Love, Works, and Joy
Love, Works, and Joy
Love, works, and joy are the trifecta of a life lived in God. Love is the spring from which joy flows. Christ Himself is selfless and pure, and He came to pour out His life into the fallen hearts of mankind. We will discover the secret of a joyous life as we serve Him.
A life that glorifies God is free from selfish pursuits.
“You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I AM. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
John 13:13-14
The Greek word translated “ought” expresses a duty born of love.
ὀφείλω – “Metaphorically, to be bound or obligated to perform a duty, meaning I ought, must…”
– Spiros Zodhiates
Where His love resides, there will always be an obligation to others. The love of God necessitates a life of giving, of pouring forth His riches and goodness. The Love that obligated God to send His Son into this world is be expressed through us in that same giving.
“For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son…”
John 3:16
Love is the motive and obligation behind the gift of His Son. Love is the distinguishing characteristic of His Lordship within us. Whenever we are drawn away from love’s wonder, our lives, our works, and the fragrance of Him within us begin to fade.
“But I have against you that you left your first love. Then remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works…”
Revelation 2:4-5 (LITV) (the Greek word translated “first” means “primary” love).
Only “first love” can produce “first works.” Jesus went about doing good because of the love that moved in Him.
“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Spirit and with power.
He went about doing good…”
Acts 10:38 (ESA)
The works of a life reveal the nature of the faith and the love by which it is governed. In the Book of Revelation God’s estimation of their walk with Him was based upon their works, not their confession.
“I know thy works…”
Rev. 2:2, 2:9, 2:13, 2:19, 3:1, 3:8, 3:15
Love entreats, urges, and ever serves Him.
Joy is love’s reward.
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV)
Love is the only motive that will cause us to walk worthy of His Call.
Please read a related post: I Know Thy Works
“This is my commandment,
That ye love one another,
AS I have loved you.”
John 15:12
†
Love is the signature
of God’s Presence
Brian Troxel
It is stated a person can give without loving but cannot love without giving.
In your last reply, you told me that you hope I am doing well. I do not think that I would be amiss to respond here. The fire of my desire is for the progress and joy of one and all the more believing our beautiful Beloved to the everlasting praise of His grace and the glory of His love.
God Who Is Love Almighty, the Father of mercies, the God of all grace magnificently, munificently maintains my lot. My times are in His helping, holy hands. He is the Strength and the Song of my life. He is the Numericality of my days. He is the prepotent Portion of my cup; my cup continually and everlastingly runs over with the Spirit of His peerlessly precious Presence.
For me to live is Christ and to die is great, glorious gain; when He is done with His productive purpose for me and His precious provision for others by my providentially intersecting their lives on this earth with His love in word and deed, I will depart this earthen vessel and be with Christ in the hereafter which is fantastically far better. When He is ready, I am ready. In times past, I have walked through the valley of the shadow of death without any angst, misgiving, or trepidation whatsoever. Our omniscient, omnipotent God works all together for good, including the bad and the ugly, to all who love Him.
Ceaselessly confident I am that He Who has begun a wise and winning work in me shall continue it until the Day of Jesus Christ when my consecration will be complete. At long last, I will receive and rejoice in the perfect purity of unendingly undiminished sinless saintliness, revel royally in a resurrected, immortal, glorified body, see and savor our Savior fully face to face, eternally enjoy and energetically, endlessly explore the out of this world wonders, euphoric excellencies, and supreme satisfactions of Himself and His holy, happy highlands of heaven.
To all my fellow partakers of the inheritance of the saints in Light, burning blessings of Jesus’ beauty in your being and intimate blessings of loving affection from His holy heart,
1 John 3:2 AMPC: Beloved, we are [even here and] now God’s children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be [hereafter], but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall [as God’s children] resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He [really] is.
Jude 24-25 AMPC: Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]—
25 To the one only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory (splendor), majesty, might and dominion, and power and authority, before all time and now and forever (unto all the ages of eternity). Amen (so be it).
so good to hear!
BT
Amen 🙏🤗
Your perspective on living for Christ and the anticipation of the eternal joys to come is both inspiring and comforting. May God’s blessings continue to overflow in your life, and may His grace shine brightly through you.
Willie, blessed I am to know that you identify intimately with the ravishing reality of our Lover Lord’s exquisite, extravagant provision for our present and His providence for our predestination.
Truly, truly, our compassionate Creator’s beauty and beneficence outpaces and overtakes us all the days of our divinely lit lives, and we shall celestially cohabit in the closest of communion with Him, Heaven’s Host, Desire’s Darling, through endless eons.
That He is unformed, underived Love from everlasting past to everlasting future, He will enjoy ourselves, the wise workmanship of His heart and holiness, as magnificently much as we enjoy Himself. Such splendorous satiation shall be ceaseless and complete and such soaring satisfaction righteous and replete.
Beloved brother in our big Brother, grace to you and peace be multiplied from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I look forward to our graced greetings and mutual meetings in the holy, happy highlands of heaven hereafter. Hallelujah!
Reply
Amen – the eternal love of the one family of God.
BT
Blessings
BT
Romans 8:28-39 AMP
28 And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew [and loved and chose beforehand], He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son [and ultimately share in His complete sanctification], so that He would be the firstborn [the most beloved and honored] among many believers. 30 And those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified [declared free of the guilt of sin]; and those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity].
31 What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can be [successful] against us? 32 He who did not spare [even] His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect (His chosen ones)? It is God who justifies us [declaring us blameless and putting us in a right relationship with Himself]. 34 Who is the one who condemns us? Christ Jesus is the One who died [to pay our penalty], and more than that, who was raised [from the dead], and who is at the right hand of God interceding [with the Father] for us. 35 Who shall ever separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 Just as it is written and forever remains written,
“For Your sake we are put to death all day long;
We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.”
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us]. 38 For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The confident are bold in their assurance of Him in their lives. It requires a growing abiding in the wonder of Him…
Blessings!
BT
May we never lose the wonder of His love, nor let it fade.
Amen, darling of Jesus. Burning blessings of Jesus’ beauty in your being and intimate blessings of loving affection from His holy heart as Bridegroom King of heaven.
Thank you for the blessings.
“…Only “first love” can produce “first works.”…”
Devotion begets motion, desire fans the fire, depth goes deeper.
The reality of our love for God begins with realizing God, so that’s it is more than surface or even only eye service.
Where does the investment begin? It begins when we are sold out, and bought in.
Blessings, brother.
Such is the law of life. “Deep calleth unto deep…” Ps. 42:7
Blessings my friend
BT