LABOR OF LOVE – PART THREE
Wednesday – November 8, 2017
The featured picture today highlights my awesome gate opener back on the ranch in Texas so I brought her to Maine. God is so good. Now let us delve right back into our wonderful life changing, eternity changing, Bible Study of the wonderful Book of Hebrews by reviewing our primary text.
Hebrews 6:9-12 (KJV)
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
I have been focusing on verse ten reviewing our responsibility to labor in Bible love, Godly love, the love of God, which is the very same love capacity we possess at and after salvation. We are not as some say numero uno, Jesus is number one and the person or persons to whom we are called to minister, we are number two. From that position of submission to God and the other person(s) great power can flow that will withstand the fire of God’s judgment. By way of a reminder I am talking about Bible or Godly love and the act of being selfless as a manifestation of that love which builds a solid foundation of gold, silver, and precious stones. Now, let us mindfully review our secondary text which highlights this selfless aspect of love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (KJV)
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
There are some areas of Scripture that are more fun to study than passages on love however a perfected love walk opens all of Heaven and earth to our authority and the flow of the Power of God. The world has a saying; “no pain no gain.” It is indeed painful to dig out those old wicked roots of selfish love. Okay let’s gird up our loins and wade back into this battle to kill our flesh. In verse five above we find another list of Godly traits that we might rather entertain from time to time rather than uproot. Let us start with not behaving unseemly. Perhaps it will be helpful to look at verse five in the Amplified Translation.
1 Corinthians 13:5 (AMP)
5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
We know that rude person, let us be sure it is not us. Do I find myself constantly wanting my own way? This may manifest as a tantrum, the silent treatment, passive aggressive behavior, withholding, or expressions of my way or the highway mister. Our focus is not on our perceived needs or wants because remember that when patience is finished we personally are wanting nothing. As a side note this wanting nothing has nothing to do with denying ourselves some luxury and then displaying a false humility for all to admire, that is blasphemy in the nostrils of God. Wanting nothing has everything to do with embracing luxury in our lives. Do we somehow think that Heaven is in some way short on luxury?
How easy am I to provoke? Something I am working on, I am a little too easy to provoke some days and you all know there are no shortages of opportunity to be provoked. God would not tell us to do these things if we were not able to accomplish them in abundance in perfection. We do not do it entirely in our own strength or capacity but we are the central figure, it is our decision. If we remain easily provoked it is because we have chosen to be easily provoked. The “I can’t help it” excuse will not fly on inspection by the Fire of God, the Holy Spirit. What about the thinking evil thing? What about the expression in thought or deed of: “To Hell with you buddy!”? Or perhaps we have wondered about John having an affair with Kathy or some other evil act with only our evil mind at work as the foundation. Oh my! Cleanse and help me Jesus! I will pick-up right here tomorrow and perhaps that teaching will only apply to someone else not us (smile).
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (GW)
24 The LORD will bless you and watch over you.
25 The LORD will smile on you and be kind to you.
26 The LORD will look on you with favor and give you peace.’
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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