Three Distinct Actions

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37 (NKJV)

Love: involves the idea of affectionate reverence, prompt obedience, grateful recognition of benefits received

Lord: a person exercising absolute ownership rights

All: complete (in extent, amount, time or degree)

Heart: it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavors

Soul:  the root of the English words "psyche," "psychology"; a person's distinct identity (unique personhood), i.e. individual personality

Mind: the faculty of understanding, feeling, desiring

This weekend is my Church's Missions Conference. The theme verse is Matthew 22:37. As I was studying this verse this morning, the meaning of the word "love" stood out. 

Involves the idea of affectionate reverence, prompt obedience, grateful recognition of benefits received.

Affectionate reverence. 

Prompt obedience. 

Grateful recognition of benefits received. 

Three distinct actions. 

As I evaluate my life, do I love my Lord (who does have absolute ownership rights to me), with those three distinct actions?  Do I give him the reverence He deserves? Do I obey him promptly? Do I not only have an attitude of gratefulness for all the benefits, but do I tell Him, "Thank you"? 

Look at the three distinct areas in which I am to love God. 

Heart. Soul. Mind. 

The heart is my desires, my passions. The soul is "who I am". The mind is understanding, feeling, thinking. 

Do my desires and passions reflect a reverence for God? Am I passionate about obeying God — promptly? Do my thoughts readily express gratefulness? 

Some will say, "but that's not who I am? I wasn't made that way?" But the truth is, that God did make us "that way". We were designed in the image of God, and if it weren't for sin, we would love God with the entirety of our souls. 

What do I put into my mind? What do I dwell upon? What do I allow to dictate how I feel, and what my desires are? If I evaluate my thoughts through the filter of "love", will I find that I have reverence for God? Do I act quickly in obeying God in making sure my thoughts and feelings are in accordance with Him? Am I quick to give thanks for all God does? 

Love. Three distinct actions. 

Proverbs 2:16-20: Verbs, Adverbs, Adjectives

To deliver you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words,

Who forsakes the companion of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God.

For her house leads down to death, and her paths to the dead;

None who go to her return, nor do they regain the paths of life—

So you may walk in the way of goodness, and keep to the paths of righteousness. Proverbs 2:16-20

Wisdom continues to DELIVER us from those who would lead us astray. 

Deliver: rescue, recover

Immoral: strange woman, harlot

Seductress: outlandish, stranger

Flatters: be smooth, slippery, lie, forge, fabricate

Forsakes: be remote, absent, depart

Companion: friend, intimate

Youth: early life

Forgets: omits

Covenant: alliance of marriage

God: Yahweh is God in truth

House: abode

Leads: cause to dwindle, to sink

Death: state of death or place of death

Paths: entrenchment

Dead:  powerless ones

Go to: of taking part in; associating

Return: of revival from death

Regain: reach, attain to

Paths: path of life, in righteousness & enjoyment of God

Righteousness: as welfare and happiness; spiritual blessedness

So: purpose, intentWalk: go, come, accompany

Way: of moral action and character

Goodness: pleasant to the higher nature, giving pleasure, happiness, prosperity

Keep: observe, celebrate obligations

Paths: of mode of living, or of character

Righteousness: in conduct and character, ethically

As Wisdom continues to deliver us from the wrong paths and decisions, I love that Wisdom doesn't just send us on our way to figure it out for ourselves. Rather, there is a purpose and intent given so that we know our goal—to accompany Wisdom and enjoy happiness as we celebrate our obligations, our promises to God. There is a strong contrast between the one who forsakes Wisdom and the one who chooses Wisdom. And that contrast is evident in their character and their conduct. 

Verbs are actions leading to an end result.

Adverbs express manner, place, frequency, level of certainty. Answering: how, in what way, when, where, and to what extent.

Adjective: a describing word, qualifying a noun, providing more information about the object signified.

Proverbs is providing not only the VERBS (action to be done) but also gives Adverbs and Adjectives, so that there is a clear distinction and understanding of the consequences of the action. 

The decision is which adverbs and adjectives will you choose? "Wisdom" or "Other"

When a heart is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG), the the choice is easier to recognize and carry out. Verbs require action. Adverbs and Adjectives modify and clarify. 

Equality Based on God's Grace

  If you are looking for the posts about

God's Amazing Blessing

Announcement—I'm moving!

here's the link to the first Part: 

http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2015/05/announcement-part-1-im-moving.html

Then follow the arrows at the bottom of each post to the next Part.

There are 10 parts in all. 

I recommend that you read each part, there are amazing details—

and God took care of each and every one! 

______________________________________________

 This post is the continuation of my Study of Colossians.

[In this new creation all distinctions vanish.] There is no room for and there can be neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, [nor difference between nations whether alien] barbarians or Scythians [who are the most savage of all], nor slave or free man; but Christ is all and in all [everything and everywhere, to all men, without distinction of person].  Colossians 3:11 (AMP)

Equality. That word is used a lot these days. Everyone should be equal. People are upset if someone who has worked hard has more than they do. Or if someone gets something for free, and someone else has to pay for it. But equality in early things is not a true reality. 

The fact is that on this earth there is only one solid fact that can make sure truly equal—our relationship in Christ—equality based on God's grace. 

Christ is all — Christ absorbs in Himself all distinctions, being to all alike, everything that they need for justification, sanctification, and glorification.

in all — who believe and are renewed, without distinction of person; the sole distinction now is, how much each draws from Christ. The unity of the divine life shared in by all believers, counterbalances all differences, even as great as that between the polished “Greek” and the rude “Scythian.” Christianity imparts to the most uncivilized the only spring of sound, social and moral culture. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Equality in Christ is possible, because we recognize that as sinners there is absolutely NOTHING we can do to merit any favor with God. It is by God's grace and mercy alone that we are saved from an eternity of hell. It is all Christ. And since before God we have NOTHING to offer, we each are then equal before a Holy Almighty God. Equality based on God's grace.

Equality as believers is possibile because we recognize that our salvation is from God and God alone. We all come empty handed, and have nothing to offer. God in His abundant grace and mercy loves us and forgives us. 

The more I am permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31; MSG), I will not only appreciate more the grace of God, but I will also understand the bond I have with other believers in Christ—equality based on God's grace.