Welcome to February - the Month Of Love and what better way to kick off this Month's Weekly Devotions than with a call to Love - Love In Action.
Speaking to the scribes, Jesus taught that the greatest commandment is Love. Matthew 22:36-40 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind'. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets".
A bit of a back story. The Pharisees & Sadducees were considered the Custodians of the Law - they had studied the Laws of Moses & were very strict enforcers of these laws. In their conversation with Jesus, they could not believe that of the various questions they were throwing at Him, Jesus gave responses which silenced them. In an attempt to corner Him, they decided to ask Him which of the Laws of Moses was the greatest. I'm sure they asked that question with a very cheeky smile on their faces confident that there was no way He was going to scan through all the 600+ laws & find the greatest. Shock on them, Jesus summarized all those laws into one - LOVE.
There are so many times I confidently profess that I love God but again, I wonder if I really do especially considering John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep my commandments". Just for emphasis, Paul writing to the church in Corinth basically invalidated any kind of action done minus love, no matter how well meaning it is. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing". I don't know about you but I struggle following through with this commandment more so cause love is not an emotion, it is a decision - you choose to love in spite & despite of any prevailing circumstances. Good News is that I'm a Work In Progress as I allow the Holy Spirit to teach me how to Love - Unconditionally - even those that I consider annoying & unlovable. I made a conscious decision to focus on what God says & what He wants cause at the end of the day, no matter how much I claim to love Him - if I am not obeying that crucial commandment of LOVE then I'm in effect letting Him down. Romans 12:9-21 presents a very interesting breakdown of Love In Action.
1. Be sincere in how you love - Romans 12:9 "Let love be without hypocrisy".
2. Be devoted to each other- Romans 12:10 "Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence".
3. Avoid Vengeance- Romans 12:19 " Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing, you will heap coals of fire on his head".
4. Do not repay evil for evil - Romans 12:17 "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sigh of all men.
5. Keep The Peace - Romans 12:18 "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
6. Share with those in need - Romans 12:13 "Distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality".
7. Mingle Freely - Romans 12:16 "Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do be wise in your own opinion.
Finally, Romans 12:21 "Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good".
This looks so far fetched doesn't it. By the standards of the world, it can be described even as impossible but Romans 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed bu the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Lord thank you for reminding us this week of your greatest commandment - Love. Thank you for calling us to love our neighbors and as much as it may be difficult we choose to renew our minds, we choose not to conform to the standards of this world. We choose to focus on you and what you say in your word concerning love. That we will learn to esteem our neighbors. That we will learn to love without hypocrisy. That we will learn to be affectionate to one another. That we will not repay evil for evil but instead we will have regard for good things in the sight of all men. Thank you for this lesson that seems impossible but doable with the help of the Holy Spirit. I commend ourselves to You. Teach us how we can keep loving even in difficult circumstances. I bless Your name. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.
Cheers to an amazingly Love filled Week & Month.
God Bless you.
A bit of a back story. The Pharisees & Sadducees were considered the Custodians of the Law - they had studied the Laws of Moses & were very strict enforcers of these laws. In their conversation with Jesus, they could not believe that of the various questions they were throwing at Him, Jesus gave responses which silenced them. In an attempt to corner Him, they decided to ask Him which of the Laws of Moses was the greatest. I'm sure they asked that question with a very cheeky smile on their faces confident that there was no way He was going to scan through all the 600+ laws & find the greatest. Shock on them, Jesus summarized all those laws into one - LOVE.
There are so many times I confidently profess that I love God but again, I wonder if I really do especially considering John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep my commandments". Just for emphasis, Paul writing to the church in Corinth basically invalidated any kind of action done minus love, no matter how well meaning it is. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing". I don't know about you but I struggle following through with this commandment more so cause love is not an emotion, it is a decision - you choose to love in spite & despite of any prevailing circumstances. Good News is that I'm a Work In Progress as I allow the Holy Spirit to teach me how to Love - Unconditionally - even those that I consider annoying & unlovable. I made a conscious decision to focus on what God says & what He wants cause at the end of the day, no matter how much I claim to love Him - if I am not obeying that crucial commandment of LOVE then I'm in effect letting Him down. Romans 12:9-21 presents a very interesting breakdown of Love In Action.
1. Be sincere in how you love - Romans 12:9 "Let love be without hypocrisy".
2. Be devoted to each other- Romans 12:10 "Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence".
3. Avoid Vengeance- Romans 12:19 " Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing, you will heap coals of fire on his head".
4. Do not repay evil for evil - Romans 12:17 "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sigh of all men.
5. Keep The Peace - Romans 12:18 "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
6. Share with those in need - Romans 12:13 "Distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality".
7. Mingle Freely - Romans 12:16 "Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do be wise in your own opinion.
Finally, Romans 12:21 "Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good".
This looks so far fetched doesn't it. By the standards of the world, it can be described even as impossible but Romans 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed bu the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Lord thank you for reminding us this week of your greatest commandment - Love. Thank you for calling us to love our neighbors and as much as it may be difficult we choose to renew our minds, we choose not to conform to the standards of this world. We choose to focus on you and what you say in your word concerning love. That we will learn to esteem our neighbors. That we will learn to love without hypocrisy. That we will learn to be affectionate to one another. That we will not repay evil for evil but instead we will have regard for good things in the sight of all men. Thank you for this lesson that seems impossible but doable with the help of the Holy Spirit. I commend ourselves to You. Teach us how we can keep loving even in difficult circumstances. I bless Your name. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.
Cheers to an amazingly Love filled Week & Month.
God Bless you.
