What Love Means

By: Jenifer Metzger

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths,

but only such as is good for building up, as fits the

occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 4:29 ESV

Recently I heard a quote that has stuck with me.

"I love you" means my actions will always consider you in rooms you are not in.

Many people describe what love is and what it means to them. This quote shows us a powerful description of what true love means.

"I love you" means my actions will always consider you in rooms you are not in. If we say we love our spouse -and if they are our spouse we absolutely should- every word, action, and thought we say, do, and think will affect our spouse in one way or another. We should be careful to consider our spouse's feelings and well being before we say, do, or let thoughts run freely.

If you are out to lunch with some girlfriends and your waiter is an attractive, younger man that your friends keep making comments about as soon as he turns away, will you make those comments too? Your husband would most likely never find out you uttered a word. And all your friends are doing it. So why not join the conversation and make little comments about the handsome waiter? Because if you love your husband, you are considering him even though he is not there. So, you don't join in on the talk and you don't give him a second look.

You're at work and a coworker gives you a flirtatious smile and asks you to join him for lunch. It's just lunch with a coworker, no big deal. Your husband won't find out and, again, it's just lunch with a coworker. So why not join him, you both have to eat lunch anyway? Because if you love your husband, you are considering him even though he is not there. So, you decline his offer and head off to eat lunch at your desk.

You're shopping with your sisters and they've spent the entire time complaining about their husbands and all these men do wrong. You haven't said anything yet so your sisters ask you how your husband annoys you. You could tell them, he won't know you said anything. So why not join in the merriment of "husband bashing"? Because if you love your husband, you are considering him even though he is not there. So you politely tell them you don't want to participate in this kind of conversation.

You're looking online and come across a new purse that is gorgeous. You instantly want to hit that "buy now" button, yet it's $100 and you and your husband are trying to save money this month. But you handle all the finances so he wouldn't know how much it actually costs if you go ahead and make the purchase, so why not? Because if you love your husband, you are considering him even though he is not there. So, you close out the page without making the purchase.

Even if your husband is not in the room, even if he will likely never find out what was done or said, or even what you thought, true love says I love my spouse enough to consider how they would feel if they did find out. If he would be hurt, angry, embarrassed, ashamed, or any other negative emotion, it is our responsibility to avoid the situation.

This quote can be applied to other relationships as well. If you were talking about someone and accidently "butt dialed" them and they heard the conversation, would they be hurt or angry? If someone overheard something you said about someone and shared with them, would they be hurt or angry? Would your action embarrass someone? Would your written words bring them shame? There is another really great quote that says, "Surround yourself with people who fight for you in rooms you aren't in." Are you the one joining in with the gossip or hurtful comments and activities of another or do you fight for the one not there?

Something else vital that we need to remember is just because our spouse, parent, friend, etc isn't in the room and may never know, God does. God knows all. God hears all. God sees all. If you wouldn't say it, do it, or think it with God there, you shouldn't say it, do it, or let the thought run free.

Discussion:
1. Think of a time you were in a situation similar to what was mentioned above. How did you handle it? Would your spouse, or anyone else, have been hurt or angry had they found out what was done or said?
2. How can you prepare yourself for any future situations so that you are ready to stand up and consider your spouse even if they are not in the room?

Names of God Series: The Anchor

 By: Rebekah Hargraves

Photo Courtesy of: engin akyurt

"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

~Hebrews 6:19-20

In our names of God series, we come today to this description of our Lord, the Anchor, pointing to how Jesus is our Secure Hope, the One Who keeps us steady in the storms of life.

One of the most beautiful descriptions of this aspect of Christ's nature comes in the form of words from the song "Christ, the Sure and Steady Anchor". The first two verses go as follows:

Christ, the sure and steady Anchor

In the fury of the storm

When the winds of doubt blow through me

And my sails have all been torn

In the suffering, in the sorrow

When my sinking hopes are few

I will hold fast to the Anchor

It shall never be removed

Christ, the sure and steady Anchor

While the tempest rages on

When temptation claims the battle

And it seems the night has won

Deeper still then goes the Anchor

Though I justly stand accused

I will hold fast to the Anchor

It shall never be removed

This description of Christ and Who He is for us is such a blessed comfort in the middle of life's storms. Whether they be storms of grief, loss, and disappointment or storms of sin, temptation, and struggle, Christ is the One to Whom we can cling and hold fast. He is the steady One, the One Who will never waver and never let us go. When all around us is tempest and trial, He is our safe, steady, and secure shelter.

May we never lose sight of our blessed Anchor during life's storms! 

Reflection Questions:

1) What stands out to you about this name, the Anchor?

2) What storms of life has the Anchor seen you through thus far?

3) What storms of life are you trusting Him to see you through now?

Children of God

 By: Joanne Viola

 

Let’s turn to the Gospel of Mark where we find two separate individuals who have an encounter with Jesus.

In Mark 2:1-12, we find the paralyzed man who was lowered through the roof of a home by his friends. This man had lost his identity and purpose within society as his infirmity left him to being a beggar.

Then in Mark 5:24-34, we read the story of the woman with the issue of blood. She had both a unique and personal encounter with Jesus which resulted in her healing. Due to her issue of blood, this woman was ceremonially unclean and was also considered an outcast. She, too, had lost all purpose and identity within society.

Both of these people had lost their identities due to the restrictions placed upon them by the Law and society. Yet here is an interesting thought:

Along with physically healing each of these people, Christ also restored their identity and their relationship with Himself.

Addressing the paralytic, we read these words:

“And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, 
“Son, your sins are forgiven.” 
(Mark 2: 5 NASB)

These words are spoken to the woman:

“And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; 
go in peace and be healed of your affliction.” 
(Mark 5:34, NASB)

Christ calls one, “daughter”, the other “son”. Each title indicative of an identity. He restores not only health, but dignity and purpose to each of them.

To each of them, Christ restores relationship as both are familial terms. Both are made whole, not only in their bodies, but also their minds and emotions are restored as well, enabling them to reenter society.

God calls each of us into relationship with Him. He desires to free us from those things which would hold us back from being all that He created us to be. He longs to restore identity, dignity, and purpose to each of our lives. May each one of us grab onto this truth today.

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, 
but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, 
heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.” 
(Romans 8:15-17a, NASB)

Jesus forgives,
and restores identity and dignity,
so that our lives find the purpose for which He created us.

 

 

Reflection:
May each of these accounts cause you to realize Jesus longs to restore identity and purpose to each one of us. We are called “children of God.”

 

Image by Chu Viết Đôn from Pixabay

 

 

 

 

A Faith with Passion and Tenacity

  By: Lauren Thomas

What is your faith characterized by? The only qualification for salvation is faith in Jesus, but how different one person’s faith can look from another’s faith! What qualifies your faith? Have you ever thought about it?

When I think about the faith I want to have, I think of an Old Testament prophet. His name was Elisha. In 1 Kings 19:19-21 Elisha was called into prophetic ministry, to assist Elijah. While Elijah had been through it (just read 1 Kings 18-19), Elisha was fresh and eager. When Elijah threw his cloak on Elisha, Elisha wholeheartedly said goodbye to his family and former life, in order to pursue God’s call. He literally burned his oxen on the wood of his plows, symbolizing a clean break with his livelihood. Elisha then ran after Elijah in order to assist him. Elisha exemplified passion for following after God and God’s power manifested. 

 

Later, when Elijah’s time was drawing to a close, Elisha requested a double portion of Elijah’s spirit (see 2 Kings 2). Elijah told him that in order for this to take place, Elisha must see him depart. Ironically, previous to Elisha’s request, Elijah had been trying to get rid of Elisha! But Elisha was tenacious. He couldn’t be persuaded to leave. He wouldn’t allow himself to be distracted. He held on. And this was rewarded. After watching Elijah’s miraculous departure from this life, Elisha received a double portion of the power of God that had been manifested in Elijah’s ministry. 

 

That’s the kind of faith I want: to be passionate in following Jesus and to be tenacious in my following after him. 

 

It’s easy to lose passion the longer we stay with one thing. It’s easy to loosen our grip when we get “weary in well-doing” (Galatians 6:9). But when I think of Elisha, I pray for renewed zeal, renewed perseverance. 

 

12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Hebrews 12:12-14 ESV

 

Which begins with a passionate and tenacious pursuit of God’s presence.

 

Seek the Lord and his strength;

seek his presence continually!

1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV

 

Today, seek the Lord’s presence and pray for passion and tenacity in your faith. And like Elijah, be rewarded by his presence manifesting in your life.

 

Reflection:

How do you want your faith to be characterized? What element of Elisha’s faith would you want in your own faith? How will you seek the Lord today?

Names of God Series: The Door

 By: Rebekah Hargraves

Photo Courtesy of: Jan Tinneberg

"I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture."

~John 10:9

In our series on the names of God, we come now to a name Jesus ascribes to Himself - "The Door", a name pointing to the fact that He is the entrance to salvation, the only way to eternal life. This name is very reminiscent of another name Jesus gives to Himself that we have already studied, also in the book of John - "The Way". Both names make it unequivocally clear that in Jesus alone we are able to acquire salvation and eternal life.

But what sets this name apart in such a beautiful way is what comes after it - "If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture."   Right on the heels of this verse comes this famous passage: "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)

These two verses are so beautiful and highlight the lovingkindness and amazing grace and mercy of our dear Savior. Jesus didn't just come to save us and then go back into heaven to wash His hands of us until eternity rolls around. No, far from it! He came to save us eternally, yes. And praise the Lord He did! But He also goes above and beyond in His amazing grace and also blesses us with abundant life in the here and now, as well.

Now, this abundant life doesn't mean that we will always be recipients of health, wealth, and prosperity. On this side of heaven, we still live in a fallen world and we will still face hardships, trials, and loss sometimes. But the blessing here is that, even in the midst of hard seasons, we still have the blessing of being able to do life with Jesus, even here and now. He companions us, walks with us, is always with us to comfort, help, lead, guide, and strengthen us. 

That is what abundant life in the here and now is, dear sister. That is what it looks like for us to be able to go out and find pasture in the here and now. It is the comfort of knowing Jesus provides for our needs (physically, financially, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally), that He is our constant companion, and that He will never leave us nor forsake us, instead bringing everything together for our good.

What a blessing! And it is ours to live out today! Thank You, Jesus!

Reflection Questions:

1) What stands out to you about this second portion of verse 9? What comes to mind for you when you read about being able to go out and find pasture?

2) Who could you share this comforting truth with today?

3) How does the cultural lie that there are many ways to heaven do grave harm to people? Will you be willing to boldly stand against it?