If I don't believe it, I am lost in the imagination of my heart. I have been there.

God grant us grace to see past ourselves- to see your glory as the prize of greatest treasure- and that all the treasures we value on this earth are merely a dim portrait of your glorious nature.

Thanks for the questions. I needed to think on these. In the midst of tons of unanswered questions- these in addition to them, I must rest in this promise of God: Love never fails. Every other gift will pass away. But the gift of 100% whole love (something my heart yearns after daily) will be the gift we receive when we are with Him in glory- the only thing in this life worth fighting for is love. 1 John 4:8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

My favorite part of 1 Corinthians 13
8Love (God) never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I think the 'good works' the Bible says we were created for and ultimately the fruit of the Holy Spirit actively working in us is that the works will be a natural outpouring of who we are. They won't be contrived solutions to ease our guilt or propel us forward to some greater calling we think is ours to take. The world's way about everything is to strategically position yourself to dominate and control- even when it comes to charity.

We can't help but look different to the world, because in Christ we are. Jesus came to serve not be served- even dying our death. When the Holy Spirit flows through us- we won't even know any different- it's not something we can formulate for ourselves- it is God who gives and takes away our callings and all we can do is come with nothing to offer to gain everything that is not ours.

"in the presence of Jesus there will be no more longing and no more sin. We will drink in the glory of the Living Water who satisfies and creates deeper cravings for more of Himself."

This spoke to me so clearly...

PS- I have my own theology of tears. They are a gift- use them when necessary or they will dry up.

It is both. As new creations (daily) in Christ we are set apart- for His use. Which is something we are powerless to make happen- a miracle beyond our control or comprehension really. But it is our character (growing in faith and bearing fruit of the Holy Spirit) that defines the extent to which our calling (what we are set apart for) can be carried out on earth in the physical realm in our vessels (physical bodies). The better definition of sanctification in my mind would be sustaining grace. For we are saved first by grace and daily as we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling it is He who works in us to will and to do for His good pleasure!

I needed to read this today. It's weird that I resonated so much with it, as I feel like I am hearing God's voice so clearly- He does not seem distant, it is my heart that is holding back and not wanting to fully trust in what He is saying. But God is gracious and good. Even through my heart is deceitful, wicked and cannot be trusted- God can always be trusted and has promised that so long as my delight is in the Lord the desires of my heart will be from Him! And oh what a promise that is!

Father grant me peace to walk each step by the light of thy lamp, remove the fear and doubt that easily creeps in. You are faithful God and have never failed me!

I dont think it could ever be overemphasized. The gospel is all that we truly have in this life. It is the essential foundation to a relationship with the invisible God through Jesus. Without it, nothing matters- with it everything matters!

Thanks for writing CT!