I was on my way to church this morning listening to Kutless. Their song "Taken By Love" was playing and it's a favorite of mine because it speaks for me. There are a few excerpts below.
Until we are "captivated" by Christ and determine that nothing is more important in this life than HIS glory we will not be able to walk as we ought. "He's taken us by love, He's taken us by grace"...what more could we want than a Lover of our Soul, who loves us so deeply, so completely that He would willingly lay down His life for us? His life and His blood is worth so much that it was able to pay for all the sins of the world--big ones and little ones. It has paid for ours if we will believe. Whoa. What a thought. :) Thank you, Lord and Saviour.
In light of His immeasurable love, how can we, His enemies when He died for us, ever grow weary of loving Him back? We must daily appropriate the gospel, Jerry Bridges tells us. I agree, because if we remember daily Who He is and what He has done and is doing then we can also remember who we are and what He alone could do and did for us. We can then pray for the strength that we need to walk in obedience and hopefully, the 'fullness of Christ'.
The question that has been plaguing me is this, are we teaching our kids this? For example, do they understand who they are in relation to Him or do they see Him as a "Bud", a peer, someone to take or leave? Have we shown them from His word that in Him and through Him all things exist? Have we shown them His holiness by looking into the Law? Have we done what we've been commanded to do and taught them to do what they've been commanded to do?
We worry so much about their self-esteem. In my not so humble opinion, they do not have a problem with self-esteem. They seem to like themselves just fine. We need to teach them that they are sinners in need of a Saviour. We need to preach holiness and obedience. We need to show them the truth from scripture. Their very life, eternal life, depends upon it.
These are the ramblings of a discouraged, but encouraged woman. Discouraged because the job seems too big and it seems too late, encouraged because my God never changes and nothing is impossible with Him!!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Tests from 1 John
This lesson was based on a sermon by Paul Washer named "A Sermon That Has Angered Many".
2 Cor. 13:5; 1 John assorted verses
We must test ourselves in light of scripture rather than comparing people to people, we need to look to God for our testing. If we fail the test we must repent and cry out to God until the work is done!
According to some SBC stats, 10-15% of the professing believers are probably actual believers!! That is a sad statistic! Just think in small terms that won't be accurate for a minute, in a church with 100 in attendance, 10-15 of them would actually be following Christ if these numbers are close to correct. (I've heard/read lots of similar stats lately.)
In 1 John 5:13, John tells his readers that the reason he wrote the letter was so that his readers might know that they have eternal life.
We must compare scripture to our "secret life", the life that only we and God know about.
There are some tests in 1 John that we can look at to see if we "know that we know Him". Test number one is found in 1:6: If we say that we are saved but walk in darkness, we are lying. If we harbor or enjoy sin then we are walking in darkness. We all sin because we are still in the flesh, but we shouldn't be enjoying it or having sin as a lifestyle.
2.) 1:8, Are we sensitive to sin or desensitized by the things we allow into our lives? If we push God out we will not be sensitive to sin and if we allow the acceptance of sin, we will not be sensitive. We don't "fall" into sin, we slip into little by little.
3.) 2:3-4 Do we keep the commandments of the Lord? Keep is present tense meaning keep on keeping, or persevere in keeping--a lifestyle.
4.) 2:6 We ought to walk as Jesus walked. How did He walk? In complete obedience to the Father.
5.) 2:9 Do we hate our brother? (brother=believer) We need to love the brethren in a practical way.
6.) 2:15-17 Are we in love with the world? What is the world? Everything that contradicts the attributes of God or the character of God. If we love the things/sins of the world, we love the very things that nailed our Saviour to the cross! Sin is such a big deal. We are saved because Christ bore our sins and all the hatred that God has for sin was poured out upon His only begotten Son. He was crushed for our sins, forsaken by God to pay for our sins; the very things we laugh about and love.
7.) 2:29 Righteousness is everything that conforms to the nature and law of God. Righteousness can and should be reflected in every decision we make and thought we have. As we strive to walk in righteousness we may be called legalistic. Legalism is death:OBEDIENCE is life. We must guard against those who would tell us that nothing is required of the Christian. That goes against scripture after scripture.
8.) 3:3 Purify yourself. What are we doing to purify our lives? We strive after holiness while resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
9.) Whoever has the Son has life. Do we have the Son? Do we love Jesus? What/who do we think about most? Who or what we think about most is usually who or what we worship!
Sometimes people work and trust in their works for salvation, but that is totally wrong. We have no works worthy of Christ, all our righteousness is as filthy rags! However, once we are saved we will work for Christ, through Christ and by His strength. Fruit is the manifestation of the love He has for us and we have for Him because of the love He has for us. James said, Faith without works is dead. So, although we don't believe in a works-based salvation, we do believe in a salvation that produces work!!
May God Bless!!
2 Cor. 13:5; 1 John assorted verses
We must test ourselves in light of scripture rather than comparing people to people, we need to look to God for our testing. If we fail the test we must repent and cry out to God until the work is done!
According to some SBC stats, 10-15% of the professing believers are probably actual believers!! That is a sad statistic! Just think in small terms that won't be accurate for a minute, in a church with 100 in attendance, 10-15 of them would actually be following Christ if these numbers are close to correct. (I've heard/read lots of similar stats lately.)
In 1 John 5:13, John tells his readers that the reason he wrote the letter was so that his readers might know that they have eternal life.
We must compare scripture to our "secret life", the life that only we and God know about.
There are some tests in 1 John that we can look at to see if we "know that we know Him". Test number one is found in 1:6: If we say that we are saved but walk in darkness, we are lying. If we harbor or enjoy sin then we are walking in darkness. We all sin because we are still in the flesh, but we shouldn't be enjoying it or having sin as a lifestyle.
2.) 1:8, Are we sensitive to sin or desensitized by the things we allow into our lives? If we push God out we will not be sensitive to sin and if we allow the acceptance of sin, we will not be sensitive. We don't "fall" into sin, we slip into little by little.
3.) 2:3-4 Do we keep the commandments of the Lord? Keep is present tense meaning keep on keeping, or persevere in keeping--a lifestyle.
4.) 2:6 We ought to walk as Jesus walked. How did He walk? In complete obedience to the Father.
5.) 2:9 Do we hate our brother? (brother=believer) We need to love the brethren in a practical way.
6.) 2:15-17 Are we in love with the world? What is the world? Everything that contradicts the attributes of God or the character of God. If we love the things/sins of the world, we love the very things that nailed our Saviour to the cross! Sin is such a big deal. We are saved because Christ bore our sins and all the hatred that God has for sin was poured out upon His only begotten Son. He was crushed for our sins, forsaken by God to pay for our sins; the very things we laugh about and love.
7.) 2:29 Righteousness is everything that conforms to the nature and law of God. Righteousness can and should be reflected in every decision we make and thought we have. As we strive to walk in righteousness we may be called legalistic. Legalism is death:OBEDIENCE is life. We must guard against those who would tell us that nothing is required of the Christian. That goes against scripture after scripture.
8.) 3:3 Purify yourself. What are we doing to purify our lives? We strive after holiness while resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
9.) Whoever has the Son has life. Do we have the Son? Do we love Jesus? What/who do we think about most? Who or what we think about most is usually who or what we worship!
Sometimes people work and trust in their works for salvation, but that is totally wrong. We have no works worthy of Christ, all our righteousness is as filthy rags! However, once we are saved we will work for Christ, through Christ and by His strength. Fruit is the manifestation of the love He has for us and we have for Him because of the love He has for us. James said, Faith without works is dead. So, although we don't believe in a works-based salvation, we do believe in a salvation that produces work!!
May God Bless!!
You Might Want Me to Go Back to Watching TV?
I have pretty much quit watching tv again. There is nothing on television that doesn't glorify some sin and I don't need to watch stuff that glorifies the sin that my Lord hates. I consider that disloyalty to Him. Since I am not watching tv, I've got to do something with my time ...hehehehe. Here I am!!
Hebrews 5:9-14 [Jesus Christ] being made perfect, became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him; called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk and not strong meat. For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are full of age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
(This is just ONE of MANY passages that says something like what it says up there in that first sentence...Jesus became the author of salvation to all them that obey Him (Emphasis mine). That sounds so different from, "Jesus became the Savior of whoever said a prayer asking Him into their hearts and He remains that Savior no matter what the person's life choices have been. They are saved because they have been added to our church roll, they must just be backslidden.")
I wonder about the phrase, "dull of hearing". The NIV says, "it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn". It is hard to explain all these amazing things that Jesus has done because you are slow to learn. Is it that we are slow to learn or is it that we don't want to learn? I think it is that we don't want to learn. We don't seem to have any problems learning other things, like football stats and schedules, work related information, which restaurant has the best steak or fries the best catfish, etc. to infinity AND BEYOND!
As a mother who teaches at home I know that my children learn what they are interested in and the rest has to be force fed. They WANT to know about the things that are on their hearts. We have learned about lots of things, but what they like to talk about and meditate on is what is on their hearts. I'm the same way, aren't you?
I think what the writer of Hebrews is saying here is that the things of God and Christ haven't been on their hearts and even the fundamental things really need to be re-taught (next verses). Why was this the case?
Well, he goes on to say that some people aren't even saved!! Chapter six verses one thru three says (my paraphrase) let's move on past these elementary doctrines on to REAL life in Christ. Let's really allow Him to work in us and do some things for His glory!!!
But then, he goes right on to talk about people "falling away" and "produc[ing] thorns and thistles" and the end He has for these. :/ It's like he's saying, "Hmmm, y'all aren't learning and you aren't growing. You don't understand the elementary principles of the faith. Let's get past this if God permits. The problem might be that you aren't truly saved, you heard about Christ and you made a profession of faith but there are no fruits in your life to show that you are truly His. None."
"
Friends, where are we? Are we moving toward maturity or are we "dull of hearing"? It would be wise to ask the Lord to speak on this issue, to our own hearts. If I am "dull of hearing" I better find out why!! Our salvation does NOT depend on one thing that we have done. If we put our faith in a prayer that someone might have even tricked you into praying we are putting our faith in the wrong thing, our works. Salvation is a work of the Lord and our faith is in HIM. We can't know who is saved and who isn't, but examining our own fruit and the fruit of others (especially those in leadership roles) is not sin, it's a command of scripture. We are to examine ourselves and light of scripture and we can know the WE know.
Next post will be more on the subject of testing our faith to see if we are IN the faith at all. And then, if we are, we need to be busy learning how the Lord wants to use us to bring Him glory.
Hebrews 5:9-14 [Jesus Christ] being made perfect, became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him; called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk and not strong meat. For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are full of age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
(This is just ONE of MANY passages that says something like what it says up there in that first sentence...Jesus became the author of salvation to all them that obey Him (Emphasis mine). That sounds so different from, "Jesus became the Savior of whoever said a prayer asking Him into their hearts and He remains that Savior no matter what the person's life choices have been. They are saved because they have been added to our church roll, they must just be backslidden.")
I wonder about the phrase, "dull of hearing". The NIV says, "it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn". It is hard to explain all these amazing things that Jesus has done because you are slow to learn. Is it that we are slow to learn or is it that we don't want to learn? I think it is that we don't want to learn. We don't seem to have any problems learning other things, like football stats and schedules, work related information, which restaurant has the best steak or fries the best catfish, etc. to infinity AND BEYOND!
As a mother who teaches at home I know that my children learn what they are interested in and the rest has to be force fed. They WANT to know about the things that are on their hearts. We have learned about lots of things, but what they like to talk about and meditate on is what is on their hearts. I'm the same way, aren't you?
I think what the writer of Hebrews is saying here is that the things of God and Christ haven't been on their hearts and even the fundamental things really need to be re-taught (next verses). Why was this the case?
Well, he goes on to say that some people aren't even saved!! Chapter six verses one thru three says (my paraphrase) let's move on past these elementary doctrines on to REAL life in Christ. Let's really allow Him to work in us and do some things for His glory!!!
But then, he goes right on to talk about people "falling away" and "produc[ing] thorns and thistles" and the end He has for these. :/ It's like he's saying, "Hmmm, y'all aren't learning and you aren't growing. You don't understand the elementary principles of the faith. Let's get past this if God permits. The problem might be that you aren't truly saved, you heard about Christ and you made a profession of faith but there are no fruits in your life to show that you are truly His. None."
"
Friends, where are we? Are we moving toward maturity or are we "dull of hearing"? It would be wise to ask the Lord to speak on this issue, to our own hearts. If I am "dull of hearing" I better find out why!! Our salvation does NOT depend on one thing that we have done. If we put our faith in a prayer that someone might have even tricked you into praying we are putting our faith in the wrong thing, our works. Salvation is a work of the Lord and our faith is in HIM. We can't know who is saved and who isn't, but examining our own fruit and the fruit of others (especially those in leadership roles) is not sin, it's a command of scripture. We are to examine ourselves and light of scripture and we can know the WE know.
Next post will be more on the subject of testing our faith to see if we are IN the faith at all. And then, if we are, we need to be busy learning how the Lord wants to use us to bring Him glory.
Armor of God
These Sunday School lessons are being posted for MY Tonia!!! (Not because she asked...hehehe (: !!) We miss you.
Ephesians chapter six is probably one of the most familiar chapters in the bible, but I felt that the Lord wanted me to teach it to my tiny class and the youth a couple of weeks ago.
The point I think we need to go home with is this: Be strong IN the Lord and IN the strength of His might. Put on GOD'S armor so that you may be able to stand.
1 John 3:8 says that Jesus came into the world to destroy the deeds of the devil, but He won't be doing that completely til the end of all things. That means that we have to do battle IN Christ's armor and strength in this life. If we are not "wrestling", then we are not engaged in battle. Like good soldiers we must remain prepared for battle at all times.
As Christians, our goal is to bring glory to the Father (Col. 3:17; 1 Cor. 10:31; 1 Peter 4:11). This is not an easy task, in fact it's an impossible task if we try to do it in our strength. (The Spirit does the work,and we work with Him.) We seem to think that we have no responsibilities as Christians except to avoid the "big stuff". We don't act at all like there are any "spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places". We think,"it's all good". We are wrong if we think that. We must always remember that there will be battles.
Verses 13-18 give us a clear picture of our call: stand. Stand in the strength and might of God, but STAND. We are told to stand in God's truth, stand in righteousness, stand in the readiness given by the gospel of peace, stand in the faith, and stand in salvation. The only defensive weapon we have is God's word--our sword.
Now, if we were in a battle that is "seen" and we were given armor and told to stand we'd want a weapon. (By the way, standing is the opposite of falling and retreating.) We'd also want to know how to use that weapon effectively. How many of us know how to use the only defensive weapon we've been given? How many of us don't even believe it to be important to know the weapon or believe the weapon can help us? We are told to pray at all times and keep alert with all perseverance, but if we don't have our weapon and all God's armor we won't be able to stand.
We are bombarded by the fiery darts of the enemy daily whether through television, music, books, friends, teachers and even our own flesh (thought life, weaknesses). If we are going to STAND then we must daily put on the armor of God and be strong IN the Lord and IN the strength of HIS MIGHT. We must do what He has told us to do. He is our Commander in Chief and He has given us a directive, through Jesus and all the apostles particulary Paul, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Eph. 6:13)
So, prepare for battle through prayer, bible STUDY and submission to Christ and His commands. We wouldn't be very good soldiers if we didn't prepare for battle, would we?
God Bless you as you stand.
Ephesians chapter six is probably one of the most familiar chapters in the bible, but I felt that the Lord wanted me to teach it to my tiny class and the youth a couple of weeks ago.
The point I think we need to go home with is this: Be strong IN the Lord and IN the strength of His might. Put on GOD'S armor so that you may be able to stand.
1 John 3:8 says that Jesus came into the world to destroy the deeds of the devil, but He won't be doing that completely til the end of all things. That means that we have to do battle IN Christ's armor and strength in this life. If we are not "wrestling", then we are not engaged in battle. Like good soldiers we must remain prepared for battle at all times.
As Christians, our goal is to bring glory to the Father (Col. 3:17; 1 Cor. 10:31; 1 Peter 4:11). This is not an easy task, in fact it's an impossible task if we try to do it in our strength. (The Spirit does the work,and we work with Him.) We seem to think that we have no responsibilities as Christians except to avoid the "big stuff". We don't act at all like there are any "spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places". We think,"it's all good". We are wrong if we think that. We must always remember that there will be battles.
Verses 13-18 give us a clear picture of our call: stand. Stand in the strength and might of God, but STAND. We are told to stand in God's truth, stand in righteousness, stand in the readiness given by the gospel of peace, stand in the faith, and stand in salvation. The only defensive weapon we have is God's word--our sword.
Now, if we were in a battle that is "seen" and we were given armor and told to stand we'd want a weapon. (By the way, standing is the opposite of falling and retreating.) We'd also want to know how to use that weapon effectively. How many of us know how to use the only defensive weapon we've been given? How many of us don't even believe it to be important to know the weapon or believe the weapon can help us? We are told to pray at all times and keep alert with all perseverance, but if we don't have our weapon and all God's armor we won't be able to stand.
We are bombarded by the fiery darts of the enemy daily whether through television, music, books, friends, teachers and even our own flesh (thought life, weaknesses). If we are going to STAND then we must daily put on the armor of God and be strong IN the Lord and IN the strength of HIS MIGHT. We must do what He has told us to do. He is our Commander in Chief and He has given us a directive, through Jesus and all the apostles particulary Paul, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Eph. 6:13)
So, prepare for battle through prayer, bible STUDY and submission to Christ and His commands. We wouldn't be very good soldiers if we didn't prepare for battle, would we?
God Bless you as you stand.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Our Family Is Growing
By God's grace our family is growing!! Catie is due on the 19th of THIS month and the doctor told her yesterday that he doesn't really expect her to go over her date much if at all. :) We are all so excited and yet at the same time it seems surreal. My baby is going to have a baby. AH! What happened to the time?
We have two precious little toddlers of "our" own to love and train. It will so exciting for them to have a little baby to love on. They are typical little girls and love the babies. :) I'm sure that they will be jealous too, but they will learn.
Anyway, I am so proud of Catie. She has been very disciplined during her pregnancy and tried to eat healthy foods and take care of herself. Her sweet husband has taken very good care of her as well. :) I told her doctor that she could be an advertisement for pregnancy as she has been so blessed as to not even have been sick!
Please pray for them. They want to do everything as naturally as possible and it is just common practice these days for the doctor to schedule the birth. You really have to stand against the current if you want to wait on your own body to dictate the time. I understand that it helps the doctor and it helps the mother to schedule her "vacation" from work, but it makes it hard for young parents who want to let their body (and the Lord) do the decision making. SO, please pray for strength for them during this time.
We have two precious little toddlers of "our" own to love and train. It will so exciting for them to have a little baby to love on. They are typical little girls and love the babies. :) I'm sure that they will be jealous too, but they will learn.
Anyway, I am so proud of Catie. She has been very disciplined during her pregnancy and tried to eat healthy foods and take care of herself. Her sweet husband has taken very good care of her as well. :) I told her doctor that she could be an advertisement for pregnancy as she has been so blessed as to not even have been sick!
Please pray for them. They want to do everything as naturally as possible and it is just common practice these days for the doctor to schedule the birth. You really have to stand against the current if you want to wait on your own body to dictate the time. I understand that it helps the doctor and it helps the mother to schedule her "vacation" from work, but it makes it hard for young parents who want to let their body (and the Lord) do the decision making. SO, please pray for strength for them during this time.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Consuming Love
I have had the opportunity to witness up close a couple of romantic courtships recently. I have come to the conclusion that these guys must have been thinking of their "friend" a lot during these courtships because there's a whole lotta talkin' goin' on.
Sidewalk Prophets has a song called You Can Have Me. In it they say, "When did love become unmoving? When did love become unconsuming?" Wow. If you really stop and think about that, isn't that SUCH a good question? (Or two questions...)
If romantic love can consume so much of our time and our thoughts, then certainly the love that we share with our Saviour should consume at least a little time. NoT! He is a jealous God and wants all of us. After all He is our life, it is in Him that we live and move and have our being. !!! What is wrong with the American church? Why isn't this love the driving force in our lives? Shouldn't it be? Yes.
In Ephesians, Paul shared two prayers that he was praying for them. I'd like to put one prayer here:
"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in LOVE, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the LOVE of Christ that surpasses all knowledge, that you may be filled with the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen" Ephesians 2:14-21 (emphasis mine)
It sounds like Paul knew something about consuming love and was praying that the Ephesians might know it, too.
In this epistle he is teaching the Ephesians about being IN Christ and about God getting the glory for everything. When our love for our Lord, who saved us from bondage to sin, is not consuming, are we dishonoring Him and His atoning sacrifice?
We may have the answer in Revelation, "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." And to the Ephesians He sent this message, "But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first."
It is good to read these verses in context...it makes me think, "What ARE we doing?" A CONSUMING love is NOT lukewarm or cold. It moves us to action. What is better than being in love?
A consuming, moving, zealous love, that is what I desire.
Sidewalk Prophets has a song called You Can Have Me. In it they say, "When did love become unmoving? When did love become unconsuming?" Wow. If you really stop and think about that, isn't that SUCH a good question? (Or two questions...)
If romantic love can consume so much of our time and our thoughts, then certainly the love that we share with our Saviour should consume at least a little time. NoT! He is a jealous God and wants all of us. After all He is our life, it is in Him that we live and move and have our being. !!! What is wrong with the American church? Why isn't this love the driving force in our lives? Shouldn't it be? Yes.
In Ephesians, Paul shared two prayers that he was praying for them. I'd like to put one prayer here:
"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in LOVE, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the LOVE of Christ that surpasses all knowledge, that you may be filled with the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen" Ephesians 2:14-21 (emphasis mine)
It sounds like Paul knew something about consuming love and was praying that the Ephesians might know it, too.
In this epistle he is teaching the Ephesians about being IN Christ and about God getting the glory for everything. When our love for our Lord, who saved us from bondage to sin, is not consuming, are we dishonoring Him and His atoning sacrifice?
We may have the answer in Revelation, "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." And to the Ephesians He sent this message, "But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first."
It is good to read these verses in context...it makes me think, "What ARE we doing?" A CONSUMING love is NOT lukewarm or cold. It moves us to action. What is better than being in love?
A consuming, moving, zealous love, that is what I desire.
A Couple of Quotes to Ponder
"It is more comfortable to have no children than to beget and breed children for the Devil."
"[Children] have an everlasting happiness to attain, and it is that for which you must bring them up. They have an endless misery to escape, and it is that which you must diligently teach them. If you do not teach them to escape the flames of hell, what thanks do they owe you for teaching them to speak and do? If you do not teach them the way to heaven and how they may make sure of their salvation, what thanks do they owe you for teaching them how to get their living a little while in a miserable world? If you do not teach them to know God and how to serve him and be saved, you teach them nothing, or worse than nothing."
These two quotes are from Puritan Richard Baxter
"[Children] have an everlasting happiness to attain, and it is that for which you must bring them up. They have an endless misery to escape, and it is that which you must diligently teach them. If you do not teach them to escape the flames of hell, what thanks do they owe you for teaching them to speak and do? If you do not teach them the way to heaven and how they may make sure of their salvation, what thanks do they owe you for teaching them how to get their living a little while in a miserable world? If you do not teach them to know God and how to serve him and be saved, you teach them nothing, or worse than nothing."
These two quotes are from Puritan Richard Baxter
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