PSALM 48
City of the great King: Jerusalem verse 1- 3
Great is the LORD – and greatly to be praised in the city of our God
in the mountain of HIS holiness – beautiful for situation
the joy of the whole earth – is mount Zion
on the sides of the north
the city of the great King
God is known in her palaces for a REFUGE
Enemy kings run in fear verse 4- 7
For – lo – the kings were assembled – they passed by together
they saw it – and so they marveled
they were troubled – and hasted away
Fear took hold upon them there – and pain – as of a woman in travail
YOU break the ships of Tarshish with an east wind
Jerusalem established forever verse 8
As we have HEARD – so have we SEEN
in the city of the LORD of hosts
in the city of our God
God will establish it for ever SELAH
Praise God’s loving-kindness toward Jerusalem verse 9- 11
We have thought of YOUR loving-kindness – O God
in the midst of YOUR temple
according to YOUR name – O God
so is YOUR praise unto the ends of the earth
YOUR right hand is full of righteousness
Let mount Zion rejoice – let the daughters of Judah be glad
because of YOUR judgments
God directs actions of Jerusalem verse 12- 14
Walk about Zion – and go round about her – tell the towers thereof
mark you well her bulwarks – consider her palaces
that you may tell it to the generation following
FOR this God is our God forever and ever
HE will be our guide even unto death
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
:1 “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, In His holy mountain.” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982). (City – 5892 עִיר, עִיר, עִיר הַהֶרֶס [ʿiyr, ʿar, ʿayar /eer/] n m. From 5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); TWOT 1587a, 1615; GK 6551 and 6552 and 6556; 1089 occurrences; AV translates as “city” 1074 times, “town” seven times, “every one” twice, and “variant” six times. 1 excitement, anguish. 1A of terror. 2 city, town (a place of waking, guarded). 2A city, town. James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2001).
DEVOTION: Some cities are more beautiful than others! It is just a fact and while all have some elements that draw people to it others simply inspire and make you feel alive when you are there. It may be because of the atmosphere or the activities that draw you but regardless it is beautiful to you. The word (city) has the idea of a guarded or watched place. A place that never sleeps! Chicago on Lake Michigan is one of those cities that when you drive around it you sense its beauty and strength.
The psalmist felt the same reality when he looked at the city of Jerusalem! It was the city of God and it took the breath of the travelers away as they gazed upon it. The mountain and the city radiated the power of God to the psalmist! Do you have a place that radiates the power of God to you? Maybe it isn’t the city, maybe it is a sanctuary where as you enter it speaks of God and His power to you! No matter what or where it is you need to be reminded of God’s strength, enduring presence and worship Him!
CHALLENGE: Meditate upon the place that brings the reality of God’s greatness to you! Stand in awe of God today! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 5 They saw it, and so they marveled; they were troubled, and hasted away. (8539 “marveled” [tamahh] means wonder, astonied, astonished, amazed, be dumbfounded, to freeze with fear, be horrified, or to be affected with wonder)
DEVOTION: Here we find the enemy of Israel astounded and bewildered by what they saw that the LORD was doing for the children of Israel. The enemy thought they were greater in number than Israel but they didn’t figure on the God of Israel fighting for them.
Too often we can look at the enemy around us and think that there is no way we can win a battle against such odds, but we need to remember what happened in the Old Testament in Israel when it seemed impossible for them to win a battle but they did because the LORD helped them.
HE is willing to help us today just as much as HE was willing to help the children of Israel in the Old Testament. We are the New Testament saints and we have all of the power of God on our side as we do HIS will on this earth.
The old enemy the devil is still real and he is against anyone who is following the LORD but with our dependence on the LORD we can have the victory all the time. It is only when we doubt the LORD’S ability that we can lose a battle.
We will never lose the war because that is promised in the Bible that in the end the LORD Jesus Christ will return with HIS army and defeat the enemy and his army.
CHALLENGE: We need to trust the LORD in every battle we are fighting to give us the victory when we are totally depend on HIM and the battle is one we should be fighting.
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: 10 According to YOUR name, O God, so is YOUR praise to the ends of the earth: YOUR right hand is full of righteousness. (6664 “righteousness” [tsedeq] means accuracy, what is correct, the right thing, according to a standard, adherence to what is required according to a standard; for example, a moral standard, though not always)
DEVOTION: It is the name of the LORD that we need to be praising. There is coming a time when everyone who has breath will be praising the LORD but that time is not yet.
The people of God in the Old Testament and those of us in the New Testament time period need to look at the teaching of the Word of God to Israel and realize that it a teaching that we need to understand even today.
God NEVER gives up on HIS people. HE didn’t give up on the children of Israel completely and HE is not going to give up on us as New Testament Saints. When we need help, HE is there to help us win battle we didn’t think we could win.
Once HE has helped us we need to be like Israel and praise HIM at the top of our voices. The ends of the earth need to hear our praise.
Too often we are too quiet when it comes to praising the LORD. We need to be able to shout for joy once in a while even in our churches when we see a great victory won by the LORD.
HE is still on the throne and it may seem like the devil is winning but HE is still in control and we have to acknowledge that each day. Our mornings should start with praise for the LORD’S protection through the night. Then throughout our day we should take time to praise HIM for the little victories we see happening in our life.
Our God is righteous and HE will do what is right by us. We need to totally depend on HIM to give us victory and joy each day.
CHALLENGE: Praising the LORD is the responsibility of every believer. How much praise did you give HIM today??
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
:11 “Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad,
Because of YOUR judgments.” (“Judgments,” 4941 מִשְׁפָּט [mishpat], 1 judgment, justice, ordinance. 1a judgment. 1a1 act of deciding a case. 1a2 place, court, seat of judgment. 1a3 process, procedure, litigation (before judges). 1a4 case, cause (presented for judgment). 1a5 sentence, decision (of judgment). 1a6 execution (of judgment). 1a7 time (of judgment). 1b justice, right, rectitude (attributes of God or man). 1c ordinance. 1d decision (in law). 1e right, privilege, due (legal). 1f proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan. [Strong, J. (2001). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.]).
DEVOTION: The psalmist wrote this psalm to describe the beauty of Jerusalem. He concludes that what makes Jerusalem special is the fact that God dwells there, and that His people can rejoice because of His judgments. This word has both a legal and common sense connotation.
The judgments of God legally were clearly expressed in the Ten Commandments and in the Mosaic code, and it is these judgments that God’s people are to live by. This means that His people are in constant need of reviewing these and reflecting upon them. They are to be treasured by the believer (Psalm 19:9). God does have the right to judge sin, and there will be a future judgment when all of man’s sinfulness is exposed and judged by Him (Ecclesiastes 12:14).
The judgments of God also refer to the decisions about how to live one’s life in general. These decisions are to be based on the principles found in God’s Word, and not merely our own opinions. Thus, the purpose of God’s Word is to give one wisdom and discernment as to how to live (Psalm 119:66).
In both cases, then, God’s people are to seek to know God’s evaluation of the right and wrong ways of living. Only a holy God could accurately discern what is truly right and wrong. We need to come to His Word constantly to be instructed on God’s design for living.
CHALLENGE: Are you more worried about what man thinks about something or about what God thinks about it? Are you willing to surrender your own opinions to the judgment of God? Determine now that you will live for what is right, no matter what the cost. (Dr. Marc Wooten – board member)
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: 14 For this God is our God forever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. (5090 “guide” [nahag] means to drive, lead on, or conduct)
DEVOTION: There is a family relationship between the LORD and Israel. HE established the children of Israel as HIS chosen people. HE gave them the Promised Land. HE gave the victory over the nations in the Promised Land. David established Jerusalem as the capital of the nation. Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem. LORD made a covenant with David that he would have a king on the throne.
The LORD was going to cause HIS people to move in a right direction. The LORD built Zion as HIS city. HE is the great King. HE is the one who is protecting the city. The kings of the earth fear the protection of the LORD.
HE is known for HIS loving-kindness. HE is known for HIS righteousness. HIS name is awesome. When people look at Zion or Jerusalem, they are to be glad. Why? The city is important to the Creator of the universe. HE is the one who is going to lead the world. HE was always going to lead in the right direction. The question was – were they going to follow the LORD’S leading?
Today we are the chosen people of God. Those who are followers of Christ now are those who benefit from the loving-kindness of the LORD. We need to follow HIS leading as HE has instructed us in the New Testament. HE will lead us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit as we yield to HIM.
Are we going to follow the LORD’S leading in our lives? The city of Jerusalem was a place where the LORD put HIS name and caused HIS people to see HIS attributes of loving-kindness, praise, righteousness and judgment. When we worship today, do we see these things in our worship centers? Remember that the LORD is going to lead us on during our whole life. HE promises to never leave us or forsake us.
When we meditate and pray for guidance are we aware of the LORD giving us daily instructions? Remember that there are sins of omission and commission. The sins of omission are committed when the LORD instructs to us to do something and we don’t do it.
CHALLENGE: Act on HIS instructions!!!
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Temple verse 9
Praise verse 10
Rejoice verse 11
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 8
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 1, 3, 8- 10, 14
Holy verse 1
Great King verse 2
LORD of hosts verse 8
God will establish Jerusalem forever verse 8
Lovingkindness verse 9
Right hand full of righteousness verse 10
Judgments verse 11
Guide verse 14
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Kings verse 4- 6
Marveled at Jerusalem
Troubled
Hasted away
Pain like a woman in travail
Ships of Tarshish verse 7
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Troubled verse 5
Fear verse 6
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Praise verse 1, 10
Joy verse 2
Refuge verse 3
Loving-kindness verse 9
Righteousness verse 10
Glad verse 11
Guide verse 14
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
City of our God verse 1-3, 8, 11- 13
Greatly to be praised
Mountain of HIS holiness
Beautiful for situation
Joy of the whole earth
Mount Zion
City of the great King
Her palaces
Refuge
City of the LORD of hosts
God will establish it for ever
Towers
Bulwarks
Daughters of Judah verse 11
Be glad
Tell of Jerusalem to following generation verse 13
This God is our God verse 14
HE is our guide even to death verse 14
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
God is our God for ever and ever verse 14
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DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church, please use that method. Thank you.
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QUOTES regarding passage
48:9–10. The psalmist offered praise to God for His unfailing love (ḥeseḏ, “loyal love”) and righteousness. Praise of God fills the earth, for God’s power demonstrates His faithfulness. (Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 830). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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The speakers in this section appear to be a group of pilgrims going to Jerusalem after the great victory. They had heard about Assyria’s defeat, but now they could see with their own eyes the great things that the Lord had done for His people. (It’s likely that Ps. 126 also fits into this event.) The pilgrims immediately went to the temple to worship the Lord, to meditate on His faithfulness, and joyfully praise Him. Worship is the proper human response to divine mercies. Note how the fame of the Lord spread from the city itself (v. 11a) to the towns of Judah that Sennacherib had plundered (v. 11b; Isa. 36:1) and then to the ends of the earth (v. 10). So may it be with the message of the Gospel! (Acts 1:8). When the Lord Jesus Christ returns to defeat His enemies and establish His kingdom, His glory and dominion will be from sea to sea (Zech. 9:9–10), and the city of Jerusalem will be named “The Lord our Righteousness” (Jer. 23:6; 33:16). (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be worshipful (1st ed., pp. 179–180). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.)
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Ver. 9. We have thought of thy loving-kindness, O God, &c.] Jarchi interprets it, we have waited for thy loving-kindness; to see thy salvation; and some, as Ben Melech observes, explain it of hope and expectation; as if the sense was, we have hoped for thy loving-kindness; so the Syriac version renders it, and the word used has the signification of tarrying, 1 Sam. 14:9. God has his set time to favour his Zion, and till that time comes it is right in them to be hoping, expecting, and waiting for it. The Chaldee paraphrase is, we have esteemed thy goodness; it being very excellent, exceeding valuable, and better than life itself; but other Jewish writers, as Menachem, Aben Ezra, Kimchi, and Ben Melech, render it as we do, we have thought, &c. The loving-kindness of God towards his people in Christ is a very delightful and profitable subject to dwell in meditation upon, to consider the objects, instances, cause, and nature of it; and serves greatly to encourage faith and hope, to draw out love to God, and engage to a ready and cheerful obedience to his will; and this is sometimes done in public, as well as in private conversation, and in the closet; as follows. In the midst of thy temple; the church of Christ, which is of his building, where he dwells, and grants his presence, and is often called the temple of God in the New Testament, in allusion to Solomon’s temple; see 1 Cor. 3:16, 17; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:21. here the word of God is preached, his ordinances administered, and his presence granted; which are instances of his loving-kindness, and lead his people to think of it; and particularly when the faithful ministers of the Gospel make mention of it, and the ordinance of the supper is administering, which is intended to bring to remembrance the love of God and Christ: moreover, in the latter day, to which this psalm belongs, the temple of God will be opened, Rev. 11:19 and 15:5. that is, the true worship of God will be restored, and pure and undefiled religion freely exercised; the Gospel will be clearly and fully preached; and the ordinances administered as they were first delivered, which will lead the saints to think of the loving-kindness of God unto them; and particularly when they shall see the angels with the seven vials, the executioners of God’s wrath on the antichristian states, go forth from the temple to pour them out upon them. Rev. 15:6 and 16:1. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 3, p. 725). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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9. “We have thought.” Holy men are thoughtful men; they do not suffer God’s wonders to pass before their eyes and melt into forgetfulness, but they meditate deeply upon them. “Of thy lovingkindness, O God.” What a delightful subject! Devout minds never tire of so divine a theme. It is well to think of past lovingkindness in times of trial, and equally profitable to remember it in seasons of prosperity. Grateful memories sweeten sorrows and sober joys. “In the midst of thy temple.” Fit place for so devout a meditation. Where God is most seen he is best loved. The assembled saints constitute a living temple, and our deepest musings when so gathered together should have regard to the lovingkindness of the Lord, exhibited in the varied experiences of each of the living stones. Memories of mercy should be associated with continuance of praise. Hard by the table of shew-bread commemorating his bounty, should stand the altar of incense denoting our praise. (Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 27-57 (Vol. 2, p. 362). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.)
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8–10. Here the prophecy and the accomplishment of prophecy the church by faith enjoys and celebrates. The prophets had foretold what God would do for Zion. And, saith the church, blessed be Zion’s king, he hath so fulfilled. Reader! think what a vast accession to this testimony ought Zion to give now. If the church celebrated by faith what God would do in the early days; and if in latter ages the redeemed lived to see fulfilled the predictions of prophets concerning the advent, ministry, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, and the coming of the Holy Ghost; and if they blessed a promise performing God; what verses of praise ought you and I to give, that now, near 2000 years since Jesus returned to glory, we live to record that promise which he left, that he had founded his church upon a rock, and the gates of hell should not prevail against it. May we not take up this language and say, As we have heard so have we seen; God will establish it for ever? (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: Job–Psalms (Vol. 4, p. 317). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
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“We have thought of Thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of Thy temple.” When Hezekiah came to the throne that Temple was in a dilapidated condition. His father, King Ahaz, had defiled it, pushing aside the great brazen altar of God and replacing it with a heathen altar patterned after one recommended to him by the Assyrians. Hezekiah had cleansed and restored the Temple. And, in the midst of his troubles, when the Assyrians were at his gates, shouting their obscenities and sending him haughty letters, the king was always in the temple courts, telling the Lord of his troubles, spreading the letters before Him: “We have thought of Thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of Thy temple.” Thoughts of God’s love should inspire worship, and the meeting place, where God has put His name and where He has promised to meet with His people, should be precious to us. (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring Psalms 1–88: An Expository Commentary (Vol. 1, Ps 48:9). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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KNOWING THE LOVE OF GOD
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16
How can my joy abound? How can I walk through this world with my head erect? How can I come through triumphantly? Well, here is the main thing: I should know the love that God has toward me. If I have that, I can say that “neither death, nor life….nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
Therefore, the questions come to us one by one: Do I know this love? Can I make this statement? It is made everywhere in the New Testament. Paul is particularly fond of stating it: “…the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). No man could state the doctrine of the atonement in all its plenitude and glory like the apostle Paul, and yet here he says in essence, “He died for me; He loved me.” This is personal knowledge, personal appropriation. You find this everywhere in the New Testament. For example, “Whom having not seen,” says Peter, “ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).
Do we know that? These people did not see Him, and so we cannot argue and say, “It is all very well for those first Christians; they saw Him. If only I could see Christ, then I would love Him.” But they did not see Him any more than we see Him. They had the apostolic witness and teaching and accepted this witness and testimony. They loved Him and rejoiced in Him “with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”
A Thought to Ponder
They loved Him and rejoiced in Him “with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”
(From The Love of God, pp. 148-149, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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The Devil Never Rests
“And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.” (Job 1:7)
This remarkable scene in heaven provides a striking picture of Satanic activity. The devil, in his opposition to God and His program of salvation, evidently never rests. He is not omnipresent like God because he is a finite, though very powerful and brilliant, created being. To accomplish his goal, therefore, he is never at rest but keeps going from place to place and working deception after deception, bringing everyone he can under his influence.
Therefore, God urgently warns us: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
The same is true of the demonic spirits who have followed the devil in his rebellion against God. They never rest until they can take possession of some person’s body and mind and then control that person’s behavior. “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out” (Matthew 12:43-44).
This restlessness that characterizes the devil and his demons often also manifests itself in the unsaved, and this will be the ultimate state of those who yield to the pressures of these evil spirits. “They have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:11).
True rest of soul is found only in Christ, with His forgiveness, cleansing, and guidance: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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God judges Judah by allowing Nebuchadnezzar to capture Jerusalem.
INSIGHT
Judah has a total of 20 kings after Solomon. Only eight of them give moral and spiritual leadership. And as the king goes, so goes the nation. As a result, God has to bring judgment on Israel. The ghastly succession of horrors promised for disobedience in Deuteronomy 28–and reiterated to Solomon in 1 Kings 9–begins to unfold. “I will cast (Israel) out of My sight. Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples” (1 Kings 9:7). Nebuchadnezzar besieges and captures Jerusalem, transports her main people to Babylonia, robs her treasury, and violates worship in the temple. Sin has a terrible price.
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THE REAL REASONS FOR REVIVAL: OUTSIDERS
For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? Is it not in that thou goest with us? So shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. Exodus 33:16
The third reason Moses gives for revival is his concern about the heathen who are outside: “For wherein shall it be known here [in the wilderness, where we are] that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.”
We have considered the three motives in praying for revival. For the name and the honor and glory of God and for the sake of the church that is His. Yes, and then for the sake of those people who are outside, who are scoffing, mocking, jeering, laughing, and ridiculing. “Oh, God,” say His people one after another, arise and silence them. Do something so that we may be able to say to them, “Be still, keep silent, give up.”
“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). That is the prayer of the people of God. They have their eye on those who are outside. Moses is praying for these people, that they may be stopped short and apprehended and may develop an interest in which God is leading them and is directing them. This should make us ask, therefore, whether we are concerned at all about these people who are outside. It is a terrible state for the church to be in when she merely consists of a collection of very nice and respectable people who have no concern for the world.
A Thought to Ponder: It is a terrible state for the church to be in when she has no concern for the world. (From Revival, pp. 193-194, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Pastor Dave sent this quote: 23 Things That Love Is
LOVE IS… being willing to have your life complicated by the needs and struggles of others without impatience or anger.
LOVE IS… actively fighting the temptation to be critical and judgmental toward another while looking for ways to encourage and praise.
LOVE IS… making a daily commitment to resist the needless moments of conflict that come from pointing out and responding to minor offenses.
LOVE IS… being lovingly honest and humbly approachable in times of misunderstanding.
LOVE IS… being more committed to unity and understanding than you are to winning, accusing, or being right.
LOVE IS… a making a daily commitment to admit your sin, weakness, and failure and to resist the temptation to offer an excuse or shift the blame.
LOVE IS… being willing, when confronted by another, to examine your heart rather than rising to your defense or shifting the focus.
LOVE IS… making a daily commitment to grow in love so that the love you offer to another is increasingly selfless, mature, and patient.
LOVE IS… being unwilling to do what is wrong when you have been wronged, but looking for concrete and specific ways to overcome evil with good.
LOVE IS… being a good student of another, looking for their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs so that in some way you can remove the burden, support them as they carry it, or encourage them along the way.
LOVE IS… being willing to invest the time necessary to discuss, examine, and understand the relational problems you face, staying on task until the problem is removed or you have agreed upon a strategy of response.
LOVE IS… being willing to always ask for forgiveness and always being committed to grant forgiveness when it is requested.
LOVE IS… recognizing the high value of trust in a relationship and being faithful to your promises and true to your word.
LOVE IS… speaking kindly and gently, even in moments of disagreement, refusing to attack the other person’s character or assault their intelligence.
LOVE IS… being unwilling to flatter, lie, manipulate, or deceive in any way in order to co-opt the other person into giving you what you want or doing something your way.
LOVE IS… being unwilling to ask another person to be the source of your identity, meaning, and purpose, or inner sense of well-being, while refusing to be the source of theirs.
LOVE IS… the willingness to have less free time, less sleep, and a busier schedule in order to be faithful to what God has called you to be and to do as a spouse, parent, neighbor, etc.
LOVE IS… a commitment to say no to selfish instincts and to do everything that is within your ability to promote real unity, functional understanding, and active love in your relationships.
LOVE IS… staying faithful to your commitment to treat another with appreciation, respect, and grace, even in moments when the other person doesn’t seem deserving or is unwilling to reciprocate.
LOVE IS… the willingness to make regular and costly sacrifices for the sake of a relationship without asking for anything in return or using your sacrifices to place the other person in your debt.
LOVE IS… being unwilling to make any personal decision or choice that would harm a relationship, hurt the other person, or weaken the bond of trust between you.
LOVE IS… refusing to be self-focused or demanding, but instead looking for specific ways to serve, support, and encourage, even when you are busy or tired.
LOVE IS… daily admitting to yourself, the other person, and God that you are unable to be driven by a cruciform love without God’s protecting, providing, forgiving, rescuing, and delivering grace. (Paul Tripp Ministrires, Inc.)
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David posts on Facebook (NY): Retweeted George Whitefield (@WhitefieldG):
Giving way to melancholy and unbelief, raises gloom and vapors in the mind, clouds the understanding, clogs us in the way of duty, and gives the enemy, who loves to fish in troubled waters, a very great advantage over us.
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