Look back
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
(1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Today, as we begin a brand new month, let us intentionally look back on what we learned thus far. In order to avoid making similar mistakes this month, it is important that we take time to regularly reflect. Today we are looking back on what we’ve learned about love. During your quiet time, consider the following:
What aspect of godly love is the most challenging for you?
Who in your life can you love better?
How can you love God better?
What has God been sharing with you this month?
Remember, above all, love is a choice.
Love covers.
“The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21)
One of the beautiful illustrations of the way love covers is when looking at a sports team. While the individual players have their own strengths and weaknesses, a good team moves and interacts as a collective unit. One individual may not have played their best game, but a team win overall covers the full impact of their inadequacies.
When we look at the story of Adam and Eve, we know that both parties had weaknesses. Eve lacked the ability to stay true to the boundaries set by God. Adam failed to fully embody his role as the leader and protector for his family. I am so glad that God does not cut us off when our sins leave us exposed! Adam and Eve literally had everything they could ever need or want. Imagine God’s heartbreak when they inevitably chose their own will over his instructions. When I think of our relationship with God, I am reminded that even after we hurt Him, he covers us. First with “garments of skin,” then with sacrificial lambs in the Old Testament, and ultimately with the blood of the spotless lamb: Jesus. God has covered you!
As we come to the end of our month of love, how can you walk in the kind of love that covers the shortcomings of others? That mean I won’t gossip about you. That means I won’t run to tell my friends all the ways you’re imperfect. That means I will pray more than I criticize.
Love covers.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for covering me in all of my shortcomings with the blood of Jesus. When I failed to meet your expectations, you found a way to bring me back. Please help me to love others this way. In Jesus’ name, amen.
We want that old thing back!
“‘Do not be afraid,’ Samuel replied. ‘You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart…For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own.’” (1 Samuel 12:20,22)
We’ve all seen the movies where someone is in a perfectly healthy relationship, only to suddenly imagine that a life with someone new would be better. We watch as they forget all the amazing qualities in their partner in exchange for the newness of the grass on the other side. It appears so easy to point out flaws in movie characters, but can we so easily point out similar tendencies in ourselves?
The children of Israel were constantly testing the bounds of God’s kindness. The Old Testament details the cycles of their sin. It played out like a predictable movie: God delivers; the people rejoice; God asks for singular devotion; the people choose idols; God removes his hand; the people cry out; God delivers…and so on. In this passage of 1 Samuel, they desired a king to rule them- against Samuel’s warnings. Have you ever wanted something so badly that you were unwilling to hear the warning of those around you? Have you ever thought “God, you just don’t understand, I need this”?
Well, much like the solid relationship we leave for a fantasy, the people quickly realized their error. How could they choose a human king over their God? Probably the same way we sometimes choose other things over God (money, approval, sex, etc.).
The good news is that the Lord is kind. In spite of their repeated offenses, the prophet of God continued to cover them in prayer. He, like Jesus to us, continued to walk with them and offer guidance and correction. As we learned before, correction is to be treasured! In spite of themselves, God allowed Saul to rule as king until David was appointed. He did not allow their sin to dictate his decision to claim them as His.
Prayer:
Lord, I, like the Israelites have sinned! I have added to all my sins the sin of asking you to give me something I would cherish more than you (1 Samuel 12:19). I am sorry. I recognize my mistake. I invite you to be my only King. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Love corrects.
“For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
(Hebrews 12:6)
“ The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor…Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.” (2 Samuel 12:1; 13)
Have you ever come home after a long day only to realize that you’d had a stain on your shirt or had forgotten to zip your pants? You may have wondered “why didn’t anyone tell me?!” and felt embarrassed. Maybe you’ve even been able to look back at your childhood and find gratitude for the way your parents held certain guidelines, boundaries, and consequences. In comparison to friends’ parents who let them come and go as they pleased, maturity shows you that a parent who cares is a parent who disciplines. In this context, we are able to understand the persona of God as a good father. Often mistaken for the conscience, God’s Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of Believers, whispering corrections. Christians call this loving correction “conviction”. It might feel like a knot in your stomach when you make a choice that you know is wrong. It may be the uneasy feeling after a moment of disobedience. Now, because it doesn’t feel warm and fuzzy at the moment, you may be tempted to feel like God doesn’t love you. In those moments, remember your best friend who loves you too much to let you walk around with something in your nose all day. God loves you too much NOT to correct you.
David was very familiar with God’s correction, especially in today’s passage. Correction for him looked like God sending a prophet to show him his mistake. What does correction from God look like for us? We may not have a prophet come to tell us we’re wrong. Correction may come in the form of a wrong relationship that suddenly goes sour. Financial strain may arise after taking a business deal against God’s wishes. It may even just be a lack of peace about a decision made. While God’s method of correction may differ, the most important piece is our response. We can learn a major lesson from David here: while we will inevitably fall short, we must be quick to admit our sin AND turn away from it. David is remembered as a man after God’s heart, despite his faults, because he maintained a heart of repentance.
Prayer:
Lord, I admit that I have sinned more times than I can count. I have even had moments where I thought I had gotten away with sin before you convicted me. Thank you for loving me too much to allow me to live outside your will for too long. Please help me to value your correction and view it as an example of your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
“Wait ‘till we get home.”
“But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not believe me, and because you did not honor me as holy before the people, you will not lead them into the land I will give them.’” (Numbers 20:12)
Think back to your childhood. Was there ever a time when you acted up in public and instead of disciplining you at the moment, your parents assured you that it would be handled later? The terrifying “wait until we get home” is ringing in someone’s ears right now. In the Bible, Moses is undoubtedly in the Hall of Fame. Most people, regardless of their beliefs, can retell the story of the man who was God’s instrument for delivering the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. God used Moses to do many mighty things, but he too fell into one of the traps for disobedience. We have already talked about the trap of arrogance and human wisdom. While these traps are never far apart, Moses’ story highlights a trap caused by insecurity.
In Exodus chapters 3 and 4, Moses is worried about how people will respond to him if he accepts the call; and in Numbers 20, it is the same concern for people that costs him the Promise. The people had been without water and decided to give Aaron and Moses a piece of their minds! God, who always has the solution when we ask, gave specific instructions for Moses to speak to the rock for water to flow. Moses heard this instruction. Instead, when faced with the crowds, he took an opportunity to exhibit his own strength, striking the rock with his stick instead. Some of us can look at this passage and think “well he still got the water out, so what’s the problem”. The problem is that, while it appeared successful on the outside, God told Moses privately of his disqualification from the Promise.
Y’all. Disobedience matters! What insecurities do you need to give to God? Have you ever allowed the need for affirmation, approval, financial success to justify your disobedience? If you choose those over God’s instructions, it may succeed in public, but in your quiet time with God, you will know you missed His mark.