The Basics of Life

Last week I started thinking about a song I hadn't heard in awhile. You might say it was from back in the day.

The chorus goes something like this:

'We need to get back to the basics of life. A heart that is pure and a love that is right. A faith that is fervently grounded in Christ. A hope that endures for all time. These are the basics. We've got to get back to the basics of life.' (Basics of Life by 4 Him)

As a side note if you youtube this song and then view some of the recommended other videos you can start an enjoyable journey through 90's Contemporary Christian music. Especially noteworthy are the outfits worn by Michael W. Smith.

Anyways. I really like this song. I like the reminder of faith that is fervently grounded in Christ and hope that endures for all time.

Sometimes its helpful to think big and enlarge our perspectives. But there are also times when its important to slow down and regain focus on the basics.

When asked about the greatest commandment Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39

So as we learn and grow and explore the dreams God plants in our hearts, let's remember to also stay grounded in the basics.

The abundant goodness of God

Psalms 145

A psalm of praise. Of David.

¹ I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
² Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.

³ Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
⁴ One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.
⁵ They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.^[b]
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
⁷ They celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

⁸ The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.

⁹ The LORD is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
¹⁰ All your works praise you, LORD;
your faithful people extol you.
¹¹ They tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
¹² so that all people may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.

The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises
and faithful in all he does.^[c]
14 The LORD upholds all who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
¹⁶ You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

¹⁷ The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and faithful in all he does.
¹⁸ The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
¹⁹ He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
²⁰ The LORD watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

²¹ My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.

Psalms 145 NIV. BibleGateway.com

Love

If you google love today in .2 seconds you will get 8,910,000,000 results. That's an incredible amount of words about love.

Interestingly if you google God you get 1,940,000,000 results.

1 John 1:8 tells us that God is love. Thanks to BibleGateway.com and BlueLetterBible.org I was able to view this verse in different languages.

Dieu est amour.

Dios es amor.

Gott ist Liebe

Theos esti agape

The message is clear and simple throughout the translations.

God is love. Though love may momentarily appear to exist on google without God, in the fabric of reality and of eternity, it does not.

So if you find yourself, a friend or family member in need of guidance or help with a relationship or in need of love, I invite you to bring your requests before God. As the Creator of Love He is abundantly capable to provide beyond our greatest expectations.

Perspectives

Recently I listened to a devotional about the Word of God. I was reminded that there are parts of the world where you still can't legally access the Bible and run great risk if you own or share a copy.

In a world where information is easily accessible by a google search, its hard to picture people unable to read the sacred words at any given time.

How blessed we are to have access to the Word of God.

Psalms 119:11 says, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

I invite you to continue to hide God's word in your heart and perhaps also if you feel led, to say a prayer for those who are searching for this word that God would guide them safely to His truth.