Most mornings I read from a devotional called, Whispers of His Power, by Amy Carmichael. She was a woman who lived not for the passing pleasures of this age, but by God's grace she set her heart and mind on the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Therefore, she is a woman to follow and emulate. The following is taken from the above devotional.
"Col. 3:12 (Way1): Array yourseleves, then, as God's chosen ones, His consecrated and dearly loved ones, in a heart of sympathay, in kindness, in lowliness, in gentleness, in tireless patience.
An Australian poet, Adam Lindsay Gordon, who was born more than 100 years ago, wrote:
'Life is mostly froth and bubble.
Two things stand like stone:
Kindness in another's trouble,
Courage in your own.'
Life is not mostly froth and bubble if you are living for the things eternal. But it is perfectly true of the life that has not for its center, Christ.
The last three lines are entirely true. Let us put them into our hearts and minds and live them. "
1 A. Way, The Letters of St. Paul (a translation)
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Friday, January 27, 2006
Sweet Fruit
So the question comes, "Do we experience the fruit of love1 most when we are the center or object of love, or when we are the ones loving?"
I think most people lack love in their lives because they give so little. The woman who neglects her children and her marriage will find very little fulfillment in either. She will spend her time looking for love when all the while it could be found in her home. When we invest in the lives of others, especially those who God has placed in our homes, we will find satisfaction. The world teaches us it is better to receive than to give, but our Saviour said just the opposite. Throughout the Scripture we see that when we meet the needs of others God will meet our needs (see Isaiah 58).
So, when we are the ones doing the loving we will find more satisfaction. This is true even if we are never acknowledged by the ones we are loving. Because the Scripture teaches that whatever we do to others, it is as if we have done it to the Lord (see Matthew 25). In fact the woman who gets no return for her love may be the one who is rewarded most! For the Bible says if we do our works to be rewarded by man then that is reward enough, but if we do them without reward then God will be the One who rewards! Talk about motivation to love those who do not know how to return love! So, wives who find it difficult to love their husbands with a passionate love, I encourage you to stir it up and look to God's reward! Or anyone who finds it difficult to love, follow Christ and love the unloveable, and you will soon be tasting the sweet fruit of love. Let us cast off the desire to be the center or object of love and let us consider others better than ourselves and love with the love of Christ. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it.
Love Through Me
Love through me, Love of God,
Make me like Thy clear air
Through which unhindered, colours pass
As though it were not there.
Powers of the love of God,
Depths of the heart Divine,
O Love that faileth not, break forth,
And flood this world of Thine.
-Amy Carmichael
1 When I use the term "fruit of love," I simply mean joy and pleasure.
I think most people lack love in their lives because they give so little. The woman who neglects her children and her marriage will find very little fulfillment in either. She will spend her time looking for love when all the while it could be found in her home. When we invest in the lives of others, especially those who God has placed in our homes, we will find satisfaction. The world teaches us it is better to receive than to give, but our Saviour said just the opposite. Throughout the Scripture we see that when we meet the needs of others God will meet our needs (see Isaiah 58).
So, when we are the ones doing the loving we will find more satisfaction. This is true even if we are never acknowledged by the ones we are loving. Because the Scripture teaches that whatever we do to others, it is as if we have done it to the Lord (see Matthew 25). In fact the woman who gets no return for her love may be the one who is rewarded most! For the Bible says if we do our works to be rewarded by man then that is reward enough, but if we do them without reward then God will be the One who rewards! Talk about motivation to love those who do not know how to return love! So, wives who find it difficult to love their husbands with a passionate love, I encourage you to stir it up and look to God's reward! Or anyone who finds it difficult to love, follow Christ and love the unloveable, and you will soon be tasting the sweet fruit of love. Let us cast off the desire to be the center or object of love and let us consider others better than ourselves and love with the love of Christ. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it.
Love Through Me
Love through me, Love of God,
Make me like Thy clear air
Through which unhindered, colours pass
As though it were not there.
Powers of the love of God,
Depths of the heart Divine,
O Love that faileth not, break forth,
And flood this world of Thine.
-Amy Carmichael
1 When I use the term "fruit of love," I simply mean joy and pleasure.
Love
Recently, I have been pondering the concept of emotional love. Probably, because of a Bible Study that I am currently in that is called, The Beloved Disciple. I fear that my generation or who knows maybe most generations believe that love is most clear when the one loved is indulged and petted.
You see this very clearly when it comes to parenting. I have seen countless young mothers refuse to discipline their child "because they just want to show them love." What they don't understand is that love often comes in the form of discipline. The Scripture teaches that if God does not discipline us then we know that we are not truly His children. Our culture is in direct opposition to a Biblical worldview. The world tells us to satiate our children's desires rather than train them. We must come to grips with the fact that we have been given a trust from God. Our children are given to us not so that we can give them what they believe is their hearts desire. Rather, we are the adults who have much more experience and wisdom. As believers in Jesus Christ, we have the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit. We are called to do what is for their benefit whether it pleases them or not. I once heard a mother say "we are not called to make them happy, but to make them holy." A superficial happiness that comes with always having things their way is not what will make our children truly happy or holy. Of course, we cuddle them and laugh and play with them, but if we refuse to cross their will to teach them self-control and self-denial then we are not truly loving them. If we love them we will prepare them for a life of obedience and service to the Almighty Creator of the universe. And if we serve the Lord with joy, by God's grace, so will they.
to be continued...
You see this very clearly when it comes to parenting. I have seen countless young mothers refuse to discipline their child "because they just want to show them love." What they don't understand is that love often comes in the form of discipline. The Scripture teaches that if God does not discipline us then we know that we are not truly His children. Our culture is in direct opposition to a Biblical worldview. The world tells us to satiate our children's desires rather than train them. We must come to grips with the fact that we have been given a trust from God. Our children are given to us not so that we can give them what they believe is their hearts desire. Rather, we are the adults who have much more experience and wisdom. As believers in Jesus Christ, we have the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit. We are called to do what is for their benefit whether it pleases them or not. I once heard a mother say "we are not called to make them happy, but to make them holy." A superficial happiness that comes with always having things their way is not what will make our children truly happy or holy. Of course, we cuddle them and laugh and play with them, but if we refuse to cross their will to teach them self-control and self-denial then we are not truly loving them. If we love them we will prepare them for a life of obedience and service to the Almighty Creator of the universe. And if we serve the Lord with joy, by God's grace, so will they.
to be continued...
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Comforted
A GREAT wind blowing, raging sea,
And rowers toiling wearily,
Far from the land where they would be.
And then One coming, drawing nigh;
They care not now for starless sky.
The Light of life says It is I.
They care not now for toil of oar,
For lo, the ship is at the shore,
And their Beloved they adore.
Lord of the Lake of Galilee,
Who long ago walked on the sea,
My heart is comforted in Thee.
-Amy Carmichael
I often find myself ill-equipped for the task at hand. This can easily bring discouragement. Yet when I hear Him "who long ago walked on the sea" call me to follow Him into whatever task He has put before me, my heart is comforted. For I know that if He is with me there is nothing to fear. Truly, His grace is sufficient for me. And He is faithful to teach me all I need to know, in order to perform the task well.
And rowers toiling wearily,
Far from the land where they would be.
And then One coming, drawing nigh;
They care not now for starless sky.
The Light of life says It is I.
They care not now for toil of oar,
For lo, the ship is at the shore,
And their Beloved they adore.
Lord of the Lake of Galilee,
Who long ago walked on the sea,
My heart is comforted in Thee.
-Amy Carmichael
I often find myself ill-equipped for the task at hand. This can easily bring discouragement. Yet when I hear Him "who long ago walked on the sea" call me to follow Him into whatever task He has put before me, my heart is comforted. For I know that if He is with me there is nothing to fear. Truly, His grace is sufficient for me. And He is faithful to teach me all I need to know, in order to perform the task well.
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