A Command to Love

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. – (1 Timothy 1:5, NIV)

 

In this passage, Paul was giving Timothy instruction as to how to stand firm in the faith. Paul’s instruction was received well by Timothy because Paul had proven his heart toward him and his fellow believers over time. Love had been made evident over time, and the instructions were delivered from one with a good conscience, sincere faith and a heart that had been made pure by that which Christ had done. We are called to do likewise. It is our charge – His command to us – to love. The only way that we can truly do this is if we love as He has loved us. When we submit ourselves to Christ, He purifies our hearts, cleanses our conscience from any unrighteousness, and grows us in sincere faith. It is from this space of submission, that we are able to fulfill the goal of the greatest command – to love. May we choose to receive that which He has given unto us, and go forth and do the same to all whom we encounter.

 

The greatest command,

that we have been told;

instructs us to love,

all whom we behold.

Not just those we choose,

but all whom come in;

as Christ’s beloved,

treat all as if kin.

From a heart that’s pure,

and conscience that’s clean;

with a sincere faith,

show all what love means.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You do not ask anything of us that You do not first demonstrate and then equip us to do. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus, who came and showed us how to love from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. Thank You Jesus, for Your sacrifice so that we could become pure and acceptable before God because of what You have done for us. Forgive us for not recognizing the remarkable work that You did on our behalf on the cross to make us acceptable before You. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would receive that which we have been freely given, and would then go forth and do likewise in love. Help us to love others well, as You so perfectly love each of us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek to obey Your call on our lives to love others well from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad. – 1 Chronicles 16:31

 

 

Why We Confess Before Christ

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. – (1 John 1:9)

 

Though we have been forgiven because of Christ’s death, the admission of our sins before Him is an important practice on our behalf. First, our confession is agreeing with Christ that our sin is sin and we are willing to walk away from it. Second, by coming clean before Christ, we are not hiding our sins from Christ nor ourselves. Finally, when we confess our sin before our Creator, we are made aware of our own capacity to sin, and relying on Christ and His strength to overcome that which entangles us. (NIV footnotes paraphrased)

 

Our confession keeps communication uninhibited with our Creator. Often, our own junk gets in the way. We need His forgiveness, purification, and righteousness to cover all our mess, so that we may be restored to a space where our obstacles are out of the way and we can clearly hear Him, once again. May we seek to keep short accounts with our loving Creator, who is faithful to forgive us as we come.

 

Every heart sins,

needs to come and confess;

to Christ, Redeemer,

Who forgives all our mess.

He’s faithful and just,

He forgives all our sin;

He purifies us,

and He starts from within.

All that is unclean,

hidden, ugly and wrong;

He already knows,

and to Him we belong.

He washes us clean,

and makes us new again;

sweet restoration,

in His love we remain.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that if we confess our sins to You, You are faithful and just, and You forgive us and purify us from all our unrighteousness. Thank You that You restore us to right relationship with You, though we do not deserve it. Forgive us for every word, thought and deed that has not honored You, and help us to turn from our sinful ways and faithfully follow You. Show us where we need to fix our eyes and heart more securely, so that we may trust You more. Lead us to love others as You love us, so that many may come to know just how faithful You are for themselves. Be exalted O God, as we confess and then continue moving forward as You call us. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. – 1 Peter 2:19

Hope

“Hope is a confident expectation of a favorable outcome.” – (Pastor Jon MacIntosh)  In Christ, whom is the Source of ALL hope, we find confidence in knowing that the ultimate outcome is good.  We know Who wins in the end, and we have the blessed assurance that our eternity will be spent in His presence.

It is easy to blur the lines between wishing and hoping.  A wish is really just a want, that is not backed by confident expectation in Christ.  Our hopes, dreams and desires need to align with His, and hope in Him, ought to be “the lens through which we view our future”. (PJM)  When we see where He is calling us to go, we move in confident expectation that He will meet us every step of the way, and provide all that is needed to accomplish what He has asked.

In the throes of life’s storms, though I often cannot see the security of the shore, I have hope in Christ, as I know that He is my anchor, steadfast and secure.  He will not allow me to get lost, nor to drift beyond a place where He can safely bring me back to shore.  My hope in Him is not deterred by wind and waves, as my heart is tethered to His.

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – (Isaiah 40:31)

In quiet confidence,

let us hope in the Lord.

He is mighty to save,

our strength in one accord.

Expect that He will use,

everything for our good;

even our great struggles,

make His grace understood.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our Hope.  Thank You that in You, we need not fear, regardless of what surrounds us.  Thank You that You are the anchor that keeps us secure through all of life’s storms, and that You are our peace when chaos seems to reign.  Forgive us for allowing the weight of the world to hinder our hope, and help us to hold our every hope in You – not in what surrounds us.  Thank You that our ultimate outcome will be far beyond  favorable, as eternity with You, is more than our hearts can currently hold.  Help us to live in love, looking through Your lens of hope, so that others too, may see that true hope is found in You.  May many come to find hope in You during this blessed season of remembering.  Be glorified in all that we say and do.  Amen.

For more verses on HOPE (per sermon notes from yesterday):

Romans 8:24 (hope saves)

I John 3:3 (hope purifies)

Hebrews 6:13 (hope anchors us)

I Thessalonians 1:3 (hope inspires)

Psalm 62:5 (hope comes from God)

2 Thessalonians 2:16 (hope is good)

Titus 2:13 (hope is blessed)

Hebrews 7:19 (hope is better)

I Peter 1:3 (hope is living)

I Corinthians 13:13 (hope is enduring)

Ephesians 1:8 (we are called to hope)

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.