Tattered and torn by the images of the past that are so indelibly engraved into the fabric of our soul, we find our selves helpless amidst the strewn lifeless bodies of other valiant but fallen warriors (our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' Blood and His righteousness, We dare not trust the most awesomely sweet human frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' Name). Only One rises and stands stained and scarred but victorious over Death and the Grave; and Jesus is His Name. (On Christ the Solid Rock(Cliff) we stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.) And He stands calling all to life in His Name, and upon the "Cliff" of Eternity, He builds His House of Love.
If we have received His Call by faith, entered New Life by Faith, and now walk by Faith ...We are called to share the Story and be His Witness of the building of the House of Love. We are His witnesses...a witness has a message and a direction ... Witnesses to the Gospel of Christ move Forward and upward, they walk with circumspection...Though constantly pushed from behind by enemy, they are led by the Spirit, and never forsaken or left behind.... Jesus our their Cliff (always on the edge ... with the enemy threatening us ... with our feet on the ledge and our backs against the wall) and He is our ever-repositioning-defense.
What have we seen and what are we seeing? Although, it seemed that the most compassionate movement of God to proclaim the Good News of His rescue of mankind was thwarted by the mere hand off to fragile humans; it was by His grand design to create an ever unfolding miracle. This Miracle shines forth His amazing grace by empowering such a strange conglomeration of personalities to actually become One in the eyes of a world that has had its heart continually hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. By His Will and according to His Spirit and Power, every communication within this conglomeration can daily speak more and more truth in love as their hearts come in subjection to His Word of Truth.
"Speak the truth in love!" This is not a challenge to see who can take the most obnoxious stand in self righteousness, but it is a call to surrender "my will" so that His will be done in my heart and in the world around me. The reason and need of this "speaking the truth in love" is"
to give every opportunity
to every part of the body of Christ
to take full advantage
of their placement by Christ in the Body
...to coalesce and grow up powerfully together into a "house of love".
Ephesians 4:16 - "From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by-that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."
We are not here to compare our personal sacrifices, or to whine and complain about all that we have given up; but we are here to brag on His sacrifice and hide the hurting ones under His healing scars.
HLFA,
Jeff