SONG
OF THE WEEK
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"They Will
Know We Are Christians By Our Love"
by Jars of Clay
(click
above link to listen)
We are one
in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love
We will
work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love
By our love, by our love
Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.
Love is really the answer to all our problems. Love heals. Love nurtures. Love strengthens. Love saves because God is love. This wisdom from the ancient proverb above was again echoed in a letter from Peter.
1 Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and
self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply,
because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Love covers us, protects us and helps us to reach the source of all love- God. This old hymn from Jars of Clay is about that love and about the Source of that love. The "Jars" have been around awhile and are doing quite well. They are a mellower, but very talented band that is sure to continue producing great, spiritual music. This particular song is obviously a re-make of a familar hymn sung in many church services. I really enjoy the way they perform it, but I only wish they had done all the verses. You can find this song on their latest album- Redemption Songs. Well, the message is clear in this song as it begins, "We are one in the Spirit..."
Ephesians 4:1
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life
worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be
patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of
the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit-- just
as you were called to one hope when you were called-- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over
all and through all and in all.
The real point I want to stress with this post and song is that we are all from God. There is absolutely nothing real that did not come from God. Furthermore, there is absolutely nothing that can withstand the saving power of God's love. It is impossible because as we read above- God is over all, through all and in all. This is how we are one in SPIRIT because our spirits are eternally and continually attached to God- the Source. Like rays of light from the Sun, we are because of God. I am because of the Great I AM. We are spirit because God is SPIRIT. The feeling of separation from God is not then in our spirit, but in the soul, our consciousness. Our souls (minds) must separate from the flesh and again be united with our spirit so that we can hear God.
Most fans of Jars of Clay probably know that they were greatly affected by a book they all read called, Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. She passed away many years ago, but her writings and spirit live on. She was also a universalist that believed that Christ would indeed save all the world. Her writings reflect this wonderful revelation and I have to believe that the boys of Jars of Clay must have similar feelings. In fact, their album called "Much Afraid" is named after the main character of that allegorical story of salvation. I am very hopefull that their music will continue to share the deeper truth about God deepest love for us.
Ephesians 3:14
For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and
on earth derives its name. 16
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with
power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts
through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established
in love, 18 may have power, together with all the
saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love
of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses
knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the
fullness of God.
We are being filled with the fullness of God! We are learning to love as God loves. This is why we are here. Christ Jesus alive and well in you. And for those who are truly Christians (followers of Christ), they are being led into higher truths and a higher love that transcends anything the world can throw at them. This song says they will know we are Christians by our love. This is really the true test if someone is truly a follower of Christ or just a follower of a religion.
Love as God loves, then they will know!
brad