THE GREAT VIRTUE – Sunday August 20th
2017
Memorise: And now abideth
faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1st
Corinthians 13:13
Read: 1st
Corinthians 13:1-3 (KJV)
13:1 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.
13:2 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.
13:3 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.
Bible in one year: 2nd
Kings 23, Ezekiel 27:26-28:10, Hymn: Sing hymn 18
MESSAGE:
“The LORD hath appeared of old
unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore
with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.”
Jeremiah 31:3
Love
is a decision of commitment that is expressed as a strong feeling of affection
and attraction. Based on God’s nature and actions, the Scripture gives us
insight into the source, character and value of love. The Bible teaches that
God is the source of love and that His very character is love. If you have ever
been deeply in love with someone to the point of obsession, you will discover
that you may lose your appetite and forget to eat because of that person (Song of Solomon
5:2-8). Your mind will become occupied with nothing else but that
person. The object of your love is the last thing you think of when you go to
bed and the first thing you think of when you wake up. Love involves the
totality of a person’s thoughts, feelings and actions. Love is a central theme
of the Christian faith and is a primary characteristic of God’s nature.
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all
thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.”
Matthew 22:37-38
The
first object of our love should be God. We are enjoined to love God with all
our heart, soul and mind. Indeed, you need to understand the love of God for
you before you can appreciate what true love is. Having received the love of
God, God expects you to reciprocate His love by worshipping Him in truth and by
showing His love to others. The love of God was manifested on the cross of
Calvary. Jesus, with these words, revealed the extent of God’s love for us in John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world, that
he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.”
Out
of love, God gave His only begotten Son as the ultimate sacrifice for the
salvation of humility. He then commanded every one of us that has received His
love to reciprocate it by loving one another (1st John 4:7-8). The
Bible makes it very clear that the proof of love is its expression through
actions, especially actions that are taken in the interest of others. Children
of God should never be identified with envy, hatred, pride, selfishness, or any
form of wickedness. These vices are contrary to God’s nature in us. As
Christians, we must always radiate the love of God with meekness, kindness,
patience, peace and joy.
Prayer Point
Father, please fill my heart with Your love, so that Your love may
flow through me to others.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide
was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed
Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical Church in the world and
also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
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