THE LOVE OF LOVE
1 John 3:1-8
The Father’s love is the real beginning of the Christian life. That love was so real that it gave the Only Begotten to make a way back for us to the old home. He never forces anyone. He wants our free choice freely given. That’s the love of his love for us. But he does kindle the subtle, soft-burning fires of his love until we are mellowed and melted, and want to come back.
FINEST FRUIT
2 Timothy 4:1-8
We shall be like Jesus some glad day when we come up into his presence. We’ll be like him in purity and goodness and in being wholly, thoroughly right. This is the finest fruit, the crown of the fruitage. It’s the final fruitage in us, of his blood shed, of our choice of him persisted in, and of the gracious work within us of his Spirit. And each passing day may help ripen to the full that wondrous fruit.
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Think about these questions as you meditate on the verse. What does this verse teach me? How does this verse apply to my Life?
GOD WITHIN MAKING MUSIC
Philippians 4:4-9
Peace is a heart word. It’s more. It’s a heart thing. And the thing’s immensely more than the word. The experience is so much more than can be told. And the heart controls life and mood and service. Peace is God himself within making music, holding off all storm and disturbance and discord. He comes in through the only door to the heart, the door of our glad consent to his unstinted presence and control.
REFRESHMENT IN DRY PLACES
John 16:22-28
Joy is distinctly a Christian word and a Christian thing. It’s the reverse of happiness. Happiness is the result of what happens of an agreeable sort. Joy has its springs deep down, inside. And that spring never runs dry, no matter what happens. Only Jesus gives that joy. He had joy, singing its music within, even under the shadow of the Cross. It’s an unknown word and thing except as he has sway within.
CHOCK-FULL
Psalms 1:1-6
You can’t grow strong on “nots,” but you won’t grow strong without them. The presence of evil makes you line up and leave some things out. The best way to get and keep them out is to fill the life chock-full of the Positives. Chew the cud of the Book. Keep your roots deep in the living waters. Breathe the wholesome air of His presence. There’ll be no room for anything that oughtn’t to be there.
