Blessings to you who are chosen of the Lord!
I am believing this post finds you close to the heart of our Lord, wrapped in His unconditional love.
I awoke the other day with a word the Lord placed before me. I had shared with you in an earlier post "Nons Fe Donia.", that the Holy Spirit will do this from time to time, in order to guide me toward something the Lord wants me to search out, or look into. There is always a reason the Lord has for this. To teach, instruct and illuminate something in particular. Something He'd like to bring to my attention to meditate on, and allow Him to reveal His desire and intention.
Again, it must always be aligned with His Word (The Bible). It will become revealed truth to us. But, it will always have its foundation in His Word, with Scripture to back it up.
So, let me encourage you to allow the Lord to speak to you this way as well. If you suddenly find a word, or phrase, that is brought to mind, it may be the Lord attempting to get your attention to look into a matter. This is one of the ways the Lord will communicate with us. What a working relationship we have with our God! It's wonderful! The Holy Spirit directs us from the heart of God, in Christ.
"I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5 (BSB)
I'd like us to look at the definition of the title word of today's post. Taken from the Merriam-Webster dictionary. This is the word the Lord had brought to my mind. We will be breaking down this definition and find the Lords thoughts with accompanying Scripture. This will lead us to the Lords intention for us. Let's begin our journey.
RECIPROCITY - 1. the quality or state of being reciprocal: mutual dependence, action or influence. 2. a mutual exchange of privileges; specifically : a recognition by one of two countries or institutions of the validity of licenses or privileges granted by the other.
Let's look in the Book of Titus in the New Testament.
"For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that you affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men."
Titus 3:3-8 (AKJV)
If we look at verse 7, in bold print, we will see the license or privilege, that has been granted to us. As stated in the above definition of reciprocity #2. We see that Paul, who wrote the Book of Titus, use the word justified. Another translation words it this way:
"As a result, God in His kindness has given us His approval and we have become heirs who have the confidence that we have everlasting life." Titus 3:7 (Gods word translation (R))
Justify - to qualify; to prove or show to be just, right or reasonable. To show to have had a legal reason.
"For as many are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint- heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also gloried together." Romans 8:14-17 (AKJV)
Heir - 1. one who receives or is entitled to receive property from an ancestor: 2. one who inherits or is entitled to succeed to a hereditary rank, title, or office.
I would like us to make a note at this point. Look back at the above verse and read again. "and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;"
Isn't that amazing? We have not only been made heirs of God, but we are joint-heirs with Christ! Can we see here that God is no respecter of persons. He loves us enough to give to us what He gave to His only begotten Son!
"For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly." Psalm 84:11 (KJV)
With Christ as our example, let's read Philippians 2:5-7.
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:" Philippians 2:5-7 (KJV)
Christ not only being the Son of God, but also being equal with God, did not take occasion to boast or brag about just who He was while here among us in physical form. Being made heirs ourselves by faith in Jesus Christ, and His example, we can learn how to carry out our daily lives.
Remember, we are the branches and He is the vine. We can not do anything in and of ourselves, except we remain in Him. Then we will have good success and bear much fruit to Gods glory.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)
"May the God of all peace continue to keep your hearts and minds stayed on Him."
"If this study has been a blessing to you, please share it with someone!"
We will continue our study in Reciprocity - Part 2
