Children of God through Jesus, be the face of love.
Over the next 9 weeks, I would like to talk about each of the “fruit of the Spirit” which are listed in Galatians 5:22-23. And not just how we are to bear the fruit…but how it is to so own and define us that we are the fruit. After all when we are the branches connected to the Vine (John 15), we will naturally exude the fruit that is His face, that represents His life-giving essence in the world.
The first is love.
Christ represented the face of the Father’s love (1 John 4), and we are also called to represent the face of the perfect love found only in and through the Three-in-One God as we worship in Spirit and in truth.
That doesn’t mean that we should automatically be accepting of ongoing sin and celebrate poor choices made by others (and, yes, ourselves). And it doesn’t mean we will be spineless pansies who never feel appropriate righteous indignation.
To be the face of Christ’s love is to be overwhelmed with gratitude for the charity that we’ve been shown so that we might speak of and demonstrate a kindness that leads others to repentance. And it makes a light shine in our eyes over everything that displays God’s glory.
We must run daily to the arms of Christ so that His love will overflow from us as a result.
Be who you are, more and more. Be the face of love.
But what — or Who — are we called to be delighted in? Where does our mind’s focus swing around to? Where does our heart’s contentment most deeply grow?
I am designed to find my true and lasting delight (happiness, pleasure, reward, purpose and meaning) when my whole being is fixed on my Jesus the way a compass needle continues to balance back to the north, no matter how hard it is rocked.
And we are charged (in Phip. 4:8) to continually think on or delight in what is right, true, lovely, admirable, and excellent — things that reflect His goodness in the world.
Yet, many other things in this world will claim to offer us happiness and pleasure. And many other things will vie for our attention and concern.
But it is Jesus to whom we must cling. It is He to whom we must give our love. It is He in whom we must delight. What breaks His heart should rightly bring us sorrow, and what brings Him honor must be our foremost goal.
Loved ones in Christ, we are abounding with thanksgiving.
Or we should be, and increasingly so.
Yesterday, in neighboring communities around me, multiple tornadoes and hailstorms hit with unsurprising unpredictableness. For those who live in areas where tornadoes frequently occur, we know that when the sirens go off (and the environment grows strangely and suddenly quiet), it is wise to take shelter quickly. Because the conditions are ripe in a wide span, but the actual formation can occur and strike anywhere within. And the thing may lift an object or person and set them back down rather unscathed. Or it may impale one object with another in a split second.
It all passed my husband and I by — and passed by our loved ones as well. And we were thankful.
But many homes, churches, and businesses were moderately damaged — or blown apart. And many people, even some whole towns, are now in great need.
This morning, in the impending lull (since more tornadoes, hail impacts, and other dangerous weather is very likely in the coming 24 hours), Paul and I ran to get groceries. I stepped into the ladies’ room and overheard a mom and her two young daughters speaking to an elderly woman while they were waiting in line. The older girl, who was perhaps five, was excited to share that they were at the store specifically to buy food supplies and gift cards for families who had lost their homes yesterday.
My immediate reaction was to smile and then to think silently to myself, “In hearts that see clearly, tragedy beckons charity to rise up and minister. And it is sweet.”
I hope and pray that if my home were suddenly destroyed by a natural disaster….or my loved ones were suddenly cut off from me by unforeseen events…that my heart would still be abounding in thankfulness. But the realistic part of my brain says that it is easier to say “thank you, God” when things turn out favorably in my mind versus if they don’t. And, frankly, it so often takes enduring scary and hard times to make us pause and question how much gratitude we own internally. It is far less often that we daily and genuinely practice the habit of counting our blessings and speaking thankfulness from the heart — especially when the things God wills are not what we would will if it were up to us.
But we are encouraged and even commanded in Scripture to abound or overflow with gratitude. It is to be ever-increasing in us, day by day, no matter our life circumstances, and no matter how easy or hard it may feel. God knows our very human feelings, but as the goodness of Christ sanctifies us in ever-greater measure, He helps us to move past our feelings to also remember all that He is and all that He gives. And this can fill us with thankfulness and joy. And, as in the case of the little girls at the store, generosity.
So let us remember today all He has saved us from — and for. And let us be who we are.
I currently work in a customer service job for a commercial insurance company. I take many calls from people who are newer to trucking, taxi driving, and the like — or they have been in the business for some time but have never previously been covered by the company I represent. And it is my job to answer their billing questions. I was not a math-accounting major in higher ed, and I have not taken a math class since high school geometry. But my years as an ESL educator and as a counseling major have prepared me for this job.
I often have to take wording and numbers from written communication and try to translate them into terms that salt of the earth (and salty) individuals can understand. Some people are already frustrated when the call starts, but I am able to help them calm down and reach a place of reason and solution. Other people start off calm but confused, yet end up disconnecting the call on me mid-response. And some people just flat out start mad and end even madder, reminding me of the ugly side of human nature that needs an extra smattering of God’s grace.
There are times when I explain something methodically and the caller tracks with me and can say, “Got it, that makes sense now.” But there are other times when I have to explain it over and over again on one call or in a series of interactions. In the latter cases, sometimes those people will still be frustrated and not understand. But the situations that are perhaps the most rewarding are the ones in which we’ve had to go over it all 2+ times and then there is the light bulb moment and the relief in their voice when it all comes together, and they feel empowered to understand their own rights or business or options.
Jesus said that we, as followers of Him, would face trouble, but He called us to have peace and take heart in the midst of it (John 16:33). And in 1 Corinthians 1, Paul clearly points to the idea that what we understand, know, and embrace will seem like foolishness, insanity, and nonsense to the non-believer.
We will be misunderstood.
Some people who see and hear us will never understand.
But others will understand after they have seen and heard a certain number of times.
And every now and then, you or I will be fortunate enough to be the one who gets to explain it one (last) time and see the beauty of another’s light bulb moment.
But while I have continued to learn, over the past many months, of ways to answer questions more clearly and concisely, the procedures of my employer and the truths I need to convey have not really changed.
Likewise, in the face of those around us misunderstanding what we know to be true — in the face of their rejection or anger or mocking: we must not water down the core message, nor should we be ashamed.
Just because what is communicated is not understood does not make it any less true, good, or right.
So, stand up today — stand strong. Run the risk of being misunderstood by the many for the sake of the ones near you who need to hear or see Jesus. Again.
Be who you are. And take heart. The One we adore has been misunderstood for millenia.
We, children of the King and joint heirs with Christ, are royalty.
In chapter 2 of his first epistle, Peter wrote, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy…. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
From our human perspective and examples we have seen in world history, we have many different ways to think about living as royalty. There have been kings and queens and lords and ladies in various capacities have lived fairly upright lives and tried to treat those whom they ruled over or were responsible for with fairness, kindness, and wisdom. Additionally, there have been members of royal families who were self-centered and were more concerned with their own comfort, personal causes, and other selfish desires than they were with any sense of honor and being a good example of virtue to all those watching them. Finally, there have been those who carried royal titles while they lived — though their actions were evil and destructive, their legacy in history now an infamous one.
What does it mean to be royals, princes and princesses in the family of God as ones Christ has redeemed?
We have been lavished with the richness of God’s tremendous love (1 John 3:1). But unlike an earthly royal family, the storehouse of our budget cannot run dry. And we are called to NOT use it only for our own comfort and promotion; we are called to invite others into it, for them also to be adopted as royal heirs, walking hand in hand with us. We are not to live for our own pleasure but are to enjoy God’s blessings and provision, to live for His honor and glory.
We are to live as people of light (Philippians 2:12-16), as excellent examples of what is good, pure, and outstanding. We are to daily represent the One who showed us mercy and point others toward the beauty of that mercy. We are to find great joy in doing our duty: representing our Father God who is the king and source of all life and light (Psalm 36:9).
We have been given a new name and role in the procession of heavenly saints, and an inheritance that is being saved up for us, all awaiting us one day with our Lord, for eternity, in heaven (1 Peter 1:3-9). And with all of that, we also carry a hope in this life that no one can possess apart from being a royal member of God’s family.
Most of us do not eat every meal off of fancy dishes and wear jewelry that costs more than a car and live in an earthly mansion. But in the spiritual state of the universe, each follower of Jesus has been welcomed into the status of royalty.
When we remember this, it will rightly define our worth and how we honor Him and treat others. And it will impress upon us the desire to have those others join us in His kingdom.
I am not espousing a health and prosperity gospel here. I am not saying that while we reside in these earthly bodies, He will automatically heal every physical or other ailment which troubles those of us who follow Him.
I am, instead, reminding us that true healing in every way is only, ultimately, found in the blood, peace, truth, and grace of our Lord and Savior.
And I am rejoicing in knowing that our Lord who is outside of time already (presently as we might think of it) sees us as fully healed, fully restored, perfected, mended, glorious. He has foreseen us in that state since before time began.
This past week, I heard a beloved song (“Mended” by Watermark) again. Listening to it inspired the above word art sketch and stirred up the above thoughts. I have linked the video below for your edification as well.
No matter what pain, limitation, or sorrow you may presently feel, you will not remain there forever. In His strength, you are running to meet Him and all will be made new again.
I know some of you will say that trustful is not a word. Trustworthy, yes. Trusting, yes. Trusted, yes.
Well, I hope those words describe our identity in Christ as well. We must trust Him for initial salvation and also for stength to travel the rest of our journey with joy and hope. And as we are trusting Him, we must behave increasingly in ways that prove to others we are trustworthy, that we be trusted. Because we have in us this heart of Christ.
But today I use the word trustful to describe someone who is filled with trust.
FIRST, we think if a cup that is filled to near the top one drop or splash at a time. The filling is a process, it comes with time.
We have a hard time trusting God and trusting others. It is easy to project the way our trust was broken by this or that party in the past on to our present relationships. And even if we say we believe God is in control of all things, it can be easy to start doubting Him when we always think of what is right, good, just, and fair from our limited point of view. Yet, the more we try to consider His perspective and daily practice reflection and gratitude, the more surely the cup of our trust will become full.
SECOND, we think of that cup filled to the absolute brim to the point where the overflow naturally runs over.
When a person has negative and nasty things brewing in their heart, it might be more fitting to say that the overflow spews forth from them. But when the additional things bubbling up are nurturing and of the Spirit, they spill over and flow out. The latter is graceful, seamless, genuine, and attractive. It is undeniably noticeable to those around. A trustful soul is a soul full to the brim of peace and watchfulness.
We have all walked along in daily life and noticed women who were pretty, and even some who were stunning, in physical appearance. But it is not until we spend time with a woman, get to know her mind and spirit, see how she thinks about and treats others, and watch the way the view of her face is surpassed by the loveliness of her being that we can truly call her beautiful.
So it is with the trustful Christ-follower. Daily growth with Him, time spent reflecting on Him, and our reflection of His heart from our own outward to those around us: these are what mark us as trustful. Through the sweet moments — and even more so through the hard moments — our small cups will be filled to overflowing.
I asked my husband what topic I should write on this week. He suggested the word redeemed. And I really had to stop and think about that, because outside of hearing this word in church many times over the course of my life, about the only other time I’ve heard someone use it is when talking about taking a coupon to a store and using it to save money while we check out.
So what does this word really mean? I turned to Webster’s dictionary and found a long list of meanings that were all tied to this word. Among them:
To buy back or win back
To set free from the distresses of harm, such as to free a captive via a ransom or to clear a debt
To change for the better or reform
To repair or restore
To remove the obligation of something by payment
To exchange for something of value
To fulfill
What a rich, meaningful word.
When we think of people who follow Christ as being redeemed, what is involved? He bought us and brought us back to God when we were lost in our sin. He set us free from the distresses of harm. When the evil one held us in the grasp of death, He interceeded. He paid a debt we could never afford to pay. He repaired our brokenness and restored our relationship with God. He removed the obligation of any other ransom or debt to be paid. He exchanged Himself, who is of infinite worth, for us who are simply created beings who have some worth in His loving eyes. He came to fulfill the promise that God made to us, that He would send a sacrifice on our behalf.
“Wow, that’s a lot,” you may say, “all wrapped up in that one word.” Yes, indeed.
It is a lot to consider and think about under the weight and meaning of a single word. But it is one of the most important words to chew on, to be reminded of how good God has been to us through Jesus — and how recalling this should stir up such joy, awe, and the desire to sing from our hearts, from our lives.
Lyricist Fanny Crosby wrote about this via a hymn in 1882, one commonly simply known as Redeemed. (While it was always sung early on to the tune “Redeemed” by Kirkpatrick, I am rather partial to the alternate tune “Ada” by Butler, introduced in 1967.)
The words of this song point to many powerful truths. They speak of how our redeemed status in Christ and Christ alone makes way for our place as children of God, and this is a gift of infinite mercy initiated by God. They say we are no longer alone. They point to the fact that we are filled with joy and left speechless at the same time. But in the end, we just want to proclaim it. And our hearts want to sing, for His love is the theme of our song.
If you follow Jesus Christ, remember who you are and live out who you are.
Paul wrote about this in his first letter to Corinth, when he expounded on a theology of death and resurrection. In chapter 15, verse 22, he wrote, “For in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” As I discussed in post (2) last week, we are all loved by the Creator God who made us, but only those to trust in Jesus for forgiveness of sins will be able to know God’s love more dearly and perfectly once more. So, too, looking at Paul’s words, we see clearly that due to the fall of man and sin entering the world, death ensued — both spiritually and physically. For the person who never accepts God’s grace through Jesus and repents of their sins, there remains both death at the end of this life and then ongoing spiritual death (separation from God and condemnation) in the life to come. Yet, for the person who does repent and run into the blood of Jesus, even though physical death must still be faced, we move from life to life. And for now, we live with tension in two senses. First, we have a developing awareness of out limitations in the face of God’s vastness; we wrestle with the boundaries of our finiteness even as we learn to trust His infinite goodness more. Second, we have more of a reason to keep on living and doing good prior to death — and yet we become increasingly homesick for Heaven.
In verses 50-57, Paul goes on to talk about how we will be changed. It seems like a mysterious thing to us: how, when the redeemed in Christ go to Heaven, we will be transformed and “the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.” Yes, we wrestle still with doubts and temptation and negative emotions in this life, but we look forward to seeing Jesus face to face on the “other side.”
However, too often (if we are honest), we are afraid. We might feel more happy about all of this if we more completely understood the exact way it will feel for us when we take our last breath and slip from this earthly body. We might be okay at the thought of facing death if we could somehow guarantee that the moment of our death would be the exact moment when we were ready to die and have enjoyed life, our relationships, and our pursuits enough…and the manner in which we would die — if we could each just pass without a single tinge of pain.
Earlier in the same chapter, Paul writes, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men” (v. 19). I know the idea of death is generally sad and even scary. But I have long wondered why many believers in Christ seem to think physical death is a cause for terror and something to be avoided as long as possible. Certainly, there is nothing wrong with enjoying the blessings God has given us while we walk the earth this side of death. Yet, how much greater will be our joy and His glory when we stand with Him and see Christ face to face one day?
Preparing to write this post reminded me of the song Mystery by Sara Groves (link to lyric video below). In that song, she honestly wrestles with her finite humanity and the process of her sanctification on this side. But then she realizes how much she needs to trust. For even though the mystery of how God will transform us when we move from this journey into the realm of the infinite is like a shadow beyond our understanding, it is also like a trust fall. The greatest trust fall of all. And when we know that He is supremely trustworthy, we know He will not fail us. However it will be to experience physical death, we will be caught. We will be led home.
We can have peace in this.
We can sojourn through the finite and run fearlessly, hopefully towards the infinite.
