Romans 14:19
So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
I tried hard recently to put together a blog entry on some other items but it just wouldn't come together. Probably because I tried real hard to put it together... hah hah...
It took a lively conversation with a dear friend in email to bring me to this one. It reminded me of just what is so important in these days for the Body of Christ to be focused on.
Christ's commandments to us are these, and they are not burdensome:
• To Love God
• Love our neighbors as ourselves
• Love one another as He loved us
• Do unto others as we would have done unto us
• Forgive one another as He has forgiven us
• Seek peace and edify and build up one another
• Preach the gospel
• Keep His Word and thereby not deny His name
• and Patiently Endure
Paul is so singularly focused on the unity of the body in many of his epistles, through encouragement and edification, and the discarding of arguments and controversies that lead to division.
Always pointing to the positives of Faith, Hope, and Love, and discarding the world.
Some examples:
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
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2 Timothy 2:22
Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
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Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think on these things.
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Ephesians 5:19
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord.
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And who can deny the importance of all this in our current time now, more so than ever before.
Paul says of Faith, Hope, and Love, that the greatest of these is Love. So we should understand the quality of that Love he speaks of, which is answered in the very same chapter in:
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
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 account of wrongs.
Love takes no pleasure in evil,
but rejoices in the truth.
It bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things.
Love never fails.
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Regarding our days...
Daniel 12 is an interesting chapter, and in conjunction with Revelation 22, a certain statement is revealed from the perspective of heaven about our days.
Daniel 12:2-3
Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace [and] everlasting contempt.
Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
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Daniel 12:10
Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.
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Revelation 22:11
Let the unrighteous continue to be unrighteous, and the vile continue to be vile; let the righteous continue to practice righteousness, and the holy continue to be holy.
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I have to ask myself, will I shine brightly in unity with my fellow servants of the Lord, or will I be mired in the muck of the world and it's passing concerns, arguments, controversies, and rabbit holes?
I choose to shine like the living water, and reflect His light as I am able.
❤️
Grace and Peace to you all in our Lord Jesus Christ!
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