03/04/11

We are the love of the Lord and associates of Jesus Christ

Isaiah 41:8,9 - But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend [love]. Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.


People have a habit of repeating things like parrots for they repeat things that were put into their heads, without thinking or reflecting on the meaning of it.

When I was a Catholic I realized how I was deceived in repeating things as prayers or doing traditions without checking their meaning or connection with scriptures, they were like a salad mixed with chopped vegetables, fruits, raw meat and even un-edible objects. As we know keeping this over a period would have worms or eating this in larger quantity would cause food poisoning to the stomach (even small for some people).

It is not just spiritual babies or growing in Christ but even people who are mature and in the Lord since years still partly continue speaking or doing things without understanding meaning or purpose.

One of most common relation term used by Christians in Churches is calling God a 'friend'. I do not blame them for they go be the English translations of scriptures like we received today and the others in Gospels where Jesus calling us friends.

Firstly we need to understand calling God or Jesus a friend is like calling your own family member as your neighbour. Try this and see how insulted your family member would feel.

Even the word Jesus used as neighbour for the parable of the Good Samaritan means 'near one'. It was for this reason the people asked as to who is their near ones. The Samaritans although hated by the Jews were worshippers of Jehovah.

God is our Father, God the Son is our Bridegroom and we are His bride, His love. In today's scripture He calls us who believe in Jesus Christ and thus become seeds of Abraham as His love. The Lord tells us whom He has bought with a Blood price, how He longs for us and how He went searching for us since ages even before we were born and patiently awaits us. He tells us that He is ready to forgive us of all that we have done if we come to Him. The Lord has even written our names in His Book of Life even before you and I were conceived in the wombs of our mothers.

As far as Jesus calling us His 'friend' in John 15, the Greek word 'Philos' really means 'associate' since the context is about business of the Father as a Husbandman Who develops spiritual Fruit(s). Jesus is our Blood Brother, our Lord, our Saviour and our Chief Associate. He is the Head of the company under which we work. It is under His Name and with the Help of the Father (Spirit of God) that we develop Fruit in ourselves and in the people of God. Jesus although is the Head of this organization, He works for the Father. The Father Himself is an active participant in this organization and since He is not visible the organization is headed by Jesus - His visible manifestation.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You are our God. It is on your wisdom and mercy that You found us worthy to be your bride, to be part of your glorious Heavenly Body. We were like coal and by your sacrifice and the working of your Spirit, You are in the process of making precious and beautiful diamonds of us. You have also called us to be a part of this process for others. Lord, each one of us knows how much You love us and how You have been patient with us and still are. Lord, we too await the day when we will be reconciled with You...

This we declare in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scripturesr ]
John 15:1-17
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends [associates].
14 Ye are my friends [associates], if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends [associates]; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Luke 15:3-7
3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends [associates] and neighbours [near ones], saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others.
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