A friend of mine works for Navpress and told me that Jerry Bridges who has some excellent books in the reformed tradition is a great guy, when he walks into Navpress' offices in Colorado Springs he speaks to everyone. One of the guys that writes about relationships walks in and only talks to the big wigs. It is why the emergent church thing wont last without truth, relationships are not built on the solid rock. I really enjoy Jerry Bridges, I am currently reading his devotional Holiness day by day here Bridges talks about love:
Have you thought about what it means to "love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37)
Here are a few obvious aspects: you seek fellowship with Him and long to gaze upon his beauty (Psalm 27:4). You rejoice in meditating on His Word and rise early to pray (Psalm 119:97, Mark 1:35). You always delight to do His will (Psalm 40:8). A regard for His glory governs and motivates everything you do (1 Corinthians 10:31)- eating and drinking, working and playing, buying and selling, reading and speaking, even driving. You're never discouraged or frustrated by adverse circumstances because you're confident God is working all things together for your good (Romans 8:28). You're always content because you know he'll never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).
Or look at What Jesus called the "second" commandment: "Love your neighbour as yourself" (Matthew 22:39, NIV) Among other things, this would that you never show selfishness, irritability peevishness, or indifference in your dealing with others. You take a genuine interest in their welfare and seek to promote their interests, honour and well-being. You never regard them with prideful superiority or talk about their failings. You never resent any wrongs they do to you, but instead are always ready to forgive. You always treat them as you would have them treat you. Do you begin to grasp some of the implications of what it means to obey these two commandments? Most of us don't even think about them in the course of a day, let alone aspire to obey them. Instead we content ourselves with avoiding major outward sins and performing accepted Christian duties.
Well that's me convicted I am off to do some praying and repenting, praise God for Jerry Bridges and his challenging insights!!!
Shalom
Stephen <><
Have you thought about what it means to "love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37)
Here are a few obvious aspects: you seek fellowship with Him and long to gaze upon his beauty (Psalm 27:4). You rejoice in meditating on His Word and rise early to pray (Psalm 119:97, Mark 1:35). You always delight to do His will (Psalm 40:8). A regard for His glory governs and motivates everything you do (1 Corinthians 10:31)- eating and drinking, working and playing, buying and selling, reading and speaking, even driving. You're never discouraged or frustrated by adverse circumstances because you're confident God is working all things together for your good (Romans 8:28). You're always content because you know he'll never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).
Or look at What Jesus called the "second" commandment: "Love your neighbour as yourself" (Matthew 22:39, NIV) Among other things, this would that you never show selfishness, irritability peevishness, or indifference in your dealing with others. You take a genuine interest in their welfare and seek to promote their interests, honour and well-being. You never regard them with prideful superiority or talk about their failings. You never resent any wrongs they do to you, but instead are always ready to forgive. You always treat them as you would have them treat you. Do you begin to grasp some of the implications of what it means to obey these two commandments? Most of us don't even think about them in the course of a day, let alone aspire to obey them. Instead we content ourselves with avoiding major outward sins and performing accepted Christian duties.
Well that's me convicted I am off to do some praying and repenting, praise God for Jerry Bridges and his challenging insights!!!
Shalom
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