Monday, December 14, 2015

Unrestrained Joy

"Unrestrained joy" is the phrase that Father Ray Brown uses to describe the scene in Luke's Gospel where Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth (1:39-45.)  The Divine saturates the scene and  envelops the two women and they brim over with joy.  Even the baby in Elizabeth's womb jumps for joy.
Teilhard de Chardin says, "Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God."

1 comment:

Steve Finnell said...

SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE? BY STEVE FINNELL

There are many who like to quote Ephesians 4:15 to admonish Christians to withhold or soft peddle the truth of God if some find God's truth offensive.

Ephesians 4:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is head---Christ---(NKJV)

Ephesians 4:7-16 is addressing Christians in order that that they might edify the body of Christ in love.

Ephesians 4:14-15 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is head--Christ---(NKJV)

Exposing the trickery and cunning craftiness of those trying to deceive Christians and non Christians is not contrary to speaking the truth in love.

Is remaining silent about those who pervert the gospel and teach false doctrine evidence of Christian love? I think not!

Was the apostle Paul being unloving when he said that those who pervert the gospel of Christ should be accursed? I think not! (Galatians 1:6-9)

Was Jesus being unloving when He said those who did not believe that He was the Son of God would die in their sins? (John 8:24) I think not!

Was Jesus being unloving by saying those who believe and are baptized will be saved? (Mark 16:16) Was that an unloving thing for Jesus to say, knowing that many do not believe and there are those who reject water baptism as being essential to salvation? I think not!

Speaking the truth in love does not mean ignoring, twisting, nor soft peddling the truth if it offends those who do not know or care about God's truth.

Gods loves everyone, but he expect men to believe and obey His gospel plan of salvation.


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