Devotional for September 2011

by John Carpenter | Sep 5, 2011 | Devotional

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith — that ye being rooted and grounded in love (18) may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height — (19) and to know the love of Christ — which passeth knowledge — that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” Eph.3:17-19
From within the divine agenda of God’s dealings with all who are His — love has a prominent part. It was God’s love that sent His only begotten Son into this fallen world to be the only sovereign Savior/Substitute for all for whom He died. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son — that whosoever believeth in Him — should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Jn.3:16

It is God’s everlasting love that draws those same ones to Him — and motivates Him to savingly reveal Himself to them. “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying: ‘Yea — I have loved thee with an everlasting love!’ Therefore, with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jer.31:3

Love is a grace bestowed upon us from God — that is particularly expressed towards His children. In their lives — it’s presence is a presence of God’s power. “For the love of Christ constraineth us…” It controls us so that we do not henceforth live unto ourselves — but unto Him which died for us — and rose again! 2Co.5:14-15

Love distinguishes itself in our lives in that it is active — and not just passive. “My little children — let us not love in word, neither in tongue — but in deed and in truth”
Love identifies genuine regeneration. “Beloved — let us love one another for love is of God — and everyone that loveth is born of God — and knoweth God.”
Love identifies real revelation. “In this was manifested (or, revealed) the love of God toward us — because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him.”
Love identifies an accomplished reconciliation through Christ our Substitute. “Herein is love — not that we loved God — but that He loved us — and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins!”
Love is the bonding demonstration of our union with Christ and with other Christians. “Beloved, if God so loved us — we ought also to love one another. If we love one another — God dwelleth in us — and His love is perfected in us — he that dwelleth in love — dwelleth in God — and God in him.” 1Jn.3:18; 4:7-16

One last comment — love is the statute and rule by which we children of the Light walk as we journey through the maze of madness that makes up this world.
“Be ye, therefore, followers of God as dear children and walk in love as Christ also hath loved us — and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.” “For ye were sometimes darkness — but now are ye light in the Lord. Walk as children of Light.” Eph.5:1-2,8
For Christ’s Glory Only!
-J. Carpenter

Devotional for August 2011

by John Carpenter | Aug 8, 2011 | Devotional

“O God, thou art my God! Early will I seek thee — my soul thirsteth for thee — my flesh longeth for thee — in a dry and thirsty land where no water is — to see thy power and thy glory. So as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.” Ps.63:1-2

This Psalm was written when David was in the wilderness of Judah. He knew hot and dry days — one right after the other. And, the Holy Spirit used that experience in his life to cultivate and convey how much he truly longed for the Lord to make His presence to be realized to his soul.

He says: “O God (Elohim — triune God), thou art my God” (El — singular form — God of omnipotence; God of strength and endurance). “Early will I seek thee…” Which denotes at the crack of dawn he sets out on a mission to find His God. This speaks of the love that He had for God — which, in turn, speaks more of God’s love for him (for we love God because He first loves us).

The intensity of this great love is articulated next. Even so is it expressed by how thirsty for Him he indeed is. He is thirsty for God’s presence and power and glory.
He is thirsty for God’s word which promotes the means of the true worship of God in Spirit and in truth — which every true believer loves to do. So much so that his flesh all but faints in pining away for God’s gracious power to show itself — to enable him to persevere and endure. For at the present time — he is indeed “in a dry and thirsty land where no water is”.

Water is a Semitic symbol for both God’s Word and God’s Spirit [Eph.5:26 and Jn.7:38-39]. And, in every true believer’s experience there are very real times of soul wrenching seeking for the water of word and Spirit. Times that serve to stretch their faith — and enhance the relationship with their Lord and Savior.

And, where else do we feel — do we sense that we are — the most content — the safest and most secure — where all our needs are met — but in the sanctuary of our God’s presence. Sanctuary is actually: Holy Place…where the mercy seat is — where our atonement — our redemption — our sanctification is eternally established — by Christ our God’s gracious person and work.

Here is where we truly see and understand His great glory and power in the eternal salvation of our soul. It’s all Him! He is the water that we long for — He is the strength that we lack — He is the power that proves to be sufficient to prevail over all the insurmountable odds that are against us.

Let us show ourselves to be His children by fulfilling that which is written in Pr.8:17: “I love them that love me — and those that seek me early shall find me.”

For Christ’s Glory Only!

– John Carpenter