Tag: Love

John 1

I cannot read the first chapter of the Gospel according to John without finding myself riveted, not only to the content, majestic as it is, but I am also taken in by its cadence, grandeur, and mystery. I feel I am peering into the very heart of Almighty God. It surges with the pulse of all He has determined to do among us and for us. He coaxes us back from teetering at the precipice of the dark abyss. He does not stop there. No, His intention is to bring us into the glorious light that powerfully streams from Himself. (1 John 1:5) All His desire is to bring us into the Kingdom of the Son.`

He knows full well we are incapable of making such a transformation on our own. He has given us an invitation, complete with new authority, increasing understanding, and even committed His own Spirit to us, to act as internal guide and revealer of hidden truth. He clearly marks the path. (2 John 1:16)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ”

And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

John 1:1-18

More?

I am grateful to have my wife’s library shelves moved back where they can be used! It has been thirteen years since we had space to do that. Time flies!

Me: Good morning, Holy Spirit!

Holy Spirit: Good morning, Jon!

Me: Last Saturday (22nd), You gave me a diagram that is useful to explain, among other things, the difference between salvation and sanctification. Would you lead me to more supporting scripture verses to go with that diagram?

Holy Spirit: I assume you mean in addition to the ones I gave you at the time?

Me: Yes. I have a sense there is much more.

Holy Spirit: Let’s start with Ephesians chapters five and six. They have much to say about walking: in love, in light, in wisdom, in the Word, in obedience, in the whole armor of God, and in faith by grace. Concerning the endpoints on the diagram, see Colossians 1:13.

This translation from darkness to light is a past event for the spirit of the believer. It is also an ongoing journey of growth and change (sanctification).

Me: Thank You Holy Spirit! I love You!

Holy Spirit: You are welcome! I love you!

Graphic depicting some aspects related to the mind, heart, and spirit.

Calling of Levi

I am grateful to have the new yard hydrant installed and some of the dirt back in the hole.

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Philippians 2 New King James Version

Me: Good afternoon, Father!

Abba: Good afternoon, Jon!

Me: Do we do such a poor job of communicating the Gospel, that instead of being drawn by the tender mercies named in this exhortation, many non-believers see judgmentalism, which they interpret as hatefulness?

Abba: Do you recall from the Scriptures when Jesus called Levi (later called Matthew) from his tax-collector’s booth?

Me: Yes, Luke 5, Matthew 9, and Mark chapter 2.

Abba: Levi was operating what you would call a toll booth today, on the Via Maris (meaning “way of the sea”). It was an ancient trade route that ran along the costal plain of the eastern Mediterranean. Levi’s tax collection was under the authority of Herod Antipas with the collected duties shared by Herod and Rome. The heavy fees collected were viewed by Jews as burdensome and ceremonially defiling, as the Jews chafed under their Roman occupation. Therefore, those who were making their living as tax collectors were viewed with the utmost contempt by the Jewish religious leaders, and by the Jewish populace who were subject to these taxes.

Me: From the passage in Luke, when Jesus called him, Levi got up and left everything behind and followed Jesus. Then, apparently, Levi put on a banquet to introduce all his tax-collector friends to Jesus (Luke 5:29). This caused the religious leaders to complain that Jesus and His disciples would stoop to eating with such “tax collectors and sinners”(v30).

Abba: And what was Jesus’ response to this charge?

Me: Verses 31 and 32 are well known: Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Abba: The religious leaders considered themselves above reproach. Though if you read the Scriptures diligently, it becomes plain that their righteousness was only self-righteousness. Levi, on the other hand, jumped up and followed immediately at the grace extended to him.

And that is the crux of the matter, so to speak. Those who consider themselves righteous are often judgmental, seeing themselves as superior. Those who understand their need of grace, are open to receive My righteousness.

Notice that Jesus did not say it is OK to keep on sinning. His call is to repentance. However, judgment is Mine.

Finally, some have mistakenly assumed that I can’t deal with sin as though it would pollute My holiness. If that were so, I would have ceased speaking to man entirely after the fall in the garden. What I can’t stand about sin, is the damage it does to My children. They even misinterpret My reaction to Jesus bearing the sin of the world on the cross. They will say I couldn’t look upon that sin. What was rending My heart was that My Son had to endure it.

Me: Thank You Father! I love You!

Abba: You are welcome! I love you!

picture of new yard hydrant installation.

Bride of Christ – Post #7

This is #7 in a series of meditations on the “bride of Christ”, taken from my handwritten journal, dated January 26th 2025.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

Isaiah 61:10

Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.

For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

Isaiah 62:4-5 KJV

Hephzibah: my delight is in her

Beulah, also v4: to marry, rule over, possess, implies covenantal relationship.

[I highly recommend reading Isaiah 61 & 62 in their entirety.]

Me: Good afternoon, Father!

Abba: Good afternoon, Jon!

Me: How often Your word links salvation to the bride adorning herself for the bridegroom!

Abba: The bride’s heart is to appear her most “presentable” for her intended. She hopes for his delight. And indeed, his pleasure is in her.

Note from whence she has come. From the place where her names were Forsaken and Desolate, to rejoicing and joined by covenant to the One of her desire.

The bride’s adornment is a picture of the transformation effected by My clothing you with salvation and allowing you to put on My righteousness as a robe.

Me: Thank You, Father! I love You!

Abba: You are welcome! I love you!

Redbud Blossoms

Bride of Christ – Post #6

Taken from my handwritten journal, dated Sunday, January 12, 2025

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2-3


I am grateful for the salvation that allows us to be referred to as “chaste”, Jesus exchanging His own perfection with our corruption!

Me: Good morning, Father!

Abba: Good morning, Jon!

Me: In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul is writing to the Corinthians who are being led toward the legalization of Judaism as it was practiced (formerly by Paul!). Would you help me understand more about this bride-of-Christ verse?

Abba: Paul is relating his (and My) affection and sense of fatherly responsibility toward the Corinthians. In the culture of the day, fathers arranged marriage for their daughters. The daughter was expected to respect the wisdom of her father to act/choose in her best interests. The method you are used to has the daughter choosing a mate for herself, often based on how she feels about it emotionally. In Paul’s culture, the daughter would not have been regarded as having enough experience to make a good decision and the emotional aspect would have been seen as obscuring potential trouble, due to the rationalizations that can accompany strong desire. You should see, therefore a sense of the father’s responsibility to protect his daughter. Paul is expressing this same desire for protection of the Corinthian believers from being deceived. Paul is reflecting My jealousy that my children have an unsullied relationship with Me.

Not all fathers are wise. Not all arranged marriages were truly in the best interest of the daughter. There were marriages to establish political (and other) alliances. I AM not like that, which Paul knew well.

Old Covenant expressions of this desire incorporate an aspect of punishment for disobedience (Exodus 20:5, 34:14, Deuteronomy 4:24, 5:9, 6:15, Nahum 1:2) but the aim is for relationship:

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might (Deuteronomy 6:5)

All the punishment for sin has been borne by Jesus. Yet, those who are determined to stand on their own righteousness, can have whatever they say (Mark 11:24, Romans 3).

Me: Thank You Father, that the New Covenant offers a way through Jesus to break the natural “passing down” of iniquity to children (Exodus 20:5).

Abba: In Jesus, this generational contamination is broken for those who accept salvation and walk in it.

Me: Thank You Father! I love You!

Abba: You are welcome! I love you!

Bride of Christ – Post #3

This is the third post in a series seeking insight on what the word has to say on the bride of Christ. It is transferred from a hand-written journal entry from December 19th. The two previous related posts are here and here.

5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. Revelation 19

Me: Hello, Jesus!

Jesus: Hello, Jon!

Me: I was amused by the mental picture of a disembodied voice coming from the throne issuing a call to worship. And the rocks did not need to cry out (Luke 19:40), because the response was like thunder from “a great multitude”! The closest thing I have ever experienced was being in a football stadium filled with men singing praise to You. That seems a weak comparison to what is described here. I love what this thundering chorus gives voice! “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!”

Jesus: I Am also rejoicing at the sight of My bride who has made herself ready in righteousness!

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5

And how has My bride made herself ready? By participating in a great exchange: her sinfulness exchanged for My righteousness. And note the help by those engaged in communicating the need (the ministry of reconciliation) and the very mechanism of cleansing: the word of reconciliation. Remember from a couple of days ago,

That he might sanctify and cleanse it [the church] with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:26-27

Has My bride been fully reconciled to My desire for her to be without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing? All who have accepted My salvation are, in their spirits, without blemish. What remains is to be transformed from the inside out. Help others to understand. This is the ministry of reconciliation. Speak forth the word of reconciliation while you have breath, looking toward the glorious day of the marriage of the Lamb.

Me: As an aside, I have found that I am unable to reliably ascertain whether one is “in You” or not. I have been proved apparently wrong about it even in close relationships.

Jesus: That passage is not one intended for you to judge another one way or the other. I am the Judge (Matt 7:22-24, 25:23).Your part is to do what I said, speaking forth the word of reconciliation, looking to your own relationship with Me.

Me: Thank You Jesus! I love You!

Jesus: You are welcome! I love you!

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

Unimaginable Gift

Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again: But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.  Isaiah 51:1, 6, 22-23

Beginning in verse 1, above, we see admonition to look in two directions that we might remain mindful. Attentive, first, of the Lord our creator who has made us in His image and His intention that we would walk after Him in His way. Heedful, second, we are not to forget the pit from which we have been pulled, our incarceration before the release afforded us by Jesus. We will only be able to maintain our way on the upward path through gratitude in our relationship in Him and humility that remembers our inability to extract ourselves from the mire. We were utterly unable to turn away from the downward trail we were trudging until we accepted the finished work of Christ and His guiding hand to turn us to the upward way.

Though the heavens be removed and the earth fail, the salvation that God has made available to all who willingly receive it endures forever, because it rests on the eternal foundation of His own nature, which changes not. This salvation is offered freely, a gift beyond human comprehension, more priceless than we have yet understood. Though we ought to remember the pit of the past, increasing appreciation of the life we have been handed does not lie in that direction, but in adoration of the Giver.

Finally, observe verses 22 & 23. Our old lives accrued only wrath. Now, some assert that God’s wrath was vengeful anger directed at His own disobedient children. However, an honest reading of the word will reveal that His heart has ever been for our welfare and not for our destruction. (Deuteronomy 28, Jeremiah 29:11). In Jesus, we find an incalculable love, holding Him to bear all the oppressions of the fetid pit in which we wallowed. No more will the tyrant oppressor walk all over us, for our Savior has imputed to us soaring freedom on wings of light and love.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Merry Christmas, my friends!

Sober

I am grateful for Your provision from the garden! The baked, red-skinned potatoes made a wonderful dinner!

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
Titus 2:1-2

[sober: circumspect, grave: honorable, temperate: self-controlled, sound: healthy, charity: love]

Me: Jesus, all these come to those who are Yours and led by the Spirit!
Jesus: Paul was telling Titus to speak My word. The trait of being circumspect does not come quickly to the young. Those with some experience ought to model it. Here is my aim:

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Titus 2:11-12


Me: I see the next verse goes on to say, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”
Jesus: You should take from that the need to walk in My calling ever more diligently as the day of My return approaches.

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:14-16

Me: Are you speaking of “him who sleeps” as the unsaved one who is merely drifting through life, carried along by the currents of time? (No one I know disputes that the days are evil.)
Jesus: Yes. I Am the life. Yet this one has not even considered his “deadness”. Give a wake-up call where you can! You surely know how transforming to a sober life requires a circumspect outlook, understanding the whole truth about the consequences of drifting mindlessly along vs being awake and alert to the Life. Look to Me for help! I Am with you!
Me: Thank You Jesus! I love You!
Jesus: You are welcome! I love you!

The Source of Gratitude and Peace

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies (heart of compassion), kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Colossians 3:9-13

Whoso offers praise glorifies Me: and to him that orders his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God. Psalm 50:23

Do the things that Colossians 3:9-13 lists that we are to “put on” seem difficult? Does the prospect of attaining prevailing gratitude, love and peace seem a distant hope?

First, Paul was speaking to those who have accepted Christ as savior. Outside of His indwelling Spirit, these things are not just difficult, they are impossible.

Second, these traits do not come after getting our sin in submission by our own efforts, any more than we can evict all the darkness out of a room so it will be light in there. If the light is turned on, the darkness is driven out by the presence of light. [Let me observe here that light does not fill a room in a static manner, as water fills a container. It flows from its source in a continual manner. The speed at which it travels is considered the “universal constant”, the fastest physical thing in the cosmos.] Rather, it is the instantaneous saving transformation of our sprits at salvation, and the purposeful transformation of our minds by the Word that enables banishment of the things that we are to “put off” and the adoption to the characteristics that we are to “put on”.

“Put” is a verb. This passage is not saying the process of transformation is automatic. We do have to resist the flesh and the devil. I am not backpedaling on what I have said in the previous paragraph; I am saying that the power to resist comes from the Spirit of God and that must come first to drive out the darkness.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my Strength, and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

Further, we must stay deliberately engaged in the Word. Engagement in this sense is not mere reading. It implies willingness to be conformed to the revelations of the Holy Spirit.

Graphic depicting some aspects related to the mind, heart, and spirit.

Unjust Judge

I am grateful that God’s judgments are right and true!

Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Romans13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Romans 3:10-12 There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Also Luke 18:19)

Me: Good afternoon, Jesus!

Jesus: Good afternoon, Jon!

Me: I think most of the U.S. has been watching the prosecution of President Trump in New York this week. Though some have been reported as “dancing” at the verdict, probably more have been aghast at the improper legal procedures allowed, and even carried out directly, by the judge. It made me think of this passage in Luke 18 referencing an “unjust judge”. That caused me to also remember the injunction in Romans 13 to be subject to those in authority because their powers (offices, stations) are ordained by God. You clearly recognized when giving the parable in Luke 18 that a judge could be unjust. And, though I say that “I remembered” those passages, I understand it is the work of the Holy Spirit to bring those things to mind and there was no special memory effort at work on my part. Thank You for that gift through the Holy Spirit! (John 14:26)

Jesus: I have a calling for everyone. That does not mean that each one will live perfectly aligned to My desire for them. Some take only an occasional detour. Some refuse to acknowledge Me at all and serve only “themselves”. I put my reference to their own desires in quotes because there is a dark power at work in the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 2). You have noted, of course, that disobedience is rampant. And as you lament, the “Justice System” is full of injustice, according to the way the law informs that it should work. Still, I have drawn your attention to Romans 3, that no man, except through Me, has right standing before God. Like the Pharisees, your legislators have created so many laws and regulations (many of them conflicting and open to diverse interpretation), that no American citizen is innocent according to the law. It will get worse as time draws nearer the end. Did you foresee that there would be laws against engaging in silent prayer in front of an abortion clinic? The devil knows that prayer is a powerful weapon. Of course, those who do his bidding would write and pass such “laws”.

Therefore, you should pay attention to the intent of My parable in Luke 18. You ought to pray that you may be strengthened and not faint in fear at the danger of such attacks. I am speedily coming to uphold you.

1 John 2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Me: Jesus, thank You! We could not ask for a better advocate! I love You! I pray you will protect us all despite the evil of this day and help us turn away from our own evil ways and do what You have called us to. Unswervingly!

Jesus: You are welcome! I am your protector. I Am helping you. Remember this:

Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You should also be persuaded that nothing can separate you from My love!