Silas
Beloved of All
Your prayer reflects a sincere desire for what matters most, love that comes from a pure heart, a sincere faith without contradiction, and a clear conscience. That is indeed the goal of sound teaching, and it is encouraging to see you longing for it not as an idea but as a lived reality in your own life, your family and your fellow believers.
Thank you for coming boldly to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ. He alone is the mediator between God and man, our merciful and sympathetic High Priest who lives forever. Because of Him you do not have to earn mercy under the law but can receive it freely and at once in time of need. Scripture pictures this well as a branch receiving sap from the vine. The branch does not strain to produce grapes by effort. It simply abides and the life of the vine flows into it and fruit follows naturally. In the same way, as you remain in Christ, His life produces lasting fruit in you for the Father's glory.
That fruit is love. The true evidence that the Spirit of God dwells in a person is not an outward display that can be counterfeited, but love. God is love, and when His Spirit abides in us that love is made visible. It shows itself in words and in deeds, in joy and peace and patience and kindness and faithfulness and self control. You cannot manufacture this kind of love by trying harder. Apart from Christ you can do nothing, but as you abide in Him and His Word abides in you, He forms it in you. At times He prunes those who are bearing fruit so they will bear more, and He cleanses and shapes us through His Word.
The Bible always points you to the cross when it wants you to be sure of God's love. God demonstrates His love by sending His Son to bear our sins so we can live in fellowship with a holy God. We love because He first loved us. We are responders. When you come to know His grace and goodness in Christ, your heart answers back with love for Him and with love for others. That is why testing what claims to be spiritual must come back to Jesus Christ and to whether love is present. To know God is to begin to love as He loves.
This is why your desire to study the Word accurately from cover to cover is so important. Scripture is given as God's own revelation of Himself. It is profitable for teaching us who He is, for showing us who we are and our need of redemption, for correcting us when we wander from the straight path, and for training us to walk in love. Handling it carefully matters, so that we represent a perfect God faithfully and do not lead others into error. As you grow in wisdom and revelation to know Him, you also grow in understanding the breadth and depth of Christ's love and in knowing His will, so you can walk in a manner worthy of Him.
Walking worthy is always a response. First we learn what God has done for us, what He has given and promised, the resources He has already provided for life and godliness. Then we walk. We walk in lowliness and meekness, in love and forgiveness, following God as beloved children and walking as Christ loved us. God draws us with cords of love, and the love of Christ constrains us. Temptation will always suggest a shortcut to fulfillment by stepping off His path, as if God were withholding something good. But every good gift comes down from the Father who does not change, and His way leads to true life.
I join you in praying that the Lord will keep you near to Himself as you draw near to Him, renew your first love for Christ, and keep your devotion simple and pure. May He give you clarity and order, grace for daily duties and wisdom for pressing needs, and help you to tend well the vineyard He has entrusted to you. May He cause unity, love and zeal to abound among you and those you serve with, so that together you are fellow workers with God and bear fruit that remains. May He keep you from temptation and from evil, from becoming a stumbling block to others and from being led astray by deception or by the evil one, and may He surround you with His protection and ministering care.
May the Lord grant you strength by His Spirit to comprehend more of Christ's love, to be filled to overflowing, to make and carry out plans that meet real needs, and to continue in prayer, in keeping His commands, and in loving one another. All this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, trusting His mercy and grace that are freely ours today. Amen.
Thank you for coming boldly to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ. He alone is the mediator between God and man, our merciful and sympathetic High Priest who lives forever. Because of Him you do not have to earn mercy under the law but can receive it freely and at once in time of need. Scripture pictures this well as a branch receiving sap from the vine. The branch does not strain to produce grapes by effort. It simply abides and the life of the vine flows into it and fruit follows naturally. In the same way, as you remain in Christ, His life produces lasting fruit in you for the Father's glory.
That fruit is love. The true evidence that the Spirit of God dwells in a person is not an outward display that can be counterfeited, but love. God is love, and when His Spirit abides in us that love is made visible. It shows itself in words and in deeds, in joy and peace and patience and kindness and faithfulness and self control. You cannot manufacture this kind of love by trying harder. Apart from Christ you can do nothing, but as you abide in Him and His Word abides in you, He forms it in you. At times He prunes those who are bearing fruit so they will bear more, and He cleanses and shapes us through His Word.
The Bible always points you to the cross when it wants you to be sure of God's love. God demonstrates His love by sending His Son to bear our sins so we can live in fellowship with a holy God. We love because He first loved us. We are responders. When you come to know His grace and goodness in Christ, your heart answers back with love for Him and with love for others. That is why testing what claims to be spiritual must come back to Jesus Christ and to whether love is present. To know God is to begin to love as He loves.
This is why your desire to study the Word accurately from cover to cover is so important. Scripture is given as God's own revelation of Himself. It is profitable for teaching us who He is, for showing us who we are and our need of redemption, for correcting us when we wander from the straight path, and for training us to walk in love. Handling it carefully matters, so that we represent a perfect God faithfully and do not lead others into error. As you grow in wisdom and revelation to know Him, you also grow in understanding the breadth and depth of Christ's love and in knowing His will, so you can walk in a manner worthy of Him.
Walking worthy is always a response. First we learn what God has done for us, what He has given and promised, the resources He has already provided for life and godliness. Then we walk. We walk in lowliness and meekness, in love and forgiveness, following God as beloved children and walking as Christ loved us. God draws us with cords of love, and the love of Christ constrains us. Temptation will always suggest a shortcut to fulfillment by stepping off His path, as if God were withholding something good. But every good gift comes down from the Father who does not change, and His way leads to true life.
I join you in praying that the Lord will keep you near to Himself as you draw near to Him, renew your first love for Christ, and keep your devotion simple and pure. May He give you clarity and order, grace for daily duties and wisdom for pressing needs, and help you to tend well the vineyard He has entrusted to you. May He cause unity, love and zeal to abound among you and those you serve with, so that together you are fellow workers with God and bear fruit that remains. May He keep you from temptation and from evil, from becoming a stumbling block to others and from being led astray by deception or by the evil one, and may He surround you with His protection and ministering care.
May the Lord grant you strength by His Spirit to comprehend more of Christ's love, to be filled to overflowing, to make and carry out plans that meet real needs, and to continue in prayer, in keeping His commands, and in loving one another. All this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, trusting His mercy and grace that are freely ours today. Amen.
