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Our view of God is what shapes our lives!
If in fact the life of the Father is our only true source of life, then doesn’t it stand to reason that what God our Father is, is what we are?
Meaning, it says that the fruit (nature) of God being love is, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
It goes on to further describe God (our true nature) being love in this manner. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always perseveres.”
Here is something that needs to be considered, it says, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
Isn’t it interesting that Jesus said that the world will know you are mine, by your love one toward another!
How can we that have been birthed by God the Father and yet live apart from not only Who’s we are, but who we are?
Why do our actions so often not correspond to the reality established in Who’s we are and who we are at the core of our being?
Why is it that when we see ourselves living contrary to the nature of who God is, that we resort to what we still think is our default position and try to “be” more patient, loving, kind etc. as if it is something we can produce by trying harder?
Is it possible that our loving heavenly Father is dealing, going the distance, deeply infiltrating us, and going to the depth of the ingrained habitual sin habit pattern that has tried to define who we are?
What a wonder-struck sense awaits us as he continues to open the eyes of our heart to see, know that the Law of the spirit of Life has freed us from the gravitational pull of sin and death.
His nature is not an add-on, it IS! The works of the flesh ARE! The fruit of the spirit IS!
This is so much more than mere semantics, remember, it’s a revelation not a seminar. Much like the difference between “like verses as,” are we to “be Christ like, or AS Christ?”
It is so easy to settle for a facsimile (a form of godliness) rather than Christ living in us as us.
This IS everlasting Life that you know ME!
Rich
7 comments:
Rich,
Wonderful post! I couldn't agree more!
It's so interesting, last Thursday I posted a blog called "God Is Love," and some beautiful conversation and thoughts flowed forth from others.
I'm not sure if you've read it yet, but "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" was actually spoken there!
Neat stuff the Holy Spirit reveals to our hearts among siblings in the Great Family.
Blessings,
~Amy :)
Amy,
Thanks for stopping by.
No, I hadn't read your post, I'll give it a read, thanks.
Discovering Who's we are, sure leads to some wonderful sibling bonding.
"Our view of God is what shapes our lives!"
I'm reading "Despereaux" to my kids this month and if you haven't read the book there are characters in it who have had little chance in life and have been harmed because of it. There are also characters here who have lead dark lives as well. But underneath it lies a message about love and hope and the possibility of redemption. So far, God is outside the picture of this story and yet the very fact that He is outside is so telling to the heartbreaking incidents in the story. It's certainly given plenty of opportunity to talk about identity and destiny with my children.:)
I loved this Rich. I need to hear this stuff daily! A few years ago I would have been so confused and frustrated by the idea of Christ as my life. Now I hunger to walk in this reality.
Keep sharing this stuff!
Silent Wings,
I’m not familiar with the book you’ve mentioned, but what is even more tragic to me is the fact of those who have been received of the Father, “God inside the story” and yet apart from the Matrix of religion, there appears to be no innate ability to live life apart from existing within some kind of ICU (intensive care unit) hook up!
The “hunger” for this reality you speak of is in my opinion written into our spiritual DNA, a divine imprinting as it were.
If we’re not listening to the Father of our spirit (and because there are no vacuums), the only other father is the one Jesus called, the “father of lies.”
I can not escape what He is doing in my life, making known to me “Who’s I am” and out of that reality I am slowly discovering in fact, Who I am. I am wonder struck.
To borrow a line from the Ragamuffin Gospel, “To live is to be broken. And to be broken is to stand in need of Grace.”
The more He makes Himself known to me, the more I see my need for him!
Sin has produced such a soul sickness in us all, and the impetus has a spirited fuel that motivates it in us, such as, “love me, need me, want me.”
Indeed he has made us to be so very needy, but that need was created by Him for Him, it is our salvation, when we turn to Him, the clouded mind is freed to see and experience the truth. Apart from the person of truth, Christ Jesus the truth is but just another set of rules.
hmmm
"What a wonder-struck sense awaits us as he continues to open the eyes of our heart to see, know that the Law of the spirit of Life has freed us from the gravitational pull of sin and death. His nature is not an add-on, it IS! The works of the flesh ARE! The fruit of the spirit IS!"
mmmmmm I'm listening.
Do you mind if I quote this on my blog as I form my thoughts?
Silent Wings,
Please do!
It's this kind of thing that so resonates within me, seeing my fellow siblings sensing the moving of His life in us, moving them according to the current of the spirit, drawing us ever deeper into as of yet untold, unseen realities of this One (our Father) who calls us His dear and precious sons.
Thanks Rich. Me too, me too.
BTW...please call me Cirra :)
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