What does it mean to be "a love letter" from God to others? For starters, when we abide in His love, our lives become increasingly characterized by the fruit of The Spirit: "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23)." For those having The Spirit of Christ Jesus abiding in their hearts, their character qualities are the hallmark seen within them. This is the fruit of "sowing" to The Spirit: we "reap" of The Spirit... Life everlasting. We reap His Life, which is Life eternal, and we reap His character, which is the fruit, beginning with Love, of The Spirit. We also reap of His Righteousness whereby we are clothed and filled with His Glory, and the crown of all that is His Love, "which is the bond of perfectness (Colossians 3:14)."
Indeed, the expression of the Love of God is the best evidence of our having His Life in our hearts. Furthermore, as we mature spiritually, we will walk more in His Love. "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17)."
Reread that verse, slowly. Savor each Word written there; just think about, "our love is made perfect". Because of this, "we may have boldness in the day of judgment." Having boldness is not the same as boasting. It means we may approach the Throne of the Almighty God and not be ashamed in His glorious presence. How can this be? Are we not all miserable sinners, saved by the grace of God? The answer is that those who faithfully pursued His vision in this life will be rewarded when they appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ.
At that time they will be like Him, through the process of transformation that He started in this life, and that they faithfully pursued as His partners. Consequently, the scripture was fulfilled: "as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17)." In other words, when people were around them in this life, they tasted Heaven, because as God is, so were they in this world. Since God is love, so too, were they. When they crossed the Finish Line, they crossed it as champions of the faith.
sums up the reason Keith stepped out in faith to focus on reaching the lost and strengthening believers everywhere, through Toward The Mark, Inc. Keith and Brenda's prayer is that you will be encouraged and edified by the Secrets from God's Word that Keith recounts in our written and recorded products.
This blog channel, along with the complete collection of original podcasts, music, blogs, books, CDs, and other Bible-based resources of Toward The Mark, Inc. is made possible by the faithful prayer and financial support of the TTM Sponsorship Family. We'd like to invite you to come on-board, to become a part of the TTM Family as well, by becoming a monthly financial partner. Your support will go toward fulfilling our God-given calling to help provide effective, contemporary outreach tools that are available to everyone, the churched and un-churched alike, who desire to know more of the love, truth, and salvation of Jesus Christ. We invite you to partner with us, as we, "press Toward The Mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14)
see and hear, follow and share, more from Toward The Mark, Inc.:
~ Keith and Brenda "Between The Lines" Podcast on TTM's Libsyn Channel
~ The Shealys and Toward The Mark Videos on Vimeo
~ "Keith Shealy & Toward The Mark" on Facebook
Mail tax-deductible contributions by check or money order made out to:
Toward The Mark, Inc., P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152.
We pray God bless you with a 100-fold return for your generosity!
"LETTERS FROM THE FRONT"
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