Tuesday's In Other Words-Perfect Love

"Love is beautiful, but it is also terrible--terrible in its determination to allow nothing blemished or unworthy to remain in the beloved."

~ Hannah Hurnard ~

God's love is so amazing for it's foundation is not in a response to what we do or don't do, but rather is a result of who God is, and therefore is unconditional. God knows our frame, He knows that we are but dust. He knows that it is humanly impossible to measure up to His standards of perfection. He knows that even our best good deeds are like filthy rags compared to His holiness. But because of the great love wherewith he loved us, while mankind was still entrenched in our own sin, God sent his son to live a perfect life, but die the death of a sinner so that he could pay our debt and make THE way for us to become suitable to enter God's presence at the end of our life. When we recognize our need for God to rescue us from our life of sin and realize that we cannot possibly be good enough to reach the holiness that God requires of those who enter his presence, and cry out for the salvation from our sins that only God can give through the death of his son, it is at that point that we are 'figuratively' covered in the blood of Christ that was shed on the cross for us, and from then on we are no longer separated from a relationship with God because of our human imperfections. In his sight we become holy like His son, without spot or blemish, not because of anything we have done to earn that position, but solely due to the life and death of Christ. However as long as we live life in our human body we will continue to fight our sinful nature. God in his great love for us, doesn't allow us to wallow in our human imperfections but is constantly changing us into the image of Christ through trials and circumstances that come into our lives. I compare it to a good friend who is totally honest and pushes us to be a better person, or a parent who loves their child so much that they refuse to let them get away with stuff, and though they know the discipline they give their child isn't fun, it will teach him how to live appropriately, responsibly, and safely as an adult. These two previous posts are very applicable to the second half of today's quote: Refiner's Fire, and last week's In Other Words. Go back and read them if you get the chance.

Psalm 103:10-14 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.

Isaiah 64:5b-6a How then can we be saved? All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.

Romans 3:22-24 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:4-9 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 John 1:8-9 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

For more Tuesday's IOW visit Ink It Blog.

In Other Words

"In our lives the darkest times, the days that are bleak and black, add
depth to every other experience. Like the dark bits of color in a mosaic, they add the contrast and shadows that give beauty to the whole, but they are just a small part of the big picture."
~ Amy Grant~ Mosaic: Pieces of My Life so Far

Sometimes I have a hard time with these quotes that seem to be self explanatory. I don't really know what to say to add to it. Today is one of those days. So today I decided I'd just post a collection of verses that fit the topic of this quote. Besides, who am I to think that I could possibly write anything more profound, or life changing than what God has already left us in his Word.

John 16:33b In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Romans 5:3-5 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

1 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

For more Tuesdays IOW visit Elisa at Extravagant Grace.

Loving vs. Doing

Look at this! Tuesday's In Other Words posted early instead of late for a change! Go me! LOL!

"The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest
route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite
passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian."~ A.W. Towzer ~

I agree with this quote, but I can't say it any better than this verse: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Tim 3:16-17).

However, to say religiously obeying the Word of God is the shortest route to spiritual perfection just doesn't sit right with me. I agree we all need to strive to obey the Word of God, but first and foremost we need to focus on loving God, and being passionate about knowing Him. When we focus on knowing and loving God, He will change us and the things we do will be in obedience to Him and His Word out of love. When our focus shifts to obeying the Bible to become some super spiritual person we become like the Pharisees Jesus condemns in Matthew 23 who obeyed the law out of pride. They looked good to the people around them, but God saw their hearts. He knew they obeyed out of pride and not out of a heart of love and humility.

Matthew 23:23-28 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

To read more Tuesday's IOW visit Chocolate And Coffee.