Sue O’Donnell. 04.08.20
“ ‘The Kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.” (Matthew 13 v 24)
The Kingdom of heaven is not only a place,
It is the condition of an individual’s personality,
When that man or woman devote themselves to Jesus.
For by committing to Jesus as Lord and Saviour,
The individual and God become eternally one.
This should be inseparably so,
But as we know only too well,
satan the arch deceiver, our enemy, mankinds’ destroyer,
Will attempt to get in the way to block,
Halt or destroy any form of Christian progress and happiness.
“It isn’t good to let our thoughts disturb or worry us at all.” (St Teresa of Avila)
We go to heaven, become a part of heaven’s community,
To the extent that we go to the Lord Jesus,
Regarding Him as Saviour and Mentor, Redeemer and Teacher.
Redeemed is being forgiven, offered a home in heaven,
Which is eternal joy in the company of the Trinity.
“For whoever calls on the name of the Lord,
Shall be saved,” (Romans 10 v 13)from satan, fear and final separation.
The Spirit is our personal Teacher, guiding and safeguarding
Each of us individually in the way we need.
And all of us effectively living as Jesus’ body on earth.
“I ask You for myself and those dear to me the grace to fulfil perfectly Your holy will, to accept for love of You, the joys and sorrows of this passing life, so that we may be one day united together for all eternity.” (St Therese Lisieux)
The anointing of the Holy Spirit is a profound blessing,
As His teaching in the Lord Jesus, enlisting our response,
Helps to open the gates to the everlasting Kingdom of heaven,
That place beyond us, whilst living where life is ever glorious.
At the point of death comes our rising to a new life,
A full life, a total share in the holiness of the Lord Jesus,
Making us righteous participants in all that is joyous.
All that we discover, uncover in the Spirit of the Lord Jesus,
Is truly most marvellous, wondrous and worthy of praise,
Bearing loving witness to our Saviour Lord now, today.
“Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10 v 31)
Our calling is to be promoting holiness through justice, peace, love and mercy.
This is the entirety of our calling to be following Jesus.
Piety is fruitful and certainly most beautiful.
We become virtuous looking to, learning from, heeding the Holy Spirit,
He who is the Spirit of love, perfectly reflecting Jesus,
To us, in us, through us, with us, amongst us.
The centre of our life lived properly, worthily,
Is the Lord Jesus, Christ the King of Glory.
A love story with a God given perfect ending
Jesus as a holy Brother became our Saviour and Lord.
“...that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2 v 14, 15)
“For you were once darkness but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth, finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5 v 8-11)
Lord, all You make holy is so lovely, thank You! Thank You for asking Your beloved Son to live in us, be ever here with us, by means of Your Spirit of holiness hard at work with us.
The Spirit devotes our life to Christian service, helping us to pray frequently, the aim being continuously shaping our life according to the heartbeat of the Lord Jesus’ light of love.
Our Brother came to earth to minister to us, and now He has left us to return to heaven, to send the Spirit – if I do not return, the Spirit will not come,’ Jesus tells us – the Spirit who will develop our worship through
obedience to His call.
The Spirit’s call is to holiness as shared with Your beloved Son, dearest Father, the One who has established and secured a heavenly Kingdom upon earth.
Our true love is birthed in Jesus, according to the working of the Spirit of virtue, ever helping us to accommodate to and rely upon the saving help, the ever loving help of Jesus.
He rescues us from sin, sickness, fear, doubt, insecurity, acute anxiety, death and eternal damnation. Jesus carries us home to heaven as we lay our burdens down at the foot of His †.
Jesus is our Saviour Redeemer, the eternal Word of life and offer of perfect love and profound Spirit found mercy. We then rejoice to know the power of this holy love emanating from the Trinity, praise ever be.
Jesus, by the Spirit, makes holy love our focus in daily life, given over to Christian service in one way or another according to our calling. Jesus is life’s fullest meaning, holy purpose and eternal rejoicing as we have
been redeemed of all our sinfulness.
The Spirit shows us what it means to be a good work in progress according to His impact, which always includes a growing understanding and appreciation of Jesus as Lord.
This is the way into love which is godly. The Lord Jesus’ truth is the universal truth laid openly before us, Jesus’own life is the means of love we are invited to share in, live by, honour, esteem, extol, share and rejoice
in. Oh the blessings of Christ Jesus! Here we learn what real love is.
Jesus, being the Light of the world, the Holy Spirit of wisdom and truth makes that light shine ever brighter from our Saviour’s friendship and Lordship. Thus we are richly blessed in following Jesus.
Dearest Father of love and mercy, thank You for planning all of such blessing, rescuing us from the world, the flesh, the devil and final separation. In following Jesus, the Kingdom of heaven is made ours and we rejoice. Amen.
Images by Artist Christine Garwood
http://www.christinegarwoodartist.co.uk/
Season
Key Themes
SANCTIFICATION
HEAVEN
