Seek First The Kingdom of God no. 18

“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). You ever think God is trying to hammer a point home? I feel like that with these verses about shalom and love and forgiveness constantly occurring in my study in the morning. I mean take this idea just a few lines earlier in the same letter, “Well, whatever you do, whether it’s eating or drinking or anything else, do it all so as to bring glory to God” (1 Corinthians (1 Co) 10:31). I think it keeps reinforcing the idea that being Christian and being a Christian are two distinctly different things in this society.

I see so many folks that are content with being a Christian. They said the prayer, they attend the church, and the rest of their life shows no witness to Christian behavior. They still are unchanged. And I am rather certain the Good News requires us to change our ways. That is what repentance is, a change in behavior. And then we’ll get the folks who think that means our salvation is based on works . . . No. God did all the work. I just have to live like His work meant something to me.

And that means making some uncomfortable changes in my life. It means learning how to love like Him. That means listening to His Spirit. That means changing to be Christian, or like Jesus. His anointing on my life should cause a change in my behavior. And that change should be soaking me in love, forgiveness, and peace that only He can provide. And that doesn’t happen overnight. It isn’t magic. BUT it does happen if I sincerely want to love Him and my neighbor. It will happen if I want to be an Ambassador of His Kingdom.

I will truly love others. I will want the best for them no matter their intentions for me. I will pray for them. I will turn the other cheek. I will pardon rather than punish. I will live out Matthew 5-7 as not just some lofty goal BUT as a lesson to guide my life. “So, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on bedrock. The rain fell, the rivers flooded, the winds blew and beat against that house, but it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the rivers flooded, the wind blew and beat against that house, and it collapsed — and its collapse was horrendous” (Mattityahu (Mat) 7:24-27)!

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. 17

“So, since we have come to be considered righteous by God because of our trust, let us continue to have shalom with God through our Lord, Yeshua the Messiah” (Romans (Rom) 5:1). There is a lot to be said about shalom or peace. When God calls us into His Church, He calls us to peace through love, “Above all these, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together perfectly; and let the shalom which comes from the Messiah be your heart’s decision-maker, for this is why you were called to be part of a single Body” (Colossians (Col) 3:14-15). Peace is an integral part of unity. Peace only can come through God’s love indwelling within us and then flowing out into the world.

So we get peace through His Spirit. And we show peace by actions, Paul cautions believers, “Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. Then God’s shalom , passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua” (Philippians (Php) 4:6-7). Peace comes through trust in God. How often are we anxious because we want to trust in our own solutions rather than His? Following God is trusting in His solutions and His Way. Living a life of shalom is a representation of the Spirit and all its fruits, “But 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).

Are you at peace? Do you trust in His solutions? Do you trust in His Way? Is your life an example of the fruits of the Spirit?

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