If By Any Means I May Provoke To Emulation Them Which Are My Flesh, And Might Save Some of Them - Part 1612

"In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight, if ye continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister ...." (Colossians 1:22-23) 

Everything we do in this life is premised upon one simple question. That is, what do we believe in our hearts concerning Jesus? 

Do we understand that Jesus is Almighty God manifest in the flesh, being wholly willing to pay the ultimate price to deliver His gift of salvation -- so, that we can be unblameable and unreproveable in His sight because of the blood He shed for us -- in the body of His flesh through death? And, as a consequence, do we desire to know our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ better? Or, instead, do we dismiss Jesus away as just a man without consequence? It is within these opposing parameters that our soul yearns to be satisfied, and that we similarly begin to understand that without Jesus as Lord of our life, we can never receive the peace and joy within our very being that was intended from the very beginning.

His love and peace and joy that surpasses all human understanding. The same fulfillment of grace in our heart that only comes from accepting Jesus into our heart as both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36-38) And it is from this perspective that we as believers go into the world, desiring that none -- not any one of our loved ones -- are lost to eternal damnation. 

We more fully understand this compassion for others from the testimony of those who went before us, in their faith walk with Jesus. For example, the apostle Paul prioritized salvation of the soul to the point that even in the destruction of one's flesh, their spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (I Corinthians 5:5) Jude, too, as the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James encouraged us to keep ourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life,

"And of some have compassion, making a difference; and others, save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever, amen." (Jude 1:21-25)

Indeed, Jude instructs us (as believers in Jesus by faith) to build [y]ourselves on [y]our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. (Jude 1:20) So that we may be comforted in times of trouble. So that we may speak the things which become sound doctrine. So that He can purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:13-15)

"Likewise, the Spirit also helps our infirmities, for we know what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered, and He that searches the hearts knows what is in the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God." (Romans 8:26; Romans 11:14)

But to reach the potential of the purpose He placed in our heart while we were still in our mother's womb, we must be rooted in the faith -- understanding the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, and now is made manifest to His saints. 

God our Saviour. Yes, His Name is Jesus. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. (Revelation 1:8,11) And when we desire His purpose in our hearts, He lifts us into the heavenly, and is faithful to those who acknowledge the truth which is after godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie promised before the world began. (Titus 1:1-3; I Timothy 3:16)

And thus, "as ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him, rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:7) 

"Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ,, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee." (Titus 2:13-15; Ephesians 3:21)

We have so very much to be thankful for, knowing that after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. (Titus 3:4-7) Stand in the offering plate.