Archive for the ‘Word’ Category

Knowing God, Loving God, and the Truth

Posted: July 20, 2015 in Ancient Faith, ascension, belief, Biblical, Body of Christ, Calling, catholic, Charismatic, Christian, Church, Cross, death, Evangelism, Faith, Father, God, Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity, Hope, Jesus, life, Love, message, Messiah, orthodoxy, redemption, reign, repent, Repentance, resurrection, Sacramental, sanctification, Scriptural, Son, Teaching, Word
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two-commandments

You cannot love God without first obeying the Truth and knowing Him.

“In Him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in Him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 (NRSV)

“He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40 (NRSV)

“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but will speak whatever He hears, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because He will take what is mine and declare it to you.” John 16:13-14 (NRSV)

It is absurd to say you love God without loving the Truth. If you are not engaging your mind in your pursuit of knowing God you are not really loving God. You are not really obeying the greatest commandment.

He Will Cause You Rest

Posted: July 16, 2015 in belief, Biblical, Charismatic, Christian, Counsel, Cross, Faith, God, Jesus, life, Love, Messiah, Pastoral Care, power, redemption, resurrection, Scriptural, story, Teaching, Word
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Matthew11vs28

There is a question in my mind about “rest.” We’ve all had something to say about “rest.” Slowing down, taking it easier, and spending more time with God. All the books about Emotionally Healthy Spirituality (EHS) say the same thing. We have to slow down, we have to set a Sabbath rest for ourselves.

However, do we realize what Jesus said about “rest?” In Matthew 11:28 Jesus says literally, “Come to Me, all ones tiring, and being loaded down, and I will cause you rest.” Jesus said He would CAUSE us rest. That is really different from GIVE us rest isn’t it? The Greek word ἀναπαύω anapauō in this verse means, “to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labour in order to recover and collect his strength.” Jesus says you don’t need to keep striving. Jesus says I permit you not to strive any longer. Jesus says come to me and I will cause you to cease from any movement or labor in order that you can recover and collect your strength. Have you ever had anyone tell you to stop what you were doing? I hear Jesus saying, stop what you’re doing! This labor you are undertaking is not what you were made for. You were created to rely upon Me, depend upon Me, and obtain your strength from me, for He says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:29-30 (NRSV)

I visualize Jesus yoke as Jeremy Taylor has said, ““Christ’s yoke is like feathers to a bird; not loads, but helps to motion.” Jesus yoke isn’t easy as we know easy to mean, but it means good, virtuous, and wholesome – it is not contrived or demanding. Oh, what grace! Oh, to lean on the everlasting arms that hold us up when we are under stress and pressure. As the song says, “safe and secure from all alarms.”

Shouldn’t we all lean upon His everlasting arms and rest, recess, and renew?

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