1 John 4:8

“The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“The one who does not love (agapao: beloved, to welcome, to love dearly) does not know (ginosko: perceive, understand, intimately acquainted with) God, for God is love (agape: love, charity, brotherly love, affection, benevolence).”

SUMMARY

The one who doesn’t love dearly doesn’t know or understand and has not become intimately acquainted with God, for He is perfect love, affection and charity.

MEDITATION

A recently released poll of Americans informed us of who is the “most-hated person” in this frame of time in which we now live. Sadly, I see this mentality swirling about within the Body of Christ as She far too often shares the same views as the world. Few things bring me such despairing thoughts as hearing professing-Christians say how much they “hate” someone. Whether it’s a specific people group, a particular person who committed a horrible crime or whatever the case may be. The love of Christ has been lavished on me without measure and it alone compels me to love. There are no exclusions or people too “bad” to be deserving of this great love of my Father. None is more wretched or less deserving than I. I’m fully convinced, in light of Scripture, that those who feel compelled to boldly inform us whom they (and God of course) hate, have yet to experience the awesome, grace-fueled love of the Father. I challenge all today who consider themselves to know God, to address their “hatred” of any other and their casting of judgment upon those they see as lesser or more deserving of God’s wrath. God’s perfect love invites and accepts all – period. In Christ alone resides the hope of all of mankind.

1 Corinthians 10:13

“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do (poieo: make, bring forth, commit, cause, work, show, fulfill, perform), do all to the glory (doxa: glorious, honor, praise, dignity, worship) of God.”

SUMMARY

Whatever you do, do absolutely everything in praise, honor and worship of the one true God!

MEDITATION

How's this for a simple challenge to daily walk in? Today, whatever you put your hands to, no matter how trivial or life-altering it may be, be found in glorious worship and praise of the Father.

1 Peter 4:8

“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Above (pro: before) all, keep fervent (ektenes: without ceasing, earnestly) in your love (agape: charity, dear, affection, benevolence) for one another, because love covers (kalupto: hides, hinders the knowledge of a thing, veils) a multitude (plethos: company, great number) of sins.”

SUMMARY

Above and before all, keep fervent in your love and affection for one another, without ceasing because this great love hides and veils a great number of sins.

MEDITATION

Above ALL things – did you hear that? Above your striving to have great church attendance, above your tithes and offerings, above your attempts to make a quiet time with God… a great number of sins will be covered if we stay determined to love one another, above ALL things. Please keep in mind that this is not love as most know it to be. The agape of the Scriptures is the perfect, unselfish and unconditional love that only the Father can lead us to. It’s not self-motivated and always seeks to give without any thought of something in return. This love alone is what will lead the Body to a new identity of freedom from the power of sin. Today, examine what kind of love you’re walking in, and above all else, earnestly seek to dwell in this place of unconditional affection that you have been shown by the Father.

John 14:1

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Do not let your heart (kardia: the seat of physical life and center of all physical and spiritual life, soul or mind, the seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes) be troubled (tarasso: agitated, to cause one inward commotion, take away calmness of mind, disturbed and restless, rendered anxious); believe (pisteuo: commit unto, put in trust with, be persuaded of, place confidence) in God, believe also in Me.”

SUMMARY

Don’t let your innermost being, where your passions, affections and purpose reside, be disturbed or rendered anxious; commit unto and place your confidence in God, and believe also in Me.

MEDITATION

Keeping with the theme of the heart, I thought this verse would be fitting. I don’t think many would argue the fact that there are many troubled people in the world today. When you look at the definitions of this word biblically, it’s absolutely not limited to those outside of Christianity. Honestly, some of the most troubled people I know are professing Christians. We, who claim to be ruled by the Prince of Peace are often the most stressed, anxious and agitated ones. I know this verse is located within a much greater context but perhaps we can allow it to stand alone today. Literally place your entire being in God’s care, entrusted to Him in absolute confidence. There alone will you find rest.

Proverbs 3:3

“Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Do not let kindness (checed: mercy, lovingkindness, goodness) and truth ('emeth: stability, continuance, faithfulness, reliableness of testimony, of judgment and of divine instruction) leave (`azab: forsake, depart from) you; bind (qashar: conspire, league together, tie) them around your neck, write (kathab: record, inscribe, engrave) them on the tablet of your heart (leb: mind, understanding, inner man, will, moral character, conscience, seat of emotions and passions).”

SUMMARY

Don’t let kindness, mercy, goodness, truth, faithfulness and reliableness of divine instruction depart from you. Time them tightly around you neck, engrave them on the tablet of your inner man, where the seat of your emotions, character and passions reside.

MEDITATION

The Scriptures speak a lot about the heart of a man. I think, perhaps, we see the heart as some nebulous inner place that’s quite mysterious. The NT often refers to the heart as “cardia” – an innermost place where all that we are is confined- a place where the actions of a man originate. Oddly though, it is often directly related to the thoughts and mindsets of man. With this in mind, we can better understand that joining ourselves with the biblical definition of kindness and truth enables us to be a student of Wisdom (as Proverbs instructs us). Today, visualize the tablets, or panels if you will, of your heart. What is written upon them? What moves you? What guides your every decision and thought pattern? What is the origin of your life’s motivation? Today, may we be found clinging ever so tightly to these things of Proverbs 3:3. Let Wisdom guide you.

Ephesians 2:4-6

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“But God, being rich in mercy (eleos: kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted), because of His great love (agape: charity, affection, benevolence) with which He loved us, even when we were dead (nekros: breathed his last, departed, destitute of life, inanimate, inactive, inoperative, lifeless) in our transgressions (paraptoma: trespass, offence, sin, fault), made us alive together with (suzoopoieo: quicken together) with Christ [by grace (charis: that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness, loving-kindness) you have been saved (sozo: made whole, healed, kept safe and sound, rescued, preserved)], and raised (sunegeiro: from mortal death to a new and blessed life dedicated to God) us up with Him, and seated us (sugkathizo: placed together) with Him in the heavenly places (epouranios: celestial, high, heavenly regions, the abode of God and angels, the heavenly temple or sanctuary) in Christ Jesus.”

SUMMARY

But God, being rich in kindness towards us, the miserable and afflicted ones - because of His great affection and love for us - even when we were completely lifeless in our sin and offence, made us alive together with Christ (by His grace that reveals within us joy, delight and loving-kindness, you have been rescued, preserved and made whole.) You have also been raised from death to a new life unto God, in Christ Jesus, and seated together with Him in the heavenly sanctuary where God and angels dwell.

MEDITATION

From my childhood when I was dragged to church services to my stint on church staff to the present day free from the attendance of traditional services (and all of the days in between) it was (and is) quite commonplace to hear Christians speak of “calling God down” to join us wherever we are. Some shout, some clamor, some believe that perhaps the more raucous we make, the more likely He is to “show up”. But what if we have it all backwards? When Christ (the Second Adam) came, He restored intimacy with the Father and tore the veil that shrouded the most holy place (literally and spiritually). Mankind from henceforth would nevermore have to stand outside of the temple and have another go in (up) on his behalf. Christ’s death and resurrection invited all to enter into the priesthood and dwell with the Almighty.

Sadly, this simple truth is not made clear to the majority. With this mindset intact, we’re led to believe that we must somehow beckon God to “descend” to receive our lowly worship, praise and adoration. My friends, God Himself sees those whose identity is found in Christ as worthy to enter into His gates and come to His throne with boldness! Today, ponder on this great mystery won’t you? The Most High God, the uncreated Creator invites you to go up! Move out of the physical limitations and boundaries of the natural realm that restrict and confine you! You are a spiritual being created in His awesome image! Explore things of the spirit as our spiritual forefathers who have gone before us have. We whose lives are in Christ are seated NOW beside Him in heavenly places. It’s time we start acting like it. We’ve settled for earthen lives for far too long.

Update

Well, here I am nearly four months from when I initiated my hiatus from this blog. I've not felt compelled to restart the daily posts as of yet. Perhaps I will again someday, perhaps not. For full articles that I'm still writing, remember to check out the Double Edged Sword Blog.