Freedom begins in the spirit and slowly makes its way to the rest of the person until behavior becomes enslaved to the freedom of the spirit. To be truly free means that one has learned and accepted the pleasant boundaries of liberty -- namely, the law of love.
The heart which is governed by total freedom has learned to kill selfish ambitions in order to look to the best interests of others. It has embraced the joy of forgiveness, adopted a lifestyle of sacrificial generosity, rejected jealousy and covetousness, and learned to promote peace in all interactions.
Freedom, an exemplary fellow, walked on earth over 2000 years ago in the form of a carpenter who came from heaven to cease all oppression among men. Instead of political propaganda, He is still choosing personal emissaries to engage people in one-on-one conversations that can lead them to a life of true emancipation and release.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Wisdom
Who is wise?
Who is discerning?
Who exercises good judgment?
The person who recognizes that there can never be a significant enough reason to hate -- bad-mouth, backbite, belittle -- or berate another human being.
The one who realizes that love and respect lead people to carefully build their emotional houses -- namely, relation and reputation. They learn to treat people as they want to be treated instead of tearing others down.
The individual who understands that true character is revealed through a person's way of handling praise or criticism.
The one who acknowledges that it is futile for human beings to attempt to become their own gods.
Those who grasp that love is not about wishing someone would notice them but, instead, it is about choosing to notice another's needs of what they can give -- time, joy, and sacrifice.
Who is discerning?
Who exercises good judgment?
The person who recognizes that there can never be a significant enough reason to hate -- bad-mouth, backbite, belittle -- or berate another human being.
The one who realizes that love and respect lead people to carefully build their emotional houses -- namely, relation and reputation. They learn to treat people as they want to be treated instead of tearing others down.
The individual who understands that true character is revealed through a person's way of handling praise or criticism.
The one who acknowledges that it is futile for human beings to attempt to become their own gods.
Those who grasp that love is not about wishing someone would notice them but, instead, it is about choosing to notice another's needs of what they can give -- time, joy, and sacrifice.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Probing
The success of biblical meditation relies heavily on God's revelation to mankind and the believer's willingness to undergo the Holy Spirit's probing.
The psalmist says in Psalm 18:28,
What does the Word reveal about the Lord?
The Lord is my strength, rock, fortress, deliverer, refuge, shield, stronghold -- the horn of my salvation. Just like the horn is the means of defense of an animal, Christ is my defense, protection, and security. He is the One who keeps my lamp burning -- the light of the world. He turns my darkness into light, my mourning into dancing, my tears into laughter.
His Word is flawless.
His Way is perfect.
His Water is ever fresh.
What is the Spirit asking the believer?
The psalmist says in Psalm 18:28,
"You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light."
What does the Word reveal about the Lord?
The Lord is my strength, rock, fortress, deliverer, refuge, shield, stronghold -- the horn of my salvation. Just like the horn is the means of defense of an animal, Christ is my defense, protection, and security. He is the One who keeps my lamp burning -- the light of the world. He turns my darkness into light, my mourning into dancing, my tears into laughter.
His Word is flawless.
His Way is perfect.
His Water is ever fresh.
What is the Spirit asking the believer?
- Is your soul longing for Christ?
- Is your heart stirring within your breast at the sheer mention of His name?
- Are you completely won over by His grace and love?
- If not, what may be hindering you from truly desiring Him alone?
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in Your sight,
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer!"
Psalm 19:14, NIV
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Gratitude
Lord, thank You!
Father, thank You!
Each time I breathe, I can choose to either complain about dust, dander, pollen, and smog, or I can seize the opportunity to thank the Giver of air for His generosity towards me.
Holy Spirit, thank You!
Each time I face an obstacle, I can either bang my head against it or thank my Lord for strengthening my faith through it and directing my feet away from where they should never have gone.
Jesus, thank You!
Lord of lords, thank You!
Master and Redeemer and Friend, 1000 thanks to Your glorious name!
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Quotient of Love
I may say I love people. The reality, however, is this: What is my love quotient?
Friends come and go.
Relatives help and disappoint.
Lovers entice, stick around for a while, and abandon.
I find that it is easy to lose someone when interactions consist of hitting them repeatedly with the axe of demands and demeaning comments. After all, people are like trees.
My love quotient depends on how protective and caring I am toward those God has placed on my path and within my sphere of influence. That's the love language people understand; that's the light that directs people to the Savior.
Friends come and go.
Relatives help and disappoint.
Lovers entice, stick around for a while, and abandon.
I find that it is easy to lose someone when interactions consist of hitting them repeatedly with the axe of demands and demeaning comments. After all, people are like trees.
My love quotient depends on how protective and caring I am toward those God has placed on my path and within my sphere of influence. That's the love language people understand; that's the light that directs people to the Savior.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
If
If I say that I love Christ,
that I am one with Him,
that I bear His name,
that I am a recipient of His grace,
that His forgiveness reaches my sin-sick soul,
that His kindnesses and mercies are renewed to me daily,
then I must acknowledge that I bear the fragrance of His love to all I encounter.
If all that be true, and it is, then I must spare no expense to exude and extend love
to the neighbor whose legitimate needs surpass my preferences,
to the wayward father in need of understanding and counsel,
to the homeless traveler in need of a shower,
to the neglectful friend in need of grace,
to orphaned kids in need of food,
to Christ Himself.
that I am one with Him,
that I bear His name,
that I am a recipient of His grace,
that His forgiveness reaches my sin-sick soul,
that His kindnesses and mercies are renewed to me daily,
then I must acknowledge that I bear the fragrance of His love to all I encounter.
If all that be true, and it is, then I must spare no expense to exude and extend love
to the neighbor whose legitimate needs surpass my preferences,
to the wayward father in need of understanding and counsel,
to the homeless traveler in need of a shower,
to the neglectful friend in need of grace,
to orphaned kids in need of food,
to Christ Himself.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Best Trio
Forgiveness isn't optional, patience isn't just a good idea, and gratitude isn't merely good etiquette. Together, they form the love trio.
Forgiveness opens our eyes to see that holding grudges hurts us more. Patience affords us the wisdom to learn that impatience is a lethal weapon. Gratitude tells us that grumbling costs too much.
If we're awake,
If we're alive,
If we're breathing,
We have all it takes to extend forgiveness, exercise patience, and embrace gratitude.
We have all it takes to love God and His people.
What a wonderful trio!
Forgiveness opens our eyes to see that holding grudges hurts us more. Patience affords us the wisdom to learn that impatience is a lethal weapon. Gratitude tells us that grumbling costs too much.
If we're awake,
If we're alive,
If we're breathing,
We have all it takes to extend forgiveness, exercise patience, and embrace gratitude.
We have all it takes to love God and His people.
What a wonderful trio!
Monday, April 2, 2012
Make Life Count
Each life is a beautiful love story authored by the Man of glory -- Jesus, the Rock of Ages, the Alpha and the Omega, the Bright Morning Star. Living for Him is loving Him!
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