God's Love

God does not whisper about His love for you but yells it from a mountain top for all to hear.  He wants you to comprehend its magnitude; therefore, He is constantly at work to reveal it.  The question is; are you listening?  Will you receive?

The roar of the ocean, the hush of the starlit night, the timely provision of help, and a love letter called the Bible, a kind word on a down day, the oomph to get over that hurdle.  But never was His love more clearly demonstrated than when Jesus died on the cross for our sins. 

He freely proclaims His love for you.  Are you listening?  Will you receive?

Ephesians 3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

All Stirred Up!

Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

120 men and women in the upper room gathered in prayer.  They were all together in one place with one mind and one purpose.

They were not gathered for a motivational speech or to be entertained by jokes and stories.  Nor did they gather for a social club or mixer.  It was not about fulfilling their Sunday religious ritual.  They did not meet as a duty but maintained a passionate focus of mind to seek their God.

This is a beautiful picture of what church should look like. Believers gathered to wait on the Lord in prayer.  This was also an obedient response to Christ’s command.  (Acts 1: 4-5)  And being assembled together with them, He  commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 5 "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

We too are commanded to gather together on a regular basis to seek the Lord and encourage one another in our walks.  (Hebrews 10: 24-25) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

To stir up is one word in the Greek (3948) paroxusmos.  It means an inciting and to provoke.  This word comes from the word paroxysm (3947) to make sharp, sharpen, to stimulate, spur on, urge.

The concept of gathering as Christians may be likened to lit hot coals piled upon one another.  As they are stirred and poked they grow hotter, bringing up a flame.  As one is upon the other, the fire keeps smoldering.  Separate one coal from the rest and it will become cold and die out very quickly. 

What are your habits concerning church attendance?  Are you committed to showing up to church?  Or, are you hit and miss.  Are you part of the hot pile of church going Christians who urge, stimulate and sharpen one another to grow?  Or do you find yourself, separate and growing cold? 

Oh, how we need to be stirred up on a regular basis!  Oh, how we need one another to remain hot for the Lord!  Brothers and sisters, let’s get to church.  And when we get there, let’s intentionally seek to urge, incite, sharpen, stimulate, spur on and stir up one another in Christ.

Dwight L. Moody – Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.

Reformation

Acts 19:18-19 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.  Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all.

Even a church goer can mingle their Christian principles, practices and beliefs with that of the world.  This was true of some believers in Ephesus who had secretly practiced magic.  When holy fear fell on them they brought their books together and burned them for everyone to see.  That is reformation! 

What compromise will you cast into the fire of reformation; overspending, impure entertainment, unethical business practices, horoscope reading, dating an unbeliever?  

Holy Spirit, expose our compromise and heal our backsliding until reformation comes!

Aquila and Priscilla

On Support

Frequently in the scriptures we observe God pairing people to make a dynamic duo of support.  Ecclesiastes 4:9 explains His wise plan, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.  Adam had Eve, Moses had Aaron, David had Jonathon, and Naomi had Ruth.  Paul was blessed to have both Aquila and Priscilla.

Having someone in your corner can make all the difference. Support is a voice to cheer you when times are tough.  It provides a fresh perspective with your outlook on life.  By it you are prayed for, listened to and helped.  With it, you are not alone.  Who will you stand with and support today?

Acts 18:18…and Priscilla and Aquila were with him.