Changing to a New Address

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The Mind of Christ

Marriage and Family Meditations XLXIII (63)

Psalm 104:34    May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the LORD.

Cornerstone Ministries Napa Valley

Christian Relationships

Marriage–Christ and the Church

The Mind of Christ

Dear Loved Ones, Family and Friends,

How great it was to see so many people filling the sanctuary on Easter Sunday and singing and praising the Lord together. How sweet it is to see familiar faces coming through the doors and greeting one another in the love of Jesus. As we continue to think about the phenomena of Easter and Christmas it seems natural to wonder what impact and power the body of Christ would have if this zeal to be at Church and to listen to God’s word was a year round practice.

It is not hard to understand how the pressures and challenges of this world can demand much or all of our attention. Employers are demanding more and more time on the job, family activities, school, recreation, and social life can demand more and more of our time and thoughts. If we are not diligent and careful to keep our Spiritual priorities straight they can get muddled and we can drift away from the most important relationship we have with our Creator God through the Lord Jesus.

Remember the scripture that was shared in the last post on this site?

Ephesians 2:4 – 7 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

We looked at this passage and were encouraged to think about the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the significant meaning it has to us who also are raised together with Him and sit together with Him in heavenly places. It is one passage of many in the Bible which teaches us how precious and important our relationship with Jesus is. Another encouraging passage in Scripture that reveals the preciousness of our relationship with Jesus is found in John 17:22 -26, here Jesus prays about our relationship with Him.

“And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: “I in them, and You in Me;  that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You  have loved Me. “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. “O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. “And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

The very source of our life is in heaven, in Jesus Christ and the Father, for we have been united with Him by the Father that we may behold the glory which is given to our Lord, that the love of the Father for the Son may be in us, as He is in us.

Who ever coined the phrase “you are so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good” did not understand the preciousness of having a personal loving relationship with the Lord Jesus, and the dramatic mind changing impact it has on those who do.

Philippians 2: 1 – 4 “Therefore if there is any (since there is) consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the  Spirit, if any affection and mercy,  fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.   Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Just like Jesus)

Think of the dramatic impact Paul’s exhortation would have on the body of Christ, in our homes , and our other relationships, if we truly had the mind of Christ in the choices and conduct of our lives. What if unlike the world we did nothing through selfish ambition or conceit, and truly esteemed others better than ourselves? What if we looked out not only for our own interests, but also looked out for the interests of others? This is our calling… let this truly be our ambition in this life, to be heavenly minded… to have the “Mind of Christ.”

Love and Blessings as we submit to our Lord …  Vince

Why Celebrate Easter?

Marriage and Family Meditations XLXI (61)

Psalm 104:34    May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the LORD.

Cornerstone Ministries Napa Valley

Christian Relationships

Marriage–Christ and the Church

Why Celebrate Easter?

(Because He rose so that we too can rise from the dead)

Dear Loved Ones, Family and Friends,

It is my hope and prayer that each of you and your families will reflect upon the deep and miraculous significance of the coming Easter celebration, as we recognize the life changing significance of the resurrection of Jesus for all who believe in Him as the only begotten Son of God. I hope you are thinking about what His death and resurrection means to each of us.

The bible teaches us clearly that the over all condition of mankind from birth is that we are separated from God, born into sin, and spiritually dead, removed from the very source of eternal life, which is God our Creator.   We are seen by the LORD as separated from Him and walking in darkness, blinded by sin, and with out hope in this world, Condemned for our unrighteous sinful lives.

The evidence is all around us and in us through out the world, revealed in the insanity, cruelty, and moral bankruptcy of our lives. It is reflected in the Clash of racial hatred and the bigotry of nations through social and religious wars, the out of control crime the corruption of society through out the world, broken marriages, abandon families, gang violence, wide spread drug and alcohol abuse, pornography, human slavery, hatred and bigotry, lying and gossip, out of control lust and sexual promiscuousness.

Romans 3:9 – 20

But Jesus is God’s answer to our condition!

Jesus came from God and died and rose from the dead so that we who were dead might also be raised with Him into eternal life.

Ephesians 2:4 – 7 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Romans 5:6 -11 Christ in Our Place

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

What a joyous celebration it is for all of us who have put our trust and faith in the Son of God, our eternal Lord and Savior. May we all reflect the love and grace of our God as we share the reality of Easter with those around us who may still be walking in the darkness of sin, and death.

May God grant that we will all walk faithfully in the resurrected life that Jesus has given us through His indwelling Spirit.

Maranatha … (The Lord is Coming)

Love and Blessings  Vince

“The Priesthood”

Marriage and Family Meditations XLX (60)

Psalm 104:34    May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the LORD.

Cornerstone Ministries Napa Valley

Christian Relationships

Marriage–Christ and the Church

“The Priesthood”

Dear Friends and Family,

In previous blog posts taken from Ephesian 5 we have meditated on the Christians relationship to Jesus as a bridegroom to us as His bride. In this meditation from 1Peter we are looking again at our precious relationship with God, our Father, through His Son Jesus Christ from a different perspective. I often go back to this passage to be reminded of how God sees me because I can have a very distorted view of who I am in Jesus. I hope you are encouraged to think about your life in Him as He sees it.

1 Peter 2:7 – 10 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,

“The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone,” and

“A stone of stumbling

And a rock of offense.”

They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

The average Christian person does not think of himself or herself as being in the priesthood, or even further as being called to a “Royal Priesthood”. Some might realize to some degree that we are His special people. In previous meditations we have looked carefully at this precious relationship that we have with Jesus that has begotten us into the kingdom of God, and made us “His children”. Here in 1 Peter, as he reviews what God has done for believers, God elevates our relationship with Him to that of “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people”. Then Peter gives us the purpose of our new station and responsibility in this life: “that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

What would the Church be like if all of us as believers to fully embraced (heart, soul, strength and mind) the life that our precious Lord has given us? He has called us out of the darkness (of sin and corruption in this world), into His marvelous light (of faith, hope, and love) and begotten us into the kingdom of God. As His children it is time step up to the calling God has mercifully and graciously given us to live as His chosen generation, His royal priesthood, His holy nation, His own special people. Let us proclaim His praises, let us proclaim our love for Him, and let us love Him more and more each day for the precious life He has given us. Let our homes shine with the light of His loving forgiveness, grace and mercy.

Loved ones, it seems clear from our previous meditations, if we are going to do what we have been taught to do, to love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind, then we must embrace our high calling and learn to minister to Him, and serve Him, in the manner taught in His word. As His royal priests, we can learn to love and serve (as He our High Priest did) all or those around us, our family, our friends and the people of the world (our neighbors) in the name of our Lord Jesus.

In 1 Corinthians 6: 19 – 20 God’s word teaches us that Jesus paid the purchase price for us and our bodies are now the temple of the Holy Spirit, whom we have from God. We are sanctified (set aside for God’s purposes) and are able to glorify our Precious Savior in our bodies and spirits. As priests of God in our homes, our work places, our places of recreation, we are called to minister (serve) the love of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.

What a wonderful, challenging, and exciting purpose we have in this life!

Let us encourage one another to fully trust in and embrace who we are called to be in our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ!

Love and Blessings to All… Vince

Encouragement in Trials

Marriage and Family Meditations XLVIII (48)

Psalm 104:34    May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the LORD.

Cornerstone Ministries Napa Valley

Christian Relationships

Marriage–Christ and the Church

Encouragement in Trials

Dear Family and Friends,

Sometimes it seems like everything is falling apart and the whole world is against us; even those closest to us seem to be against us and we feel like we are holding on by a thread. The people who rule over us politically, socially, and economically, can be, or seem to be, tyrannical. And in these times, when we are not responding to one another in a godly way, we can begin to even doubt our relationship with our Creator. While ministering to people in the past  I have asked some individuals who say they are Christians if they died that day if they know that they are going to heaven. Shockingly, some because of their current circumstance would say, “I don’t know”. Because of lack of understanding or errant thinking we can begin question if we are indeed God’s children.

In 1Peter, the Apostle is writing to the Christians who were suffering in the dispersion. He is seeking to remind them of who they are in Christ and to encourage and strengthen them, to focus them on their relationship with God through Jesus Christ and with one another. I would like to follow up the previous relationship meditations we have been considering with a series of studies in this epistle. We will focus on Peter’s advice and counsel to the Church about our relationships with God and with one another.

1 Peter 1:1 – 12 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith–the salvation of your souls.

Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven–things which angels desire to look into.

Peter in the beginning of his letter reminds them that it is “God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope.” This was done through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead… Our inheritance is “incorruptible and undefiled, it will never fade away, God has reserved it in heaven for each of us “who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation”  (we are born through the resurrection and kept by His power, by believing in His offer of salvation)

What wonderful assuring words we have not only here, but through out the Bible, for we have a common faith in God with the prophets of old and with the Apostles and disciples who walked with Jesus seeing the “fulfillment of the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow” with more glories yet to be seen.

I would encourage you all to read through Peter’s letter and consider (meditate on) the powerful impact that our relationship with our loving God and Creator can and should have on our lives as we fully meditate on the enormous blessings and love that God has poured out on us.

If you have questions or thoughts on some of the ideas and teachings in this blog please feel free to make comments here or email me at vinceasaro@sbcglobal.net

Be blessed and encouraged in the Love of Jesus… Vince

Choice that Divides (Death or Life)

Marriage and Family Meditations XLVII (47)

Psalm 104:34    May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the LORD.

Cornerstone Ministries Napa Valley

Christian Relationships

Marriage–Christ and the Church

Choice that Divides (Death or Life)

Dear Family and Friends,

In the previous blog on this site we considered the division of man into two categories. According to the Bible there are those who have found forgiveness and salvation in Jesus Christ, and are now called “children of God”, and there are those who yet remain lost in sin, “children of the devil”, who are under the condemnation and judgment of God. 1 John 3:10 – 23

In Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians we are reminded of the reality of this in our own lives as Christians.

Ephesians 2 – 10 “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Most of us have grieved over the loss of a loved one. Coming to grips with death is the most challenging and troubling event  in a persons life, a constant reminder of our finiteness and mortality. Most people would want to have the power to bring back to life a loved parent, child, other family member, or friend who has died, yet we understand that we are powerless to do such a miraculous thing. But… what we can not do, God has done in all of us who choose in faith to believe and receive our Creators gift of Life. This precious gift of life is the only thing that a dying world needs, and we who are alive in Christ Jesus have the gift of life in Christ to offer to those who are dead in sin. We are His workmanship called to carry on His good work which God has prepared for us to live out.

The Choice that divides is a choice of faith in God who offers us forgiveness and redemption from sin and death, by being “born again” through Spirit of  life in Christ Jesus..

Titus 2: 11 -14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.   Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

May we all choose faithfully to walk in the good work of God who wants to impart His life through us to a dying world and use us to redeem those who are lost in sin back to Himself.

Blessings to All in Christ Jesus   Vince

Believers and Non-Believers (God loves both)

Marriage and Family Meditations XLVI (46)

Psalm 104:34    May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the LORD.

Cornerstone Ministries Napa Valley

Christian Relationships / Marriage–Christ and the Church

Believers and Non-Believers (God loves both)

Dear Friends and Family,

Thanks to all who have been meditating on the loving intimacy of our relationship with God our Father and Creator. I hope that it has stirred you as it has me to realize how personally He loves and cares for each one of us and how He desires that same unselfish love to manifest itself in us in our relationship with Him and with one another.  Along the way we have seen that, in Christ, the world has been separated into two categories of people: those who are children of God, and those who are children of the devil. 1 John 3:10 – 23 The Bible teaches us that God’s children are united with Him through His son Jesus Christ our righteous Redeemer and Savior.  The children of the devil are united to him through the sins of this world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.  Many of us have learned that our Creator God has mercifully and graciously offered us a solution to the sin and judgment that we know we deserve, and we have put our faith and hope in what Jesus has said and done in our behalf.

The Apostle John recorded what Jesus taught:

John 3:16 – 21  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Through out the Bible we see two forces at work, the kingdom of God vs. the kingdom of Satan and the sinful world of man. The metaphors used in scripture symbolize the contrast: light and darkness, good and evil, godliness vs. ungodliness, love and hate, that which is of the God vs. the things of the world, Christ Jesus vs. the spirit of Antichrist. These are opposing forces in this world which the Bible warns us about.  It does not matter if you are born of high estate or low estate, what race you are, what religion you follow, what education or lack of education you have, if you are a citizen of the third world or an industrialized nation.  All men and women in this world, according to God’s word (the Bible), are lost in sin and darkness, and are under the condemnation of sin and judgment by our Creator, until they believe in and receive God’s loving and gracious offer of forgiveness, redemption, and eternal life through the sacrificial death and resurrection of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, and become “born again” children of God.

All of us who do believe have a firm conviction and faith that God has forgiven us, knowing that He has made us children of God.  We have been saved from condemnation with the world. We have responded to God’s love by trusting and believing in Jesus, by obeying Him, by practicing righteousness, and learning to love Him and submit to Him more and more each day.

As God’s loving children it should always be our hope that by faithfully loving our neighbors, both those who believe as we do and those who don’t, we can share the truth, the life, and hope we have. We are exhorted to encourage and build up those who are His, and to make disciples of those who haven’t yet believed.  May we always have the heart of Jesus to redeem those who are lost in sin and still need the Savior just as we do.

Titus 2:11 – 17

1 John 2 Please read and meditate on the choices God has given us and the significance of those choices in our life.

I hope you will consider these things and read my next blog which will be considering “Our Choices”

Love and Blessings to You All…        Vince

The Imperative of Love

Marriage and Family Meditations XLIV (44)

Psalm 104:34    May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the LORD.

Cornerstone Ministries Napa Valley

Christian Relationships

Marriage–Christ and the Church

The Imperative of Love

(Imperative : absolutely necessary or required; unavoidable)

1 John 3: 10 -23 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

The Outworking of Love

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. (Highlighting added)

The apostle John’s teaching here reveals the fundamental truth that there are only 2 kinds of people in this world; those who are children of God and those who are children of the devil. According to the teachings of our Lord Jesus we are born in sin, condemnation and death, we are children of the devil under his influence and rule, but He (Jesus) came that we might have life everlasting, by believing in Him as the only begotten Son of God we can be “born again” born of the spirit and become children of God.

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

When we have received the Love of God and understand His loving sacrifice for us in laying down His life, then we ought to also begin to manifest the same love in our life under the imperative of His command to love one another as He has loved us.

John 13:34 – 35 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

(Also read) Rom 12:10;13:8; Gal5:13; Eph4:2; 1Th 3:12, 4:9; Heb 10:24; 1Pet 1:22, 3:8, 4:8, 5:14; 1John 3:11, 3:23, 4:7, 4:11, 4:12.

An important challenge for us in the first passage 1 John 3: 10 -23, is in the admonition of John to “not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” It is in the reality of self sacrificial living, and in providing for the needs of others, it is in the practice of righteous living that the reality (the truth) of our love is demonstrated.

Surely we can readily confess that as God’s children we all fall short of what God has commanded us to do; to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves… but, let us meditate on the imperative of love, the kind of love that God commands of us, the self sacrificial love that Jesus demonstrated for us.  Let us submit day by day and moment by moment to the life and the love that He has given us in Christ, and commit ourselves letting His love rule our lives.

Note: This meditation is connected to a series of articles on Loving God heart, soul, strength, and mind. You are encouraged to read and meditate on the previous posts.

Blessings and Love in Jesus Vince

1John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

Life is for Loving God

Marriage and Family Meditations XLIV (44)
Psalm 104:34 May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the LORD.
Cornerstone Ministries Napa Valley

Marriage–Christ and the Church
Life is for Loving God

Dear Family and Friends,

As I was driving from Cotati to Napa today and thinking about loving God, it became so clear again that the Bible teaches us that the most important aspect of life for those who are called God’s people is to have a right relationship with Him, (loving Him with all of our heart, soul, strength and mind) as He our Creator loves us. And also that we His people love each other, as He our Creator loves us. We were created to have a loving relationship with our Heavenly Father, and to love each other because we are His creation. This relationship was His design and purpose from the beginning. God is preparing us now for an eternal relationship of oneness and love with Him in the Lord Jesus.

The Bible teaches us that this is to be the identifying characteristic of God’s people, for all who believe in and follow Jesus. Loving God is accomplished by choosing to obey Him, and follow His commands and teaching.

John 14:15   “If you love Me, keep My commandments”.
John 14:21    “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
John 13:34   “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another”
John 15:12   “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
John 15:17  “These things I command you, that you love one another.”
1Pe 1:22        “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.”

The Bible teaches us that it is only through faith in Jesus the Son of God that we can be reconciled to our Creator God and be restored to a loving relationship with Him. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Then, as a result of believing in and following Jesus, the one true identifying characteristic and behavior of God’s people is that they are learning to love God with all their heart, soul, strength and mind, and to love their neighbors as themselves. That love is manifested (put into action) by obedience to God’s word.

Let us remember that love is not a profession, nor necessarily regular church attendance or religious observances. Love is a life style, a demonstration in word and deed of the godly passion of a believer’s heart for the Lord and for others. Love is carried out in the moment by moment issues of life. Love is revealed in our submission to the leading and Lordship of God in Jesus, when we do His will by seeking loving fellowship with Him, with one another, and by allowing His Spirit to teach us to love others as we love ourselves.

I hope that as we have looked at these passages and meditated on them that the Lord will stir our hearts more and more with the passion of our Lord Jesus to love as He loves and to be moved to the good works that God has prepared and called us to.

May each of us begin this new year with renewed hearts of passion and zeal for loving and obeying the Lord, and caring for and loving our brothers and sisters in the church, and for the lost around us and in the world.

Love and Blessings in our Lord Jesus for the new year ahead, Vince

Take Time to Love God

Marriage and Family Meditations XLIII (43)

Psalm 104:34    May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the LORD.

Cornerstone Ministries Napa Valley

Marriage–Christ and the Church

Take Time to Love God

When Jesus had risen from the dead He began to appear to the disciples and show himself to them. On His third appearance He confronted Peter who had denied Christ 3 times during his trial, prior to His death and resurrection. John 21: 15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”   He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”  He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of   Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”   He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

It is important to realize that Jesus asks this question 3 times and gives Simon (Peter) 3 opportunities to confess his loving friendship and Peter is humbled and grieved by the 3^rd time. In this interchange Jesus is graciously showing him that He accepts his confession of love. And each time the Lord then tells Simon (Peter) to serve Him by obeying the command to; “feed My sheep”.

In the last posted meditation on “A Time to Love God” we thought about the focus of our lives, moment by moment and how the accumulated “Time” of our lives reflects  just how much we are loving God with “all of our hearts, soul, mind, and strength”.

Jesus is asking us today, “do you love me more than these”?  As His church/ His people how do we answer how do we respond?  Our choices, in the moments of our lives, in the time spent shows whether or not we are lovingly serving Him, or serving ourselves.

• · For instance; in this moment you are reading and considering these passages because you have chosen to do so, out of love for God.
• · At other times when we read your bible and seek to understand God’s will and purposes we are demonstrating your love for Him.
• · When we obediently reach out to share our faith in Jesus with a family member, friend, or co worker we are lovingly obeying the Lord in that moment.
• · We are loving God when we go shopping at the mall and chose not to be extravagant and get the biggest and shiniest but rather the more practical and expedient in order to please God and show Him we are being a good steward of the money He gives us.
• · When we hear of a need for someone in the church or in the neighborhood, or at work, and then plan for and take time to go see that the need is taken care of, we are lovingly obeying Jesus by “feeding/tending His sheep”.
• · When we are consciously accepting the difficult circumstances of this life and we submit them to the Lord Jesus in faith, trusting Him and obeying Him, we are showing Him our love.
• · When we visit and pray for the sick, feed the homeless, visit those in jail, care for widows, and orphans, we are  loving God and serving the Lord Jesus.
• · When we take time to teach our children God’s word and show them why it is so important, we are demonstrating our loving affection for our Creator.

In all manner and circumstances of our lives we can moment by moment day by day demonstrate the loving kindness, forgiveness, mercy and compassion of our Lord Jesus, by presenting our selves to Him and serving Him and loving (feeding/tending) one another.

1 John 3:16 “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

May our hearts be full of the love of Christ Jesus and may our expectations, desires, aspirations, and passions be to see God’s will and purposes, and the life of our Lord Jesus lived out through us moment by moment and day by day.

Love in Christ Jesus Vince