2 Corinthians 5:11-21
"For Christ's love compels us ..." (v.14)
What exactly does Scripture mean when it uses the word "love"? In English, the word "love" has a variety of meanings. It is used for the mighty passion that moves in the heart of God but it is used also to describe such things as the flutterings of the adolescent heart in spring. The one word "love" has to be spread over a multiplicity of diverse meanings. The Greek language is much richer in this respect. It has four words for love. One is eros, meaning love between the sexes. Another is philia, meaning affectionate human love. Then there is the word storge, meaning family love. The most powerful word for love, however, is agape, which means unconditional love -- the love that surges in the heart of God. When Paul says, "the fruit of the Spirit is love," the word he uses for love is agape. He means that the love we are expected to experience and demonstrate when we are indwelt by the Spirit is not just love in general, but love of a specific kind -- the love which we see exemplified in Jesus.
Paul says: "For Christ's love compels us." This cuts deep. It is possible to be compelled by the love of achievement, of success, of a cause, of a fight. What compels you -- the love of a cause or the love of Christ? The enemies of the early Christians complained that "these followers of Jesus love each other even before they are acquainted." They did. They couldn't help it, for the very nature of the faith they had embraced was love.
Prayer:
Father, as I look into my heart in these few moments to see what controls me, help me to come out with the same answer as the apostle Paul -- "the love of Christ." Pour Your love in so that I may pour it out to others. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Gardeners of God
The seeds we sow are made to grow
In acts and deeds we do
And what we harvest ,in return ,
Is what our efforts grew .
So ,if we sow God’s seeds of love –
Throughout our years of time –
The crops we harvest , every day,
Will always be divine .
It is ,for us ,to sow His cares
Indeed of every kind
And live the Christian way of life –
In body , heart and mind –
The joys he wills to be
To gardeners of his love and care –
And Christianity
Jan Bagwell
In acts and deeds we do
And what we harvest ,in return ,
Is what our efforts grew .
So ,if we sow God’s seeds of love –
Throughout our years of time –
The crops we harvest , every day,
Will always be divine .
It is ,for us ,to sow His cares
Indeed of every kind
And live the Christian way of life –
In body , heart and mind –
The joys he wills to be
To gardeners of his love and care –
And Christianity
Jan Bagwell
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Daily Prayers Are Heaven’s Stairs
The stairway rises heaven high ,
The steps are dark and steep,
I weariness we climb them
As we stumble ,fall , and weep ,
And many times we father
Along the path of prayer ,
Wondering if You really care .
Oh ,give us some assurance ,
Restore our faith a new ,
So we can keep on climbing
The stairs of prayer to You ,
For we are weak and wavering ,
Uncertain and unsure ,
And only meeting You in prayer
Can help us to endure
All life’s trails and troubles ,
Its sickness , pain, and sorrow ,
And give us strength and courage
To face and meet tomorrow !
Jan Bagwell
Be strong ,and let your heart take courage , all you who wait for the Lord! Psalm 31 : 24
The steps are dark and steep,
I weariness we climb them
As we stumble ,fall , and weep ,
And many times we father
Along the path of prayer ,
Wondering if You really care .
Oh ,give us some assurance ,
Restore our faith a new ,
So we can keep on climbing
The stairs of prayer to You ,
For we are weak and wavering ,
Uncertain and unsure ,
And only meeting You in prayer
Can help us to endure
All life’s trails and troubles ,
Its sickness , pain, and sorrow ,
And give us strength and courage
To face and meet tomorrow !
Jan Bagwell
Be strong ,and let your heart take courage , all you who wait for the Lord! Psalm 31 : 24
Monday, August 4, 2008
Best Day of My Life Ever !
Today , when I awoke , I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life , ever !
There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today ; but I did !
And because I did I’m going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far ; the accomplishments the many blessings ,yes ,even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger .
I will go through this day with my head held high, and a happy
Heart . I will marvel at God’s seemingly simple gifts ;the morning dew , the sun the clouds , the trees , the flowers , the birds . Today ,I’ll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down . I’ll tell a child how special he is ,and I’ll tell someone I love how deeply I care for her and how much she means to me .
Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don’t have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given me . I’ll remenber that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and his Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine .
And tonight , before I go to bed , I’ll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens .I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon , and I will praise God for these magnificent treasures .
As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow ,I will thank the Almighty for the best day of my life .And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child , excited with expection because I know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life ,ever !
Jan Bagwell
There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today ; but I did !
And because I did I’m going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far ; the accomplishments the many blessings ,yes ,even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger .
I will go through this day with my head held high, and a happy
Heart . I will marvel at God’s seemingly simple gifts ;the morning dew , the sun the clouds , the trees , the flowers , the birds . Today ,I’ll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down . I’ll tell a child how special he is ,and I’ll tell someone I love how deeply I care for her and how much she means to me .
Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don’t have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given me . I’ll remenber that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and his Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine .
And tonight , before I go to bed , I’ll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens .I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon , and I will praise God for these magnificent treasures .
As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow ,I will thank the Almighty for the best day of my life .And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child , excited with expection because I know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life ,ever !
Jan Bagwell
Sunday, August 3, 2008
As I’ve Walked Thru Life
I’ve learned that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life .
I’ve learned that you should always leave loved ones with
loving words .It may be the last time you see them .
I’ve learned that we are responsible for what we do no matter how we feel .
I’ve learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you .
I’ve learned that heros are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done regardless of the consequences
I’ve learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time
I’ve learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up .
I’ve learned that true friendship continues to grow ‘even over the longest distance .
I’ve learned that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have .
I’ve learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less top do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated .
I’ve learned that no matter how good a friend is , they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that .
I’ve learned that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others , sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself
I’ve learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are , but we are responsible for who we become .
I’ve learned that just because two people argue ,it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other and just because they don’t argue ,it doesn’t mean they do .
I’ve learned that we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends chang .
I’ve learned tht two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different .
I learned that even when you think you have no more to give ,when a fiend cries out to you ,you will find the strength to help
I’ve learned that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being .
I’ve learned that the people you care about most in life are taken from too soon .
I’ve learned that family and friends are what make us who we are today ,and without them we would never be complete .
Jan Bagwell
I’ve learned that you should always leave loved ones with
loving words .It may be the last time you see them .
I’ve learned that we are responsible for what we do no matter how we feel .
I’ve learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you .
I’ve learned that heros are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done regardless of the consequences
I’ve learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time
I’ve learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up .
I’ve learned that true friendship continues to grow ‘even over the longest distance .
I’ve learned that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have .
I’ve learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less top do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated .
I’ve learned that no matter how good a friend is , they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that .
I’ve learned that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others , sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself
I’ve learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are , but we are responsible for who we become .
I’ve learned that just because two people argue ,it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other and just because they don’t argue ,it doesn’t mean they do .
I’ve learned that we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends chang .
I’ve learned tht two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different .
I learned that even when you think you have no more to give ,when a fiend cries out to you ,you will find the strength to help
I’ve learned that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being .
I’ve learned that the people you care about most in life are taken from too soon .
I’ve learned that family and friends are what make us who we are today ,and without them we would never be complete .
Jan Bagwell
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