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Archive for October, 2010

What is Truth?

Posted in Spiritual, tagged , , on October 30, 2010 | 1 Comment »


“WHAT IS TRUTH?” This is a crucial question for which, sooner or later, we all must find the answer.  It was asked of Jesus during his trial before Pilate, the Roman Governor.  And it has come down through the ages to every individual.

Truth is defined as conformity to fact or reality;  factual; absolute; constant; never changing.  It stands on its own, not relative to anything else.  Opinions can change, ideas may come and go, interpretations are formed according to circumstances, perceptions are prompted by personalities and experience.  But Truth is Fact – and stands firm against all onslaughts.  A person’s thoughts, beliefs, understandings, perceptions, opinions, ideas, can change with the changing times and all their fickle influences.  But Truth is Fact – and stands alone, unaided by human trivialities.

“What is Truth?” the Governor asked, as Jesus stood before Him mute;
He had not heard the Master’s word when He declared, “I AM THE TRUTH!”
What is Truth?  It’s essential to know, for it’s promised to set us free;
With open ear we’re made to hear, and open eye will come to see.

What is Truth – and never a lie – that springs from the inward parts?
Truth is a Person – not a thing – Whose Spirit dwells within our hearts.
Truth is a Person – the Son of God – Who came down to our earth to be
The Way to the Father’s Abode;  the Life for all for eternity.

© Eulene H. Moores

Actually, the Scriptural definition of truth is more than ‘some thing.’  It is ‘Some One!’  Jesus declared “I am the Truth” and to know Him would make us truly free – free from all the falsities of human delusion and the subtle deception of the human heart.  Until we have a vital relationship with Him, Who is the very embodiment of Truth, we are told that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked;  who can know it?” That “the imagination of the thoughts of the heart are only evil continually!” (John 14:6; 8:32; Jer. 17:9; Gen. 6:5)

The Psalmist knew that God “desires truth in the inward parts,” and it is His intention to remove the “stony heart” and replace it with a “heart of flesh”  In other words, a clean, pure, honest heart that is soft, humble, and truthful before Him and, hence, before our fellowman.

(Ps. 51:6)

The beloved Apostle John said that he rejoiced greatly in knowing that his children “walk in Truth.”  The more we walk in the Light the more we walk in Truth.  (1 John 1:2,4; 3 John 1:3,4)

Truth is an element which should be intrinsic in all of our relationships.  Jesus said that “God is Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.” Yes, our worship must be much deeper than the outward physical expression of song and praise;  it must originate in, and flow out from, our innermost being – our spirit.  And it must also be in truth – utter honesty and exposure to God’s searchlight.  It may mean a humbling, a denial of self, a yielding and a willingness to submit our will to His.  But, oh, how liberating it is!  The Truth truly does free one from selfishness, self-righteousness, pride, guilt, fear and doubt.  “The law of the spirit of Life in Christ Jesus” sets us “free from the law of sin and death.” We can leave the ‘turkeys in the barnyard’ and begin to ‘soar with the eagles’ in the limitless heavenly realms.  (John 4:24; Rom. 8:2)

We know we are of the Truth when we love in truth as well as deed, and not only in the words of our mouths.  It is often easy to say we love, but true love is un-conditional and un-selfish.

(1 John 2:21; 3:18,19)

Love does “not rejoice in evil, but rejoices in the TRUTH.” (1 Cor. 13:6)

“The Lord is near to all them who call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in TRUTH.” (Ps. 145:18)

“His TRUTH shall be your shield and defense.” (Ps. 91:4)

May our prayer be “Teach me Your way, O Lord;  I will walk in Your TRUTH;  unite my heart to fear Your name.” (Ps. 86:11)

Therein lies our glorious HOPE.

“Grace be with you, mercy and peace
from God the Father, and
from The Lord Jesus Christ,
the Son of the Father
in Truth and Love.”

(2 John 1:3)

In Agape, Eulene

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The Greatest of These

Posted in Spiritual, tagged , , , on October 21, 2010 | 2 Comments »


Dear Friends,

“And now abides FAITH, HOPE, LOVE, these three;  but the greatest of these is LOVE.”

(1 Cor. 13:13)

The context of this reassuring declaration is that, for the present, we have only limited sight, seeing things as if in a mirror dimly.  And the knowledge we have is very limited and imperfect.  But the day will come when we shall see clearly; and we shall know fully, even as we are fully known.

While we do not see or understand the whys and wherefores of all of life’s experiences, we do have HOPE and FAITH which abide in spite of circumstances and appearances.

The admonition of Titus to the elderly men I think would be very appropriate for anyone of any age:-that we be “…sober, grave, temperate, sound in FAITH, in LOVE, in patient HOPE.” (Titus 2:2)

As part of the whole armor of God, we are encouraged to put on the helmet of HOPE (protecting the mind) and the breastplate of FAITH and LOVE (protecting the heart and lungs).  (1 Thess. 5:8)

There are three lessons I would write, three words as with a golden pen,
In tracings of eternal light, upon the hearts of men.
HAVE FAITH.  Where’er your bark is driven – the calm’s disport, the tempest’s mirth –
Know this:  God rules the host of heaven, the inhabitants of earth.
HAVE HOPE.  Though clouds enshroud you round, and Gladness hides her face in scorn,
Just put the shadows from your brow – no night but has its morn…
HAVE LOVE.  Not human love alone, but God’s own love your heart to fill,
And flow out, like the circling sun, o’er every vale and hill.
Thus grave these words upon your soul – FAITH, HOPE and LOVE – and you shall find
Strength when life’s surges maddest roll, Light when you else were blind.

Johann von Schiller (1759–1805)

Following that wonder-full Love chapter of 1st Corinthians (13), Paul exhorts us to “follow after Love.” Other translations give “pursue Love,” “Be eager in your pursuit of this Love,” “Make Love your aim.” The Amplified Version confirms the urgency of this pursuit of LOVE:-  “Eagerly pursue and seek to acquire [this] Love – make it your aim, your great quest.” And from the Message, “Go after a life of Love as if your life depended on it – because it does!”

Indeed, why would we not?  Since following after Agapè means following after God, for “GOD IS LOVE and he who dwells in LOVE dwells in GOD, and GOD in him,” how could we ask – or even think – of anything of greater value?  Or more to be desired?  (1 John 4:16)

The following poem is a repeat from about three years ago, but the message is appropriate:-

MAKE LOVE YOUR AIM!

Make Love your aim – your highest goal;
The greatest questing of your soul!
Reach up – until God’s Love you know;
Until you’re filled – and overflow!
Reach out – until that Love is spread
To all around, and to self dead!

Press on!  Stretch forth to lay hold on
The victory that Christ has won!
The victory that Christ has won
To give you Life – make you His son!

His son and heir to rule and reign;
His plan for you:  His goal to gain!
Faith, Hope and Love – these three remain
Love’s the greatest; make it your aim!

Faith, Hope and Love – these three abide
Until the earth is covered wide
With all the Glory of the Lord
And the whole world is one accord!

God will be all, and all in God;
Creation all His Love applaud!

© Eulene H. Moores, March, 2003

 


“We give thanks to God always for you all,
making mention of you in our prayers,
Remembering without ceasing your
work of FAITH, and
labor of LOVE, and
patience of HOPE
in our Lord Jesus Christ,
in the sight of God and our Father…”

(1 Thess. 1:2,3 KJV)

 

In Agapè, Eulene

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Walk in Love

Posted in Spiritual, tagged on October 10, 2010 | Leave a Comment »


Dear Friends,

It is a while since my last posting.  During this time we have experienced the loss of a dear friend – a loss to us, but a glorious gain for her.  Thank God for the confident expectation we have in the promise of re-union in the resurrection.

From HOPE and FAITH we move on to the third verity in the triad of that which “abides” – LOVE.  We must be aware that there are several Greek words translated by the word LOVE in English.  This word has been bandied about and, in common usage, can mean anything from affection for beauty in nature, for a friend or a pet, for ‘things’ of all kinds.  It is used to describe physical, sexual, or human affection.  But here the Greek word is one that is becoming increasingly familiar – Agapè – defined very simply as Divine Love – the Love of God – unconditional and sacrificial Love.

In his special prayer recorded in Ephesians 3, Paul prayed that Christ might dwell in our hearts by FAITH that, being rooted and grounded in LOVE, we might know (experience) the LOVE of Christ, which surpasses knowledge, that we might be filled with all the fullness of God!

In another of Paul’s prayers recorded in his letter to the Thessalonian Church, he prayed that the

Lord would cause us to “increase and to abound in LOVE to one another, and to all.” (1 Thess. 3:12)

We are therefore admonished to “walk in LOVE, as Christ also has loved us, and has given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” (Eph. 5:2)

That little comparative word ‘as’always intrigues me.  Just AS Christ has loved us, and sacrificed Himself for us, we are to exercise that same degree of Love?

What does it mean to “walk in LOVE?”  I think we cannot find a better answer than is found in the 13th chapter of 1st Corinthians.  There we are given very practical instruction as to how Agapè behaves:

“Love is patient and kind.
Love knows neither envy nor jealousy.
Love is not forward and self-assertive, nor boastful and conceited.
Love does not behave unbecomingly,
Nor seek to aggrandize herself,
Nor blaze out in passionate anger,
Nor brood over wrongs.
She finds no pleasure in injustice done to others, but joyfully sides with the truth.
She knows how to be silent.
She is full of trust, full of HOPE, full of patient endurance.
LOVE never fails…..”

(1 Cor. 13:4-8 Weymouth)

On four different occasions John referred to himself as the “disciple whom Jesus loved!”  John loved Jesus and wanted to be so close to Him, we are told he would lean on His breast!  The Epistles of John have more to say about LOVE than any other Biblical passages.

Just meditate on these profound words from the first letter of John: “Beloved, let us love one another, for LOVE is of God, and every one who loves is begotten of God, and knows God….. Herein is LOVE, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation (atoning sacrifice) for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another…..If we love one another, God dwells in us, and His LOVE is perfected in us….And we have known and believed the LOVE that God has to us.  GOD IS LOVE and he who dwells in LOVE dwells in GOD, and GOD in him..” (1 John 4)

It seems abundantly clear that this is what it means to “WALK IN LOVE.” It really is defined in the two commandments by which Jesus summarized the whole of the Mosaic Law:

“You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
This is the first commandment.  And the second is like it:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.”

(Mark 12:30,31)

Now may “the Lord direct your hearts into
the LOVE of GOD,
and into the patient waiting for Christ.”

2 Thess. 3:5

In Agape, Eulene

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