May 24 - May 31
"WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED"
I'd like you to read 2 Peter 1:3-8
God, the Father has given us His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus, our Savior, has given us His life, shed His blood on the cross, bearing our sins upon Himself so that we might have life in Him. Taking His righteousness upon ourselves.
We need to take time, daily, and reflect upon the depth of our Lord's great love for us. Pondering, too, our response. Yes, we are grateful for our salvation. Yes, we enjoy His peace. Yes, we look forward to eternal life. Oh, but there is so very much more!
We are to take all that He has given us and build upon it. To spend time in fellowship with Him. Pouring out our love to Him in prayer (conversations with our BEST Friend)! To set aside time to study His Word and reflect upon all the wonders therein, and then to apply them to our day to day routines. As it says in verses 5-8, making every effort to add to our faith . . . then it lists all the wonderful things we are to add . . . but it is really God that adds these to us as we seek Him!
Turn over to John 15 and re-read about our "gardener" Father. It is HE who prunes. He who waters. He who nurtures, and Jesus is that 'vine' that we stay connected to for growth. Our only job is to rest in Him. Seek His face. Spend time with Him in prayer and in the study of His Word. The results then will 'grow'. (Just as you water your garden, till the soil, pull the weeds, the end result happens. It is not a result of what the seed does, except that it allows the nutrients and water to be absorbed!)
Let's go back to 2 Peter, verse 8. "If you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
So, with that in mind, let us be like the seeds in the ground. We are planted (through Christ death and resurrection) into the Kingdom of God. Now, let us rest there, fully obsorbing all the nutrients that are offered to us through our time spent in fellowship and study with Him. Then, watch, in amazement, as you blossom forth in faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perserverance, godliness, kindness & love. God's love, pouring out of you, through the Holy Spirit, to others around you.
(c)kle
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