Seek First the Kingdom of God no. 20

“For although we do live in the world, we do not wage war in a worldly way; because the weapons we use to wage war are not worldly. On the contrary, they have God’s power for demolishing strongholds. We demolish arguments and every arrogance that raises itself up against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey the Messiah” (2 Corinthians (2 Co) 10:3-5). Too often I still wage war like the Goyim when I have the aid of the creator of all things. Instead of demolishing arguments and arrogance, too often I kindle division and place myself in a position of judgment above others. Too often my relationship with God is secondary to my relationship above others when that relationship with others, just like with God, should be focused on service. Too often I want God’s mercy for me and His condemnation on others.

Love and forgiveness are the two things with which I have struggled since returning to His Way. It is so very difficult to love people with all their flaws and imperfections. And that simple fact makes the forgiveness that God gives to me so much greater. I daily struggle with the ability to love and forgive, however, God graciously and abundantly gives out love and forgiveness that is undeserved. Too often I want folks to earn my love and forgiveness. I want them to do something. I want an act of payment or punishment when God only offers pardon.

God’s power lies in His infinite ability to love and forgive. Jesus could have easily brought an army to deliver Him from torment and death BUT He exercised His power in love and forgiveness. Too often instead of offering my own love and forgiveness that should flow from the indwelling of His Spirit, I offer hatred and condemnation. I offer the ways of the Goyim rather than, “. . . the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, self control. Nothing in the Torah stands against such things” (Galatians (Gal) 5:22-23).

Seek first His Kingdom which rests on the foundation of love.

Grace and Shalom to your home. The Kingdom of God is now!

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #SeekFirstTheKingdom #NotMyWayYHWH

Seek First The Kingdom of God no. 19

“Love each other devotedly and with brotherly love; and set examples for each other in showing respect” (Romans (Rom) 12:10). I don’t know but this love thing seems kind of important. And what better way to show love than to respect our brothers and sisters? And I think that is where I start to fall short. I often try to see where other Christians are wrong and I can just ignore them. I tend to try to find where they get things wrong rather than loving them as a brother or sister and recognizing that we are all in this together to grow in and through Him. And that is why the commandments to love God and love neighbor are so important to me. Those are much more important in my walk than prophecies about the future. Love is more important to my walk than anything other than forgiveness and grace. Through His love He found the grace to forgive me even when I was His enemy. How much more should I forgive those that are not His enemy? How much more should I forgive my enemies? How much should I want to love my enemies like they were my brothers and sisters?

“'For if we were reconciled with God through his Son’s death when we were enemies, how much more will we be delivered by his life, now that we are reconciled” (Romans (Rom) 5:10)! “In other words, you, who at one time were separated from God and had a hostile attitude towards him because of your wicked deeds, he has now reconciled in the Son’s physical body through his death; in order to present you holy and without defect or reproach before himself — “ (Colossians (Col) 1:21-22).

And that is by no means something easy. If it were an easy thing to accomplish, then everyone would be showing His love. I struggle every day with love. Sure. I have gotten better at love BUT I am by no stretch of the imagination an expert in love. Loving people is not easy because people are difficult to love. People do not make loving them easy, myself included. I fail, I fall, and I am broken BUT He strengthens and encourages me through love, grace, and forgiveness. I have sat through so many sermons and lessons and read books that are so much theory and not so much practice. And love is something I need to practice. Forgiveness is something I need to practice. It isn’t something I just become good at doing. Work on loving and forgiving today.

“I may speak in the tongues of men, even angels; but if I lack love, I have become merely blaring brass or a cymbal clanging. I may have the gift of prophecy, I may fathom all mysteries, know all things, have all faith — enough to move mountains; but if I lack love, I am nothing. I may give away everything that I own, I may even hand over my body to be burned; but if I lack love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians (1 Co) 13:1-3).

Seek first His Kingdom which rests on the foundation of love.

Grace and Shalom to your home. The Kingdom of God is now!

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #SeekFirstTheKingdom #NotMyWayYHWH