween celebration do not affect or influence them/their kids negatively at all, I still would question whether they spent their time wisely and for God's glory.  Wouldn't they be better off to spend their time on better (edifying, inspirational, God-honoring) books, movies, and celebrations?  In my opinion, if the Lord is so strongly against magic arts/witchcraft/sorcery, why would we think we can play around with it? Why would we act like we know better than God? He loves us and wants to protect us from harm. You may think a little magic here and there is harmless, but anything that is against God is sin. Of course, satan wants us to think magic is harmless; he is a master of lies and deception. He likes to fill our minds and hearts with things that draw us away from God. You can read a great article regarding Halloween at http://www.equip.org/hank_speaks_outs/halloween .

In addition, I do not think Christian authors need to or should weave any magic/witchcraft/sorcery into their stories...even if they intend to use their stories to point people to God and the Gospel. God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and the Gospel is powerful and effective in itself. God does not need the help of magic (the thing He hates) to get people interested in Him. It is really an insult to God.

Please visit here for the links to other Spiritual Sundays posts. Have a blessed day in the Lord, everyone!

I Will Offer Up My Life

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I Will Offer Up My Life (written by Matt Redman, sung by Delirious)



What can I give? What can I bring? What can I sing as an offering, Lord?
"Lord, I give You my heart, my life, my all! Please empty me of myself, fill me with Your love, and have Your way in me." ~This thankful heart, me.



Previous Songs:
- When It's All Been Said and Done
- Knowing You, Jesus
- In Christ Alone
- Be Thou My Vision