YAL: Week 8 – Friday: Leviticus 19:18

What an amazing study. Hard to believe it is coming to an end, but not before we look at one last scripture. This verse is actually the second half of Monday’s verse in regards to loving God. To close out our study, we will look at not taking revenge, and loving our neighbor.

Scripture

18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people,but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

Observation

This verse reminds us how we are to place no limitations upon the love for the neighbor, but instead we must love and do an abundance of good for our fellow being as they do for themselves. Remember earlier this week I stated that we would never seek revenge on ourselves, well this ensures that. Also, it’s important to note that “neighbor” doesn’t mean person who lives next door, but rather anyone you come in contact with.

If you love, you can never seek revenge or hold a grudge…because love is stronger than those things!

Application

I need to look at everyone as my neighbor and love everyone with the love that God has given to me! I cannot pick and choose…can you imagine if God picked and chose who He wanted to love?? Yet, that is how we act! We do things hoping to EARN His love…and then turn our backs on those that truly need our love…our enemy. You see, Jesus died for all…and we are all sinners. Sin is sin…God doesn’t tier it, and we cannot either. We are all God’s children, and we must all love each other as He has loved us!

Prayer

Lord, as I close out this study, I cannot thank you enough for all You’ve taught me. The lessons of this study have been so valuable and I thank you for showing me such love and for all the examples of how to pass that love onto others…especially to those that I don’t want to. I pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

---

I want to personally thank you for joining me these past 8 weeks on an incredible journey. I hope you have been able to dig deeper into scripture and really look at context and learn more about some of your favorite verses. This study has taught me a lot about what it means to love, and most of all, how to give that love freely as Jesus did by dying on the cross for me.

It has been a pleasure to host this study here on my blog. I’m going to take a little break to enjoy the rest of the summer and spend some time with my husband. We will be taking some time to get away while celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary.

I don’t have details yet regarding the next study, but I will post them as soon as I have it figured out. Until then, enjoy the rest of your summer, and never forget…You Are Loved!

YAL: Week 8 – Thursday: 1 Corinthians 13: 8,13

Today, we conclude our look at 1 Corinthians 13. This a most amazing chapter on what love is, what it is not, and that without it there is nothing. Let’s take one more look at the chapter in full, and then look at verses 8 and 13. But please take the few moment to reach through the entire chapter of 13 verses. It’s so important.

Scripture

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhoodbehind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Observation

I really like the full chapter description from Halley’s Bible Handbook Notes, and I think it is a perfect observation to close out our study of this chapter:

This chapter contains the premier teaching of Christianity. It is an undying expression of Jesus’ doctrine of heavenly love. This chapter is more potent for the building of the church than any, or all, of the various manifestations of God’s power.

Love is the church’s most effective weapon. Love is the essence of God’s nature. Love is the perfection of human character. Love is the most powerful, ultimate force in the universe. Without love, all the various gifts of the Spirit are of no avail.

“If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing” (v. 3). The gift of speaking like an angel, of prophesying, of having all knowledge, of faith that moves mountains, of giving the last dollar to charity, even martyrdom—all are of no use unless we have the spirit of Christian love. What a call to self-examination!

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Everything else will fail, or come to an end. There is just one exception…that is love.

Application

And there you have it. Love. It is the premier teaching of Christianity. We are nothing without love. Love that is freely given away, for when we try and hold onto it, we become empty souls. When there is hesitation to give it away, I simply think of what Jesus did for me. He died for me…out of love.

Prayer

Lord, You have shown me what true love is and how it is selflessly given away without any expectation of payback. It is freeing to give love away, even if it pains us at the moment. You gave us the ultimate example of what love is and gave it away unlike anyone ever will be able to do. May I always remember that kind of love and never hesitate to give it. Help my empty soul to be filled and help me to see that I have no right to chose who should get my love. For You gave it to everyone, and to follow You means I must do the same. I pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

YAL: Week 8 – Wednesday: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Today, we will look at the most familiar part of this chapter. It is four verses that describe everything that love is…and everything that it is not. I find this most interesting to have the two descriptions side by side. There is no room for misinterpretation. Love is…and love is not. Let’s look at the full chapter, and break down the what is and what is not in our observation.

Scripture

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Observation

This is what love is

• patient
• kind
• rejoices with the truth
• always protects
• always trusts
• always hopes
• always perseveres

And this is what love is not

• envious
• boasting
• proud
• keeps record of wrongs
• delights in evil
• dishonoring to others
• self-seeking
• easily angered

As my final observation, I just want to say that God is love. This entire study has shown us the love He has for us. This lists above fully describe what God is to us because He Himself is love!

Application

We must love without conditions, the way God loves us without conditions. God loves us exactly for who we are…at this very moment in time. There is nothing that we can do to earn it. Love isn’t earnable.  Love is the most beautiful action we can show someone. When I’m envious, or want to boast, if I’m proud, or hold grudges, or wish for revenge, dishonor others to hurt, do something that is in my own self interest, or become easily angry…then I’m not showing love!

Jesus is my example of how to live my life. Therefore, there is no one that isn’t worthy of the love God has given me to share. Do everything in love for there is no better happiness than giving. God loves us, so if we want others to come to know Him, then we must do as He does and as He is…and He is love.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the unconditional love You show me every single day! You show Yourself to me in ways I often overlook, because I am looking for a return. You’ve taught me that love is to be given freely, as Your love is given freely to me. Lord, help me to realize that everything You are is how I should act towards others, for they will never find You if I am not acting without self-interest, or expecting something in return.

Lord, thank You for never ceasing Your love over me. May my heart be open to accept Your love and may I never withhold it from others. For it is not mine to keep, but can only be experience by giving it away freely. I pray in Jesus’ Name, who showed me the ultimate price of what love costs; His life, so that I could know You. Thank you for loving me that much! Amen.

YAL: Week 8 – Tuesday: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

I am beyond excited that for the next three days we will be studying what is my favorite chapter in the bible! And I’m guessing it may be one of your favorites too! It’s the chapter of love. Verses 4-13 were read at my wedding, nearly 15 years ago. This entire study is about knowing we are loved, and I hope that over the past 8 weeks, you have felt that love wash over you.

As stated, we will be in this chapter for 3 full days. Each day, I will share the entire chapter, but the observation and application specific to the verses for the day. Let’s dig into this most amazing love-filled chapter. Today, we will look at verses 1-3 and we are looking at the NIV.

Scripture

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Observation

Note what the gifts are: speaking in tongues, prophecy, faith, possessions. However, without love none of this matters! We must have and show love. Love is the only thing you can never keep for yourself…you must give it away. Freely give it away. You cannot gain a thing without having love. Emptiness will be everywhere, without love.

Paul is stating here that regardless of the language he speaks, or you understand, without love, it’s nothing but noise. The Greek for this word (agape) indicates a selfless concern for the welfare of others. As in the love Jesus has for us that he died on the cross. He loved us that much. Paul also realizes that no matter how much knowledge one has, you must exercise that knowledge in love, or we are nothing. Think of all of Jesus’ teachings while on earth. All of those lessons, were fully given in love so that we would know and could spend eternity with our heavenly Father. Even in suffering (Jesus), it was all done out of love. Without love, it would mean nothing.

And when you look at love in that respect, you can see how you cannot keep it for yourself…but rather must give it away.

Application

These first three chapters really make me stop and think about how I freely give love away…or do I expect a payment for it? If it’s the latter, then it’s not love. It’s empty. I must love freely and willingly. God has put many things in place to help with this. First and foremost, my family. There is unconditional love there. Second, my husband. I’ve been fortunate to make it through all the ups and downs without saying the marriage is over. But that takes a lot of work…and giving your love away for free! And yes…I can attest to the fact that my husband gives away his love to me. No relationship is single sided.

I am learning to find love in all of creation. Everything that our eye can lay sight on, and everything that we can hear was given with love from our Creator. Music is a gift from above. Entertainment of movies and television is a gift from above. The words we read from the pages of the latest New York Times best seller list is a gift from above. God gave us all that out of love. He gave it freely to us…it wasn’t anything we earned or deserved.

Prayer

Dear Lord, love is an amazing action that You first demonstrated to the world with it’s creation. Everything in this world was given to us in love. May we realized that nothing can be given without love, for if it is, than it is empty, and we are nothing. You gave us the ultimate in love by giving us Jesus. Help me to always love like Jesus without thinking twice about it and without allowing this world to tell me otherwise. May I freely give without ever expecting something in return, and may I learn that the giving is the reward, because the feeling is full of the knowledge that I gave my love, in the simplest of ways. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.