May 10, 2019 BE AND LET
2 Corinthians 13:11 “Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”
Often times, there is tension in the truth we find in scripture. For example, we are told to wait on the Lord, and we are also told to apply or move in what God has already done and said. It is my suspicion that we tend to ‘wait’ on the Lord more than we move on what He has already done in us. Just as one example, the issue of ‘loving our neighbor’ is a settled issue-God has plainly told us to love our neighbor; we do not have to pray about that, or even to ‘wait on the Lord’ before loving our neighbor. (It is important that we depend on the Holy Spirit as to how we are to express love for our neighbor, etc.) There are times when we are to wait on the Lord. Often we face decisions and circumstances that are not directly addressed in the scripture and we may not be sure of the direction we should take. In these times we must seek and wait on the Lord to direct us. Also, there are times when we must wait on the Lord to bring about certain opportunities to do what is in our heart to do. God has done a wonderful work on our behalf; He has made us new creations with new hearts, new minds, new spirits, and has commissioned us, equipped us, and made us stewards to represent Him in the earth. We are not waiting to be equipped-we have been equipped and He is continually equipping us as well. We have the opportunity to apply and to live out the gospel-and that is wonderful news. God does not command us to do what we cannot do! It is amazing how many time we find the word ‘let’ in scripture-and that is a sure sign that we can do what God calls us to do. Just one of many examples of the word ‘let’ being used in scripture is in Philippians 2:3: Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.” It is liberating to have the power to make the choice to turn from unhealthy thoughts and actions and turn to thoughts and actions that are healthy and in keeping with who we are as sons and daughters of God. Even when things are not as we desire, we can let a spirit of rejoicing be expressed; we can be comforted, we can be made complete, and we can do all of the things that reflect the Spirit of Christ. As always, we cannot do this by our own will-power; it is only by the power of Holy Spirit in us that we can live in such a way.
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, for giving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Philippians 2:5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”
Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
Blessings,
Buddy
2 Corinthians 13:11 “Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”
Often times, there is tension in the truth we find in scripture. For example, we are told to wait on the Lord, and we are also told to apply or move in what God has already done and said. It is my suspicion that we tend to ‘wait’ on the Lord more than we move on what He has already done in us. Just as one example, the issue of ‘loving our neighbor’ is a settled issue-God has plainly told us to love our neighbor; we do not have to pray about that, or even to ‘wait on the Lord’ before loving our neighbor. (It is important that we depend on the Holy Spirit as to how we are to express love for our neighbor, etc.) There are times when we are to wait on the Lord. Often we face decisions and circumstances that are not directly addressed in the scripture and we may not be sure of the direction we should take. In these times we must seek and wait on the Lord to direct us. Also, there are times when we must wait on the Lord to bring about certain opportunities to do what is in our heart to do. God has done a wonderful work on our behalf; He has made us new creations with new hearts, new minds, new spirits, and has commissioned us, equipped us, and made us stewards to represent Him in the earth. We are not waiting to be equipped-we have been equipped and He is continually equipping us as well. We have the opportunity to apply and to live out the gospel-and that is wonderful news. God does not command us to do what we cannot do! It is amazing how many time we find the word ‘let’ in scripture-and that is a sure sign that we can do what God calls us to do. Just one of many examples of the word ‘let’ being used in scripture is in Philippians 2:3: Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.” It is liberating to have the power to make the choice to turn from unhealthy thoughts and actions and turn to thoughts and actions that are healthy and in keeping with who we are as sons and daughters of God. Even when things are not as we desire, we can let a spirit of rejoicing be expressed; we can be comforted, we can be made complete, and we can do all of the things that reflect the Spirit of Christ. As always, we cannot do this by our own will-power; it is only by the power of Holy Spirit in us that we can live in such a way.
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, for giving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Philippians 2:5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”
Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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