IT'S ON MY HEART


 Image result for CLIP ART SHOWING THE HEART


In my readings, I enter into 1 Thessalonians.  I find that death, heaven,  and Christ's return for His Christ followers were as much a mystery to the hearts of AD 51 believers as it is for us in 2017.  Paul gives his disclaimer to the readers of that age and to us.."Brothers, we do want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope."  He commands us to "be alert and self-controlled."  

As you, I have experienced the earthly deaths of loved ones.  The holidays and special events, and especially the first year of a loved one's home-going, the heart is very responsive to the absence.  The absence is not silent! The impact of the loss is not meant to shatter our faith, but to build us into confidence and faith in our Lord.  Paul wanted us to encourage one another with the truth that this present life with all of its joys, sorrows, and death is not the END to life but really....from the moment of salvation, our ETERNAL LIFE began and will continue when we are with the Lord FOREVER.  Earthly death does not mean no life.  The living goes on in the heavenlies distant and removed from disease, pain, agony, abuse, and all evil. Safe and secure with our Lord.  

If our relationships are so very meaningful and loving this side of eternity, can you just imagine what the relationships will be like in heaven with perfect hearts and minds?! No competing, no comparing, and no desire to control or to impress!  I reckon it is imperative that we learn, being led of the Spirit of God, to navigate and have healthy successful relationships here because many that we have a tendency to "butt" heads with here just may enjoy heaven with us!  

Paul's concluding thought in chapter 5, "Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies (God's Word) with contempt.  Test everything.  Hold on to the good.  Avoid every kind of evil."  Our responses to living out of the Word of God can hinder the fire of the Spirit of God in us.  Be encouraged for He who has begun the grace of salvation in you will be faithful to complete it...in the heavenlies!  Rejoice!  Forever learning.  In process.  #IHAVETHREESONS. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

LAST THOUGHT ON LEVITICUS

Image
  For the first time in many years, I have enjoyed reading through Leviticus.  I have skipped it several times and read on.  This go round, I have sought to focus on some thoughts, words, phrases, or practices that God had instituted for the Israelites and their physical and spiritual well-being.  The Ten Commandments and many of the laws have real practical value for society and the Christ follower today.  The Lord God gave them a standard, a commandment, which is applicable for today, "You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees.  I am the Lord (Jehovah) your God (Elohim).  Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them.  I am the LORD."  Leviticus 18:4-5   My concluding thought from Leviticus is this admonition or commandment:  " You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own."  Leviticus 20:26.  Even though spoken to Israel, the truth of being holy is directe
Read more

REHEARSALS

Image
  I wonder how much time do I give to rehearsing God's goodness and how He has intervened in my life to "save" me from myself?  How alike the Israelites I can be, complaining about what goes wrong, how it affects me, and what I lack.  As a Christ follower, I have the Indwelling Holy Spirit to give me remembrance NOT of my complaining and grumbling, but of a recall of God's faithfulness to me.  It is recorded in Psalms 78 and 106 that " They forgot what He had done, the wonder He had shown them", "They did not remember His power--the day He redeemed them from the oppressor...", "They did not remember Your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.", "But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.", and "They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt...". Contrast with me, God's remembrance: Ps. 106:44-46, "But He took note of their distress
Read more

ORDER AND DESIGN

Image
    I do not have OCD, but I do confess that I like order in my home.  Now that I am retired, I am not so much into spotless, but "picked up" and "kinda" clean. (Do not open drawers and closets!) I might go to more trouble when I know I am having company, but otherwise, I remove the clutter that seems to reproduce on its own.   When I began the reading in Genesis in January, I was again taken with the with the orderliness and design of God in creation, and have seen Him use Moses and Aaron to ORDERLY marshal the Israelites to move out of Egypt. How do you move some 600+ males and that is not even wives and children? Animals also?  They have been one year+ out of Egypt, and have been camped at Mt. Sinai where God has given them laws for their spiritual and physical welfare.  God gives Moses the design of the Tabernacle and Moses is able to bring together the workers to complete the Tabernacle.   The clip art at the top is the positioning of the 12 Tribes and the
Read more