I Corinthians 13:4,5, “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seekth not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;”

This verse is God’s definition of ‘LOVE’. It is universal, representing all the types of love demonstrated by man:  love of a spouse, love for children, love for friends, love for parents, etc.  Or, maybe, I should say that it represents the way ‘love’ should be demonstrated.  (This may be an area we need to work on!)  We all know that the word charity can be interchanged with the word love, so that is the word I will use in this devotional.  I appreciate the way that God’s Word can say so much in such a small space.  These verses represent a beautiful picture of what genuine love looks like.

• Love suffereth long – it doesn’t give up. It is in there for the long haul.
• Love is kind – it is not quick or hurtful but thoughtful and helpful.
• Love envieth not – it is not jealous of what others have but is encouraging.
• Love is not puffed up – it isn’t boastful and smug. It does not put itself above others.
• Love does not behave itself unseemly – it is not show-offy. (Not sure that’s a word)
• Love seeketh not her own – it doesn’t say, “me first” and want everything done MY way.
• Love is not easily provoked – it is patient and doesn’t fly off the handle easily.
• Love thinketh no evil – it does not jump to conclusions or think the worst.

Love is not just a word to be spoken but a word to be demonstrated. We show true love, God’s love, when we put the actions that these verses express into practice.  It is what we should strive for every day!

Titus 1:2, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” 

I don’t think we even begin to grasp what this verse is saying and how much of our faith is wrapped up in this truth…

“God, that cannot lie,”

Cannot means ‘unable to do.’ This means that EVERYTHING that the Bible says is absolute, set in granite, and unchangeable.  (All scripture is given by inspiration of God…2 Timothy 3:16a.)

Every word, every promise, and every warning, is absolutely for sure.

When God tells us what to do and what not to do – we had better listen. So often man will try to reason away what the Bible says.  Man often will deal with what seems ‘logical’ to him.  But God says in Isaiah 55:8,9,  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

As you read the Scriptures, remember that it is total truth that will never change.  Don’t allow your mind to explain away the parts that you prefer not to follow.  This does not work.  If God says it – that settles it – PERIOD……..

 Because God cannot lie!

Proverbs 14:4, “Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.”

I picture here a person who doesn’t want to do the extra work of taking care of oxen. It takes effort to care for and feed them.  It is also a lot of work to clean their stalls, so…so… it definitely is must EASIER to have no oxen at all.  Hence, there will be no work and a clean crib.

BUT, God says that the work is worth it because the oxen will work for you and your wealth will increase. I think this is saying that good things happen when we are willing to work for them.  Sure, we can sit back and not take risks.  (We can keep the crib clean.)  But, this leads to no productivity and no increase in our well being.   Nothing is being accomplished.

This is another example of God telling us not to be sluggards – get up and get to work and do something for self and God.

I believe that God desires to bless our lives, but He expects us to be in there doing our part. He directs – we follow.  This definitely can involve work, sometimes a lot of work, but the result will be growth both spiritually and physically in our lives.

Proverbs 19:21, “There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.”

Man’s heart is deceitful, selfish, fickle, changing its mind frequently. It also can be kind, thoughtful, and forgiving. Up, down, all around – describes the heart of a man. Sin seems to be rampant today. What was immoral a few years ago is now moral, and to do right is considered intolerant and wrong. Men’s minds change with the whims of the circumstances of life. There doesn’t seem to be anything that is stable in our world today!  Just watch the evening news if you question this statement.

How thankful we should be for the counsel of the LORD. That never changes. The Bible is absolute truth that will stand forever. What is right today will be right tomorrow – you can count on it.

To combat these evil devices in the hearts of men we need to know the Word of God. This can only be done through a consistent and diligent study of the Bible. We need to BELIEVE and STAND on what the Scripture says. God cannot lie, so every word in the Bible is truth. God’s Word is forever settled in heaven. There should be no vacillating, or wavering, or up and down, and all around confusion in a Christian’s life. Of all people, we should be the most stable. We know the truth and we know that what God says will never change!

Let’s live lives that demonstrate this truth to the world!

I John 2:3, “And hereby we do know that we know Him, if…” 

I John chapter two gives us a clear check list to see if our salvation is genuine. Are we who we say we are?  If so, there will be certain things that will be evident in our lives.

1. If we know Him we will keep His commandments.  (v.3)
   (Plain and simple we will do what He says in His Word.)
2. We will keep His Word. (v.5)
   (In order to keep His Word, we must know the Word.  We will be studying and meditating
   and following what He tells us in the Scriptures.)
3. We will walk even as He walked. (v.6)
   (Jesus will be our example and we will try to pattern our life after Him.)
4. We will love our brothers. (v.10)
   (There will be a genuine love and fellowship with other believers.  We are now part of the family of God and this will be evident in our lives.)
5. We will not love the world. (v.15)
   (We will separate ourselves from the activities of this world.  We will be DIFFERENT!)

This is a well rounded description of ‘Who’ the Christian is: He knows the Word and follows the Word.  He tries to live as Jesus lived.  He loves other Christians and it shows.  He does not participate in worldly activities and is different from the world.

Remember, these are God’s standards for the Christian. How do you measure up?

Proverbs 4:26, “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.”

 Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines ponder as: to view with deliberation; to examine, to consider.

This verse is basically saying, think about what you are doing.  Often our lives consist of moving and going but there is little thought about the value of what we are doing.

God is saying THINK about your plans, have a thought out purpose to where you are going and what you want to accomplish. Every day is precious and should be used wisely.  None of us know how much time we have to serve the Lord, so we shouldn’t waste it.

The second half of this verse says that we should let all our ways be established. The word established means:  set, fixed firmly.  If we direct the path we are walking in the direction of serving God, we will be established in our faith, and  we will have the strength to live for God in an uncertain and evil world.

Ask God daily to guide your feet. Then, walk in the path where He leads.  Remember–
Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

        God directs us through the reading and meditating on His Word so don’t neglect your daily Bible reading!

Matthew 6:20,21, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Matthew 6:20 is probably one of the most ignored principles in the Scriptures.  We are so focused on the here and now that we forget that this life is only temporary.  Often people ignore eternal values for earthly accomplishments.  They plan and invest so much of their time and life into pursuits that really have no value for the long run.

God is not saying that we are not to pay attention to our lives here on earth. He knows we need jobs, a place to live, cars to drive, etc.  He wants us to live a joyful, abundant life.  (John 10:10b,  “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”)  The problem arises when these necessities become the entire focus of our lives.  It is when we are making decisions only on the basis of what we want versus where God is leading and what will please Him.

We can lay up treasure in heaven in many ways:

• By obeying what God says in His Word.
• By leading others to Christ.
• By trying to please Him before ourselves.
• By choosing right over wrong.
• By focusing on God and eternity instead of the ever changing circumstances of life.
• By trusting Him and believing He is in control of all things.

If we make every decision with eternity in mind, (seeking to lay up treasures in heaven) our choices will be God honoring and we will be living the abundant life – here on earth as well as when we get to heaven!

Proverbs 25:28, “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”

This is a verse that I quote often. It makes me think about my responsibility in the Christian life.  This verse (and many others) definitely seem to imply that I have a part in the decisions that I make concerning my walk with God.  God did not make us puppets.  He has given us a free will – the ability to choose our own course of action.

So, basically this verse is implying:

Be self disciplined – control your spirit. Willingly be in subjection to the will of God.  Never choose to go contrary to God’s directives.  Following God’s ways, will result in a wall of  protection surrounding you.

You have an active part in the decisions you make every day. When self controls you, watch out, your life is open to all of the outside forces that want to destroy you and rob you of your joy and service to God.  (You are a city with no walls of security protecting you.)

Ask God to give you the ability to rule your own spirit so that you will live the way that He desires for you to live! Remember it’s your choice to go God’s way OR to go your own way!

Proverbs 2:20, “That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.”

Path – a trodden way, a route or course. (Webster’s Dictionary)
Righteous – Purity of heart and life; holiness.  (1828 Dictionary)

Righteousness is a theme that runs throughout the entire Bible.  Live right, do right, choose right – we see it over and over again in the Scriptures.  It’s God’s way;  it’s how God wants us to live as we walk through this life.

(To clarify: our righteousness is as filthy rags before God. [Isaiah 64:6] We become righteous in God’s sight when we are born into His family because of accepting Jesus as our Saviour.  Read the ‘Good News’ section at top of this page if you have any questions.)

God has a way that He has laid out for all Christians. This is a path that is clearly shown in the Bible – this is the path of right, holy living.  If we love God and are truly trying to live for Him we will not deviate from this way.  Don’t fudge on God’s standards.  Don’t impose your own ways and choices over His.  Read the Bible and study the Bible – this is the only way that YOU will see for yourselves what God expects of YOU.

Follow His path in:  how you talk, how you dress, how you act, how you spend your time.  HIs path is forever leading upward and will result in the happiness and contentment you are looking for in this life.  Remember –

Psalm 128:1, “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.”

Proverbs 2:20, “That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of righteousness.”

Are you considered a ‘good man’ or a ‘good woman’?  Would the way you walk and live be an example for others to follow?  You’ve heard the statement that ‘no man is an island’ meaning none of us live unto ourselves.  What you do and how you live affects others and reflects on God (whether you want it to or not).  We cannot compartmentalize our lives – part of the time living for God and the other part living for self.  The world will not accept this and neither will God.

I don’t think any of us would steal or murder someone. This is not what I am talking about.
BUT – do you get angry and fly off the handle?  Are you impatient?  Do you murmur and grumble about life.  Is your continence sad and full of worry?  I could probably go on for a long time talking about ways we can be a poor testimony before the world.

Often we do not even think about how our actions affect others and reflect on God.  We can say that God will meet all our needs and that He is always with us to help us, but are we living like we truly believe this?

Think about what kind of example you are being before others, as you start each new day. Ask God to make your life a ‘good testimony’ for Him and seek to walk in the way of a ‘good man’ or a ‘good woman.’

The second half of this verse will be discussed in tomorrow’s blog.