iCrucified

Closing out the day…thought I’d share where my head has been for the day. This is day 4 of “Living the Jesus Creed.” The reading began as follows:

The Jesus Creed does not appear out of thin air. The commands to love God and to love others derive from the love of God that is, the love of the Father and the Son and the Spirit for one another, and the love of God for us. The origin of the Jesus Creed is found in God.

Where my thoughts have been: The command to “love God” and to “love people” is the heart of the Jesus Creed. The ability for this to happen comes only from God. Let me rephrase that; the ability to love with “God-love” can only come from God. I believe it is impossible to love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength without the direct assistance from God. Naturally, the extension of loving people… can only occur and be sustained if/when we love God. The pivot point for this to happen (or this state of being) is two-fold; (1) is “you must be born again” (2) a renewed-transformed heart which becomes the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Once this event takes place, loving God becomes not only possible, but probable because God loves…and having the Spirit of God within our heart empowers and fuels our love. The Spirit glorifies the Son…the Son reflects the glory of the Father…as receptacles and vessels housing God’s Spirit, we do the same (or should).  The love of God for His creation extends through His vessels; this is reflected in our ability to “love our neighbor.” The same love that God has… “…for God so loved the world” is manifest through us as we “so love the world” becoming servants even unto death for those who do not yet know Him. The origin of the Jesus Creed now becoming fueled, sustained, and reproduced through my life as a living vessel.

My “extended” Jesus Creed prayer for this day has been -

You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your soul, all of your mind, and all of your strength. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Lord Jesus, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner. Make haste to help me. The Lord make His face to Shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. O You who beholds all things, we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed; blot out our transgressions, be merciful to us sinners and grant that our names may be found written in the book of life, for the sake of Christ Jesus our Saviour. Amen.

Tommorow is a new day to delight in the Lord; even so, come Lord Jesus.