BE Love ~ Faith is Love in Action
"...The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Galatians 5:6 Have you ever wondered what faith and love have to do with one another? How are they connected? Galatians 5:6 says, " ...the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Faith works by love. It is energized by love. Faith is put into motion by love. Why is that? The purpose of faith is to lead us to know the heart of God and then trust His ways to guide us. Christian faith is the belief, trust, and loyalty to God as revealed in Jesus Christ, ...and we say "amen" to that unique relationship to God in the Holy Spirit through love and obedience as expressed in lives of discipleship and service. Paul’s teaching on love in 1st Corinthians 13 wants us to focus on the faith-love connection. Love—the Greatest of All 1st Corinthians 13:1-8: I may be able to speak the languages of men and even of angels, but if I do not have love, it will sound like noisy brass. If I have the gift of speaking God’s Word and if I understand all secrets, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I know all things and if I have the gift of faith so I can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give everything I have to feed poor people and if I give my body to be burned, but do not have love, it will not help me. Love does not give up. Love is kind. Love is not jealous. Love does not put itself up as being important. Love has no pride. Love does not do the wrong thing. Love never thinks of itself. Love does not get angry. Love does not remember the suffering that comes from being hurt by someone. Love is not happy with sin. Love is happy with the truth. Love takes everything that comes without giving up. Love believes all things. Love hopes for all things. Love keeps on in all things. Love never comes to an end. Today, if you think about it, you and I only have one “do not”--Do not get out of love! That’s our one commandment. We are to walk in love, which covers a lot of ground. In fact, we see in this passage that our love walk is connected to everything we do in life as believers, including our faith. God wants us to walk in love because love never fails. He wants the best for us, and since the best is found in love, you and I must walk in love in order to receive God’s best. This includes honoring Him, forgiving and walking in the fruit of the Spirit. The purpose of love is twofold: First, it is revelation of identity. It tells us who God is and who we are in God. Second, it is the very power that allows us to do the work of Jesus and even greater works as Jesus described. Love has the power to help us believe again and restore hope in others. It is the engine that drives our spiritual lives. Faith and love are intricately connected. Don’t think that you can walk in true, God-designed love without walking in faith, neither can you walk in faith without walking in love. Begin studying God’s Word for yourself to find out about this connection and how to live it. When you bring love and faith together, your entire outlook will begin to shift, and you’ll begin to view the world through God’s eyes! Challenge 1: What Faith is to you? Challenge 2: What Love is and is not. Challenge 3: How do you express your faith through love? Put your love into action and BE love. Prayer and Meditation. Dear Heavenly Father, I know I’m designed to Be Love, not just be loved. Jesus is Love. Youre Love. Therefore, I am LOVE in ACTION. Help me walk in love and remember all that Love Is...and isn’t. Thank you for loving me unconditionally and providing me strength and courage to BE LOVE. To be loved is to love. You loved me first. Plan BE | I am designed by you to be LOVE. Amen. References 1) Life Application Study Bible 2) Bible Hub 3) Author: Sandi Hanscom
0 Comments
BE Purposeful in Faith ~ So BE it ~ Believe it!
2 Corinthians 1:20 “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.” Common English translations of the word Amen include "verily", "truly", and “so be it”. Faith is a muscle and working out your purpose-driven faith by filling your BEing with God’s promises will never fail. You might be a person who grabs a cup of coffee or an afternoon donut to sustain you during a long day. But the promises of God offer long-lasting results that will build your faith and sustain you every day and every week and every month. Take a moment and Re-read the verse of the day…. YES! Amen! “So BE It!” Where do you find God’s promises? In Scripture. You have the key to accessing faith and finding your purpose. Look up online or in your Bible the hundreds of promises; find 5 to reflect on as part of your Faith strength-training. Be Purposeful in building your faith...and then you will have the qualities to Be used by God for His purposes. YOUR PURPOSE. God's Power God's Promises You have them both ~ YES! SO BE IT! Take time with your dedicated life, to be still with yourself and God, to discover your Purpose. Now pray: Dear Lord, you have promised to sustain me and build my faith for your purpose. Help me now discover my YES and AMEN promises just for me. Inspire me to step inward and outward to BE purposeful in my faith training. I want your power and promises today and always. AMEN (So BE it!) In His Promises, Sandi Be DEDICATED in FAITH to: Progress (not perfection) “Trust in the LORD with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in ALL your ways, acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.” [ Proverbs 3:5-6 ] Looking back, what does your life path look like? Have you made plans, but it deviated in different ways (positive and/or negative ways)? Do you seek perfection? Do you appreciate making progress? What does your path look like facing forward? We can make plans, but please understand that God is in control and if you pray (just talk to Him) and trust in Him, His Will will be done! He is for you, not against you. Begin with the first step today, by rededicating your faith to our Creator, thee Almighty God! B.C - A.D. If you’ve never asked God to help direct your beliefs and choices which ultimately direct your actions and destiny, I invite you TODAY to re-dedicated your life to God and in ALL your ways (e.g. in your faith, family, with friends, with your finances and in your food choices, fitness and fun), reach out, call out, acknowledge that he is your Creator and can do anything. He loves you more than you’ll ever understand. Lean on Him (not your own understanding) and TOGETHER, he will guide your life on the most fantastic path (involving the good, the bad and the ugly, but ultimately trust that it is all for His and your good, and His Will, for your life. How awesome that we can have this direct connection and relationship with the One and only, God. AND with Jesus Christ, who was brought down on this earth to be 100% man AND 100% God, so we can get to know Him and his loving ways. What a gift! ------------------------------------- Dear Heavenly Father, Today I rededicate my faith and my steps on this life journey, not to search for perfection, but to be content with progress. I understand that I am perfectly imperfect, but that You restore my soul. Today, I trust You and all your power and wisdom and lean not on my own understanding. In ALL my ways I will acknowledge YOU and ask that you come along this journey with me, helping me to make my path as straight as possible. No matter what my path will look like in the future, I am comforted to know that You are with me. For I know the plans you have for me - plans to prosper, and not harm me, plans to give me hope and a future.In God’s Name, Amen ------------------------------------“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pasture, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” [Psalm 23] -------------------------------------- “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” [Jeremiah 29:11] ---------------------------------------- Journal How you can rededicate your faith today: _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ References: 1- Life Applications Study Bible 2 - Written by Christie Lynch "Be STILL and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 Be still, shut off the TV, and listen to God in His Word. Have you considered there’s just too much noise? Too much movement... Have you ever wondered how some Christians can be going through the worst pain and suffering and still they have joy? It’s because they are being still. They put all their worries (and TRUST) in God’s hands. Instead of listening to the noise of your worries, listen to the voice of the Lord. We are not to let our joy come from our circumstances, because circumstances change. In order to build our faith in God's promises, we need to Be Still and reflect on His message and design for us. ACTION: Go find a lonely place. A place with less noise. When you stop and focus on the beauty of Christ, you will receive the peace that He has promised you. When you cry out to Him in prayer you will feel His comfort. BE STILL and relax in the Lord. He is in control. Remember the times that He has helped you, other believers, and people in Scripture. God promises to help you and never leave you. Talk to Him, trust in Him, be still, and you will hear His calming voice and rest upon His strength. We build our faith and trust by spending time with the things and people we care about. We can know and trust Jesus by having an intimate relationship with Him. That does not come from knowing ABOUT Him, but rather getting to personally know Him by what He says (in His Holy Word, the Bible), recognizing the things He does in our lives, and by way of His Holy Spirit who comes to guide and comfort us. Take time daily to BE STILL to grow in your faith in Christ and His promises for you. Prayer: Dear Lord, I realize that I am incapable of controlling life, and I can surrender my will to your will. It may be a matter of finally saying “I trust You.” Please let this open the door so that I may experience the fullness of all You want and have for me, for us. . After all, you are our Creator and you have a perfect plan for me when I let you orchestrate it. Amen. Have a blessed day! Sandi |
AuthorsCHRISTIE & SANDI Archives
April 2021
Categories
All
|