Real Love “Does Not Behave Rudely.”

The only other New Testament occurrence of this expression is found in 1 Corinthians 7:36, which describes the relationship between an unmarried couple. Various translations render it as “not behaving unseemly, unbecomingly, rudely, unmannerly, or indecently.” While emphasizing the highest priority of devotion to God, Paul went on to say that if a man and a woman found themselves faced with sexual temptation, they should marry rather than “behave improperly.”
How does “behaving improperly” relate to the principle of real love referred to in 1 Corinthians 13? It reminds us that the honorable nature of real love will never make inappropriate demands of others. Real love will never prompt an unmarried person to say, “If you love me, you’ll prove it by giving yourself to me.” Those who love will never ask others to prove their loyalty by lying, cheating, or stealing for them.
Real love does not use a friendship to pressure anyone to do something contrary to the principles of their conscience or faith, or the moral principles of God. The worst acts of sexual indulgence, the most hideous acts of cover-up, the most depraved secrets of family, gang, group, or friendship have been held under the misused name of love. Real love is never a tool of coercion.

Real Love “Does Not Seek It’s Own.”

This is a favorite expression of Paul to describe selflessness. It speaks of the person whose focus is outward. In Philippians 2, Paul expressed the principle of real love this way: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in low-liness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (vs. 3-4).
Paul’s great passion for those who have taken the name of Christ is that they be unified, of one mind. Yet this oneness will never be  a reality in a church, a marriage, or any other relationship until we look out for the interests of others with as much care and effort as we look out for our own. Paul even said that real love puts the needs of others ahead of our own.
This self-sacrifice flies in the face of our human nature, yet it expresses the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5). He humbled Himself to leave His Heavenly Father, to live in the limitations of a physical body, to walk  the earth in poverty, to be a servant to people who would reject Him, to wash the feet of disciples who would betray & abandon Him, to die on the cross for the sins of people who did not deserve Him. Jesus’ entire life was an example of putting others ahead of self.

Tomorrow we will have the next 2 descriptions of real love.

Devotions For Lent – Day 50

Resurrection Verses To Memorize

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
(Romans 8:1)

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”         (Hebrews 4:16)

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”
(Romans 8:15-16)

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”                                        (Romans 5:1-2)

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”                            (Psalm 46:10)

“Whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.”                                    (1 John 3:20)

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”                                (John 6:37

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
(Romans 8:37)

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”                            (Hebrews 10:23)

Devotions For Lent – Day 49

The Great Resurrection Chapter

“I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time. . . . And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. . . . But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. . . . Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’

‘O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?’

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”         (1 Corinthians 15)

Devotions For Lent – Day 48

RESURRECTION SUNDAY

What If?

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ.”     (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-58.

Easter Sunday! Christ is risen! But, what if they found the corpse of Christ in the tomb? God forbid! But, what if? Paul lays out the unimaginable answer in 1 Corinthians 15:13-14. Our faith is futile. There is no point in any of our teaching. It is all a lie. If Christ is dead, our loved ones remain in the grave. We are wasting our time and our life for nothing. We are just wandering around in the dark, hanging on to a few words of inspiration for a few short years.

Now, are you ready for Paul’s answer? “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead.” (1 Corinthians 15:20). What glorious words! Our faith is not empty. It is all true! Those who are in Christ by faith shall never die. The veil is torn! Nothing separates us from eternal life with God! Jesus is risen!

This Easter, take a few minutes to reflect or write some words of praise to your risen Savior.

Prayer Starter:
Jesus, torn from the Father, now forever reunited at the throne, I praise You and thank You for the courage You give me in my life today and every day . . .

Devotions For Lent – Day 47

Buried

“I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”         (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-12.

Why is the word buried recorded in today’s verse? Isn’t it obvious? Buried follows dead. Why is that word important to our faith? Buried not only offers proof that Jesus died but also shows us the high cost of our sin. Dead on the cross and laid in the tomb, Jesus was cut off, His very life torn from Him. Yet, His burial declares that God makes the grave itself holy.

God doesn’t abandon us, even in the grave. It is there in the grave that Christ, our Scapegoat, is buried. With Him, our sins are buried, removed forever: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). All the way to the grave!

Today, reflect on what might be the Bible verse you place on your tombstone someday.

Prayer Starter:
Jesus, the grave couldn’t hold You! May that hope be with those near death . . .

Devotions For Lent – Day 46

The Hiddenness of God

“There was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, . . . ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’”         (Mark 15:33-34)

Read Psalm 22:1-24.

Imagine, the Father and His beloved Son torn apart. Never before in all of eternity had this been so. Often, the cry is heard, “Why? Why does God hide from me?” God doesn’t hide to be hidden. He hides to be found. He wills to be found in the suffering of Christ. God willed this to be, so that in our darkest of days, we are assured that the Father will never forsake us.
Today, reflect on the words of this hymn that mean the most to you:

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.

Prayer Starter:
Jesus, I build my hope on You this day, hope for . . .

Devotions For Lent – Day 45

Two Basins

“He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.”
(John 13:5)

Read John 13.

We live our lives out of one of two basins; the basin of Pilate or the basin of Jesus. The basin of Pilate is one of indifference. Rather than ask for God’s grace, he asked for a bowl. Rather than listen to the voice of Jesus, he listened to the voice of the crowd. Where did Pilate go wrong? Not so much in the evil he did, but in the kindness he withheld. How often do I live my life out of this basin?

The basin of Jesus is one of servanthood. Jesus knew who He was and whose He is. Torn from His friends by betrayal, He still serves them. Jesus washed their feet so that just hours later, when they hung their heads in shame, they would see their feet and remember the grace of splashing water.
In your reflection today, think of a few ways you can serve someone today and this week.

Prayer Starter:
Lord, I know who I am in You. Help me to lay aside all pride so I can serve . . .

Devotions For Lent – Day 44

A Lighthouse That Looks Like a Silo

“Whoever comes to Me I will never cast out.”     (John 6:37)

Read Psalm 23.

When I was younger, I had such confidence in my faith. Then, one day,  it disappeared. For a year and a half, I was lost. I was tormented by the question “How can I know for sure that Christianity is correct?” It was 18 months of torment and darkness.

Then, while on a trip to the Midwest, I saw a silo and painted on it was this message: “Whoever comes to Me I will never cast out” (John 6:37). For weeks after that, I prayed to God, “If You are who You say You are and Your Word is true, then I will trust that You will not cast me aside.” The Holy Spirit answered that prayer.

In times of darkness, God’s Word is an anchor and a lighthouse, even if it looks like a silo. Today, think about and write down a verse you would put on a silo (if you had one) for others to see.

Prayer Starter:
Jesus, may those who live in doubt come to You, especially . . .

Devotions For Lent – Day 43

Broken

“He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”     (Colossians 2:15)

Read Mark 14:1-9.

In God’s hands, brokenness has a purpose and brings a blessing. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, and broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box in today’s passage that brings forth perfume, a special anointing. It is Peter, broken and weeping bitterly, who is restored.

In the same way, we can discover blessings in our brokenness. Have you ever found yourself in a broken place? It is in brokenness that Jesus gives us Himself. On the night of the Last Supper, He took the bread, blessed it, and broke it, saying, “This is My body, which is given for you” (1 Corinthians 11:24).

Today, think of something that is broken in your life and then reflect on the blessing that you received in your brokenness.

Prayer Starter:
Jesus, in the bread You bless and break, You give me . . .

Devotions For Lent – Day 42

Compassion

“I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the
palms of my hands.”     (Isaiah 49:15-16)

Read Lamentations 3: 16-26.

As Jesus hangs on the cross, taking His final breaths, He looks to His mother and the disciple He loves, and says, “Woman, behold, your son!” And, to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” (John 19:26-27). Consider the irony and pain of this moment. There in His dying, while being torn away from His mother, Jesus shows such compassion for her.

Our God is a compassionate God, one who never hesitated to save us by sending His only Son. He has engraved our names on His palms and has given our names a permanent place in the Book of Life (Revelation 13:8). As Jesus beloved disciple would care for Mary, as Gos so lovingly cares for us, let us care for one another.

Do you know someone who is alone right now? Give that person a call or send them a note letting that person know that you care.

Prayer Starter:
Jesus, even in dying, You showed such compassion. Help me to be more compassionate and to show that compassion to . . .