Dwelling in the Love of Christ (John 15:9)

In John 15:9 Jesus directs us to a new level of love, His level, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love.”

Dwelling or living in the love of Christ is not automatic and usually not easy. 

In John 15:10-11 Jesus said, “If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Jesus continues in verse 12, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

The Greek word used here for love is Agape. It means to give someone what they need, not necessarily what they want. It is the God kind of love. 

The Jews wanted another King David type of savior to free them from the oppressive Roman rule. God sent Jesus, His Son to save us all for eternity.

How did Jesus show His love? He offers us forgiveness without condemnation. He healed all that came to Him, calmed the storm, fed the hungry, raised the dead, had compassion, loved the unlovable, gave His life for us, carried our sins into Hell, and stands ready to enter our lives at anytime we choose to open the door and invite Him in. However; we have to do the inviting.

Some of this I know I can do. I may not accomplish for others all of the ways Jesus chose to love me, but I can do something whether it is taking food to the homeless shelter or to a shut-in, show love to someone that is acting unloving, forgive everyone of everything- large or small, and ask Jesus into my heart each day. Sharing His love must become a conscious part of our everyday life.

I find asking for and receiving a daily infilling of His love is vital before I am capable of showing His love to anyone else. Without coming to Him first I am trying to accomplish sharing His love on my terms which leads to sharing from a deficit and it runs out quickly. I’ve tried this many times and always fail, then I wonder what went wrong.

Jesus has asked us to partner with Him to accomplish His will on earth just as it is in heaven. He is the head and we are His body. The body does not function without the head. 

At best we are like a chicken that has just had its head cut off. It is a crazy sight to see. I watched my daddy do this one time when I was a child. I thought the chicken was looking for it's head. It ran all over the chicken yard. 

I can do nothing without Christ's love infilling me. Today was one of those days I needed to soak in His love. So as I ate and drank of the matchless love He offers me,  I savored my time in His presence. There is always more than enough and it will never end. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Are you like the dog settling for the crumbs under the table? (Mark 7:24-30)

As I lay the communion elements on the table this morning I asked the Lord how He would like for me to celebrate this time with Him.

After blessing the communion elements I broke the cracker and the crumbs spilled onto the table.

Looking at the crumbs reminded me of the story of the Syro-Phoenician woman (Mark 7: 24-30) who came to Jesus asking Him to heal her daughter.

Jesus responds that it was not right to give the children’s bread to the dogs (non-covenant people).

She replies with, "Even the dogs eat the crumbs from under the table."

As a believer in Jesus, I am a covenant child and no longer have to settle for the crumbs of pleading, begging and hoping Jesus will hear my prayers. I have been given the bread of life from His table and need to partake of what He has laid before me.

As I ate from His table, I celebrated His broken body that gives healing for my body.

The Old Testament tells us that the life of the body is in the blood. (Leviticus 17:11) The new life that I now live is because of Jesus' life’s blood poured out for me.  So, I drank of His life in me, the life found only in His blood. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Romans 5:3-4 “…We rejoice in our sufferings..."

Being extremely frustrated that my spiritual life was growing TOO slow, last night I cried out to the Lord, 

“What is taking so long? Why can’t I seem to get the revelation of Your Word? What am I missing?”

Early this morning my mind was taken to the butterfly. The most critical time in the butterfly’s life is when it is trying to get out of the cocoon.

Years ago I read a story of how someone was troubled by watching the butterfly struggle to get free of the cocoon and took some scissors, made a snip and the butterfly was free. The butterfly emerged crippled and could not fly. For it is in the struggle the butterfly develops the strength it will need to fly.

This is true with us as well. It is in the struggles our faith is strengthened for the journey ahead. If God allowed us to forgo the struggles we would not become strong enough to complete the journey.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 “As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.”

Romans 5:3-4 “...We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,”

Hebrews 10:36 “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him."

James 1:2-3 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

God does not bring the trials and temptations to us. However; as we encounter them He will walk with us through them if we invite Him into our situation. Then, we will emerge victorious.

Today we celebrate Jesus and His finished work on the cross as we partake of communion.

We eat of the wisdom of God both in His word and His steadfastness. 
We drink of His love and mercy given through the blood of Christ.

Blessings on your day!

Karen

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving…” Psalm 100:4

Preparing our table for communion includes preparing our hearts.

The first step is seeking the presence of the Lord according to Psalm 100:4 is to come with a thankful heart.

At first this seemed foreign to me. I had to ask the Holy Spirit for His help. Then I read James 1:17 (VOICE) “Every good gift bestowed, every perfect gift received comes to us from above, courtesy of the Father of lights. He is consistent. He won’t change His mind or play tricks in the shadows.”

As I meditate on the fact that every good thing in my life is a gift from my heavenly Father, I begin to count my blessings, as the old hymn says; the love of my family, home, provisions, sunshine, grass, trees, birds, fresh air, etc. Then, I remember the love that never ends and is freely given for this one, who felt like a failure, love that has healed a wounded soul, love that offers me eternal life. And it is all because Jesus went to the cross for you and me. He paid for my sin and yours. Our sins are considered  high treason against the Kingdom of God and deserves the punishment of death.

It only takes a moment to prepare my heart with thanksgiving for the presence of a Holy God.

Today I celebrate this holy time of communion with my beloved knowing that by His love and sacrifice on the cross, He is mine and I am His. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen