The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:6
Dear Sisters and Brothers, April 3, 2012
I love His Word! My desire is to read it, believe it and live it. My frustration is the length of time it takes to progress from the believing it, to the living it. I want to love Him perfectly, now! I want to serve Him and put a smile on His face. I want my life to shout to all, who He is! “ He is good and He is love and He is Holy. But when I go ahead with my plan to bring Him glory, working with great effort to serve Him, things inevitably go awry. I sputter to a bumpy stop. He gently reveals a truth I was going too fast to hear, that it is ‘me’ working 'my' will, forgetting Philippians 2:13, that it is He who works in me both to will and work for His good pleasure. Waiting is a test of faith; a test I have often failed. Too many times I have not waited for Him to show me His will.
Me, I like lists. It pleases me to check off many items before the sun gives way to night. The more check marks, the more pleased I am with myself, I judged I did well that day, when one day, unexpectedly everything changed! The Lord asked: ‘Arlene, where is the love?’ I quickly responded back with a question, “What do You mean, Lord?” He took me to Galatians 5:6 'The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love' and the impact of this verse challenged and changed me. I will never be the same. pleasure.“
This is preceded with verses on surrender every knee bowing before Christ. Circumcision is mentioned here as a reference to religiosity with it’s rules and traditions. If our faith is in what we do or in anything except Jesus death and resurrection, it is not true faith. Even the devil believes and trembles, but it won’t save him. Religious works, acts of kindness or giving money for some need, can be done one of two ways: by the power of the Holy Spirit or in our own strength. One is eternal, one is temporary. Man’s great need is to be loved. We are called to walk in Love. Jesus said “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
Dear Sisters and Brothers, April 3, 2012
I love His Word! My desire is to read it, believe it and live it. My frustration is the length of time it takes to progress from the believing it, to the living it. I want to love Him perfectly, now! I want to serve Him and put a smile on His face. I want my life to shout to all, who He is! “ He is good and He is love and He is Holy. But when I go ahead with my plan to bring Him glory, working with great effort to serve Him, things inevitably go awry. I sputter to a bumpy stop. He gently reveals a truth I was going too fast to hear, that it is ‘me’ working 'my' will, forgetting Philippians 2:13, that it is He who works in me both to will and work for His good pleasure. Waiting is a test of faith; a test I have often failed. Too many times I have not waited for Him to show me His will.
Me, I like lists. It pleases me to check off many items before the sun gives way to night. The more check marks, the more pleased I am with myself, I judged I did well that day, when one day, unexpectedly everything changed! The Lord asked: ‘Arlene, where is the love?’ I quickly responded back with a question, “What do You mean, Lord?” He took me to Galatians 5:6 'The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love' and the impact of this verse challenged and changed me. I will never be the same. pleasure.“
This is preceded with verses on surrender every knee bowing before Christ. Circumcision is mentioned here as a reference to religiosity with it’s rules and traditions. If our faith is in what we do or in anything except Jesus death and resurrection, it is not true faith. Even the devil believes and trembles, but it won’t save him. Religious works, acts of kindness or giving money for some need, can be done one of two ways: by the power of the Holy Spirit or in our own strength. One is eternal, one is temporary. Man’s great need is to be loved. We are called to walk in Love. Jesus said “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:6
The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Measure all you have said and done this week with these eleven words. Consider letting these words define you all you do and say. How can we live this love? I cannot! Until the Holy Spirit fills me with God’s love and creates in me a hunger for this divine love and I will not be satisfied with just being saved, but am moved to humbly seek Him, taking up my Cross to follow in obedience, for I am called to His love. A Love that brings unity, for true love, loves all people. (impossible for me) Nothing less can be called God’s love. This love is like a fire: I know no fire like the fire of God, a fire of everlasting love that consumed the sacrifice on Calvary. This is the baptism of Love that I desperately need; it causes me to burn with a need to repent. On my face before Him I confess my lack of love.
“Lord, let love from Heaven flow down into my heart. I am giving up my life to pray and live as one who has given himself up for the everlasting love to dwell in and fill him.” a.m.
God is Love. I John 4:8 The fruit of the Spirit is Love. Galatians 5:22
Consider this thought: ‘And have we degraded the Holy Spirit into a mere power by which we have to do our work! God forgive us! Oh that the Holy Spirit might be held in honor as a power to fill us with the very life and nature of God and of Christ!” a.m.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God... In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. I John 4:7, 10-13
This scripture combined with Galations 5:6 calls my heart to love. This is HUGE! It is Christ loving through me! God delights to do this and in this way, He is glorified. Only then will His love touch not only the lost, but our hurting brothers and sisters. The greatest gift we are given, to serve Him, is not our abilities; but the gift of His Love. This sets my feet to dancing, knowing He delights to share Himself with us.
Living Love, Eternal and Almighty, Love that will not let me go, fill my heart with faith to believe that You truly want to pour out your love and shed it abroad in my heart. By faith I accept this Truth. I am incredibly and eternally loved by Love itself. And I am purposed to give it away. I confess I have lacked love again and again. How little I have understood Your great love and I ask You to teach me. Keep me mindful of this Truth: ‘The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love!’ How incredible this statement. O Lord, how deficient your church is in this love, revive us dear Sacrifice of Love. Your nature is mercy and Your identity is love. These are not just bits and pieces of You, but it is who You are! Come have your way in my heart today, tomorrow, and forever. Amen in the Name of Love, Jesus.
He is Risen!!!!!! love az
The focus this Easter week is on Jesus – in His divine condescension He took the form of a man so that he could bear the punishment for all the wrong done in the world by each person for all time. See His goodness and mercy. Stand in awe of Him. Seek to please Him in reverent, humble obedience. Let Him work in you to will and to do of His good pleasure. Then you can join... in the joy of His salvation. (Vantage Point)
