Ephesians 5 ~ because we are members of His Body

Mark 16
9 Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

Yet God works beyond what we believe, working His Plan - which we all fit into.

Psalm 20

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary
and give you support from Zion!
3 May he remember all your offerings
and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

4 May he grant you your heart's desire
and fulfill all your plans!
5 May we shout for joy over your salvation,
and in the name of our God set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with the saving might of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8 They collapse and fall,
but we rise and stand upright.

9 O Lord, save the king!
May he answer us when we call.

God is in relationship with us. The more we lean upon Him, the more He sustains us. Verse 3. We are always in need of relying on God. He doesn't have to explain. He's God.

His attributes are vast. David knew people of trouble in his 22 years of working God's plan by faith. David had his followers want to stone him to death at one point. Something Paul knew about. Inner faith doesn't rest on events that make smiley faces. Events don't always have a that 'feel good' feeling.

Ephesians 5

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

I'm hardly the one to point out about sin in silliness and humor. I enjoy my humor. And find, mostly, humor helps people connect as humans on the planet. I'd go on to say while I adore comedy, I sometimes find philosophies of anger and mean politics in comedy and move on. I Leave entertainment I find hurtful.

I'd have to point to God's Words. Quoting Abraham saying,"My faith credits me as righteous" in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord in His Perfection, Power and Mercy.

There are times I'm fully not qualified to say this Scripture describes me. In Faith, I say God is Greater than me and I believe HIM.

The Word of God is accurate.
There are 3,000 pages in Scripture. All are Truth and Valid.
To bring forth the message of God, we shouldn't disqualify His Words and instead point out His Worthiness.

Words matter. God's Word is Power.

 

In not disqualifying ourselves - God doesn't say be third. He says Love Others AS yourself. Love God  first,  then, secondly others with ourselves.

When we make choices, God does not say - Gideon be Abraham. Barnabas be Lot. Mark be Luke.

What we don't want to do is stop being ourselves.

Using the small aspects we have, our gifts. God is so glad we give thanks to Him for our gifts - to speak words that are honest and deliberate. To find the fruit of light in all people. To pray to further people in their relationship to God.

God's Mercies renew each day. Set up the day. Every day - desire to be clean in our person and homes. Saying the Temple of God matters. Not being idols or idle. Not to the right or the left. Exercise. Every day. Begin the day with Prayer. Read the Word. Read the Word during the day. Pray as you work. Meals that encourage each other in God and in our gifts.

Letting God fully know when we protest our circumstances. Deliberately finding out if this is for our deepening core. Or if the Mercy of God will change the circumstance.

Trouble.

I'd like to avoid it. Having attained this age and these many circumstances, sometimes I feel, to use my gone-Home-to-Jesus, 94 year old Grandmother Anita's words "Oppressed." Ok. 

Well. Trouble will visit us. We have a choice. To be bitter, to roll over and give up. Ask God to tend to our honest attitudes and find us in that Truth. In that Mercy. In that Faith. In that Hope. We will find the day brings new mercies and He is going to Sustain us. God is Love. Joy is going to make that path uphill to be great adventure and interesting.

David found malcontents wanted to know him. They were expressing their dissatisfaction with their present living conditions.  Jesus found this to be true as well.

Other times we deal with worthy people and wonder with our own words. Moments we all have where we look back and say, "I didn't express warmth." Or. "I talked to much." "I looked fearful." "I made myself look preachy or talked down." "I looked like a dolt." God puts His Hand in life. We are told life is filled with sheep and goats. Weeds and wheat. Why do we just love portions of Scripture - Personality. We need those human moments to find that narrow path. Those moments of weakness - God says - His Strength rushes in. Don't be your best fake self. Use the moments to be who you are. Be glad who you are - God is. He rarely says in Scripture "What Were You Thinking!"

The Scriptures talk about anger. Oh gosh. According to God - we get Angry. We see the disciples as - Fearful. Jesus did not remove the disciples in disgrace. God is Nourishing and Nurturing. Jesus did not cry out to the crowd "WHAT! YOU DIDN'T BRING DINNER?"

However, However, HOWEVER! He didn't say "Oh fine, one more huge feast today." Jesus is telling us find our feet. Believe. And about that time - in Joy, in Love and in Ease and Delight - Jesus puts His hands out again and creates a Feast to Sustain Us.

I Believe - I have Faith - Jesus is not done with the Creation and His Children. Find Faith. Find Hope. Don't ever expect to hand God your willing crud and say - "You clean this up, I'm Your KID."

Father God, we find Your Love is high, deep, wide, unconditional and steadfast. Renew us again to active Faith reliance upon Your unseen Ways. Thank You for our reason, we will use faith with our abilities You have given us.

When the Scriptures point out troubles come, help us to deal with them in gracious trust in You. Or in bold rebuke. Knowing You will save us as Your Words say and as we communicate truthfully.

Father lead us away from situations not pleasing to You. Forgive sins in us and around us. In Your forgiveness, change circumstances to Your Glory. We anticipate You in Your Actions.

Continue to fulfill us in sanctified nourishment and in Your cherishing Love. In Your blessings we hope. Bless our Families with wisdom and encouragement. Bless our future in-laws with peace and love and security. Our future children and grandchildren. Bless our Churches with Positive Encouragement to our Leaders and to each other. Bless our Nation with solutions, rewarding work, a people who ask Government to be uplifting to God. In Jesus we pray in gratitude. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves † 

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