Daily Devotional: 12/27/2018 - SCRIPTURE SERIES PT. II (OG AC)

"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. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

This is a continuation of a series that I started back out towards the end of July, The Scripture Series. I was inspired after going on an encouragement date with a sister from Long Island and one with from our region. Usually at the end of these dates like the next day, later or whenever they have the chance the sisters will write a card. And because I am me and I feel if someone gets me something I have to get them something in return, so I decided to combine the love for art and Scripture into one. But then I was like "BRAIN BLAST" why not make one for all the sisters in our campus for an encouragement for the upcoming semester and year. That was how The Scripture Series was created. We are now on Part Two with one more part to come so we can encourage and give sisters hope all across the world for days to come.

• Women have it hard no matter where they go or what they do. They lack equality in every aspect. They are constantly objectified and are constantly being taken advantage of. It is our job as men and as human beings to treat all these women with respect, love and the dignity they deserve.
• I am going to try and keep these relatively short, but if God leads long we go long. Going to throw some fun facts and some scripture and call it a day.
• The last series was all to sisters in the church (plus one very special woman outside the church). This series is dedicated to the people I call family, whether they be actual blood or women that help keep me sane at school.

Here are a couple fun facts for you, the first being that the sunflowers attract bees, making them useful in areas where people are beekeeping and looking to attract bees. The second fun fact is that a magenta rose represents love. Magenta is a universal harmony and emotional balance; it influences our whole personal and spiritual development.

Love (luv) n. an intense feeling of deep affection.

Synonyms: tenderness, warmth, endearment

Christian godly love is a different type of love. There is no love that matches to this kind of love. When you feel this love, you feel the warmth and that you are welcomed. This is what attracted me to the church I am at now. There is a sense of love in everyone you meet. This love is contagious, whether it is your first time at the church or you have been coming for years everyone you see welcomes you in with loving arms (sometimes literally).

• There is a great song by for King & Country "By Our Love" (By Our Love by for KING & COUNTRY (Lyrics)) where it talks about the Christian lifestyle and how we are known by our love.

As Christians we are held to a higher standard. We are called to follow the example and the standard of how to live, for we know it. We are called to love everyone. John 13:34-35 says, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Jesus is the standard we live by, we are suppose to reflect him and the example he left.

• When you do this "everyone will know that you are His disciples".

A lot of what I get is from the William Barclay commentary on this passage. Paul lists 15 characteristics of the Christian love.

Love is patient. Have you ever been wronged and were quick to want revenge? When you have this kind of love you want to be patient. We have to be patient (Matthew 5:38-42). This is the whole higher standard thing, we have to be the difference. Nothing is more frustrating and mind changing than showing love in this way. Just think about it, I know when I was growing up when I went to bother my little sister or she went to bother me, if one of us did not budge to the other one's tactics it was frustrating.

• It is the same in the real world. When we show love in this world, especially when it is not in an ordinary situation people will notice. People will want to know how they can learn about this love.

A parent shows great love and patience on a daily basis. I know for me, both my mom and dad showed extreme patience when it came to my sister and I. Growing up we were constantly in each other's hair. Kids mess up so much, it is just apart of their nature, but this does not stop at a young age. Messing up follows us all the way to adulthood. People suck and there is no getting around it, they are going to mess up.

• When it comes to people we have to show the love of a parent. This is an unconditional love. God shows this love on a daily basis. We are natural born sinners… I think it is time we take a page out of the old book.

The Greek words for grace and charm are the same. When grace comes charm, and when charm comes grace. Lightfoot of Durham said of Arthur F. Sim, one of his students, "Let him go where he will, his face will be a sermon in itself." There is a graciousness in Christian love which never forgets that courtesy and tact and politeness are lovely things.

• When a deaf person sees a Christian they are suppose to tell they are a Christian by sight. When a blind person hears a Christian they are suppose to tell they are a Christian by the words they say and how they sound.

Love never flies into a temper. The man who is mater to his temper can master anything. Actions speak louder than words.

Barclay said that one of the greatest arts in life is to learn what to forget. He went on to tell how Polynesians before war will gain and hold grudges so when it comes time to fight, they are at peak performance. Life is too short to hold any type of grudge. It is much easier to forgive. God forgive us of our sins, why cannot we forgive someone who hurt us in such a minute way. Christian love has learned the great lesson of forgetting.

• There are several analogies in life where anger is taken on the personification of hot; "hot-temper", "anger burns inside". Imagine anger being a hot coal. This is a hot coal that just sits on your heart. The longer this coal sits on the heart the more it burns a whole in your heart; so longer you let this coal to sit the deeper the hole gets. If you continually hold grudges, you continually burn holes in your heart. 
• Live and learn; love and forg(ive)et.

"One thing remains to said when we think of the qualities of this love as Paul portrays them we can see them realized in the life of Jesus himself."

Sunflowers attract bees, while the love of God attracts other people. It is one of the most powerful attributes we can carry. We have the world's greatest love letter and it is our job to share it (Matthew 28:18-20). Love is natural (just look at kids, they play and want to be friends with everyone) while hate is taught. We were born to love. Love others and make the world new again, love is all we need.

Lord, thank you for everything that you do. Thank you for the love and grace that you give us on a daily basis. You are thee example that we should be following. You are our standard. Give us the wisdom to follow the example that Jesus left us. Help us be more like you everyday. Help us forgive others. Help us love others. Help us love people that hate us. Love is more powerful than hate, help us use it as the weapon to heal the world. I pray all this in your son's glorious awesome name, Amen.

Happy Birthday Mom, you show love through everything you do. This was an easy verse to choose for you when I was thinking of what to use. Sarah and I cannot thank you enough for all that you do for us. Hope you had a great day and I hope your 21st Birthday was the best one yet.

#LetsBeAMovement