I've been struggling with the words to express the ways of some very dear brethren for a while: Even wanting to give thanks for one of them publicly to the Lord, (because one of them is leaving*), but not knowing how to express it without getting tangled up in words.
You see, there are those that are very dear to us, yet not part of our biological family. There is a closeness there that is difficult to explain. Then, I realize that the closeness has to do with a practical working out of these verses:
"Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another." Eph. 4:2 Amp.
"And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you." Eph. 4:32 Amp.
(Isn't that cool - how Ephesians 4 is "bookended" by those two verses?)
"Bear (endure, carry) one another's burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it]." Galatians 6:2 Amp.
The practical working out of these verses comes from the ability of these dear ones to show forth the love of Christ to others, (me in particular). I have gained a very special and deeper first-hand knowledge of the love of Christ because it has been so vividly portrayed in a very practical way by these brethren. What an encouragement! There's no substitute for the Lord. There's no substitute for the Lord's people.
How do you say all of that clearly and briefly - without rambling on, like I have been doing above? There it was, last night, in a hymn: "...Christ revealed in saints below."
*Für Elise
You see, there are those that are very dear to us, yet not part of our biological family. There is a closeness there that is difficult to explain. Then, I realize that the closeness has to do with a practical working out of these verses:
"Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another." Eph. 4:2 Amp.
"And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you." Eph. 4:32 Amp.
(Isn't that cool - how Ephesians 4 is "bookended" by those two verses?)
"Bear (endure, carry) one another's burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it]." Galatians 6:2 Amp.
The practical working out of these verses comes from the ability of these dear ones to show forth the love of Christ to others, (me in particular). I have gained a very special and deeper first-hand knowledge of the love of Christ because it has been so vividly portrayed in a very practical way by these brethren. What an encouragement! There's no substitute for the Lord. There's no substitute for the Lord's people.
How do you say all of that clearly and briefly - without rambling on, like I have been doing above? There it was, last night, in a hymn: "...Christ revealed in saints below."
*Für Elise
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