that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (you having been firmly rooted and established in love), in order that you may be strong enough to grasp together with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and height, and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, in order that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:17-19 LEB
One of my greatest joys is to read the scriptures. They yield such wisdom, meaning, and depth in one place, in one sentence, in a phrase, and even a word. My verse to think on today is Ephesians 3:17 - 19.
(Eph 3:17) Faith and Love; there is no other greater union of the heart, the mind, and the body in two words than these. The Holy Spirit will not live in a heart without also residing in it through faith "established" in love. Christ can't lead and teach our mind without also guiding it, which takes faith and love. And finally, our outward actions mean nothing if not grounded and motivated by both faith and love. I've seen and heard so many of us (and myself) saying words of faith with no love in them. I have also heard the words and seen the actions of love that had no root faith in Christ, only to see those actions leave people in their lost and desperate state. Both the giver and receiver are left feeling great but have nothing for eternity.
So why be rooted in love with a faith in Christ?
(Eph 3:18,19)
So you can be:
1) Strong enough
2) Together enough
3) To understand enough...God's Love
And all this that you will be filled up, not with the fullness of this life, your family, your career, your ministry, but with the "fullness of God."
Monday, June 8, 2015
Friday, June 5, 2015
Encouragement
11 Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as indeed you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (LEB)
I find that when I start encouraging others a weight is lifted off of me. There is a this type of fog that is swept away from any interaction or relationship when encouragement is given. By encouragement I don't mean sweet words that diffuse a tense situation. Nor do I call encouragement words you say with motives tucked behind them so you can manipulate or maneuver people into doing your will and wishes.
en·cour·age·ment: the action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope.
So please encourage one another today with words that build up instead of destroy. As the Holy Spirit is building something eternal in each of us. Let us contribute to that building in ourselves and others with word of faith, hope, confidence and support.
Now for some context...
The passage here is wrapped up with a prophetic end of time message.
This passage is for the believer and specifically the believer that is encouraged by this type of conversation. So when you're down and feeling discouraged, take heart he is coming soon. When you're feeling awesome and blessed, take heart and share your joy with others through uplifting words.
Love all, Worship One.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (LEB)
I find that when I start encouraging others a weight is lifted off of me. There is a this type of fog that is swept away from any interaction or relationship when encouragement is given. By encouragement I don't mean sweet words that diffuse a tense situation. Nor do I call encouragement words you say with motives tucked behind them so you can manipulate or maneuver people into doing your will and wishes.
en·cour·age·ment: the action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope.
So please encourage one another today with words that build up instead of destroy. As the Holy Spirit is building something eternal in each of us. Let us contribute to that building in ourselves and others with word of faith, hope, confidence and support.
Now for some context...
The passage here is wrapped up with a prophetic end of time message.
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need of anything to be written to you, 2 for you yourselves well know that the day of the Lord is coming in the same way as a thief in the night. 3 Whenever they say “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction will overtake them like the birth pains of a pregnant woman[a], and they will not possibly escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in the darkness, so that the day should catch you like a thief, 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 So then, we must not sleep like the rest, but must be on the alert and be self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But because[b] we are of the day, we must be sober, by[c] putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet the hope of salvation, 9 because God did not appoint us for wrath, but for the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live at the same time with him. - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (LEB)
This passage is for the believer and specifically the believer that is encouraged by this type of conversation. So when you're down and feeling discouraged, take heart he is coming soon. When you're feeling awesome and blessed, take heart and share your joy with others through uplifting words.
Love all, Worship One.
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