Grasping the Love of Christ
Eph.3:17 ..."so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in Love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the Love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
How wide and deep and high and long is the Love of God? Try to live just one day, one minute, one second in the true Love of God and see how much you have to attain to even grasp the feeling of that LOVE! So what is Christain LOVE? First of all it MUST be rooted in Christ! God is LOVE! How can you really LOVE without God? To practice this LOVE and grow in this LOVE you must live a Godly life, as God has intructed, not the way man has taught us. This is LOVE that you may know Christ, and serve Him, and serve others the way He serves us. Test yourself. Are you living a Christ filled life of LOVE for anyone? For everyone? Are you forgiving of everyone or are you picking and choosing those you will treat lovingly and those you forgive. Thank God He does not pick and chose us! Thank God we are all forgiven through the sacrifice of Christ. We need to acknowledge and accept that gift. When we do, and we allow Christ to live in us, there is no way we will not be filled with LIGHT and we will see our sins, and we will ask God to increase our Love of Him, and our Love for one another. Our LOVE for others will grow and change and become Christlike! As we become more Christlike we will do more the will of God, instead of what our human nature tells us is "natural". Yes, it is "unnatural" to live as Children of the Light, thank GOD! If you seek this LOVE, when God gives you this LIGHT you must be prepared to see a really ugly you, and be ready to change!
Eph.4-5:21 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
4:2
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
4:3
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4:4
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
4:5
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
4:6
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
4:7
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
4:8
Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
4:9
(Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
4:10
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.)
4:11
And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
4:12
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
4:13
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
4:14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
4:15
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ:
4:16
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
4:17
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
4:18
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
4:19
Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
4:20
But ye have not so learned Christ;
4:21
If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
4:22
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
4:23
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
4:25
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
4:26
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
4:27
Neither give place to the devil.
4:28
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
4:29
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
4:30
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
4:31
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
5:1Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
5:2
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
5:3
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
5:4
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5:5
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
5:6
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
5:7
Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
5:8
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
5:9
(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
5:10
Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
5:11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
5:12
For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
5:13
But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
5:14
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
5:15
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
5:16
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
5:17
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
5:18
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
5:19
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
5:20
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
5:21
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Not such a little task is it! Let's all practice our Faith in Christ, and really LOVE one another. God knows there are plenty of us out there who are alienated from each other because of our sinful selfish "christian love" which is nothing but a mockery to our God and our Faith, and to the world! May God give you His Understanding as you learn what it really is to LOVE one anther as He LOVES us!
How wide and deep and high and long is the Love of God? Try to live just one day, one minute, one second in the true Love of God and see how much you have to attain to even grasp the feeling of that LOVE! So what is Christain LOVE? First of all it MUST be rooted in Christ! God is LOVE! How can you really LOVE without God? To practice this LOVE and grow in this LOVE you must live a Godly life, as God has intructed, not the way man has taught us. This is LOVE that you may know Christ, and serve Him, and serve others the way He serves us. Test yourself. Are you living a Christ filled life of LOVE for anyone? For everyone? Are you forgiving of everyone or are you picking and choosing those you will treat lovingly and those you forgive. Thank God He does not pick and chose us! Thank God we are all forgiven through the sacrifice of Christ. We need to acknowledge and accept that gift. When we do, and we allow Christ to live in us, there is no way we will not be filled with LIGHT and we will see our sins, and we will ask God to increase our Love of Him, and our Love for one another. Our LOVE for others will grow and change and become Christlike! As we become more Christlike we will do more the will of God, instead of what our human nature tells us is "natural". Yes, it is "unnatural" to live as Children of the Light, thank GOD! If you seek this LOVE, when God gives you this LIGHT you must be prepared to see a really ugly you, and be ready to change!
Eph.4-5:21 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
4:2
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
4:3
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4:4
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
4:5
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
4:6
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
4:7
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
4:8
Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
4:9
(Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
4:10
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.)
4:11
And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
4:12
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
4:13
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
4:14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
4:15
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ:
4:16
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
4:17
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
4:18
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
4:19
Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
4:20
But ye have not so learned Christ;
4:21
If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
4:22
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
4:23
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
4:25
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
4:26
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
4:27
Neither give place to the devil.
4:28
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
4:29
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
4:30
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
4:31
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
5:1Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
5:2
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
5:3
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
5:4
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5:5
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
5:6
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
5:7
Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
5:8
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
5:9
(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
5:10
Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
5:11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
5:12
For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
5:13
But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
5:14
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
5:15
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
5:16
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
5:17
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
5:18
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
5:19
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
5:20
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
5:21
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Not such a little task is it! Let's all practice our Faith in Christ, and really LOVE one another. God knows there are plenty of us out there who are alienated from each other because of our sinful selfish "christian love" which is nothing but a mockery to our God and our Faith, and to the world! May God give you His Understanding as you learn what it really is to LOVE one anther as He LOVES us!
posted by Michael A. Redwine at Monday, April 25, 2005
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