Inheritance

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 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. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1: 3-9

I've been think a lot about what it is that I hold most precious. I love my family and would do anything for them. I love my friends and would provide them with anything they need. I'm not going to lie... I love my little car and screamed out a couple weeks ago when I thought I was going to get in a car crash. First because I was afraid that my friend next to me was going to get hurt, and second cause I really love my car.

But all these things go away. One day I'll get married and may end up living in another state. I'll still have a strong relationship with my family, but things won't be the same. The same goes for my friends... Some of them have gotten or are in the process of getting married or are graduating. Relationships change... people change... cars eventually break down. But the Lord is forever, and forever are His promises.


Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6: 19-21

The Goal

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3: 7-11

I want to know about your passions. I want to know about your desires. Think about it and I'll ask you guys on Sunday

Wide Eyes

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 1: 18-20

When a baby first opens their eyes, all they can see is blurryness. It isn't till later that things start to be focused, and even later still when they are able to see in full color and take in all that's around them.

This is is my prayer for you, that you would begin to become aware of all the things around you. That you would begin to see how God is moving and has been moving in your life. That as He comes into clearer focus in your life, you would fall in love with Him. That you would come to know the fullness of what He is.

Love in Action

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 8:9

Love can be shown in many different ways. It is seen in the way we speak to eachother. By using words that encourage others instead of hurting them. It can be seen in the way we physically help eachother. By helpng a friend carry their books to class, or when we help another person stand up after they've fallen or are about to fall. It can be seen in a good hug. Whatever way love is shown, it is shown in action. It is not enough just telling another person we love them, we need to show them.

The ultimate example of this can be found in Jesus Christ. He gave up everything, for the sake of rescuing us.

Law of Love

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.

1 John 5:1-4

Like we have talked about before, love is submission to another. But to submit does not mean you are weak. It says here anyone who calls themselves a child of God has overcome the world. This means all the bad things that surround us can not hold us down as love as we are found in obedience to God, as long as we are found in His Love.

Tough Love

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Luke 6:32-36

Ok... so we've been talking a lot about love lately....don't really know why... Valentine's Day was a while back ago...

Anyway... We've talked a lot about how we are to love others just as God loved us. This is easy when it comes to close family and friends, but what about those in your inner circle that have hurt you? Even more how about those you have absolutely no connection to whether it be family, a former friend, or whatever? Like that guy that really got on my nerve last week, the one I wanted to beat up.How hard is it to love a person like that?

We are called to love even people like that. People who get on our nerves, or people who you just want to smack around. This not only proves to the world that there is an amazing God who is strong enough to show us to love even our enemies, but that He lives within us molding us to be the people we are called to be.

I may not like the person who angered me last week, but through God I can begin to love him.

Reflection

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

We love because he first loved us.

1 John 4: 18-19

In class, we have talked a lot about God's characteristics. How He is our Father, protector, guide, shield, in all ways God. We also spent a lot of time talking about how God is the source of all things. If we want to find joy, we should ask Him to fill us with Joy. If we want to be able to Love, we need to ask Him to fill us with love.

Perfect love is one that is without fear. As the verse states fear is born out of punishment. The idea that you will be hurt because what you do may be wrong or not good enough. Perfect love does not have this fear because perfect love is not punishable. It is always welcomed and always accepted no matter how it is done.

Love can be in a kind word, it can be in a hug, it can be in doing something to help another person. When all these things are done in love, it is perfect no matter the outcome.

So I encourage you guys to love eachother, and not be critical of others when they show you love in ways that are diffrent than yours.

Lay it Down

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

John 15: 12-13

Laying down your life does not neccassarily mean that you allow yourself to die in order to save another. That's only one definition. To lay down your life is to make another person more important than you. To make sure another person is happy, well fed, or comfortable. Even if it means you have to be unhappy with what happens, have to go a little hungry, or be physically uncomfortable.

True love is sacrifice, we are called to sacrifice for one another, we are called to love as Jesus loved.

Follow the Leader

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16

This passage goes back to the one we covered two days ago. About maintaing focus on what is good.

Another good passage is:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableif anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

There are so many things in this world that are fighting over our attention. Family, school, friends, sports, work, the need to work, and other things. While these are all good thngs, if they are in any way causing us to do bad things, then we need to separate ourselves. It is important that we keep our focus on God and what He has for us. On the good things and the pure things. They are the things that will not harm us, but make us better.

Family Ties

Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
Galatians 4:6-7

The desire to belong is a very powerful one. We want to be told we are liked. We want to be told we are wanted. No matter how hard we try to convince ourselves and others that we don't need people... the truth is we do.

That's one of the things that is so beautiful about God. We are always loved, we are always wanted, as one of my friends said, "I am loved by a God that just can't take His eyes off me."


Because of Jesus, we will always belong. We will always be taken care of by the one we call "Daddy"

Change of Mind

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

Romans 8:5-8

There are these things called "Blinders" that horses use. In order to keep them focused the rider straps on the head a little headband that has little flaps that go right next to the eyes. It prevents them from looking at what's around them and only see what is in front of them.

In the same way we need to stay focused on what's ahead of us, and not on all the things that can take us out of focus. This is especially true when it comes to sin. We are called to be pure and to ignore anything that might cause us to sin.

Purchase Price

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

There are a lot of reasons why we do the things we do. Some things are done out of fear, some to prove how brave we are, others out of anger, and some because we truely love someone. What ever we do... we do it for a reason.

I've shared parts of my past with you in class. It is my hope that you see in me all the wonderful things God can do. How He can rescue someone from anger and hate to live a life that truely loves and constantly fights for the joy that can only be found in Him.

I know the God I serve, and I love Him. It is for God that I do the things I do... live the way I live... and nothing is too hard for Him.

Control Issues

Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything. Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"—but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!
1 Cor. 6:12-15

As children of God we have freedom in Christ. If we look at the Old Testament, we see a people who were tied to laws. There was certain food they could not eat, places they could not be, and people they shouldn't talk to. We are no longer under the Law of the Old Testament, but rather we have freedom in Chirst. We are free to eat what we want, be were we want to be, and talk to who ever we want.

But... just because we have freedom we shouldn't take advantage of it. The simple definition of Grace is forgiveness. We have been forgiven of our sins, and God will never throw them back in our face. But that doesn't mean we can do what we want trusting that it'll be ok with God as long as we ask forgiveness later. We are still to not do anything that can be sin.

In the same way, just like we have been given freedom in Christ, we have to be careful to always put God first. If there is anything in your life that is more important than God, you don't have to get rid of it, just make God more important than it.

Feel free to share your thoughts

-eva

Start of Something New

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