Sometimes we need to be reminded that we have died; we have been crucified with Christ on the cross, so that the only life that should direct our actions is Christ's resurrected life. Yet I forget so often. I often set my mind on the things of the earth and not at all on the things which are above, but the Lord reminded me that I have died. The only true life I have now is hidden in Christ. My old fallen life is supposed to be dead. I now realize how much I need the Lord. To live at all, I need Him, because He is my life. And what a life too! I hope for His coming day.
It's very difficult to love every fellow believer all the time, and we sometimes have arguments with another believer because of slight differences in our faith. That happened this week, but indeed happens to all of us at some time or another. Yet the Lord told us to love one another! As long as we all believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, we are brothers and sisters to each other. We should love one another. Yes, it's very hard sometimes, but I believe it can be done if we just trust in the Lord. Help us love one another, Lord.
How good it is that the Lord chose us even before the foundation of the world! It is really by His mercy that we are saved. It's not any good work we did that compelled Him to choose us, but He chose us in love! HE would even cause us to be holy--separate and set apart--for Himself! I just really feel blessed that the Lord chose me. Perhaps it is because He saw that we would choose Him, but whichever way, He chose us first. It's confusing, but it doesn't matter. The Creator of the universe chose us for Himself!
I was away last week at a gathering of the young people on the east coast. There we sang and prayed together and learned about God's full salvation for us. It was a wonderful time. But because of it I didn't update last week, so there was no verse for last week. But I feel that it was worth it. Being with other believers my age and loving the Lord together was very encouraging, and last week was a precious time.