"We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God."
2 Corinthians 4:13-15
There are several really cool things here. First, I really like the idea of belief and speech being connected... and they should be, right? If we believe, that isn't something we should hide. People should know that we believe, and we should be willing to talk about it... just like the joy of being in love, or being a parent or a grandparent or a pet owner, right? Something awesome is happening in our lives and we want to share it... but even more so, because this is God we're talking about. He's not just a hobby or a distraction. He is everything, and his joy runs through and gives life to the joy of all the rest of it.
We'll all be raised up, as Christ was. We hear this repeatedly in the scriptures, but it never gets old. :) I think because we live in this state of being where death seems inevitable, and there seem to be so many endings and declines and corruptions... so to imagine newness of life and incorruption and a state of being where there are continual beginnings and we remain flush with life... it's amazing. The idea of Christ overcoming death for all of us is huge... and a future without death, or sickness, or pain, is what we can look forward to. Who can get bored with that idea? :)
All things are for our sakes. ... The idea of an immortal, all-powerful, all-good being completely focused on our eternal happiness is cool. Kind of like we all are secretly royalty, waiting to inherit kingdoms. And, except for the idea of "royals" being better than everyone else that we sometimes carry around with us, it is true. We are sons and daughters of God, and our inheritance will be great, as long as we are able and ready to take care of it. Life is about getting us ready. :) And that is the core of all the things that there are to be thankful for. God's infinite mercy... his patience and his faith is us, as unworthy as we often are. He still loves us, helps us, and holds our hands through thr tough spots. Even if our progress is undetectable to the human eye, he keeps working with us, helping us to improve in whatever ways we are willing to. It is completely our choice whether we allow his help, but as we do, even in small ways, we become so much more amazing and shiny and cool than we would ever have become left to our own devices. Today, let's be thankful for God, for the promise of eternal life and all that he does for us to help us right now. And let's let him know we're thankful. Let's be willing to talk about our beliefs with others... to share the joy of the most important things in our lives with others.
God deserves our praise. He doesn't really need it so much, but sometimes *we* need to feel it and show it... to understand how important God is to our lives, and to the lives of everyone around us. I don't think God's glory can ever be the empty praise that we sometimes offer... only the recognition of the truth. When we understand his infinite goodness, and our relationship to him, then he is glorified as we understand our relationship to him, and join him in his work, to strive always for the happiness of all of creation. Like building a city of Enoch... the idea of a Zion society, but on a massive, all-encompassing scale. :) Today, let's jump in.
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God."
2 Corinthians 4:13-15
There are several really cool things here. First, I really like the idea of belief and speech being connected... and they should be, right? If we believe, that isn't something we should hide. People should know that we believe, and we should be willing to talk about it... just like the joy of being in love, or being a parent or a grandparent or a pet owner, right? Something awesome is happening in our lives and we want to share it... but even more so, because this is God we're talking about. He's not just a hobby or a distraction. He is everything, and his joy runs through and gives life to the joy of all the rest of it.
We'll all be raised up, as Christ was. We hear this repeatedly in the scriptures, but it never gets old. :) I think because we live in this state of being where death seems inevitable, and there seem to be so many endings and declines and corruptions... so to imagine newness of life and incorruption and a state of being where there are continual beginnings and we remain flush with life... it's amazing. The idea of Christ overcoming death for all of us is huge... and a future without death, or sickness, or pain, is what we can look forward to. Who can get bored with that idea? :)
All things are for our sakes. ... The idea of an immortal, all-powerful, all-good being completely focused on our eternal happiness is cool. Kind of like we all are secretly royalty, waiting to inherit kingdoms. And, except for the idea of "royals" being better than everyone else that we sometimes carry around with us, it is true. We are sons and daughters of God, and our inheritance will be great, as long as we are able and ready to take care of it. Life is about getting us ready. :) And that is the core of all the things that there are to be thankful for. God's infinite mercy... his patience and his faith is us, as unworthy as we often are. He still loves us, helps us, and holds our hands through thr tough spots. Even if our progress is undetectable to the human eye, he keeps working with us, helping us to improve in whatever ways we are willing to. It is completely our choice whether we allow his help, but as we do, even in small ways, we become so much more amazing and shiny and cool than we would ever have become left to our own devices. Today, let's be thankful for God, for the promise of eternal life and all that he does for us to help us right now. And let's let him know we're thankful. Let's be willing to talk about our beliefs with others... to share the joy of the most important things in our lives with others.
God deserves our praise. He doesn't really need it so much, but sometimes *we* need to feel it and show it... to understand how important God is to our lives, and to the lives of everyone around us. I don't think God's glory can ever be the empty praise that we sometimes offer... only the recognition of the truth. When we understand his infinite goodness, and our relationship to him, then he is glorified as we understand our relationship to him, and join him in his work, to strive always for the happiness of all of creation. Like building a city of Enoch... the idea of a Zion society, but on a massive, all-encompassing scale. :) Today, let's jump in.
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