THE PRINCIPLES OF LOVE
4. LOVE DOES NOT BOAST
1 Corinthians 13.4
This is a major area of weakness to the children of God. Want to know what kind of metal one is made of, then wait until a breakthrough comes in. It is when the true colors will also resurface and show off its ugly side. This spirit of boasting is a derivative of the devil. This sis what Satan portrayed Isaiah 14.13 "You said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven, I will raise my throne above the stars of God, I will seat enthroned on the mount of assembly on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I would ascend above the tops of the clouds. I will make myself like the Most High"
If you are practicing boasting, then in simple terms you are just behaving like your father the devil. It beats all logic then how do we fit in the kingdom of the son whose foundation is love and God himself is love. How does light and darkness co-exist? The best counsel I give you beloved is come out from among them and run to the true love. Jesus was exposed to the vagaries of the weather (sun, heat and the wind) straining under the weight of his body on the cross but would kindly look at the people he came to die for who had not known this love yet went ahead and said "IT IS FINISHED". In brief he was saying this is how my love and the father is ready to stretch. Friend where is this boasting coming from? If any boasting should be found in one, then it should not do with our personal possessions.
Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:13 says "We however will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned us, a field that reaches even to you" And in verse 17 of the same chapter, "But let him who boasts boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who recommends himself, who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends".
Isaiah 61.1 "But you shall be named the priest of the Lord; men shall call you the minister of God: You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and their glory you boast yourselves". This is the only room allowed to boast and as Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians 11:30 "If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness", he goes ahead and declares such a confident statement with conviction."The Lord, the father of the lord Jesus, who is praised for ever knows that I am not lying can confidently come out and allude to the same without raising an eye brow. Listen dear friend, this is the cap of it, whatever I have and I am is by the grace of God lest any man should boast. Praise the name of the Lord! Love does not brag, instead it is pure and does not puff up.
1 John 3:3 "Every one who has this hope, purifies himself just as He is pure"
1 Peter 2:19-21 is a profound scripture to encourage us to live a life worthy the calling we have received. This does not make you a lesser believer, neither does it cancel your blessedness. 1 Peter 2:9 still stands sure, you are a chosen, you are royal priesthood and a holy nation. You belong to God. Darkness is out of the equation. Dwell in the wonderful light that you were called heavenward. People boasting of personal, you can from today have a new agenda to boast about. That Jesus is enthroned on the throne of your heart and has created a strong cloud of witnesses around you to encourage you when the tide turns otherwise.Know this, He who called you is faithful and he will do what he promised to do. 1 Thessalonians 5:24
Love when practiced truthful, generates genuine. True love is founded on trust, embedded and entrenched in faith. That is why love covers a multitude of sins. This very well describes Jesus. He never looked at my weakness, he was not bothered by my side tricks. He loved me and called me to draw to his side in love. Encompassed with cares of this world, take a queue from Jesus. He who had no sin had to die a cruel and most humiliating death for me because this is what I identified with in my sinful state. Psalm 51:5 "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me" Imagine sinful by nature but cleansed by the redeeming blood of the lamb of God that makes us whole again. I am delighted that I am loved. No need to live with my head between my legs. I walk boldly knowing He is faithful to keep me until that day of the lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Believe it, Act it and Live it in Jesus' name and reap the blessings, Amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment