Made Complete

Colossians 2:6-10 KJV; We are made complete in Jesus Christ.

Becoming Less

They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.”

                                                                                 (John 3:26-30 NIV)

John and Jesus are cousins; most probably friends, as well. They both are called for specific purposes to serve God and humankind. There is no jealousy between the two. There is no competition. John in no way tries to usurp Jesus' authority. When John is about to leave the service of God on earth, by nothing less than death, he is more than willing to become less so that Christ may become not just greater; but, the greatest that has ever walked and served upon the earth.

It would be so awesome if the servants of God on earth today would be so willing to step aside when their time is done so that others that God has called can do the ministry to which they also have been called. But, often they don't. Their egos get in the way.

It should be a joyful thing to see others step up to serve the Lord in faith.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Like Comes First

We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:  Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.  (1 John 2:3-6 NIV)

 

In any relationship, for us to believe and trust someone, we must get to know them. I remember seeing  some time ago, the Zoosk (a dating app) commercial "Love does not comes first. First comes like."  I liked it because I know more than a few teenagers (and at least a few adults) who should really pay attention to this. Before genuine enduring love occurs, we must first get to know one another and actually learn to like each other despite all those little things we might not appreciate so much. Genuine love grows as we get to know about each other. There might be a whole lot less break-ups and divorces if we spent more time learning to like each other before we commit ourselves to loving and living with someone forever.

Our relationship with God is not so very different. In order to say that we truly love Him, we first must get to know Him. When we get to know about Him, love will come in the getting to know Him and what He has done for us. We do that by reading His word in the Holy Scriptures; gathering together to hear His Word in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ; by receiving Jesus in the Sacraments; and by spending time talking with Him in prayer.

Get to know God our Father; walk with God the Son; take the time to listen to the Holy Spirit and then your love will be made complete.

God's Peace - Pr. J