Monday, October 25, 2010

Monday Morning Devotion #294

Focal Passage for 2010:

“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV)

Weekly Passage:

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up” 1 Corinthians 13:4

As we continue our journey into 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, we will focus our time this week on a fourth and final portion of 1 Corinthians 13:4. Our focus this year has been, and continues to be, learning to love others as Christ loves us. As I have shared before, my definition of love differs from God’s definition of love. God is teaching me that HE is the authority on all things. In light of that truth, if my definition is different than His, my definition is wrong!! “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29).

This week, we will focus our attention on the final portion of our focal passage “Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.” In our Ladies’ Sunday school class, we have been walking through the book of 1 Samuel. As I prayerfully considered 1 Corinthians 13:4, I was reminded of the character of David when he was being pursued by Saul. Saul was the anointed king of Israel; however, God has rejected Saul as king because he continually rebelled against Him (see 1 Samuel 15). The Lord directed Samuel to anoint David as the next king of Israel.

You see, God has chosen David to be the one in which HE would establish the line of Christ. Through David, God would usher in Messiah and HE would be the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5), Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice…” (Isaiah 9:6b-7a). Saul understood that God had rejected him but Saul refused to bow to God’s authority. Saul hated David and he sought to kill him continually. Saul’s rebellion against the Lord had a great impact on David. David was forced to flee from his homeland, his wife, and his people. For years, David’s life was in danger but David trusted God and Scripture records a precious picture of David’s spiritual maturity in both 1 & 2 Samuel as well in the Psalms that David wrote. Scripture also records for us two separate times that David had the opportunity to kill Saul. First in the cave in the Wilderness of En Gedi (see 1 Samuel 24) and then again in the hill of Hachilah (see 1 Samuel 26). Even when David was advised by his closest friends/followers to kill Saul, David refused. Why? David refused because he understood that Saul was the anointed of God and that God was the one who judges man. “Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear…But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?” David said furthermore, “As the LORD lives, the LORD shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish” (1 Samuel 26:8-10).

David could have reacted to Saul in a prideful and arrogant way. David could have killed Saul and taken over the kingdom by force but David did not parade his rights nor did he demand justice. Instead, David hid himself in the Lord God and waited for God to bring forth His plan at His appointed time. David’s love for the Lord enabled David to trust God and to love Saul in a way that reflects the love of Christ. Although Christ had not come in human form at the time of David, the power of God enabled David to reflect the very truth we are studying today! WOW! “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

My Friend, we have all experienced times when we have felt wronged. Perhaps we have even experienced great persecution at the hands of those who claim to love us. No matter what our circumstance may be, God’s Word calls His children to love others as Christ loves us. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). It is not our responsibility to judge others or to repay them for evil. We are responsible to love others in a way that points them to the cross where they can find healing, forgiveness, and salvation.

This is certainly not an easy task but it is God’s command. Reread our focal passage once more. “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up” 1 Corinthians 13:4. Before we allow our pride to convince us that we do have the right to “defend ourselves” lets read 2 Corinthians 5:21. “For HE made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Christ Jesus is absolutely perfect! HE is unable to sin yet HE chose to become sin for us! Why? Christ willingly sacrificed Himself so that we can be reconciled to God. If Christ would have held to His rights and refused to leave glory to come to earth to be born of a woman, walk this earth in human flesh among sinful men, die on a cross for sins HE never committed, and then rise again conquering sin and death in order to save us from an eternity of separation from the Lord God, why do we, who are sinful, believe we have the right to withhold the love of Christ from others, no matter what they have done to us?!?!

My Friend, Jeremiah 17:9 warns us that “the heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked…I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.” God sees every motive and intent of the heart, HE also sees every action and attitude of our hearts. When we trust the Lord God to right all the wrongs in our lives, then we are free to love others the way Christ loves us. Loving others the way Christ loves us requires that we “die to self.” Dying to self is only accomplished through the power of Christ but God’s Word promises us that we “…can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). When we love others as Christ loves us, we are free to enjoy the blessings of God and to see Him work in the lives of those around us. God’s ways are perfect and trustworthy. May we each love Christ enough to willingly reflect that love to others in our daily lives so they may see Christ and be drawn to Him.