God Generates Love In Our Lives! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Corinthians 13:2-8a,

"If I … have not love, I am nothing…  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

Love is a beautiful thing. We are drawn to those who love. I suspect it is because love is such a central aspect of God's nature. John tells us that God is love, 1 John 4:16. When we love we emulate the very nature of God.

Since Paul tells us that our experiential life in Jesus Christ should be one of love and that lack of love makes most everything else of little value, how important is love in our lives!

But just how do I grow in love? Where do I go to get it? Is it something I can gin up myself? Can I go fetch it at a seminar, discover it at some new church somewhere, read a book about it? Do I start my day by telling myself, "Today, I will be patient, kind, humble, I will not be rude or self-seeking, etc… and therefore loving?"

I am told that love is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, not the fruit of our attempts to change ourselves (see Galatians 5:22-23). The Holy Spirit changes us from within and that change is manifested by love and other wonderful things.

What if I don't see a level of love in my life that should be there? I take that as a barometric reading that I need to come near to God: as I do so, he comes near to me, James 4:8.

God changes us within as we draw close to him. Many of us have seen this in our own lives - and sometimes much to our surprise! As we encourage one another to spend time with the Lord in his word, reading, meditating, memorizing, as we spend time with the Lord in prayer, as we spend time enjoying him, drawing close to him, sharing our lives with those who are his, he manifests those wonderful things in our lives: things like love, joy, peace, etc.

What an amazing God!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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The Intentionality of the Scriptures - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Corinthians 12:1,

"Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed."

Paul clearly felt the need to inform his readers about the gifts of the Spirit. These gifts come from God and, as an apostle, he was urged by God to explain the workings of the Holy Spirit and how those workings play out in the lives of believers. What he said to the church in Corinth is just as applicable to us.

"I do not want you to be uninformed." For me, this is not just a "throw-away" verse. I find it vital and of utmost importance. Had Paul not written about these things, and all the things all the writers of Scripture wrote about, we would be in the dark on the many things of God, who and what he is like, what he does, what he expects of us, and, most importantly, how we can enter into his family.

Many of us make our claims about the Scriptures: that they are fully and verbally inspired by God, that they are infallible in the original autographs and that they, and they alone, are the final authority for all faith and practice (since they originate from God himself). One aspect of Scripture, assumed, but not mentioned often, is the intentionality of the Scriptures. Intentional in two senses: God, in his wisdom intended they be written for us, and God, in his expectations of us, intends we know them and live our lives accordingly.

Here are some passages to consider in regard to the intentionality of the Scriptures:

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:14-17.

"These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come." 1 Corinthians 10:11.

"We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:19-21.

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." Romans 15:4.

So many, many passages speak to the intentionality of the Scriptures! How incumbent upon me to read, study, memorize, and to ruminate in them!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.

The Example Of The Lord Is Love! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Corinthians 11:1,

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."
 
This very short and simple verse reveals a tremendous reality about our wonderful Savior. He has provided us an example in Paul of how to live our lives as we wait for his return! As I think of it I can't help but be drawn to the Lord in that he thought enough of me to provide an example of just what that looks like.
 
Laying out laws, rules and restrictions might have been all we received from him. The legalese, the fine print, a covenant with dos and don'ts could have been all we might know. But not our Lord! Not our Savior! His heart is a heart of love! His is a care for us that brought him here to planet earth to live a life demonstrating what he is like. Paul tells us that those God foreknew he predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, Romans 8:29.
 
And, because of the work of the Lord, Paul emulates that likeness for us! And the surprise here is that what Paul's example looks like is not what we might expect at times. His example is an example of love! As Paul says in the previous verse, "For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved."

Rather than expressing that more mature believers should demand greater expectations of less mature believers, Paul speaks of the way of love. In chapter eight Paul tells the Corinthians that it is love, not knowledge that should be the way. In chapter thirteen he will tell them that rather than fragmenting over differing gifts, love is to be the way. If we have knowledge, if we are gifted, if we are stronger in the Lord, love is to be the way.

We are to love one another as Paul demonstrated our Lord's own example for us! No man has greater love than this that he lays down his life for his friends.
 
How can I not love a Lord as this?!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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The Glory Of The Lord Is Transforming! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Corinthians 10:33b,

"For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved."
 
What is it about God that would cause a man to devote his life to others? What was this exciting "thing" that Paul had found that had caused him to turn from his previous hostility toward the church? Now that he had his encounter with Jesus Christ on the way to Damascus to persecute the church there, he sought to build up the church!

Paul has clearly seen something in Jesus Christ that had transformed his life.
 
It is not that he had found Christianity to be something good for his marriage (particularly since he didn't seem to be married at the time.) It is not that he had found that it would be best to involve his family in a church so that the kids might turn out OK. It is not that Paul had found that joining a church is an important component to a healthy lifestyle. I even doubt the transformation of Paul was due to him finding a coherent ethical lifestyle in Jesus Christ.
 
No, I think rather it is something Paul mentions a couple verses earlier: the glory of God! "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31.

I suspect that when Paul had his encounter with Jesus Christ on his trip to Damascus, he saw something in him that would change his life forever: the glory of God! Beholding the glory of God has to be life-transforming.

After Paul's experience and his subsequent interaction with the Lord, my thought is that the one thing in this life that held his attention was the glory of God revealed to him. It caused him to eagerly and enthusiastically pursue what the Lord had asked him to do. It also must have been an experience that drove him to share his enthusiasm and excitement for the Lord with as many as he could. Paul wanted all to share in the life transforming experience he had encountered – to see the glory of God.
 
I'm sure it wasn't in his mind that all believers would have his experience; after all, his was an apostolic calling. But I think it was Paul's desire that each of us would see something of the glory of God. Maybe that is why I sense, as I read his letters, that he would tell each of us today to seek the Lord with full abandon that we might see something of the glory of God ourselves.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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The Primacy Of Paul's Perspective - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Corinthians 9:22b,

"I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some."

Paul, as an apostle of the Lord, sets us a role model. In 1 Corinthians 11:1 he says, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." He says this just following, in the previous verse, (1 Corinthians 10:33), "For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved." Paul tells his readers to follow him as the Lord's example to us.

Here he speaks of his perspective of the preeminence of living his life in a way that will bring salvation to as many as he can impact. All things have been subordinated in his life to this cause.

As we step back from all of the things we busy ourselves with, and look at why we exist, why we find ourselves in this age, we must recognize that this life has a singular purpose: God is building his kingdom. All aspects of this life serve that end. This is the ultimate meaning of this life (an existence that can appear meaningless at times.)

When we, as believers, come to grips with this state of things, many questions in our lives find their answer. Meaning and purpose for our lives is to be found in Paul's example to us.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.

The Word Is Love - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Corinthians 8:1-3,

"Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that 'We all possess knowledge.' But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. But whoever loves God is known by God."

Paul addresses a group of believers who are convinced they know a lot. I'm sure they did. However, Paul dresses them down here a bit, not for knowing little but as a reminder that it is love that trumps all in a believer's life.

There are a great many teachers and preachers we learn a lot from. They know their Bibles well, they have paid the sacrifice of years of study and learned the cultural backgrounds behind the Scriptures, the history, the original languages and so forth. I am quite certain the Lord has gifted them as they teach the rest of us to help us in our walk with him.

However, I have to say, as Paul reminds us here, it is not knowledge that builds up so much as it is love. Sad to say, some of those great teachers we have among us today appear to me to have a bit of a struggle with being "puffed up" as Paul says here. Paul doesn't say knowledge is a bad thing in itself. On the contrary, earlier in his letter he told them, "I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge..." 1 Corinthians 1:4-5. Knowledge is enriching!

But, as Paul reminds these knowledgeable people, it is love that builds up. Love within the fellowship is what encourages us in Jesus Christ, energizes us, and demonstrates we have become a changed people by being indwelt by the Holy Spirit. As Paul told the churches of Galatia, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23. Note the first mentioned is love!

As Paul says later in the letter, "If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:2.

What is my love quotient today?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.

The Lord Provides Us Gifts! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Corinthians 7:7,

"Each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that."
 
It is my understanding, given the context of this verse, that Paul is talking about a gift of celibacy. Why would Paul consider this a gift? Many of us find fulfillment, satisfaction and enjoyment in life through our spouses.
 
Preceding this verse Paul has just spoken of the need for many to marry so that they don't "burn with passion" as he mentions in a few verses later. To avoid the prospect of sexual immorality, those burdened with passion need to find the appropriate expression of it in marriage.
 
But Paul has this gift of celibacy and is not burdened with passion and as a result is free to focus his life on his ministry to the Gentiles. From Paul's perspective he must have felt that the ministry of the day within many churches would have been more productive if those involved were not married. As we all know, marriage, caring for our spouses, raising children, maintaining a home all take time away from other things.
 
But Paul was not burdened. He found his fulfillment, satisfaction and enjoyment in life in a singular relationship: that which he enjoyed with our Lord. Not being distracted, as those who are married, left him free to pursue his fulfillment, satisfaction and enjoyment in life with abandon. Certainly the book of Acts bears this out. Possibly our cultural perspective that marriage brings the most fulfillment, satisfaction and enjoyment in life is unfounded. Additionally, from Paul's experience, he may tell us that our concept of what a relationship with our Lord looks like needs some tweaking.
 
Beyond all this, what moves my heart this morning is that our Lord gives us gifts. These gifts provide us meaningful purpose within the body of Christ. We find fulfillment, as Paul did, as we exercise the gifts the Lord has given us when we serve others. Additionally, how wonderful for us to be part of a community where we are the recipients of ministry performed by those who have been gifted by our Lord. Peter tells us that when we exercise these gifts we are dispensing God's grace in its various forms, "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10.

How wonderful is that?!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.