MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
November 20, 2024
The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 37
LOVE: THE FIRST “FRUIT” OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Part 10)
I am quoting hereunder excerpts from the inspired pen of God’s servant, bolding the word “love” where it appears, emphasizing what it does for those in whom the presence of Christ abides through the Holy Spirit! (all bracketed words mine):
“A life in Christ is a life of restfulness [not restlessness]. There may be no ecstasy of feeling [the stuff of carnal pleasures], but there should be an abiding, peaceful trust. Your hope is not in yourself; it is in Christ.
“Your weakness is united to His strength, your ignorance to His wisdom, your frailty to His enduring might.
“So you are not to look to yourself, not to let the mind dwell upon self [the idolatry of self-love], but to LOOK TO CHRIST. Let the mind dwell upon HIS LOVE, upon the BEAUTY OF HIS CHARACTER [and ‘the beauty of holiness’].
“Christ in His SELF-DENIAL. Christ in His HUMILIATION [in the incarnation, ‘the great mystery of godliness’ that God Creator, ‘the Word from the beginning, was made and was manifest in the flesh and dwelt among us.” John 1:1-3, 14; 2 Tim. 3:16]. Christ in His purity and holiness. Christ IN HIS MATCHLESS LOVE—this is the subject for the soul’s contemplation.
“It is by LOVING HIM, copying Him [as our human-divine Example and Pattern Man], depending wholly upon Him [the sum and substance of the whole gospel truth of the plan of salvation] that you [and I] are to be TRANSFORMED INTO HIS LIKENESS.” – E. G. White, Steps to Christ, pp. 70, 71.
“If we abide in Christ [by the indwelling and infilling of the Holy Spirit], if the LOVE OF GOD dwells in us, our FEELINGS, our THOUGHTS, our ACTIONS will be IN HARMONY with the will of God.” -Ibid, p. 66.
David, “the man after God’s own heart,” by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote of Christ’s testimony and witness as the Example for all His true disciples through all time:
“O, how I LOVE THY LAW! It is my meditation all the day.” Ps. 119: 97.
“Great peace have they WHICH LOVE THY LAW: and nothing shall offend them!” Verse 165, KJV.
“And this is LOVE, that we walk after His commandments. This is the commandment, that, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.” 2 John 6.
Jesus, our living, loving Savior declares: “If you LOVE ME, keep My commandments.” John 14:15.
The highest and most sublime expression of love, adoration, and worship of the creature to the Creator, and the redeemed to the Redeemer is obedience “constrained by love” alone to His law of love, the transcript of His character!
To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.