Learning to love others as Jesus loved us is a lifelong adventure. No one comes to a point where they don't need to learn more. But your lifelong education can get a good start by studying the thirteenth chapter of Paul's letter to the Corinthians.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
| Day | Verse | Lesson |
| Day 1 | 4a | Love suffers long |
| Day 2 | 4b | Love is kind; |
| Day 3 | 4c | Love does not envy; |
| Day 4 | 4d | Love does not parade itself, |
| Day 5 | 4e | Love is not puffed up; |
| Day 6 | 5a | Love does not behave rudely, |
| Day 7 | 5b | Love does not seek its own, |
| Day 8 | 5c | Love is not provoked, |
| Day 9 | 5d | Love thinks no evil; |
| Day 10 | 6a | Love does not rejoice in iniquity, |
| Day 11 | 6b | Love rejoices in the truth; |
| Day 12 | 7a | Love bears all things, |
| Day 13 | 7b | Love believes all things, |
| Day 14 | 7c | Love hopes all things, |
| Day 15 | 7d | Love endures all things. |
DAY 2
4b Love is kind
affectionate amiable
attentive benevolent
bountiful caring
compassionate considerate
empathetic generous
genial gentle
good humane
mild responsive
soft-hearted sympathetic
tender thoughtful
unselfish warm
warmhearted
Nehemiah 9:17
They refused to obey, And they were not mindful of Your wonders That You did among them. But they hardened their necks, And in their rebellion They appointed a leader To return to their bondage. But You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness, And did not forsake them.Proverbs 19:22
What is desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar.Proverbs 31:20,26
She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. {26} She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.Luke 6:35-36
"But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. {36} "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.Romans 12:10
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;2 Corinthians 6:6
In all things we commend ourselves as servants of God, by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,Ephesians 4:32
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;2 Peter 1:7
to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.1 John 3:16-19
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. {17} But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? {18} My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. {19} And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.1 John 4:11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
When God says "A gentle answer turns away wrath," He isn't just making an idle observation. If the LORD says it, we had better obey it! God tells us that He is gentle, and since we are to be like Him, we are therefore to be gentle.
The New American Standard Version translates this fruit of the Spirit as "kindness." If we wish God to be kind to us, then we had better show kindness to others. "Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck." "What is desirable in a man is his kindness." If a mere man said that kindness was desirable, I might pay him attention, but I might not. But when God speaks, I dare not ignore Him.
The Prophet Hosea says that the LORD commands kindness: "Listen to the Word of the LORD, O sons of Israel, for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no faithfulness, or kindness, or knowledge of God in the land. Therefore, return to your God, observe kindness, and justice, and wait for your God continually." "He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?." Micah says that the LORD "has told you . . . to love kindness." Where? Is it only in the New Testament? Only in Galatians 5:22?
The same Greek word used in Galatians 5:22 is used in the Greek Old Testament, where in Psalm 37:3 and 119:66 we are told to love kindness.
Finally, "The Word of the LORD came to Zechariah saying, Thus has the LORD of hosts said, Dispense true justice, and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger of the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another."
Christ did not come to set aside the Law of the Old Testament. Shouldn't the Christian be obeying God's Law?
DAY 3
4c Charity envieth not;
4c Love does not envy; (NKJV)
not covetous
not envious
not resentful
1 Corinthians 3:3
for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?Genesis 30:1
Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I die!"Genesis 37:11
And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.Matthew 27:18
For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.Acts 7:9
"And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with himRomans 1:29
being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,Romans 13:13
Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.2 Corinthians 12:20
For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults;Galatians 5:21,
26 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. {26} Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.Philippians 1:15
Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will:1 Timothy 6:4
he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,Titus 3:3
For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.James 3:14-16
But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. {15} This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. {16} For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.1 Peter 2:1
Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
The final "Fruit of the Spirit" is "temperance." While the word "temperance" does not occur in the KJV Old Testament, there are many acts of temperance, or self-control (NASV) that are commanded. We are warned to exhibit self-control when we eat with a ruler. "Hast thou found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it." Daniel exhibited self-control when the king's diet was placed before him (see Daniel 1). So sternly is temperance commanded, that if a rebellious son shows radical intemperance, the death penalty was in order!
The Old Testament commanded self-control. Jesus said "the Scripture cannot be broken," because it is all breathed out by God. He was talking about the Old Testament. Shouldn't the Christian be obeying God's Law?
DAY 4
4d Charity vaunteth not itself,
4d Love does not parade itself, (NKJV)
boast
brag
crow
flaunt
gloat
show off
strut
vaunt
Judges 11:30-31
And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, and said, "If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, {31} "then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering."1 Samuel 25:21-22,33-34
Now David had said, "Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belongs to him. And he has repaid me evil for good. {22} "May God do so, and more also, to the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light." {33} "And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand. {34} "For indeed, as the LORD God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hastened and come to meet me, surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal!"1 Kings 20:10-11
Then Ben-Hadad sent to him and said, "The gods do so to me, and more also, if enough dust is left of Samaria for a handful for each of the people who follow me." {11} So the king of Israel answered and said, "Tell him, 'Let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.' "Psalms 10:5
His ways are always prospering; Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; As for all his enemies, he sneers at them.Proverbs 13:10
By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom.Proverbs 17:14
The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.Proverbs 25:8-10
Do not go hastily to court; For what will you do in the end, When your neighbor has put you to shame? {9} Debate your case with your neighbor, And do not disclose the secret to another; {10} Lest he who hears it expose your shame, And your reputation be ruined.Ecclesiastes 7:8-9
The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. {9} Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools.Ecclesiastes 10:4
If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, Do not leave your post; For conciliation pacifies great offenses.Daniel 3:19-22
Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. {20} And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. {21} Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. {22} Therefore, because the king's command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
The Prophet Zephaniah makes it all fairly clear: "Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger." We must keep in mind that when the Prophets speak, it is really the Law that speaks. Zephaniah says to seek meekness because God in His Law says to seek meekness.
Many acts of meekness, gentleness, and goodness are commanded in the Older Testament, but most Christians are utterly unfamiliar with this part of God's Holy Word. Surely this is an example of meekness, or gentleness:
If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.
Exodus 23:4-5
This kind of meekness is almost as radical as the meekness Jesus commands in the Sermon on the Mount.
No, it is not almost as radical, it is precisely the same. After the Advent of the Suffering Servant, it is infinitely clearer to us in the New Covenant just what meekness is, but when Jesus said "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth," He was simply reminding the Pharisees what the Old Testament had already said. And when Paul says that the fruit of the Spirit is meekness, he is saying nothing more than Moses said and did.
Jesus our All-Powerful King, was meek and told us to "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Shouldn't the Christian be obeying God's Law?
DAY 5
4e Love is not puffed up,
distort
embellish
exaggerate
inflate
oversell
overstate
slant
1 Corinthians 4:6,18
Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. {18} Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.1 Corinthians 5:2
And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.1 Corinthians 8:1
Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.Luke 7:6-7
Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. {7} "Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.Colossians 2:18
Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,Philippians 2:1-5
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, {2} fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. {3} Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. {4} Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. {5} Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Men who disobey God's Law cannot be at peace with one another. Being at peace is no option with God: it is commanded.
In Part 5 of the Christmas Conspiracy we show that the entire Bible - from the Garden of Eden to the New Jerusalem - holds out Peace as a goal of paramount importance. Jesus is the "Prince of Peace." In the passage which forms the backbone of our essays on the "Vine & Fig Tree" vision, the prophet Micah articulates God's heartfelt desire for men to "beat their swords into plowshares," and the peace which will result is promised by God in the Law as codified by Moses.
The "law" of man, on the other hand, is devised to perpetuate the "law and order" of "the State," an institutionalization of violence and war. In the schools of the State we have been trained to respect man's law, and the principles of God's Law, critical as they are of the ways of the State, have been kept from us. Therefore, we think all law is essentially the violent imposition of one man's vengeance upon another. The Law of God, however, is the Law of Peace. We must not let the prophets of the State confuse us; the Peace of the Spirit is not in conflict with the Law of God (only the law of man), and God's Law is found in the Old Testament (not only in the New).
The Psalmist, speaking the Words of the Spirit, commands us to "Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it."
The Prophet Zechariah likewise commands us: "These are the things that ye shall do; speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace."
If we follow God's Law then we shall have peace, for "Great peace have they which love thy Law."
All Christians, not just the "super-spiritual," are to "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."
Peace only comes when we are at war with sin, when we become lifelong indentured vassals in a Kingdom of Righteousness by humbly signing the terms of surrender offered by a conquering Prince of Peace. Those who chose to be their own god are forever at war with their true selves, at war with their neighbor, and at war with God.
Shouldn't the Christian be obeying God's Law?
DAY 6
5a Love doth not behave itself unseemly,
5a does not behave rudely, (NKJV)
abrupt boorish
brash crusty
curt discourteous
disrespectful disrespectful
flippant ill-behaved
ill-mannered impertinent
impertinent impolite
impudent insolent
irreverent rude
sarcastic sassy
smart ass snotty
surly thoughtless
uncalled for uncivil
uncouth wisenheimer
1 Corinthians 7:36
But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry.1 Corinthians 11:13-16,18,21-22
Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? {14} Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? {15} But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering. {16} But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God. {18} For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. {21} For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. {22} What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.1 Corinthians 14:33-40
For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. {34} Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. {35} And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. {36} Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? {37} If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. {38} But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. {39} Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. {40} Let all things be done decently and in order.Isaiah 3:5
The people will be oppressed, Every one by another and every one by his neighbor; The child will be insolent toward the elder, And the base toward the honorable."Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things.2 Thessalonians 3:7
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you;1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
When the LORD says that He is "longsuffering and abundant in goodness" He is telling us that we also should be abundant in goodness.
The same Greek word used in Galatians 5:22 for "goodness" is used in the Greek Old Testament. "The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again, but the righteous sheweth goodness, and giveth." It is the unrighteous man who "lovest evil more than goodness." God rewards goodness, as pointed out in Jotham's parable.
Jehoiada was a good king. He was buried in the city of David because he manifested the fruit of the Spirit - goodness - in Israel.
Josiah was also a good king. Some of the history of his reign can be found in the book of 2 Chronicles. But "the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness which was according to that written in the Law of the LORD, and his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah." Goodness is written in the Law of the LORD, which was authored by the Spirit, and endorsed by Christ.
The 20th century is the Age of Secularism. We have outgrown the "primitive codes" of ancient Israel. Has the decline in Law-obedience brought more goodness to the world? The triumph of Humanism has seen a greater percentage of the human race deliberately killed (with the sanction of the State) than in any previous century in human history: around two hundred million people. "My goodness!"
Shouldn't the Christian be a defender of God's Law?
DAY 7
5b Love seeketh not her own,
5b does not seek its own, (NKJV)
selfish
worship self
1 Corinthians 10:24,33
Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being. {33} just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.1 Corinthians 12:25
that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.Romans 14:12-15
So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. {13} Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way. {14} I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. {15} Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.Romans 15:1-2
We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. {2} Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.Galatians 5:13
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.Galatians 6:1-2
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. {2} Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.Philippians 2:3-5,
21 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. {4} Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. {5} Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, {21} For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.2 Timothy 2:10
Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.1 John 3:16-17
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. {17} But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
DAY 8
5c Love is not easily provoked,
not easily, quickly angered not easily, quickly annoyed
not easily, quickly bothered not easily, quickly bugged at
the least little thing
not easily, quickly exasperated not easily, quickly frazzled
not easily, quickly galled not easily, quickly hassled
not easily, quickly incensed not easily, quickly inflamed
not easily, quickly infuriated not easily, quickly irked
not easily, quickly irritated not easily, quickly miffed
not easily, quickly outraged not easily, quickly pestered
not easily, quickly pissed off not easily, quickly provoked
not easily, quickly riled not easily, quickly upset
Numbers 12:3
(Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)Numbers 16:15
Then Moses was very angry, and said to the LORD, "Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I hurt one of them."Numbers 20:10-12
And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" {11} Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. {12} Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them."Psalms 106:32-33
They angered Him also at the waters of strife, So that it went ill with Moses on account of them; {33} Because they rebelled against His Spirit, So that he spoke rashly with his lips.Proverbs 14:17
A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of wicked intentions is hated.Matthew 5:22
"But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.Mark 3:5
And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.Acts 15:39
Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;Acts 17:16
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,James 1:19-20
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; {20} for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
DAY 9
5d Love thinketh no evil;
confident encouraging
hopeful optimistic
optimistic trusting
not cynical not distrustful
not doubtful not jealous
not suspicious
Genesis 31:32
"With whomever you find your gods, do not let him live. In the presence of our brethren, identify what I have of yours and take it with you." For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.2 Samuel 10:3
And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, "Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not rather sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?"Job 21:27
"Look, I know your thoughts, And the schemes with which you would wrong me.Psalms 15:3
He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;Jeremiah 11:19
But I was like a docile lamb brought to the slaughter; and I did not know that they had devised schemes against me, saying, "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be remembered no more."Jeremiah 18:18-20
Then they said, "Come and let us devise plans against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come and let us attack him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words." {19} Give heed to me, O LORD, And listen to the voice of those who contend with me! {20} Shall evil be repaid for good? For they have dug a pit for my life. Remember that I stood before You To speak good for them, To turn away Your wrath from them.Jeremiah 40:13-16
Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, {14} and said to him, "Do you certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to murder you?" But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them. {15} Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah in Mizpah, saying, "Let me go, please, and I will kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he murder you, so that all the Jews who are gathered to you would be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?" {16} But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, "You shall not do this thing, for you speak falsely concerning Ishmael."Zechariah 8:17
Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; And do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate,' Says the LORD."Matthew 9:4
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?Luke 7:39
Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, "This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner."2 Corinthians 5:19
that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.2 Timothy 2:24
And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,Titus 3:2
to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Pop Psychology teaches us that Love is an elusive, enigmatic, uncontrollable passion that can neither be developed nor tempered. "Love" either is or it isn't, and if I feel "love" when it is inconvenient, or don't feel "love" in a context where I have pledged to render certain responsibilities, there is nothing I can do about it. And to say God commands me to love someone when I don't "feel" like it, is a blasphemous obscenity to modern man, and will not be tolerated by the televised prophets of the modern age. "Law" kills "love," in this view.
But God's Law indisputably commands love, and so for the Christian, love must be born, nursed, controlled, or killed by the power of the Spirit, conforming to the Blueprints of God's Law.
Jesus said that the greatest of all commandments is the Old Testament commandment to "love the LORD thy God with all thine heart...." The Second Greatest commandment is also from the Old Testament, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
We are commanded to "hate" the enemies of God but Leviticus 19:17 warns, "Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart." God's Law commands us to feel God's feelings.
Only the one who has never read the Old Testament could conclude that it does not command us to love. As John writes in his first epistle, "For this is the love of God, that we keep His Commandments: and His Commandments are not grievous."
Shouldn't the Christian be obeying God's Law?
DAY 10
6a Love rejoiceth not in iniquity,
injustice
Genesis 4:7
"If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."Leviticus 19:17
'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.1 Samuel 23:19-21
Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is David not hiding with us in strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon? {20} "Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand." {21} And Saul said, "Blessed are you of the LORD, for you have compassion on me.2 Samuel 4:10-12
"when someone told me, saying, 'Look, Saul is dead,' thinking to have brought good news, I arrested him and had him executed in Ziklag; the one who thought I would give him a reward for his news. {11} "How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous person in his own house on his bed? Therefore, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and remove you from the earth?" {12} So David commanded his young men, and they executed them, cut off their hands and feet, and hanged them by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner in Hebron.Psalms 10:3
For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire; He blesses the greedy and renounces the LORD.Psalms 119:136
Rivers of water run down from my eyes, Because they do not keep Your law.Psalms 119:139
My zeal has consumed me, Because my enemies have forgotten Your words.Proverbs 14:9
Fools mock at sin, But among the upright there is favor.Proverbs 24:17
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;Proverbs 17:5
He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.Psalms 35:13-16
But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart. {14} I paced about as though he were my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother. {15} But in my adversity they rejoiced And gathered together; Attackers gathered against me, And I did not know it; They tore at me and did not cease; {16} With ungodly mockers at feasts They gnashed at me with their teeth.Psalms 35:19
Let them not rejoice over me who are wrongfully my enemies; Nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause.Psalms 42:10
As with a breaking of my bones, My enemies reproach me, While they say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"Obadiah 1:12
But you should not have gazed on the day of your brother In the day of his captivity; Nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah In the day of their destruction; Nor should you have spoken proudly In the day of distress.Matthew 5:44
"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,Jeremiah 9:1
Oh, that my head were waters, And my eyes a fountain of tears, That I might weep day and night For the slain of the daughter of my people!Jeremiah 13:17
But if you will not hear it, My soul will weep in secret for your pride; My eyes will weep bitterly And run down with tears, Because the Lord's flock has been taken captive.Jeremiah 20:10
For I heard many mocking: "Fear on every side!" "Report," they say, "and we will report it!" All my acquaintances watched for my stumbling, saying, "Perhaps he can be induced; Then we will prevail against him, And we will take our revenge on him."Hosea 4:8
They eat up the sin of My people; They set their heart on their iniquity.Hosea 7:3
They make a king glad with their wickedness, And princes with their lies.Micah 7:8
Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The LORD will be a light to me.Luke 19:41-44
Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, {42} saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. {43} "For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, {44} "and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation."Luke 22:5
And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.Romans 1:32
who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.Philippians 3:18
For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:2 Thessalonians 2:
12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
DAY 11
6b but Love rejoiceth in the truth;
Exodus 18:9
Then Jethro rejoiced for all the good which the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.Joshua 22:22-23
"The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, He knows, and let Israel itself know; if it is in rebellion, or if in treachery against the LORD, do not save us this day. {23} "If we have built ourselves an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer on it burnt offerings or grain offerings, or if to offer peace offerings on it, let the LORD Himself require an account.Acts 11:23
When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.Romans 12:9
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.2 Corinthians 7:9-16
Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. {10} For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. {11} For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. {12} Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you. {13} Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. {14} For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true. {15} And his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. {16} Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.Philippians 1:4
always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,Philippians 1:18
What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.Philippians 2:17-18
Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. {18} For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.1 Thessalonians 3:6-10
But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you; {7} therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. {8} For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. {9} For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, {10} night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?2 John 1:4
I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father.3 John 1:3-4
For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. {4} I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
If it is wrong to love the things that are evil, would it not also be wrong to be joyful over evil? Certainly. And just as we must never be joyful over unGodly things, we must be joyful when God so commands us. We simply must. But how? "Lord, I believe; help mine unbelief" is the confession of the one whose heart has been changed and now seeks God's Kingdom and righteousness. Through the Holy Spirit, God works in our hearts so that we are conformed more and more to the stature of Christ! Just as Christ obeyed the commands of His Father, so we seek His Law.
In Deuteronomy 12, God commands the Israelites to utterly destroy the pagan monuments of idolatry. When they are finished, God commands them to have a party and rejoice!
Some 54 verses in Deuteronomy 28 are given to listing the terrible, physical curses that would overtake the nation that "servedst not the LORD with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things."
The Psalmist, under the inSpiration of the Holy Spirit, commands us to be joyful: "Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart." In many other Psalms does God's poet, speaking God's Words, command us to rejoice.
Proverbs 5:18, which is not merely "advice," but the inSpired Word of the Sovereign LORD of the universe, commands us to "rejoice with the wife of thy youth." (You see, to refrain from adultery is not loving your wife as commanded by the Seventh Commandment: you must rejoice with her!)
Isaiah the prophet commands, "Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her."
We don't really love the LORD with all our heart if we aren't full of joy in the things the LORD rejoices in. "But I don't feel like eating with homeless people" is the self-centered whine of an unregenerated heart.
Jesus did not come to annul the Law. Shouldn't the Christian be obeying God's Law?
DAY 12
7a Love beareth all things,
accepting
charitable
easy
forbearing
indulgent
merciful
patient
restrained
sympathetic
tolerant
Exodus 9:6
So the LORD did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died.1 Corinthians 9:12
If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.Numbers 11:12-14
"Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, 'Carry them in your bosom, as a guardian carries a nursing child,' to the land which You swore to their fathers? {13} "Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep all over me, saying, 'Give us meat, that we may eat.' {14} "I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me.Deuteronomy 1:9
"And I spoke to you at that time, saying: 'I alone am not able to bear you.Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.Proverbs 17:9
He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.Song of Songs 8:6-7
Set me as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame. {7} Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love All the wealth of his house, It would be utterly despised. THE Shulamite's BROTHERSLuke 17:4
"And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."Romans 15:1
We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.Galatians 6:2
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.Hebrews 13:13
Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.1 Peter 2:24
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.1 Peter 4:8
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
DAY 13
7b Love believeth all things,
Psalms 119:66
Teach me good judgment and knowledge, For I believe Your commandments.22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
One of the most untrue things a person could say is that a man in the Old Testament was favorably received by God - "justified" - by his works, while we in the New Testament are justified by faith. Men were justified by faith as much in the Old Testament as they are in the New. Men are justified by works as much in the New Testament as they were in the Old. Abraham was accounted righteous through faith, even as David, after the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai, "describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works." Moses himself was a man of faith, and in his great song he warned that God would hide Himself from those people "in whom is no faith."
The Psalmist warns that only the faithful are preserved and Nehemiah and Solomon both recognized the value of a man of faith.
When Paul sets forth the great truth that "The just shall live by faith," he was merely quoting the Old Testament Prophet Habakkuk.
We have mortgaged our future and we fear it. Our acts of violence and litigation against others stem from our faithless failure to trust in the promises of God. Christ said that one of the "weightier matters of the Law" was Faith. Shouldn't the Christian be obeying God's Law?
DAY 14
7c Love hopeth all things,
Luke 7:37-39,44-46
And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, {38} and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. {39} Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, "This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner." {44} Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. {45} "You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. {46} "You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.Luke 19:4-10
So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. {5} And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus , make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." {6} So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. {7} But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." {8} Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." {9} And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; {10} "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."Romans 8:24
For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?
DAY 15
7d Love endureth all things.
abide
accept
bear
put up with
stand
stomach
suffer
swallow
take
1 Corinthians 9:18-22
What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel. {19} For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; {20} and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; {21} to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; {22} to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have ome all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.Genesis 29:20
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.Job 13:15
Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.Matthew 10:22
"And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.2 Corinthians 11:8-12
I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. {9} And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself. {10} As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. {11} Why? Because I do not love you? God knows! {12} But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast.2 Thessalonians 1:4
so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,2 Timothy 2:3-10
You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. {4} No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. {5} And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. {6} The hard-working farmer must be first to partake of the crops. {7} Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. {8} Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, {9} for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. {10} Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.2 Timothy 2:24-25
And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, {25} in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,2 Timothy 3:11
persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.2 Timothy 4:5
But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.James 1:12
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (KJV)
4a Charity suffereth long,
4b and is kind;
4c charity envieth not;
4d charity vaunteth not itself,
4e is not puffed up,
5a Doth not behave itself unseemly,
5b seeketh not her own,
5c is not easily provoked,
5d thinketh no evil;
6a Rejoiceth not in iniquity,
6b but rejoiceth in the truth;
7a Beareth all things,
7b believeth all things,
7c hopeth all things,
7d endureth all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NKJV)
4a Love suffers long
4b and is kind;
4c love does not envy;
4d love does not parade itself,
4e is not puffed up;
5a does not behave rudely,
5b does not seek its own,
5c is not provoked,
5d thinks no evil;
6a does not rejoice in iniquity,
6b but rejoices in the truth;
7a bears all things,
7b believes all things,
7c hopes all things,
7d endures all things.