Seeing the Invisible....

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.—2 Corinthians 4:16-18

The older I get the harder it becomes to ignore all my sufferings, because they are my constant companions and become more diversified and numerous as time marches on.  Age also increases the likelihood that we have become intimately acquainted with not only physical trials, but also with difficult emotional ones as well.  It is HARD in our flesh NOT to lose heart!  

Day in and day out, here in our bodies, we ARE growing old.  But as our outward man perishes, our spirit - our inward man - is being renewed and transformed daily into His likeness.  Paul calls our time here in our bodies short, light and temporary affliction which cannot be compared with the weight of what is to come.  Beloved, our earthly eyes oftentimes see life here on earth as tedious, long, grievous and heavy.  It is only by faith that we can see and judge them as Paul does...as lightness itself and but for a moment because the glory that is to be revealed is weighty and lasting.  

Paul did not fear this heavy, long and often grievous life, nor did he fear death. His faith gave him the victory over fear...He focused on the eternal rather than the temporal.  Like Paul, we know that Jesus’ resurrection is an assurance of our own. Death for believers means that we are now absent from our body and present with the Lord.  Knowing this brings us comfort in our time of trial and keeps us from fear.  We can say with David:

I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel;

My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.

8 I have set the LORD always before me;

Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;

My flesh also will rest in hope.

10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,

Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

11 You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.—Psalm 16:7-11

Beloved, we walk by faith and not by sight.  Choose to look at the heavenly, and not the earthly.  Abide and allow God’s eternal truth to wash over you every morning.  Look to Jesus in whom consolations abound.  

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?—1 John 5:4

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.—Hebrews 12: 1-2

2 Corinthians 4:1-12...

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.—2 Corinthians 4:1

As I read 2 Corinthians 4:1-12, I found much encouragement from Paul to tuck away in my heart.  Verse 1 reminded me that the One who saved me and entrusted me with those works that He prepared beforehand (Ephes 2:10) would not allow me to fail. I am not to lose heart or quit.   It is God who works in me both to do and to will for His good pleasure.  He who called me is faithful.  I can trust Him to see me through.  

But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.—2 Corinthians 4:2-4

As a Christian I am to put off deceit and walk as it says in Psalm 119, undefiled in the way.  I am to live transparently and walk in the truth of God’s word as it is revealed in the Scriptures. My word and deed are to match. As Paul said in Chapter 3 our lives should read like an epistle of Christ written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God on the tablets of our hearts.  

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.—2 Corinthians 4:5-6

I really liked this one...probably the most difficult one.  I don’t know about you, but sadly my heart’s first reaction to life in this fallen world is to make me the center. I want to make everything about me. In truth, nothing is ever about me...even the stuff that really seems to be about me.  It is about Him.  I died and my life is now hidden with Christ in God. I am His bondservant.  The Judaizers in Paul’s time were all about glorying in themselves and in their achievements.  Christ for them was only the means to an end.  For Paul to live was Christ and to die was gain.  

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.—2 Corinthians 4:7-12

In effect, I am a clay pot...an earthen vessel...without value in and of myself.  The treasure that is within me...the very Spirit that is from God...is what gives me value.  A clay vessel is weak...it cracks easily.  Not a problem for God.  When our pot is cracked and weakened, His light shines from within our vessels brighter.  His strength in fact, is made perfect in our weakness. 

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.—2 Corinthians 12:9-10

It is very difficult for me to take pleasure in my weakness.  Being weak makes me feel scared, out of control and very vulnerable.  Trusting God then in my weakness is hard. Here is the wonderful thing about God, though.  He makes it pretty hard not to trust Him because really what choice do we have?  We ARE weak!  The older I get the clearer this becomes.  Beloved, don’t fight against God. As the clay is in the hand of the potter, so are we in the hand of our God. Trust Him.  He is good and does good.

Blessed is the man, who puts his trust in Him!   

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

And whose hope is the LORD.

8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,

Which spreads out its roots by the river,

And will not fear when heat comes;

But its leaf will be green,

And will not be anxious in the year of drought,

Nor will cease from yielding fruit.—Jeremiah 17:7-8

The Spirit Gives Life...

Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? 2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.—2 Corinthians 3:1-6

Warren Wiersbe says that the Corinthian believers were lovingly written on Paul’s heart, and the Spirit of God had written the truth on their hearts, making them “an epistle of Christ.”

Who in your own life have you labored among whose lives now reflect the law of Christ written on their hearts?  For me, the answer is my children.  Truly, as the apostle John says, there is no greater joy than to see your children walk in truth.  When I receive compliments in this regard, my first response is joy...my second response is discomfort.  Even the intimation that I had anything to do with their “goodness” or their salvation makes me cringe.  I KNOW with absolute heart knowledge that it was ALL of God.  Anything good...any fruit in my life is by Jesus Christ.  He did the work.  All glory belongs to Him and Him alone.  The justified live by faith...wholly and utterly dependent on the power of His Spirit in their hearts and in their lives.  My sufficiency is from Him.  Without Him, I am helpless and hopeless and can truly do nothing good.  

On Shining As Lights...

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.—2 Corinthians 3:18

Under the old covenant, only Moses was permitted to ascend the mountain and have communion with God. Under the new covenant all who believe can have fellowship with Him. We can now come boldly to His throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in our time of need. No mountain climbing needed.  As it says in Romans 10:

the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, "'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

And in Hebrews....

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.—Hebrews 10:19-23

When Moses came down from Mt Sinai, he did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been speaking with God.  Moses “reflected” the glory of God, but the light of His unfading glory can shine through us, because His Spirit dwells in us!  We are His light-bearers!  He shines in our hearts to give those around us the light of the knowledge of God!   Beloved, gaze deeply into the mirror of His word, allowing the Spirit of God to transform you moment by moment into His image.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.—Matthew 5:14-16

Thirsting for God...

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When shall I come and appear before God?—Psalm 42:2a

I love this verse...the psalmist soul...all that he was, thirsted for the living God!  When I am in the midst of trial and trouble, it is so good for me to remember that those who have gone before me have faced similar circumstances.  I am thankful that both their steps and their missteps are memorialized here in the Bible for me to study, learn from and follow.  Spurgeon speaks to this the best...

“The footsteps of the flock that has gone before should make the sheep feel that it is not lost.”

Beloved, abide in Your God.  Delight Yourself in Him!  Trust in Him, do good and feed on His faithfulness.  In times of distress, call out to Him!  Seek Him early...spread out your hands to Him and feel the longing for Him that He Himself has placed in Your heart.  His mercy is in the heavens and His faithfulness reaches to the clouds.  His lovingkindness is precious. Place yourself in His care.  Tuck yourself under the shadow of His wings and put your trust in Him. He satisfies the longing soul with the fullness of His house.  He gives them drink from the rivers of His pleasures.  With Him is the fountain of life...in His light we see light.  Allow Him to order your steps. He will make Your way straight before you. His Presence also will go with you and give you rest.  

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."—Matthew 11:28-30

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."—John 7:37-38

My God of All Comfort...

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. 8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.—2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Ps 40:11. Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O LORD;

Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me.

Today, I will rejoice and worship my God of mercies and all comfort with Paul!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 

Read the words of 2 Corinthians 1:3-11. Say them over and over...meditate on them and memorize them. Make them part of the fabric of Your heart!

In the multitude of my anxieties within, Father, Your comforts are the delight of my soul.  When innumerable evils and griefs encompass my heart, may I remember that You, the God of innumerable mercies, is mine. When my sins and my troubles seem to go over my head, Eternal Love holds me. My God has got me and He won’t let go.  His mercies hold me up, keep my feet from falling and my heart from failing. Today, I will call out to Him continually who raises the dead and delivers those that are His from evil.  

I need Your mercy now as much as when I cried out for it the very first time.  Even when I have done my very best, I cannot boast.  I was a dead man walking when You heard my cry and brought me up out the pit.  You set my feet on a rock and established my steps. Oh, let not the foot of pride come against me!

Lord...Have mercy on me, for I am weak!  May Your lovingkindness and truth preserve me today and keep me from trouble. I thank You, for Your Son Jesus, who delighted to do Your will and took all my sins upon Himself. You have given me His righteousness and made me acceptable before You.  

Oh Father...Your thoughts toward me cannot be recounted in order. They are more than can be numbered!  

Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;

Let such as love Your salvation say continually,

"The LORD be magnified!"

But I am poor and needy;

Yet the LORD thinks upon me.

You are my help and my deliverer;

Do not delay, O my God.—Psalm 40:16-17

Maranatha!!

O Lord, come!—1 Corinthians 16:22b

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done with love.—1 Corinthians 16:13-14

O Lord, come!  These are the words Paul wrote at the end of his First letter to the Corinthians. David Guzik says that “Maranatha” is Aramaic for O Lord, come, and was one of the earliest words of the Christian vocabulary.  Paul looked and longed for the return of Christ. I find myself doing this more and more of late. That is a good thing. It reminds me that I am a sojourner here...this world is not my home.  It helps me also to do what Paul says in verse 13 and 14 of this same chapter:

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.

The return of Jesus is imminent.  It could happen at any time.  Watch for it...stand fast in the faith...be brave and be strong or “quit ye like men” as the KJV says. Align all that you do with the priority of love.  Beloved, turn your eyes to the cross of Christ here for your example.  Here he showed us His heart of steel (He quit like a man...He was brave and strong) but also his heart of love by submitting Himself to His Father’s will to the point of death.  

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.—Ephesians 2:4-7

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.—John 3:16-17

Jesus endured well and loved us to the very end.  His underlying motive...love. Jesus trusted God to see Him through His earthly life. He committed Himself completely and utterly to Him and we should do likewise. By His Spirit in us, the love and the strength of Jesus (quit ye like men!) are also ours.  May we live them both out in the world, but even so, Lord Jesus come quickly!  

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.—Hebrews 12:1-4

Though He Slay Me...

Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.

—Job 13:15a

Verse 15 is one of the greatest declarations of faith found anywhere in Scripture.  Reading it this morning gave me an even greater appreciation for it than I had before.  Below is my takeaway...

Believe God...even when all seems hopeless as in Job’s case...even when the storms of life buffet and toss...even when you don’t feel His Presence...even when it seems that He is against you...even when you can find in Him no comfort...Believe God.  Job, despite all appearances and evidences to the contrary, trusted God.  Even if He slayed him, Job would trust Him.  Job says this in Chapter 19.

Oh, that my words were written!

Oh, that they were inscribed in a book!

24 That they were engraved on a rock

With an iron pen and lead, forever!

25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,

And He shall stand at last on the earth;

26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,

That in my flesh I shall see God,

27 Whom I shall see for myself,

And my eyes shall behold, and not another.

How my heart yearns within me!—Job 19:23-27

God heard Job’s prayer...His words of faith HAVE BEEN inscribed forever in a book...the Bible.  Countless hearts over many generations have been encouraged by them.  They are now the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.  

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.—Hebrews 12:1-2

Meanwhile Centuries Earlier...

32 "For He is not a man, as I am,

That I may answer Him,

And that we should go to court together.

33 Nor is there any mediator between us,

Who may lay his hand on us both.

34 Let Him take His rod away from me,

And do not let dread of Him terrify me.

35 Then I would speak and not fear Him,

But it is not so with me.—Job 9:32-35

Were you hearing and feeling Job’s helplessness as you read through today’s OYB reading in the book of Job?  I know I was until I read verse 33.  I can almost hear Job crying out here along with the strong angel from the book of Revelation.

Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?" And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.  So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.  But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals."—Revelation 5:2-5

I LOVE that Job longs for here what we, as believers, now have...an Advocate before our Father in heaven...the One who was found worthy to open the scroll and loose its seals.  According to the TSK the Hebrew word translated “mediator” means “to act as umpire.” This mediator could bring Job and God together by pleading Job’s case before Him.  Then the rod of judgment between them would be taken away and peace would reign.  The Bible tells us that this is what our Jesus does for each of us when we believe.  Jesus Christ is the perfect Mediator between the holy God and us, His failing children.  

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”—Hebrews 4:14-16. 

Read the following verses and rejoice!  The LORD has done great things for us, and we are glad!

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.—Romans 5:1-2

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit—1 Peter 3:18

For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;—1 Timothy 2:5

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.—1 John 2:1-2

being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,  whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.—Romans 3:24-26

Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.—Romans 8:34

But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.—Hebrews 7:24-25

And the LORD Shall Help Them...

But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;

He is their strength in the time of trouble.—Psalm 37:39

“Lord, have mercy on me for I am weak” was my cry this morning as I opened His word.  Father, thank you for this reminder!  Oh how my heart needed it this morning. The LORD is my strength in my trouble. Today, I want to live right here in the truth of this verse.  The LORD...the omnipotent, omniscience, omnipresent God, not only gives me strength in times of trouble but He IS my strength!    

When my soul is in despair within me...when my burdens are more than I can bear, I will remember that the Lord my God becomes for me my strength, my refuge and my help.  My burdens are nothing to the One who is so near to me that all His power is mine.  My burdens are not too heavy for my God whose unfailing love toward me never ceases. I have enough strength for today, because He is my strength. In me, weakness abounds, but in Him is perfected strength. The truth of verse 40 jumps off the page and into my heart.  

“And the LORD shall help them”—Psalm 37:40a

The LORD is my strength and my shield;

My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;

Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,

And with my song I will praise Him.

8 The LORD is their strength,

And He is the saving refuge of His anointed.

9 Save Your people,

And bless Your inheritance;

Shepherd them also,

And bear them up forever.—Psalm 28:7-9

Pursue Love...1 Corinthians 14

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.  3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.  4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.—1 Corinthians 14:1-4

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13 that love is pre-eminent.  It is the greatest of gifts because God IS love and is therefore, enduring and eternal. Chapter 14 begins with Paul telling us that we are to eagerly pursue love as a goal.  Beloved, love edifies...love never fails...it always has an effect.  

Paul continues to speak on gifts here in Chapter 14 and emphasizes that we are to desire the gift of prophecy over the gift of tongues because prophecy speaks to men and tongues to God.  The believer who speaks in a tongue speaks to God in praise and worship; but the believer who prophesies shares the Word with the church and helps those who listen. Prophecy entails both foretelling the future and speaking forth Gods words in teaching, exhortation and encouragement. Today the latter is more prevalent than the former. 

The bottom line is that as members of the body of Christ we are to pursue those gifts that edify the whole body.  The mistake the Corinthians were making was that they were selfishly focused on gifts that built themselves up and not their fellow believers.  They were neglecting prophecy and giving a wrong emphasis to tongues.

I looked at the Corinthian error in emphasis as a lack of love problem. If they had been giving love the pre-eminence and pursuing it above all other gifts, than balance among the other gifts would have been achieved. 

For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.—James 3:16

Dear one...pursue love...seek first God, who embodies love and His word and all else will fall into its proper place.  Speak to others for their edification.  Speak to them in a way that promotes spiritual growth.  Speak words of encouragement that will uphold and counsel them concerning matters of God. Speak words of consolation to compassionately comfort them. 

Let the [spoken] word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind—permeating every aspect of your being] as you teach [spiritual things] and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.—Colossians 3:16 AMP. 

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--

16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.—Ephesians 4:11-16

God IS Able...1 Corinthians 13

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail;—1 Corinthians 13:4-8

These words from 1 Corinthians 13 always have the effect of blowing my pride out of the water, so to speak. They make me collapse on the inside because they confront me with my insufficiency.  That, however, is such a good thing! I AM INSUFFICIENT!  My God, thankfully, is not and He is my Helper. 

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.—2 Corinthians 9:8

To be a Christian is to first and foremost love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Love is the bond of perfection. Love is the debt that is always owed.  It is the one thing “we” can do to fulfill the law completely.   As believers, love for Christ must be the motivating force behind all that we do and all that we say. 

It would be great if this kind of self-sacrificing love were our natural response toward others. Unfortunately, it is not. In fact, we don't even often have loving feelings toward those around us. Most of the time our thoughts are on how they can love us. Since their thoughts are probably on themselves also, we are at an impasse. Biblical love, however, is a command. Our response therefore, is a matter of obedience.

As was said earlier, in and of ourselves this kind of love is impossible.  With God, however, all things are possible. When we believe, His love is poured out in our hearts by His Spirit who now dwells in us.  It is ONLY by HIS love that we can love others as He loves us.  Without His love we are nothing and can do nothing good.  

If I feel myself going awry during the day, it is ALWAYS helpful for me to remember love...to pray and surrender what “I WANT” and allow the Spirit of God to do what I cannot - love the precious people around me with His love.  

Beloved, by His Spirit love one another fervently; love never fails because love is of God.   When we walk in love, we walk in His perfect will and shine like lights in a dark world.  When we walk in love, we also walk effectively, not only temporally but also eternally.  I love thinking on that.  Loving others with God’s love has eternal consequences.   God’s love reaches beyond this world and into eternity.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.—1 Corinthians 13:2

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.—Romans 13:8-10