2020 for JESUS - Day 47: JESUS is KIND...

From Day 46 to Day 60 of 2020,  

please join us in taking 

The LOVE Challenge - GOD's WAY!

The Bible shares the definition of GOD's AGAPE LOVE in 1 Corinthians 13.

Throughout the Bible, the illustration of this AGAPE LOVE is JESUS.

So, each day from February 15-29, 

let's plan to take a principle of AGAPE LOVE

and then look at something from JESUS' life, 
here on earth, that illustrates it.   

LOVE is kind!

JESUS is kind!

There are so many examples of the kindness of JESUS throughout HIS life on earth. Let's consider that HE chose to die on the cross for all people, choosing not to revile back at them or defend HIMSELF. Here is one account of JESUS being crucified:

Mark 15:27-41

27-  "With HIM they crucified two thieves, one on HIS right and the other on HIS left.

28-  And the Scripture was fulfilled, which says, 'HE was numbered with the lawless ones.'

29-  Those who passed by blasphemed HIM, shaking their heads and saying, 'Ah, YOU WHO would destroy the temple and build it in three days.

30- save YOURSELF and come down from the cross!'

31-  Likewise the chief priest mocked HIM among themselves with the scribes and said, 'HE saved others, but HE cannot save HIMSELF!

32- Let the CHRIST, the KING OF ISRAEL, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.'  Those who were crucified with HIM also reviled HIM.

33-  When the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth drink, saying, 'Leave HIM alone.  Let us see if Elijah will come and take HIM down.'

37- But JESUS cried with a loud voice and gave up the spirit.

38- And the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

39-  When the centurion who stood facing HIM saw that HE cried out and gave up the spirit, he said, 'Truly this MAN was the SON OF GOD.'

40-  There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joseph, and Salome. 

41-  They also had followed HIM and had ministered to HIM when HE was in Galilee.  And many other women who came up with HIM to Jerusalem were there."

LOVE Challenge-Day 2:

GOD's LOVE through me for _________is kind...

2020 for JESUS - Day 46: JESUS is PATIENT...

Yesterday was a day that many celebrate love... 

a day called Valentine's Day.

From today, until the end of February, 

please join me in taking 

The LOVE Challenge - GOD's WAY!

The Bible shares the definition of GOD's AGAPE LOVE in 1 Corinthians 13.

Throughout the Bible, the illustration of this AGAPE LOVE is JESUS.

So, each day from February 15-29, 

let's plan to take a principle of AGAPE LOVE

and then look at something from JESUS' life, 
here on earth, that illustrates it.   

LOVE is patient!

JESUS is patient!

You've probably heard it said, "Timing is everything!"  JESUS knew that patience required HIS FATHER'S leading for the right timing.  In John 7:1-9, JESUS' brothers are pushing HIM to do something HE knows is not the right timing. 

Yet, JESUS' LOVE for GOD and LOVE for others kept HIM PATIENT! JESUS exemplified PATIENCE!

1-  "...JESUS walked in Galilee.  HE would not walk in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill HIM.

2-  Now the Jews' Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.

3- HIS brothers said to HIM, "Depart from here and go into Judea, that YOUR disciples also may see the works that YOU do.

4-  For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly.  If YOU do these things, reveal YOURSELF to the world.  

5-  For even HIS brothers did not believe in HIM.

6-  Therefore, JESUS told them, "MY time has not yet come, but your time is always fitting.

7-  The world cannot hate you.  But it hates ME, because I testify concerning it, that its works are evil.

8-  You go up to this feast.  I am not going up to this feast yet, because MY time has not yet fully come.

9-  Having said these things to them, HE remained in Galilee."

LOVE Challenge-Day 1:

GOD's LOVE through me for _________is patient...

2020 for JESUS - Day 45: JESUS CHRIST, WHO is YOUR LIFE is LOVE...

2020 - Day 45 - I have a lot on my mind on this "Valentine's Day":

• As many people celebrate "love" today, I desire for the world to know that JESUS is LOVE... HE is the answer to our yearnings for LOVE.
• I cherish and celebrate the blessings of our daughter, Jessica, who went to her eternal home 5 years ago, on Valentine's Day.
• I cherish and celebrate the blessings of my hubby, 3 children, and their families who remain here on this earth.
• I cherish and celebrate the blessings of my parents, who loved and lived deeply.  Amazingly, we have arrived today at Colossians 3, which was my mom's favorite scripture.  I quote it each morning before heading into my day.  

We will stop here, in Colossians, for the rest of  February, as we begin "The Love Challenge" tomorrow!


Colossians 3:1-4

1-  "Since, then, you have been raised with CHRIST, set your hearts on things above, where CHRIST is, seated at the right hand of GOD.  

2-  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

3-  For you died, and your life is now hidden with CHRIST in GOD.  

4- When CHRIST, WHO is your life, appears, then you also will appear with HIM in glory." 

2020 for JESUS - Day 44: JESUS is THE HEAD of the body (HIS body = the church)...

Colossians 2:16-23

16-   "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration, or a Sabbath Day.

17-    These are a shadow of things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in CHRIST.

18-  Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you.  Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind.

19-  They have lost connection with THE HEAD, from WHOM the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as GOD causes it to grow. 

20-   Since you died with CHRIST to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:

21-  'Do not handle!  Do not taste!  Do not touch!'

22-   These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.  

23- Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence." 

2020 for JESUS - Day 43: JESUS is LIFE... FORGIVENESS... VICTORY...

In our reading today, I see JESUS as the following:

• LIFE:  "GOD made you alive with CHRIST!"
• FORGIVENESS: "HE forgave us all our sins!"
• VICTORY: "...canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness... HE has taken it away, nailing it to the cross... having disarmed the powers and authorities... triumphing over them by the cross."

Colossians 2:13-15

13- "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, GOD made you alive with CHRIST.  HE forgave us all our sins, 

14- having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; HE has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.

15-  And having disarmed the powers and authorities, HE made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."

2020 for JESUS - Day 42: JESUS is ALL THE FULLNESS OF THE DEITY... HEAD OVER EVERY POWER AND AUTHORITY...

A lot to consider in Colossians 2:6-12 about living our lives in HIM, in addition to the names/descriptions of JESUS:

• rooted and built up in HIM
• strengthened in THE FAITH
• overflowing with thankfulness
• remaining captives of CHRIST
• making sure we were buried with HIM in baptism - (not "praying JESUS into our hearts" or sprinkled as a baby)

Colossians 2:6-12

6 - "So then, just as you received CHRIST JESUS as LORD, continue to live your lives in HIM,

7-  rooted and built up in HIM, strengthened in THE FAITH as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

8- See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on CHRIST.  

9-  For IN CHRIST ALL THE FULLNESS OF THE DEITY lives in bodily form,

10- and in CHRIST you have been brought to fullness.  HE is the HEAD OVER EVERY POWER AND AUTHORITY.

11-  in HIM you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands.  Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by CHRIST,

12- having been buried with HIM in baptism, in which you were also raised with HIM through your faith in the working of GOD, WHO raised HIM

2020 for JESUS - Day 41: JESUS is LOVE... COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING...

We took a break from Colossians the last two days, but want to return today as Paul continues to share JESUS in the 2nd chapter.  His references to the names and descriptions of JESUS are so encouraging:

Colossians 2:1-5

1-  "I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.  

2-  My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in LOVE, so that they may have the full riches of COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING, in order that they may know the MYSTERY OF GOD, namely CHRIST, 

3-  in WHOM are hidden ALL THE TREASURES OF WISDOM  AND KNOWLEDGE.

4-  I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.

5- For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in CHRIST is."