"SIMPLY JESUS" DAILY DEVOTIONAL - GOD'S GLUE - Friday, October 24, 2014

"SIMPLY JESUS" DAILY DEVOTIONAL
GOD'S GLUE
Thursday, October 23, 2014
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C O L O S S I A N S   3 : 1 4
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

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As the universe is held together by Christ (by Him all things consist, Colossians 1:17), the power that holds the body of Christ together is "agape"--Godly love.  Unlike eros which is sensual, and phileo which is brotherly, agape is divine love. 

Agape is "unconquerable benevolence, undefeatable good-will," (William Barclay) and it is indestructibly holy. John Wesley calls it, "God's reigning attribute, the attribute that sheds an amiable glory on all his other perfections."  

The ancient philosopher Plato observed, "Two things cannot be held together without a third...and the best bond is that which is fused into the things which are bound." 

Agape is that "best" or we can say in the words of Scripture "perfect" bond.  It's the glue that fuses with and holds every other virtue in place.

Without Agape our motivation for being merciful, kind, humble, and meek is often selfish.  We are merciful so that people will notice and praise us for being merciful.  We are kind so that people will honor and esteem us for being so kind.

But when Agape is fused with mercy, kindness, humility, and meekness, then WE ARE WHO WE ARE--with or without the appreciation or recognition of others. 

We are merciful even though others are not merciful or grateful that we are.

We are kind and longsuffering even though others are not kind to others--even to us.  And we do not keep score.

The Agape driven are giving and forgiving no matter what and regardless of who. We are not prejudiced.  Remember what the Bible tells us about the God who is love--He is no respecter of persons. 

The perfect demonstration of this love was at Calvary.  The people that our loving Christ died to save, despised and rejected Him.  They nailed Him to a cross.  Yet He prayed, "Father forgive them..."  That's Agape.  That's divine love.

We marvel at Agape on display in the Word made flesh--Jesus. 

We admire Agape described in the Word of God that is written--Scripture. Read the 16 characteristics of Agape in 1st Corinthians 13.  Simply amazing.

 

But can this Agape be imparted--literally fused--into our hearts? 

The Apostle Paul tells the Colossians to clothe themselves with love. The Apostle John says that those who "dwell in love dwell in God."  He promises that as we abide in Him and He abides in us, "our love is made perfect." (1 John 4:16,17)

 

"That's not natural!" some protest.  "You're right!" we reply. "That's super-natural!"

 

Made right in the sight of God through faith in the Son of God "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost who is given unto us." (Romans 5:1-5).

 

Now we pray as we sing with Charles Wesley:

 

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!

Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit,
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that second rest.

Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its Beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.

 

Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return and never,
Never more Thy temples leave.

Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.

 

Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;

Changed from glory into glory,
'Til in heaven we take our place,
'Til we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise. 

 

THIS LOVE IS BROUGHT TO US BY ONE!  SIMPLY JESUS! 

 

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