Anyone can "talk the talk" and say that they "walk the walk.” We are prone to watching others and pin-pointing who “pretends” and who “genuinely” walks the walk. (I’m a human, I’m guilty of pin-pointing the two types of people.) When I do that I usually get a little reminder that it’s biblically not my place to do that. Matthew 7:1 comes to my mind, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Verse 2 says“For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” When I read that passage, it really helps me to evaluate my heart. Do I want to be judged as harshly as I find myself judging others? I want and need to lower the standards that I make for other people and worry about myself! I pray that the little notification in my mind that I am doing wrong, never stops popping into my head to catch me. I do not want a hard heart that doesn’t realize when it’s doing wrong.
A root grows into a plant, getting stronger and more stubborn each day. Did you ever notice how a dandelion starts? It’s a tiny little leaf that grows into a big ugly flower. You mow over it and within hours it’s already returning. I took the first part of my study from “The Love Chapter,” because it gave me the “weed killer” for those little nasty roots that can start in my human heart. I’ve been guilty of those nasty dandelions, and they haven’t always been an easy defeat! If I keep reading this chapter, I can’t help that it makes me think “I do good things but it’s not enough.” “I say good things, but that doesn’t mean anything.” It doesn’t matter who or what I am to others, God doesn’t have double standards for anyone, no matter what their social status or title is, “For there is no respect of persons with God” – Romans 2:11.
“The Love Chapter”
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
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.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
I can’t truly love others like that when I don’t accept correction from God’s Word. I can’t truly love them when I have a root of resentment, anger or revenge towards them. It’s time to give my heart a “check-up” with this checklist that I’ve made for myself. I must make sure my heart is not…
H – Hardened (Having my heart blinded by the hardness, that I can’t truly see my sin because I’ve pushed away godly correction)Ephesians 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
A – Arrogant (If I truly fear the Lord, I will hate the feelings of arrogance and pride. I am not better than anyone else, but my human heart can give me a delusion that I am) Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
R – Revengeful (Fixing an upsetting situation in my own way isn’t for me to do. God has His own way to “fix” others.) Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
D – Deceitful (I can’t allow my heart to trick me into thinking ugly feelings are OK. I cannot biblically validate a grudge) Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Will this list be easy for me to check off? Certainly not. Is it necessary for me to get rid of feelings like this towards others? Absolutely. I have a lot of work that can only be accomplished with God’s mercy, but thankfully I have peace in knowing that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13
God Richly Bless You!
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