Ye, true transformation is the greatest, yet challenging thing for us to achieve.
It helps i found to continually surrender, introspection and daily meditation to be close to god and clense ourselves with perseverance and pure desire to grow. It is also heapful to have a teacher or teachers and support of others who are on this path.
Just remeber you can't pay for this knowledge and awakening as its a free gift of nature , as we don't pay for air we breath or transformation in nature. It all happens spontaniously, as like of a flower into a fruit when the time and conditions are ready.
The secret of God is not free. God will point at "your only son" and ask for it. Salvation is not free. Jesus paid His life for it. We offer our body as a living sacrifice to be used by God. Following Jesus will cost everything. If it hasn't, you can be sure one is not yet following Jesus.
"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Mark 16:17-18
The true followers of Christ carries the power of God. People ignore this scripture rather than admitting that they are not.
I get a lot of flack for this from my Christian friends but I've always said the Bible is a description of one who loves, not a prescription. We can't do anything to save us, we have to let go. Faith. It's the hardest thing to do. Faith allows love to flow through you to the world. The holy Spirit will always make known what is keeping you from having faith.
"What turns a son prodigal is not a lack of discipline. It’s a lack of love, a heart of stone, and a stiff neck." Beautifully put.
I love the part of the parable when he "comes to his senses." In the midst of pigs and pods, when his strength is gone, the stiff-necked son looks up, like Nebudchannezer after 7 years of crawling about, and acknowledges that all the wealth in the world cannot buy love, because wealth is utterly scorned and worthless compared to love (SS 8:7). Wealth does not save from death. Righteousness delivers from death because love is stronger than death.
"Love sides happily with truth." Because truth sets us free to love faithfully.
"For the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts." God's love is the only love. You can't muster it on your own.
"I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone" God's righteousness is the only righteousness, which bears the fruit of peace (Isa 32:17)
Note that the mirror in I Cor 13 is the same mirror in James 1: Wisdom's instruction, which is the Law (Prov 1:3), the details of love, because there is no such thing as unjust love:
"He who pursues righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor." (Prov 21:21).
The only way to abide in Christ is to abide in His words, which are also Wisdom's words. We are called to empty ourselves of focus on food and money in order to be filled with their teaching. We divest ourselves of distraction in order to wait and watch daily at Wisdom's gates as the "poor in spirit," our eyes upon our Master/Mistress like supplicant servants. God's great kindness is teaching sinners (the "poor and needy") His ways (Psa 25), teaching them His love, His righteousness, His life. This is the needful work which was Christ's food at the Samaritan well, a work which is darkly mirrored now, but will shine with brilliance in the Sabbath rest to come, when we will never backslide or turn aside, but be fulling willing (Psa 110).
Alice, I began a fast yesterday and this spoke to me. I’ve always been a big believer in the fruit of others-focused love being a witness to the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit in people. Right now I’m a youth pastor and I’m laboring in work and prayer to see the love of God formed in these young people, and especially young men. Thank you for putting bold and insightful language to some of those thoughts! Wonderful read. 🙏
Amen and Amen! Galatians 5: 22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. “ Notice it reads “ But the fruit of the Spirit,” fruit not fruits. (And for all you English majors, in this instance, it’s being used as a countable noun …. 1. Love 2. Joy 3. Peace )Therefore, there is only one fruit, and that is love. All the rest are attributes of love. If you are a loving person, then you have self control. If you are a loving person, then you are faithful. If a person is a loving person, then you see joy and peace in their life. So you see, your point is correct. 1 Corinthians 13 … if you don’t have love, you are a clanging cymbal. If you don’t have love, you’re nothing. If you don’t have love and give all your money to the poor, build churches and orphanages, preach the gospel to billions of people, discipline yourself so that your flesh is crucified , it doesn’t mean a thing. Why? Because God is Love. And if we are to be conformed in the image of Christ, if we are to go from glory to glory, then we too must love.
I knew it's going to be Love. But I disagree with tithing. That old woman wasn't tithing. She was giving all she had. I believe in giving but tithing was never money in old testament. And I can't find apostilles tithing. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Tithing was never money because people burned offering. Back then, economy is their sheep and crop. Give it a try by faith. It doesn't hurt but might transform you.
I don't want to argue with you because you are beautiful soul, but please do some more research. They had gold and silver coins back then:
Deuteronomy 14:24-26 (NIV): But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away), then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice.
So good!
Ye, true transformation is the greatest, yet challenging thing for us to achieve.
It helps i found to continually surrender, introspection and daily meditation to be close to god and clense ourselves with perseverance and pure desire to grow. It is also heapful to have a teacher or teachers and support of others who are on this path.
Just remeber you can't pay for this knowledge and awakening as its a free gift of nature , as we don't pay for air we breath or transformation in nature. It all happens spontaniously, as like of a flower into a fruit when the time and conditions are ready.
May god bless you and happy new year :)
It's more about "cost" rather than "pay."
The secret of God is not free. God will point at "your only son" and ask for it. Salvation is not free. Jesus paid His life for it. We offer our body as a living sacrifice to be used by God. Following Jesus will cost everything. If it hasn't, you can be sure one is not yet following Jesus.
"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Mark 16:17-18
The true followers of Christ carries the power of God. People ignore this scripture rather than admitting that they are not.
I get a lot of flack for this from my Christian friends but I've always said the Bible is a description of one who loves, not a prescription. We can't do anything to save us, we have to let go. Faith. It's the hardest thing to do. Faith allows love to flow through you to the world. The holy Spirit will always make known what is keeping you from having faith.
Glad I found you, keep going
LOVE this, my friend. Blessings to you!
"What turns a son prodigal is not a lack of discipline. It’s a lack of love, a heart of stone, and a stiff neck." Beautifully put.
I love the part of the parable when he "comes to his senses." In the midst of pigs and pods, when his strength is gone, the stiff-necked son looks up, like Nebudchannezer after 7 years of crawling about, and acknowledges that all the wealth in the world cannot buy love, because wealth is utterly scorned and worthless compared to love (SS 8:7). Wealth does not save from death. Righteousness delivers from death because love is stronger than death.
"Love sides happily with truth." Because truth sets us free to love faithfully.
"For the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts." God's love is the only love. You can't muster it on your own.
"I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone" God's righteousness is the only righteousness, which bears the fruit of peace (Isa 32:17)
Note that the mirror in I Cor 13 is the same mirror in James 1: Wisdom's instruction, which is the Law (Prov 1:3), the details of love, because there is no such thing as unjust love:
"He who pursues righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor." (Prov 21:21).
The only way to abide in Christ is to abide in His words, which are also Wisdom's words. We are called to empty ourselves of focus on food and money in order to be filled with their teaching. We divest ourselves of distraction in order to wait and watch daily at Wisdom's gates as the "poor in spirit," our eyes upon our Master/Mistress like supplicant servants. God's great kindness is teaching sinners (the "poor and needy") His ways (Psa 25), teaching them His love, His righteousness, His life. This is the needful work which was Christ's food at the Samaritan well, a work which is darkly mirrored now, but will shine with brilliance in the Sabbath rest to come, when we will never backslide or turn aside, but be fulling willing (Psa 110).
Hi Alice, thank you for sharing your insight. I was literally in prayer meditating on love and how to let God change me, so this was truly helpful.
Praise the Lord!
Alice, I began a fast yesterday and this spoke to me. I’ve always been a big believer in the fruit of others-focused love being a witness to the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit in people. Right now I’m a youth pastor and I’m laboring in work and prayer to see the love of God formed in these young people, and especially young men. Thank you for putting bold and insightful language to some of those thoughts! Wonderful read. 🙏
God bless you! May He use you to transform these young men's life and the fruits will remain with them.
Amen and Amen! Galatians 5: 22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. “ Notice it reads “ But the fruit of the Spirit,” fruit not fruits. (And for all you English majors, in this instance, it’s being used as a countable noun …. 1. Love 2. Joy 3. Peace )Therefore, there is only one fruit, and that is love. All the rest are attributes of love. If you are a loving person, then you have self control. If you are a loving person, then you are faithful. If a person is a loving person, then you see joy and peace in their life. So you see, your point is correct. 1 Corinthians 13 … if you don’t have love, you are a clanging cymbal. If you don’t have love, you’re nothing. If you don’t have love and give all your money to the poor, build churches and orphanages, preach the gospel to billions of people, discipline yourself so that your flesh is crucified , it doesn’t mean a thing. Why? Because God is Love. And if we are to be conformed in the image of Christ, if we are to go from glory to glory, then we too must love.
Yes. It's all about love. God is love and creates in love.
LOL Thanks for the prayer ill add it to my roster.
Really good, thank you!! 🙏🏻💓
He who is forgiven much, loves much...
Amen. Here is my view as well.
https://open.substack.com/pub/borsin/p/the-meaning-of-the-bible?r=3exks5&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
I knew it's going to be Love. But I disagree with tithing. That old woman wasn't tithing. She was giving all she had. I believe in giving but tithing was never money in old testament. And I can't find apostilles tithing. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Tithing was never money because people burned offering. Back then, economy is their sheep and crop. Give it a try by faith. It doesn't hurt but might transform you.
I don't want to argue with you because you are beautiful soul, but please do some more research. They had gold and silver coins back then:
Deuteronomy 14:24-26 (NIV): But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away), then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice.