Love is risky

"Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." - 1 John 4:11 

What does this mean for you today? 

John gives us the starting point of our expression of love - it is God's love for us. That is the origin.

This is interesting, because usually the world suggests that we love others because of something they have done for us. However, Jesus turns this on its head. He reminds us all that if we wait for someone to love us first, before we love them, we may never get to share our love with anyone. Love is risky.

"True happiness is found in unselfish Love, A love which increases in proportion as it is shared." - Thomas Merton

Living in Grace

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Plus Ultra

In Matthew Henry’s reflection on Ezekiel 47 he mentions that the image of the water flowing from the Temple is a picture of God's overwhelming grace moving further and further out into the world. He says "Grace in the soul is still pressing forward; it is an active principle, plus ultra—onward still, till it comes to perfection."

The phrase 'plus ultra' means 'further beyond' and is now the national motto of Spain. I think this is a lovely picture of how God's love and mercy will go further than we can ever imagine and we should never limit the action of God's love.

What does it mean for you to think of God's love beyond what we can comprehend right now?

How can we take God's love 'further beyond?'

Living in Grace

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Wasting wisdom

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” Winston Churchill

Have you ever offered someone advice and they have completely ignored your suggestions? Or have you ever had a person mock your advice? Well, chances are that even if this hasn't happened to your face, that it has happened behind your back. And the feeling I get, when this happens, is "why did I even bother? Why did I waste my advice on someone who was too stubborn to listen?"

Clearly, Solomon felt the same at some point in time, because he wrote these words:

"Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.
Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.
So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you.
But correct the wise, and they will love you.
Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser.
Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.
Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.
If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.
If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer." - Proverbs 9:7-12

I sometimes get the feeling that all the 'advice' we have been getting on Covid-19 is almost overwhelming and some people are choosing to ignore very good advice. I understand that information overload is a very real danger, but we need to discern which advice is best for us and our families. 

“Listening is an art that requires attention over talent, spirit over ego, others over self.” Dean Jackson

Living in Grace

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Breaking through the veil

Every now and again we get a glimpse of God through the gift of creation. It is almost as if the veil between this world and the next is lifted for a moment and we see into eternity. William Law writes beautifully about this gift.

"All that is sweet, delightful, and amiable in this world,
in the serenity of the air, the fineness of seasons,
the joy of light, the melody or sounds, 
the beauty of colours, the fragrancy of smells,
the splendour of precious stones,
is nothing else but Heaven breaking through 
the veil of this world."

May God break through into your world and may you get a glimpse of God's incredible mercy.

2 Corinthians 3:16 - "But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away."

 

Living in Grace

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The final No

"After the final No there comes a Yes,
And on that YES
the future of the world depends." - Wallace Stevens

This little poem is wonderfully intriguing. It is worth reading a few times before one comes to understand what he is getting at. It may be helpful to read this in conjunction with the following words from Revelation.

Revelation 14:13 - Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labour, for their deeds will follow them.”

Revelation 22:20 -  He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Death will be the final No for each one of us, but after this No there will come a great YES. Our eternal future depends on the YES of Christ.

What do you think?

Living in Grace
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We have to be intentional

“Spiritual growth is not an accident. It is intentional. You must intend to grow. You must make a choice to grow. You are as close to Jesus Christ as you choose to be. If you are not growing spiritually don’t blame your wife or husband or kids or parents or pastor. You are as close to God as you choose to be.” - Stephen Sheane 

I think this quote is wonderful, as it reminds me that if I want to grow in my faith, I really need to be intentional about it. Just like striving for any other goal, I must put my mind to it and keep focus. Spiritual grow takes time, discipline and commitment.

2 Corinthians 13:11 - Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

Living in Grace
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3 kinds of trouble

From the title of the blog you may be thinking that I am speaking about my 3 sons - "three kinds of trouble" but I am actually not! I am referring to this quote:
 
“Never attempt to bear more than one kind of trouble at once. Some people bear three kinds--all they have had, all they have now and all they expect to have.” - Edward Everett Hale. 

Let us learn to deal with the trouble of 'today' only and allow God to help us deal with the past and to prepare for the future.

Matthew 6:34 - Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Living in Grace
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By the Grace of God

In the 16th Century, John Bradford is alleged to have said these words:
"There by the grace of God goes John Bradford." 
It may seem a little strange that he was speaking these words about himself, but actually he was watching a group of prisoners being led to their execution. He recognised the potential for himself to be walking in their shoes. However, he saw the fact that he had been 'saved' as an act of God's GRACE. And I think he is right!

As I have reflected on many things of late, I keep coming back to that simple, yet profound truth. I am where I am, ONLY by the grace of God! Nothing more - nothing less!

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. 

Acts 20:24 - However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Living in Grace

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Pattern-Chamber

John Henry Jowett made this lovely observation:
“When we have the mind of anybody, we share the very springs of their being… (we) have their way of feeling, their way of doing things. It is to be like them in the pattern-chamber of the life, where conduct is originally fashioned, and where all the outside issues are finally determined.” 

So, it seems that we all have this 'pattern-chamber' inside of us. Perhaps it is better to call it our 'hearts' or 'souls', but that can just be semantics. The pattern-chamber will guide us to replicate and copy all the things we see, watch and hear in our daily lives. 

So, if we want to think like Jesus, to see like Jesus, and to listen like Jesus, we need to make sure that we put Jesus into the pattern chamber of our lives. 

2 Timothy 1:13 - What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.

Romans 12:2 - Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Living in Grace
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