From the Heart by B.Demaere

As I picked this passage from my French Bible, I had to find an English translation that would be close to what it said in French.   Thus, I chose the New Living Translation for this purpose. So, we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness , along with all wisdom and understanding. God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ- which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan : At the right time he will bring together under the authority of Christ-everything in heaven and on earth.   Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God.

“Pilate said to him (Jesus) What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, I find in him no fault at all.” (John 18:38) That is the Question Pilate had asked that question about 2000 years ago without it seems really wanting an answer.   Since then, the world has had its own idea and philosophy of what the truth should be.   Many people today have their own personal view of what is truth.   No one really is teachable and ask question about it.   We just stubbornly make up our own truth to avoid it altogether.   If Pilate had been teachable, he would have known the truth because the truth was with him right there at the front of him.   Pilate represents what a lot of people are like today.   The Truth is right with them and in the front of them and yet they still ignore.   Nevertheless, there is a price for that, and it is costly.   There is not much time left for you to know the truth.   You are better finding it soon. The Truth is Personal “Jesus sa

  “Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, got you are with me; Your rod [to protect] and your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me.” (Psalm 23:4 Amplified) Normal Christian Life What is the normal Christian life?   The answer is Psalm 23, It does not mean an easy life but sometimes of great testing.   These should not surprise at all if we are in the footsteps of our Saviour. I am going through that valley right now and this is not fun, but I must focus on Jesus and trust that he will take me on the other side.   Although, he might feel like he is at a distance when we go through the valley…We have three comforts to draw from.   Oh he never leave us alone, remember he is the Good Shepherd of the sheep.   If the shepherd would leave his sheep, they would become a meal to a wolf or wild dog.   No, no and no! That would be the furthest thing on his mind… to leave you alone.   He loves you so much. The three comforts of t

I have read twice through the letter to the Galatian church, I realized that the whole book is linked to the fruit of the Spirit.   The ‘should’ and the ‘should not’ of the Law are erased by the belief we have in Jesus Christ. The fruit of the Spirit is produced by the faith we live by and have in Christ.   The evidence of the fruit of the Spirit is the fact we don’t do the works of the Law, but we obey by faith Jesus who lives in us. Consequently, life is simplest, and we no longer boast in our own works but in the works of Christ who died on the Cross for us.   We are only free if we believe the finished work of Christ. We have no obligation to the Law and are free to believe in the God of Love who dared to serve us and wash our feet. Our inheritance is guaranteed because of the promise made to Abraham.   We end up with the same blessings given to Abraham.   Certainly, we are not deserving of any of it, but we have them because of the promise that cannot be broken.   We serve

“But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others],   joy [inner] peace , patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting],   kindness, goodness,   faithfulness,   gentleness,   self-control.   Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)   The Danger of being without it We see the danger that this world has encountered while having no self control.   Please understand that self control is not just related to how much you take on your plate at dinner time.   Self control may even make you cringe as you consider the self discipline you will have to endure.   Simplicity It is not necessarily like that; it is first also produced by God’s Spirit in your life and so it can be taught to you by that same Spirit.   It could be as simple as holding your tongue from speaking certain words.   Having your whole body voluntarily controlled by the Holy Spirit.   It comes from a dail

Peace is a beautiful thing to have in this chaotic world where it is sometimes sought after through drugs and alcohol and other means.   To the born-again Christian it is a peace that is meaningful with a person called Jesus Christ as the author of it. He is the Prince of Peace.   This peace comes by the Holy Spirit in the daily life of the Christian, but Christians are not perfect and still do become angry at the injustices around them. Learning the way of peace comes from a lifelong commitment to God and is experienced by this abiding Presence. “But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others],   joy [inner] peace , … (Galatians 5:22 Amplified) Please note also that all the characteristics of the Fruit of the Spirit are included in each other in perfect unity.   For example: Where is no love without patience and no patience without peace as well?     How can a person be patient if they have no peace?    How can one ha

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud. Or rude It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, And it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice. But rejoice whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith. Is always hopeful, And endures through every circumstance. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)   Here we have love in its purest form.   Love of God is part of the fruit of the Spirit, and it is a gift for us to share with people and with God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives : love , joy, peace… (Galatians 5:22) This kind of Love can only be produced by the Spirit of God in us, otherwise our hearts only produce vanity and pride and all kind of prejudices. The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked.   Who really knows how bad it is? (Jeremiah 17:9) That is why love that is not too far out of reach is available to us throug