CCC Gainesville | Blog
“The Holy Spirit is the seal of our authenticity, the unmistakable sign that we belong to God. If the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives—if he is convicting us of sin, giving us faith in Jesus Christ, persuading us that the Bible is God’s Word, enabling us to call God “Father,” making us fruitful in ministry, and helping us to grow in grace—if the Spirit is doing any of these things at all, then no matter how much we are struggling in the Christian life, we have God’s seal of our eternal salvation.”
This week two lives were lost by self inflicted wounds and an iconic painting sold for millions. Walt Mueller reflects on what all this means.
(thanks to vitaminZ or something for this link)
The prescribed ritual of the Supper has three levels of meaning for participants. First, it has a past reference to Christ’s death which we remember. Second, it has a present reference to our corporate feeding on him by faith, with implications for how we treat our fellow believers (1 Cor. 11:20-22). Third, it has a future reference as we look ahead to Christ’s return and are encouraged by the thought of it. Preliminary self-examination, to make sure one’s frame of mind is as it should be, is advised (1 Cor. 11:28), and the wisdom of the advice is obvious. –JI Packer (more HERE)
You will be helped in your preparation for this meal of grace by this Scotty Smith 2 minute teaching on Communion. HERE
Been caught up in Ephesians 1 and the new Jack White album recently. Granted, I think he’s singing about human love but it points me to the love I’m reading about in Ephesians 1:3-14. There, our triune God’s rescuing love is dominant—“IN LOVE, He”—
White sings, “I want love to walk right up and bite me.” This human desire for something to be undeniable and initiating. And so is the love of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They really do walk right up and bite us.
In another place White declares, “I won’t let love disrupt, corrupt or interrupt me.” This fear of what love will DO to us. That it will “mess us up”. Ephesians 1 counters that the love of God is tremendously disrupting and interrupting, yea even undeniable AND healing/restoring instead of corrupting.
So, that’s what I’ve been thinking. That, and that Jack White made a fun album.
