GOLDEN WORDS

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.    

Ephesians 4: 4- 6

There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:4-6 (NASB)

There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.


Ephesians 4:4-6 (NIV) 




This is a great argument for an earnest displaying of brotherly love. We are made one body as it were of one God and Father, by one Spirit, worshipping one Lord with one faith, and consecrated to him with one baptism, and having hope of one self same glory, unto which we are called. Therefore, whoever breaks charity, breaks all of these things apart. In order to love one another as our brothers and sisters, we must first love Jesus.




Nobility

That day is best wherein we give
A thought to others' sorrows;
Forgetting self, we learn to live,
And blessings born of kindly deeds
Make golden our tomorrows.
Howe'er it seems to me
'Tis only noble to be good;
Kind hearts are more than coronet
And simple faith than Norman blood

Sir Alfred Tennyson

Daily Meditations by Pat Nordman

January 31

"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased" Hebrews 13:16.

"Let the weakest, let the humblest remember, that in his daily course he can, if he will, shed around him almost a heaven. Kindly words, sympathizing attentions, watchfulness against wounding men's sensitiveness these cost very little, but they are priceless in their value. Are they not almost the staple of our daily happiness? From hour to hour, from moment to moment, we are supported, blest, by small kindnesses." F.W. Robertson, Daily Strength for Daily Needs, pg.62.
The word "sacrifices" is interesting in this context, for it is indeed a sacrifice, an offering, a price, that we surrender. It is part of our time or our money or our very selves that we give to another, not for what we can get in return, but out of God's love and our own. We will never know what comfort we bring to another just by listening. Many a broken heart and weary mind wants to divide his or her sorrows, and only the one who knows how to love as Christ loves can carry that burden for another.

To do good means to promote the welfare and happiness of another and to help prevent misfortune or adversity. We honor God by honoring His commandment to love others as we love ourselves. This is the "sacrifice" with which He is so well pleased. He does not delight in self torture of either body or mind. He does delight in innocent pleasures that restore the body and mind and spirit, and help us to help others because our own lives are in harmony.

The greatest sacrifice was the Lamb of God who died that we might be at one with all. He has cancelled out our debts and their effects; all we need to do is to surrender our whole selves to Him who wills to use us where we are most needed. It may be only a cup of cold water in His name, but it is a great kindness to the one who so desperately needs it


Pat Nordman ©

 

T H I N K A B O U T I T

Witness of the Holy Spirit When Nansen started on his Arctic expedition he took with him a carrier dove, strong and fleet of wing; and after two years – two years in the desolation of the Arctic regions -- he one day wrote a tiny little message, and tied it under the dove's wing, and let it loose, to travel two thousand miles to Norway; and, oh, what miles! what desolation! not a living creature ! ice, ice, ice, snow and death. But he took the trembling little dove and flung her up from the ship, up into the icy cold. Three circles she made, and then, straight as an arrow, she shot south; one thousand miles over ice, one thousand miles over the frozen wastes of ocean, and at last dropped into the lap of the explorer's wife. She knew by the arrival of the dove that it was all right in the dark night of the North. So, to the apostles and the rest of the disciples, when Jesus had finished the covenant, He said, "Wait till I send from heaven the promise of the Father. Go not home till He has arrived. The Dove that descended on Me at the inception of the New Covenant in the baptism of Jordan, He will come. I shall send Him. Wait till you hear from Me." They saw Him go; they saw Him disappear into the blue of heaven. As they were all waiting with one accord, in one place, suddenly a noise as of a rushing mighty wind filled the house, and the Spirit descended, and there appeared cloven tongues like as of fire, and sat upon each of them. The Dove had arrived! it is all right with the Mediator of the New Covenant.  F.E. Marsh  Illustrated Bible Study Outlines

 

January 31   Exodus 40:1 - 40:38 Linked to Bible Gaitway TM

 

 

Today's  Devotion

 

... ...and by his light I walked through darkness!    JOB 29:3 NIV   Simple  by Pat Nordman   "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus" Acts 4:13 It  was beyond doubt that these unsophisticated and common men were friends of Jesus. Their words and acts proved it. What was it that finally convinced the authorities that these men they scorned now were so bold because they had been with Jesus?     "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong" 1 Corinthians 1:27. Peter, impulsive and assertive, who had just recently cursed and disowned his Lord, is transformed from sinking sand into bedrock firmness; John, ambitious, sensitive, longing for love and companionship, becomes valiant.     What was it that made this personality and character change? Basically they remained simple of heart and mind. This is what Jesus wanted--and wants--in His disciples. It was their devotion and courage and determination that changed. It was the power of the Holy Spirit that wrought the change, and not the power of money or intellect or social urgings. These men were still poor and unlettered, but now they were clothed with the armor of God.     If we don't know the Person, then we can't have a true change of personality. Peter and John knew Jesus intimately. Indeed, John rested on Jesus' breast at the Last Supper (John 13:25). We, too, must lay on the bosom of Jesus and share our intimate secrets with Him. Then others will note that we have been with the lovely Jesus. © Pat Nordman It was the power of the Holy Spirit that wrought the change...   More Walking Through the Darkness

 

 

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