The Armor of Love: Archive Posts

LIFE AFTER EASTER SUNDAY
Posted by A. on Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 6:39am

Good Morning. The Easter planning and celebration are done: grocery shopping, baking, cooking, new clothes, family meals, visits, attending church with their specific celebrations, etc. We are back to the mundane duties of life. How long will the true meaning of Easter stay with us? That depends on whether our mundane duties include an ongoing daily time of joy and thanksgiving with Christ. For Jesus humbled himself, left His glory in heaven, not considering his equality with God something to be grasped, and willingly became obedient to death on a cross, suffering for our sins (Philippians 2:1-11). James said, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says, Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. … But doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.” (1:22-25) Some questions: how deep was our celebration of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection this Easter weekend? Was it sincere, or just mixed in with another holiday until next year? Did we “merely listen” because the whole world was celebrating, or was this a serious, genuine celebration to remember the cross? May we pay careful attention to the words of Jesus as we travel through this year to the next Easter! Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory …” (Luke 9:23-26). When you look in the mirror today, don't forget whose you are! Elaine Email: elaine@armoroflove.com The Holy Spirit
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THANKFULNESS AND JOY AT EASTER
Posted by A. on Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 7:16am

As we prepare to commemorate Jesus’ death on the cross this Friday and celebrate His resurrection this Easter Sunday, KNOW what Jesus gave you—gifts we did not deserve or merit; His grace (love), mercy, forgiveness, and imputed righteousness; gifts that require joy and thankfulness, EVERY DAY, not just one time a year. Listen to the words of Dr. R.C. Sproul, “The most violent expression of God’s wrath and justice is seen in the cross. If ever a person had room to complain of injustice it was Jesus. He was the only innocent man ever to be punished by God. … The cross was at once the most horrible and the most beautiful example of God’s wrath. It was the most just and the most gracious act in history. Once Christ had …volunteered to be the Lamb of God, laden with our sin, then He became the most grotesque and vile thing on this planet. With the concentrated load of sin He carried, He became utterly repugnant to the Father. God poured out His wrath on this obscene thing. God made Christ accursed for the sin He bore. Herein was God’s holy justice perfectly manifest. Yet it was done for us. … This “for us” aspect of the cross is what displays the majesty of its grace. … It is too astonishing to fathom.” (The Holiness of God, p. 158, boldness mine) Therefore, “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-3). “Thank you God the Father for your gift of Jesus!” Elaine, Email: elaine@armoroflove.com Love never fails
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THE REASON FOR EASTER
Posted by A. on Thursday, March 29, 2012 at 6:33am

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8). The devil’s work started in the Garden of Eden when he lied and tempted Adam and Eve. He contradicted God when He told them, “You will not surely die” when you eat from the tree of good and evil. God, then, condemned Satan with a curse (Genesis 3:15). Jesus Christ fulfilled that curse on the cross (John 16:11, 33). Just like the blood of goats was shed over and over again, by the high priest, for the sins of the people in the Old Testament, Jesus needed to shed his blood, once for all, to bear the wrath of God against sin (Romans 5:9), and reconcile all believers back to God, the Father. “Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens” (Hebrews 7:23-28). Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep … The reason my father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father" (John 10:7-18). Jesus shared in the humanity of all believers, “so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— … and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:14-17). “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.” (Romans 5:12-19) Thank you dear Father for the gift of your Son, Elaine Email: elaine@armoroflove.com Love never fails
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THE MEANING OF EASTER
Posted by A. on Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 7:14am

There are different ideas about the celebration of Easter. It may depend on our upbringing, our own personal choices, or our study of Scripture. Some only celebrate with Easter egg hunts, baskets, and real or candy bunnies, some only celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and some celebrate both. The tie between the two events is: “the first Sunday after the date of the first full moon that occurs on or after March 21” (Webster). Easter eggs, baskets, and bunnies: Easter falls in the spring, the yearly time of renewal, when the earth renews itself after a long, cold winter. The word Easter comes to us from the Norsemen's Eostur, Eastar, Ostara, and Ostar, and the pagan goddess Eostre, all of which involve the season of the growing sun and new birth. The Easter Bunny arose originally as a symbol of fertility. … The ancient Egyptians, Persians, Phoenicians, and Hindus all believed the world began with an enormous egg, thus the egg as a symbol of new life has been around for eons. (From the Internet) The Passover was held at the same time each year to celebrate the Israelites “rescue” from slavery (Exodus 12), which is a type of Christ, the Passover lamb, who would “save” His people from their sins (John 13:1; chapters 18-20; Revelation 5:6-14). The Resurrection—Easter: “Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture, was buried, was raised on the third day … and appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. … After that to 500 of the brothers at the same time.” (1 Corinthians 15:1-8) He is the promised Messiah (John 4:21-26). When we receive Christ as Savior, we experience a “new life” “a new birth” “a renewal” from our sins. Do we honor Christ when we celebrate a pagan event at any time? I believe the Apostle Paul would say, “No,” “Do NOT conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:1-2). Sincerely in Christ, Elaine Email: elaine@armoroflove.com Love never fails
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THE HOLINESS OF GOD
Posted by A. on Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 6:21am

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” (Isaiah 6:1-7) “The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD. Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence. I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” (Psalm 27) I am so grateful I serve a Mighty God! Elaine Email: elaine@armoroflove.com Love never fails
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