LOVE, BLAMELESS, HOLINESS

"And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all...so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints."  (1 Thessalonians 3:12, 13)

What I took particular note of in today's text is the connection between, "....love to one another..," and, "....blameless in holiness...."  I think it would be accurate to say that if we do not, "....increase and abound in love (which is doing loving things) to one another and to all...," there can be no, "blameless in holiness...."

The Bible is full of commands to walk in holiness, such as in Leviticus 19, "Be holy, for I Am holy."  I have felt for a long time, however, that there is more to holiness than just, "set apart." 1 Peter 1:2 tells us, "....elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ."  

No matter what we may have heard about holiness over our life times, it is not just abstaining from things; it is doing things, as the Holy Spirit says in 1 Peter, "....for obedience."   

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for today's "revelation."  Amen. 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

INSTEAD OF SAYING, "MY MINISTRY," SAY, "MY SERVICE"

"And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry (service) which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.'"  (Colossians 4:17)

"Service," is the best translation of the Greek word translated, "ministry." 

Too many people equate "ministry" only with the likes of preaching, teaching, missions, prophecy, singing, etc.  "Ministry," is, "service," not personal identity.  Every Follower of Jesus Christ may not preach, teach, sing, etc.  What we can do, however, is serve. 

If you think that you cannot say, "my ministry,"  try saying, "my service," instead, and you will find that you do have a ministry; we all do.  

Service is love manifested, love lived out for others.  Galatians 5:13 says, "For you, brethren have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."  

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray I be, "as one who serves," Your People, everyone. Amen.  

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2