OX STRONG
  • Home
  • Ministries
    • OX Strong Saturdays
    • Brown Strong
    • OX Strong Women
    • Church Strong
    • Strong Resources
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Home
  • Ministries
    • OX Strong Saturdays
    • Brown Strong
    • OX Strong Women
    • Church Strong
    • Strong Resources
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Blog
Search

Biblical love is characterized by humility, obedience to God, and self-sacrifice...By JM.

9/20/2021

0 Comments

 
John MacArthur shares with us the following devotional...
“I show you a still more excellent way” (1 Cor. 12:31).
Biblical love is characterized by humility, obedience to God, and self-sacrifice.
In our society, love is a common word but an uncommon experience. Often those who use the word most understand it least. Many who think they’ve found love have really settled for something far less than God intended for them.
For many, love means a romantic or sexual relationship. While Scripture has much to say about intimacy within marriage, the word love takes on a different meaning in the New Testament. Even Ephesians 5:25 (“Husbands, love your wives”) doesn’t refer to romantic love.
Other common errors include equating love with emotionalism or sentimentality, or confusing it with a friendly spirit of tolerance and brotherhood toward others—often apart from any consideration for doctrinal purity or biblical convictions. But biblical love is none of those.
The “more excellent way” Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 12:31 is love that comes from God Himself and conforms to His holy attributes. We have no capacity to generate it on our own. The Greek word for that kind of love is agapé, and it is characterized by humility, obedience to God, and self-sacrifice. John 13:1 says of Christ’s love for His disciples, “He loved them to the end.” That literally means He loved them to perfection—to the limits of love. In verses 4-5 He demonstrates His love by washing their feet. Love is humble. It focuses on meeting needs.
In addition, love is obedient and willing to make sacrifices for others. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). God made the supreme sacrifice for us in that He “so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16).
First Corinthians 13 applies to Christians of every generation because we all face the danger of misusing our spiritual gifts. As we study it and other passages about love, ask yourself if your love is all that God wants it to be. If not, take note of what changes you need to make in light of what you’re learning.
Suggestions for Prayer
  • Thank God for loving you.
  • Ask Him for wisdom and grace to understand and walk in love.
https://808bo.com/2015/08/03/john-macarthur-filling-up-an-empty-word-3/
​
​Song: Obedience by Lindy & The Circuit Riders
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Nate Smith is a college baseball and football coach, a husband, a father of 6 girls, grandpa to 3 granddaughters, a police chaplain, and has a passion to see men grow in Christ.

    Picture
    Picture
    #girldad including granddaughter
    Picture

      Would you like an email reminder when a new post is up?

    Subscribe

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Let us know how we can pray for you.
Request Prayer
  • Home
  • Ministries
    • OX Strong Saturdays
    • Brown Strong
    • OX Strong Women
    • Church Strong
    • Strong Resources
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Blog