He is Coming Again

Tonight I was reading in Matthew 24, and 25. I was not so impressed by all the details about Jesus coming again, but more by how I should live, knowing that he is coming back.

The parable of the 10 virgins hit me. Five were watching for the bridegroom. They were ready for him to come. Five were not paying attention. They were just living their lives without thinking about the coming of the Bridegroom.

I want to be ready. I want to be living my life on fire for God, so that when he comes he will find me ready. I do not want to be passive about my life, but active in pursuing God's ways. This encourages me among other things to pray and read the Word of God more faithfully. I need to watch for what I am to speak, and speak boldly, but gently.

Agape' Love

Talking with a friend the other day I was reminded of a definition that I heard of Agape' Love.

Agape' love is a love centered in the character of the one loving and not the lovableness of the one loved. God loves because he is love, not because we are so adorable. Because it is in God's nature and character to love, he loves.

Human love is usually, as Josh McDowell used to say, a "love if", or a "love because". People love us "if" we perform in a certain way, or "because" we have a quality the person likes. That love is usually centered on Beauty, Brains, or Bucks. It is a selfish love that wants to get something rather than give.

We can ask God to help us to be people who love period, and not love just to get something! And we can know that God loves us with unconditional love.

Pruning

When I garden I am always reminded about God's working in my own life. In John 15 God the father is called the gardener. He keeps the vine healthy and growing.

Today I had to do a lot of clearing of weeds. God has to clear the weeds out of my life. The weeds are the ways in which I allow sin to creep into my life. The ground looks so nice when all the weeds are gone. Healthy growth can happen. When I am cleared of sin healthy spiritual growth can happen in my life. Spiritual weeds can choke out the healthy growth.

I have to prune plants. I get rid of growth that will not produce fruit. I clear away dead branches. There are many times in my life when I go through difficult times. God uses those times to get me back to basics--back to fruitful activities that will be used for God's kingdom.

Those times are hard on plants, but today I stood back satisfied with the changes in the garden and the lawn. I had a peaceful feeling. I am sure that God looks at our lives and he loves to see the growth he helps to produce as we go through the ups and downs of life.

The end result of God's pruning in our lives is our spiritual health and vitality.