Rightly do they Love You

This morning's devotional from Morning and Evening (by Charles Spurgeon) was on Song of Solomon 1:4, which says, "Rightly do they love you."

In the devotional, Spurgeon speaks of the Christian's love for God, and quotes Samuel Rutherford: "Oh, for as much love as would go round about the earth, and over heaven..."  Spurgeon goes on to say that "our longest reach is only a span of love, and our affection is like a drop in a bucket compared with what He deserves."

As I thought about this, I came to realize the coldness of my love for Christ. Since God deserves so much more love than I can give--infinitely more--how can I withhold from Him all the love that I am able to give?  The Savior of my soul deserves such great love--love that I can never give--but that must not hinder me from giving Him all my love, small though it may be.

Further on in the devotional, Spurgeon says that the Lord judges "our love by our intentions."  In the eyes of God, it doesn't matter that our love is small--what matters is the intentions of our heart.  This brought to my mind the widow from Luke 21.  She only had "two small copper coins" to offer God--that was "all that she had to live on"--but she offered them, irregardless of the meager amount.  Though the amount was small in monetary value, the intention of her heart was worth far more in the eyes of God; in God's eyes, she had offered a great offering that was pleasing to Him.  Christ commended her, saying, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them." 

I encourage you to examine the love you give to God.  While it is certainly not as much as He deserves, you must give what you are able to give.  If your intentions are pleasing to God, it will be a great offering in His sight.  Even if you only have "two small copper coins" of love, give even that to God.  You must give God all your love, for He deserves much more than that.

"Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all."

- When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

In the Fullest Measure

1 Peter 1:2, "according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood.  May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure."

As I was memorizing, reading, and studying 1 Peter, I noticed the phrase Peter writes at the end of chapter 1 verse 2: "in the fullest measure."

Grace in itself is full.  Grace is love that stoops.  Grace is God's act of love toward sinners that keeps them from His holy wrath and gives them eternal life.

The peace is peace with God.  Apart from this God-given peace, we are all His enemies.  With this peace, we are adopted as sons.

Not only does Peter pray that these people receive grace and peace, but he adds "in the fullest measure."  This reminds me of that song--"dayanu."  You remember, the one at seder?  "Da da yanu, da da yanu, da da yanu, dayanu dayanu dayanu."  You get the point.

It's Hebrew for "it would have been enough."  Put it this way:  it would have been enough if God had made peace with us so that we would no longer be enemies.  Dayanu.  But, in the fullest measure, God has given us peace by adopting us.

It would've been enough if God had given us grace so that we would not experience His eternal wrath.  Dayanu.  But, He has given us grace in the fullest measure--He has given us eternal life with Him in heaven.

Praise God, who gives us grace and peace--in the fullest measure!

Luke

Note: Sorry it took so long to post.  I just kept procrastinating.

Determination

Today I had my three little sisters on my bunk-bed with me. (Probably not the smartest thing, but I was on the outside, so they were safe)(but I wasn't, they sometimes push me off, even though they're young). Anyways, my littlest sister, Covey (who is 1) had got hold of a small tooth-paste box... and was determined to get it open. She pried and tried, but couldn't get it open. She then threw it on the ground, pressed on it, and it came open! She looked in and found her prize... the tooth-paste bottle.

Another thing that I think of when I think of determination is a race. I've ran a couple of three-mile races, but I don't really rely on my physical condition. I rely on brain power. Also called adrenaline, or determination. And I don't do so bad.

So just as my little sister was determined, and my determination in running, so should we be in life. That's something we really need in our Christian walk, we need to be determined to live for Christ, and excel in Him.

All Christ,
~Kade

When was the last time you...

When was the last time you were running and hiding for your life? Or at least from something bad? I run and hide for my life everyday! (or at least I should be) Let me explain why. Prov 22:3 says, "The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, but the naive go on, and are punished for it." Now when I read this I thought, ' This is not like a little game of hide and seek, and if your found, you're it. This is like running and hiding for your life!' Sometimes I'll be talking with a group of people, and I know the conversation is not heading in the right direction, and I stay right there and listen...Why?... I need to say, "Sorry, I gotta do something," or, "Wait, we probably shouldn't be talking like this." And if they insist, insist even more than they are insisting. And if they still wouldn't let up, just walk away. But we (I) need to be prudent and hide. Every time we give in, it fries our conscience. And if our conscience keeps getting fried, and we become numb to evil. That's why I say run for your life!!

For His Son's Glory,
-Kole

Pleasures Forever

I’m going to tell you a story. Some of you know the story, some of you don’t. And while reading, keep in mind that I will have a spiritual application at the end, so bear with me.

This is a story about the Nintendo Wii. As some of you know, I’ve wanted one since they came out nearly two years ago. At first, I was waiting for a price drop. About November, I realized that there would not be one for a long time, so since November I’ve been looking to buy one.

They are sold out everywhere.

I read on the internet, and not a single place carries the Nintendo Wii in stock. Every once in a while, a store might get five or so, but they sell out in no time at all.

So, I’ve been calling stores every day, looking on the internet, and watching, searching, and waiting for the Wii to be available.

Yesterday, I went to Fayetteville. I went to Target, and they didn’t have any. I went to Gamestop, and they didn’t either. We (my grandparents, Loyd and Sue) went to dinner, and then I called Best Buy. They were supposed to get a truckload of electronics in within 15 minutes—maybe they would have the Wii, maybe not.

Well, we drove to Best Buy, and there sat five Wii systems. Everything seemed unreal—I could feel my heartbeat, my face went pale, and my hands started shaking. I grabbed one, and was incredibly happy.

After months of searching, I had found a Nintendo Wii. I was ecstatic (who uses that? I don’t know, it sounds good here).

This morning, when reading Psalm 16 for the church Bible Reading Plan, I came across a verse—the last verse. Psalm 16:11b: “in your presence is fullness of joy; in your right hand there are pleasures forever.”

It hit me—God has not only granted me eternal life, but abundant, joyful eternal life. The feeling I had when I bought the Wii should be how I feel every time I feel God’s Spirit inside me, teaching me and training me. And more than that—I will feel like that (and EVEN MORE) in heaven for eternity—always happy, always excited about God, always eager to learn more about God and see what’s around the next corner.

So, I challenge you with that—be happy (joyful), and know that you’re going to be “ecstatic” for eternity!

Oh, and I’d like to announce that I bought a Nintendo Wii yesterday!

In Christ,

Luke