Posts Tagged ‘love’
Friday, May 17th, 2013
Providence of God, May 17
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.
Colossians 1:13-22, www.solascriptura.com
Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, Paul has clarified that you are One and that You, Jesus came to us from the presence of the Father. Sometimes Father we speak to You and do not think about Jesus and You as One and sometimes Jesus we speak to you as separate from the Father, sent by the Father.
Help us O’God not to worry about such matters but to learn that You are three in one, serving us in distinct capacities. Thank You Jesus for the redemptive act of the Cross and for sending the Holy Spirit to abide with and in us.
Is it any wonder Father that Jesus and His angels will come to separate the saints from the sinners? You have extended all power to Him and it is by His shed blood that we will enter into Your presence. You, Yourself Father will judge among the saints, and although that is a comfort, because we will be with You, it reminds us that our salvation was purchased at a great price and that our enthusiastic response of love and obedience is Your expectation.
Our righteousness is as filthy rags. It is your righteousness Jesus that enables us to stand in the presence of the Father. Help us be “over comers” every moment of every day, turning to You for empowerment and comfort.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: blood, church, creation, cross, darkness, dominions, firstborn, flesh, forgiveness, God, image, invisible, kingdom, love, peace, power, principalities, Providence, reconcile, redemption, sins, Son, thrones, wicked
Posted in Christianity, God's Gift, Hope, Providence of God, Worship, faith, salvation | 5 Comments »
Saturday, May 11th, 2013
Prayer, May 11
God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us.
That Your way may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.
Let the people praise You, O God; let all the people praise You.
…pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Psalm 67:3, 1Thessalonians 5:17-18, www.solascriptura.com
Father, when You shine Your light upon us You illuminate our hearts and You are truly a light unto our path. Help us never go forward in darkness, without You, Your counsel, and Your love. Father, You give us a clear path of service to you, that Your word might go throughout all the world. We praise You for equipping us to serve You. Help us to move beyond being spectators. Help us move onto the playing field!
We sometimes wonder how You can be so ever present. We know the word, “omnipresence”. Now help us realize how You can have a constant presence in our lives. All nature is a revelation of Your love and we sense Your presence in all that You have created and beyond that, we are accompanied by innumerable angels as we move about. The fact of Your omnipresence, in all things, humbles us and encourages us.
We are asked to pray without ceasing. Teach us this day how to implement that teaching. Help us include You in everything we do and think. It is Your will that we enjoy the fruits of Your Holy presence (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control), constantly. Our fleshly instincts take us in the opposite direction, too often. We seek to be like You, more and more. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, PO Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Christ, counsel, Father, gentleness, God, goodness, Holy, Jesus, joy, kindness, love, patience, peace, pray, Psalms 67:3, self-control, service
Posted in Christianity, Hope, Perseverance, Prayer, Religion | 2 Comments »
Saturday, April 27th, 2013
Hope, April 27
… we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:3-7, www.solascriptura.com
We thank you Father for sending the Holy Spirit, a constant source of Your Holy presence in us. O’God, Your thoughts toward us exceed number. That is a reality we have a hard time grasping. Can we do any less but to look to You, all day, in every circumstance. We truly never need to walk alone.
You came that we might have abundant life. Thank You Father for helping us understand that it is Your desire that we experience goodness and mercy, at Your hand, even if others try to discourage us. Help us to be an encourager to such people, we pray.
May we draw near to you, constantly, even in the midst of earthly disappointments? We know that we can if we but shift our focus from that which is transitory to that which is eternal! Help us today to notice the flowers, the clouds, the animals and all of your wonderful creation, provided for our pleasure and use. May we dwell “in Your presence”, even today. In Jesus’ Holy name, we pray, amen
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302 Franklin, TN 37064
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Tags: deceived, disobedient, envy, foolish, God, hateful, hating, Holy Spirit, Hope, kindness, love, lusts, malice, mercy, regeneration, renewing, saved, Savior
Posted in Christianity, God's Gift, Hope, Inspirtation, Perseverance, faith, joy, peace, salvation | 8 Comments »
Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013
Humility, April 23
We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.
But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,
in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;
by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed;
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open.
2 Corinthians 6:1-11, www.solascriptura.com
Father, Paul is an example to us of one who has been severely tested, yet faithful in every way. Father, we also know that he persecuted Christians before his life-changing encounter with Jesus. Now here he tells us that “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
Father, the contrast between pride and humility is always before us. We have such an inclination to allow our ego to overcome us. Help us, today, to know that it is You we seek to please and that even when we do please You, it is due to the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, not our fleshly spirit. We pray that we can turn our pride into joy as we acknowlege your gifts.
O’ God, we know that serving You requires the death of our “old nature”. Help us be what You desire us to be, this day. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: dishonor, dying, fasting, God, grace, Holy Spirit, honor, Humility, killed, kindness, live, love, ministers, ministry, offense, patience, purity, salvation, sleeplessness, stripes, tribulations, truth, tumults, vain, workers
Posted in Christianity, Courage, Fidelity, Humility, Perseverance, faith | 22 Comments »
Sunday, April 21st, 2013
Industriousness, April 21
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
”Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
”You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
”No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
”You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
John 15:12-16, www.solascriptura.com
Father, You have taught us that the two greatest commandments are to love You with all our heart, mind and soul and to love our neighbors as ourselves. It seems Father, that all Christians find the first commandment completely clear and that the command to love our neighbors, though clear, is much more challenging. Help us understand that the kind of love we should have for each other is as the love You have for us.
Father, not many of us have the depth of love for others that we have for You. Help us see that our own imperfections make it difficult at times for others to love us. Then help us see that the imperfections in our acquaintances and friends are not only to be expected (and they are not very different from our own) but they are to be forgiven as You have forgiven us.
Father, You say… bear fruit! We thank you for defining the fruits of the Spirit that should characterize our lives; love, joy, peace, Patience, Kindness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Goodness and Self control (Use the acronym PKG FGS, Patience, Kindness and so on as a mnemonic device, preceded by love, joy, and peace, so we can memorize the fruits of the Spirit). Then, help us manifest our love for You by loving our neighbors in a way that is impossible without Your Spirit in us. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: choose, commandment, Father, fruit, Industriousness, John 15:12-16, love, master, servants
Posted in God's Children, God's Gift, Industriousness | 9 Comments »
Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013
Providence of God, April 2
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you…
Peter 1:3-10, www.solascriptura.com
Father, You have told us that you have reserved a place for us in heaven. We do not know a lot about heaven, but this we know. It will be a place of perfection, in You, reserved for us because of Your grace and mercy and the enabling atonement of Jesus.
You called us and we responded. We choose righteousness over evil, joy over depression and love over hate. Following You is so obviously right. You have taught us that we have a physical self that will perish and a spiritual self that will live forever.
Help us not to get too caught up in nurturing the physical while casually or seldom seeking Your Spirit to witness afresh, every day, to our spirit. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project P.O.Box 302 Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: blessed, Christ, dead, faith, Father, God, grieved, Heaven, honor, Hope, incorruptible, inheritance, Jesus, Lord, love, mercy, perishes, praise, prophets, Providence, resurrection, salvation, tested, undefiled
Posted in Christianity, God's Children, God's Gift, Perseverance, Providence of God, Religion, faith | 77 Comments »
Thursday, March 28th, 2013
Conscience, March 28
Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.
For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.
…I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
1 Peter 2:17-19, Jeremiah 17:10, Revelation 2:23, www.solascriptura.com
Father, honoring You is easy and right for You alone are worthy of our eternal love. Honoring the king, when the king is not honoring You is very difficult, from a human perspective. Thank You for teaching us that we are to be different in that regard. Our obedience to people that You have placed in authority is Your will. While we pray for their souls we must be courteous and obedient to those that enforce the laws of the land and to those You have given authority.
If we only honor the good and gentle we have not distinguished ourselves from others in the world. We are to be known by our love for You and for our neighbor and if our neighbor has been granted authority by You (You, Father are sovereign), so be it. The test is theirs.
You search our minds and our hearts. Our agenda, our thoughts and actions are bare before You. How else could You be omnipresent and omniscient if that were not true? It is true and we pray that this day You will not only be a light unto our paths but we acknowledge You as our constant companion and friend. Help us seek your counsel every moment of the day. In Your Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project P.O.Box 302 Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Conscience, fear, gentle, God, grief, harsh, honor, King, love, masters, servants, submissive, suffering
Posted in Christianity, Conscience, Humility, faith | 51 Comments »
Wednesday, March 20th, 2013
Courage, March 20
… I …, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
Ephesians 1:15-21, www.solascriptura.com
Jesus, this is the perfect prayer that we should offer for each other. Paul says he continues in prayer for these children of God. Can we do less? Help us today to focus on praying for each other and to encourage each other in the faith.
Paul says witness of who Jesus was and why He matters in your life. His name is above every name! We pray that His name and our Lord’s Holy name is only spoken in fear and reverence. Forgive those who believe Your name, O’ God, is an exclamation point. How Father did we become so irreverent?
Have mercy on the souls of those who are disobedient, we pray. Amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Christ, Courage, enlightened, Ephesians 1:15-21, faith, Father, glory, God, Jesus, Lord, love, power, prayers, riches, saints, Spirit, thanks, wisdom
Posted in Christianity, Courage, God's Gift, Hope, Inspirtation, Perseverance, faith, salvation, wisdom | 14 Comments »
Saturday, March 9th, 2013
Hope, March 9
… Beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.
For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,
that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 6:9-12, www.solascriptura.com
Father, You expect more from those that love You because You empower them. You remind us that You will not forget our work of love that we have advanced in Your name.
Father, You have also taught us that the works that we do in Your name must spring from our faith, not our sense of duty. Thank You for teaching us that our works are in response to Your love. O’ God, is there any option for Your children but to respond to Your love?
We do pray for the strength and the endurance to persist in faithful endeavor even when we are tired and frustrated. Father, when we hang our head, we are looking the wrong way. Help us look up, seeking Your guidance in all things. We pray these things in the name of Jesus, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: beloved, better, faith, God, Hope, labor, love, ministered, patience, saints, salvation, things
Posted in Christianity, Hope, Perseverance, faith | 41 Comments »
Sunday, March 3rd, 2013
The Narrow Gate, May 3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.
Ephesians 1:3-6, www.solascriptura.com
Father, You tell us that You chose us and that You choose to bless us with every spiritual blessing. You have adopted us. We are heirs to Your Kingdom.
Here, Paul teaches us that we were predestined to be adopted as Your sons, by Jesus Christ, and that His will to do so gave Him pleasure. His grace to us brings glory to His name and He has made us acceptable in His sight.
First, Father, we know that You and Jesus are as one and that our election, our predestination was known by You. You would not be omniscient if You did not know that we would respond to Your love for us, personally. You knew we would accept Your invitation, Your grace and Your mercy.
Second, when Jesus came here, His life, His death and His resurrection became a pivotal event in history. Where men had been unable to fulfill the Law of the Old Covenant, You taught us, Jesus, that the New Covenant had replaced the Old. We now stand in the presence of the Father, not based only upon our obedience, but based upon our faith in You and our acceptance of You as savior. Yes, Father the old hymn, Trust and Obey, does sum it up. We can now stand in the presence of the Father, cleansed of our sin, as sons; sons that He knew would choose to have faith in You Jesus. Perfect! Amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: adoption, beloved, blessed, chose, Christ, Ephesians 1:3-6, Father, foundation, gate, glory, God, heavenly, Holy, Jesus, Lord, love, Narrow, praise, predestined, spiritual, world
Posted in Christianity, God's Children, Hope, Perseverance, Providence of God, salvation | 5 Comments »