October 09, 2002 (30)
CHRIST IN LOVE. The supreme object of His love is a church, His bride. He is searching for something more than just subjects for His kingdom. The grand conclusion of all of His efforts is a < glorious church >. It is the consummation of His work that has been the divine purpose of Calvary. Thank God for the beginning, our salvation, which is wonderful. The joy and beauty of the accomplishment of His eternal goal, His bride. Eph. 5:25-27
HE GAVE HIMSELF FOR IT. The paramount sacrifice for the Bride of the ages. The church, purchased by the offering of a life that came from eternity. The enormity of the relinquishment of leaving all that was spiritual, eternal and heavenly is beyond our comprehension. He was, He is and ever will be LIFE, in every sense of the word. Natural, spiritual and everlasting life. He laid aside His Godly status, to become one like us, earthly and natural. He faced temptation, identical to our temptations, yet without sin. All this, for the explicit intent of purchasing, for Himself, with His precious blood, {the blood of very God}, His Bride. Never has there been such a tremendous price paid for any object. That is the extent of His great and marvelous love. Acts 20:28
WALK IN LOVE. Maintain a constant and persistent love for the Lord Jesus. Live in His love and be, by all means, in love with Him. Carry and manifest His love in daily life. Be an example and a witness of that extraordinary love wherever you go. Christ, offered Himself freely as a fragrant offering unto God. Eph. 5:2
WALK IN THE SPIRIT. The secret of walking in love is to walk in the spirit. It seems like such a simple statement, yet it is so necessary to the maintenance and health of our spiritual life. The listing of the fruit of the Spirit begins with love. Its position is an illustration of the great importance of love. It is the Spirit who makes the love of Christ a reality in the life of the church. It is He, who creates and seals the fellowship that we have with the Lord Jesus. Gal. 5:22
LOVE TESTED. Anything and everything of value in life must be tested. The test of love and the unity of the body of Christ is in our attitude one toward another. This is a hard saying, yet it is the Word of the Lord. If we acknowledge ourselves to love the Lord, but hate our < brother >, the Word places us in the position of that of a liar. The love of God which has been birthed in the church, goes beyond those situations that bring disharmony and separation, and loves regardless. No one, desiring to be a member of the body of Christ can afford the consequences of hating another member of that body. Its outcome will be exclusion from that which is most greatly desired, a member of the Bride of Christ. If we cannot love our brother, despite of how badly they gall us, how can we love the Lord whom we have not seen? 1 John 4:20 The Spirit of the Lord moving in us is constantly working in opposition to the natural man, that the old, the natural, the carnal man might be eliminated. Dying to self does not come easily, but it will be and shall positively be accomplished in each and every member of the body of His love.