The T-shirt part 5
There's such a gigantic difference between head knowledge and heart knowledge. Ephesians 3:19 puts it like this, "And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." Not just knowing ABOUT the love of Christ, but KNOWING the love of Christ. Heart knowledge passeth head knowledge. That's why they say a man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument. You can THINK whatever you want but when I've been there, done that, and got the t-shirt... then I KNOW. And that's why the Holy Spirit is so important. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. Our love receptor. He leads and guides us into all truth--that the Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into His hands--so that we might UNDERSTAND what we know. So that it gets past the head and into the heart! And once it's in the heart (remember, God promised to write His law, the perfect law of liberty, on our hearts) that's when it comes out in our actions. Charity is love in action. Not the idea, but the act. The Word became flesh and blood and dwelt among us. It wasn't just a Word. It was a person. A person loving other people. That's our "example." And that's the New Commandment--love one another as Jesus loves you. Guys... it's so important that we identity ourselves as God's beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. So important that we let ourselves BE LOVED by our heavenly Father. He fills us to overflowing. And we are filled with the fulness when we know it and believe it. And then we have something to give. Because you can't give what you don't have, right? How could you? But when you know what you've got, and when you believe that you're filled to overflowing with it, that's when it comes out naturally. That's when that thing you went through no longer holds you down but allows you--equips and empowers you--to life others up! You went through it already. You survived. You endured. Your test is now your testimony. And that means you know the way through. You can help others through. It's really hard to condemn somebody when you've literally been where they are. It's hard to say, "I can't believe what a mess you've made," when you've been just as dirty as they are. But now that you're on the other side, not only can you believe it, but you can help them clean it up. You can bear one another's burdens. You can lighten the load. It's not good that man should be alone. When we try to do it (whatever it is) by ourselves, we generally end up making things worse. Human beings are really good at breaking things. But, with a little experience, with a little change of attitude (and altitude) human beings are really good at building things too. Restoration is a word that I don't think we get to use too often. Because we're usually too busy bemoaning the things we've lost. But I'm here to tell you... nothing is lost in Him. Look at Matthew 19:29 (NLT), "And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life." Nothing sacrificed in the name of love is lost. Nothing you go through is meant for you harm. And even if someone else DOES mean it for harm, God means it for good (see Genesis 50:20)! We go through things for two reasons: 1. To learn and grow. 2. To help others through those same things. ALL things work together for the good. So don't get discouraged. Be encouraged. And encourage others!