Seeking Jesus First Dec. 3, 2025
Through faith in Christ Jesus, we have become His house and God’s children. Part Four
As children of God, we learn and perpetuate the culture of heaven. God’s kingdom and family have certain ways, values and characteristics. We do not lack any good thing for God has supplied all our need according to His riches in Christ Jesus. By His grace, God has made us partakers of His divine nature and has given to us everything that pertains to life and godliness. As His children, He has imparted to us His mind and His spirit. We are without excuse and we have no need to justify anything in ourselves that is not of His nature. God sanctifies, justifies and glorifies us through His Word and His Spirit.Our part is to hear and to keep His words. We abide in Him and HIs words abide in us. We seek Him diligently with our whole heart and we find Him. Then we imitate Him as dear children. We have been accepted in the beloved family of God, Our Creator and Father.
Very simply put, the culture of heaven is a culture of faith, hope and love with the greatest emphasis on love.We believe in God and in His Son, Jesus whom He sent, and we believe God’s word. To believe is to have faith or to be fully persuaded that what God has said is completely true. It is true enough to build my life upon. God’s word is a firm foundation for my life and walk. Because of our faith we hope in God’s promises. We look for the completion of them with our neck outstretched with joyful anticipation of good. Bible hope is the full expectation of the imminent arrival of the promised conclusion. Example of Bible Hope: “Gramma promised that she was coming for Christmas, so I can hardly wait to see her. She always comes with love, affirmation and presents on Christmas. Her joyful arrival will be wonderful.” All of the promises of God are in Christ, “Yes” and in us “Amen” to the glory of The Father.
The greatest cultural aspect of the kingdom of God is love. Love makes the faith work and inspires the hope. Faith works by love, and hope makes us unashamed of believing the promises of God, because the love of God floods our hearts by the Holy Spirit which God has given to us. Love is the reason for the promises. Love is the reason Christ Jesus came to save us from our sins. Love is the reason God created us. Love is the force behind miracles. Love is the power in relationships. Love is the motivation to grown in righteousness. Love is the key to spiritual maturity.
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:1–7, NKJV)