Proper 20 B - Eph. 5:18-21 - Love with Heart, Soul, and Strength
... (A)s we try to remain constantly aware of God's command, how do we live out (the) three loves? In his letter to the Ephesian church, Paul helps us to answer that question by saying, "Be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18)
If we are loving ourselves, we will speak and sing words of joy: "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord" (verse 19). Satisfied lives will be ones of joy, praise and excitement. They will reflect positive thoughts, ideas, and praises to God. What a great test to see where our personal satisfaction is! Are we known as a person who is fun to be around or as someone who people avoid? God wants us to be satisfied with ourselves through Christ and reflect the joy of the Lord in our soul, mind, and spirit.
If we are loving God, we will be able to fulfill the command of Ephesians 5:20 by "always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father" (NASB). If we love God, we will find ourselves giving thanks for all things. We will have an appreciative heart for all that goes on around us. Positive words will flow from our lips unto God.
If we are loving other people, we will be able to "be subject to one another in the fear of Christ" (Verse 21 NASB). When we truly love God we become equipped to be submissive to others. These word (sic) "subject" or "submissive" have taken a beating in today's sulture. In essence, these words are telling us to be satisfied with other people to the point that we are willing to step aside in our personal relationships. We are willing to allow another person's needs to take precedence over our own. The submission is to be based on reverence for God. It is impossible to be subject to one another by human desire. It is possible only when we mutually submit to one another out of respect for God...
TAKING ACTION
Write down several ways you presently live out your love of...
-God
-others
-self.
Now write down several new ways to love God, others and yourself. Choose one category to start doing this week.
Bob & Emilie Barnes, 15 Minute Devotions for Couples; Harvest House Publishers; Eugene, Oregon; 1995; Pg 180-181.
If we are loving ourselves, we will speak and sing words of joy: "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord" (verse 19). Satisfied lives will be ones of joy, praise and excitement. They will reflect positive thoughts, ideas, and praises to God. What a great test to see where our personal satisfaction is! Are we known as a person who is fun to be around or as someone who people avoid? God wants us to be satisfied with ourselves through Christ and reflect the joy of the Lord in our soul, mind, and spirit.
If we are loving God, we will be able to fulfill the command of Ephesians 5:20 by "always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father" (NASB). If we love God, we will find ourselves giving thanks for all things. We will have an appreciative heart for all that goes on around us. Positive words will flow from our lips unto God.
If we are loving other people, we will be able to "be subject to one another in the fear of Christ" (Verse 21 NASB). When we truly love God we become equipped to be submissive to others. These word (sic) "subject" or "submissive" have taken a beating in today's sulture. In essence, these words are telling us to be satisfied with other people to the point that we are willing to step aside in our personal relationships. We are willing to allow another person's needs to take precedence over our own. The submission is to be based on reverence for God. It is impossible to be subject to one another by human desire. It is possible only when we mutually submit to one another out of respect for God...
TAKING ACTION
Write down several ways you presently live out your love of...
-God
-others
-self.
Now write down several new ways to love God, others and yourself. Choose one category to start doing this week.
Bob & Emilie Barnes, 15 Minute Devotions for Couples; Harvest House Publishers; Eugene, Oregon; 1995; Pg 180-181.
posted by shaun | 1:05 PM
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