1 Corinthians 13:4

“Love is patient....” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Love (agape: agape: charity, brotherly love, affection, good will, benevolence) is patient (makrothumeo: bears long, suffers long, patiently enduring, perseveres patiently, enduring misfortunes and troubles; patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others; mild and slow in avenging, slow to anger, slow to punish) ....”

SUMMARY

The charity and benevolence that originates from the Father bears long, endures much, is patient, mild and slow to punish in anger.

MEDITATION

I’ve been given a healthy dose of opportunities to show the agape of my Father lately. I have a one month old son! He cries for no reason, he chooses when he sleeps (when we sleep) and can, at times, push my buttons like no one else has… ever. With that being said, my love for him is like no other as well. He’s not earned it, worked for it or sought to make me love him, he just is. It’s his simple existence as my son that leads me to love him patiently. Is this not the same as our Father? I often think He must look at me in the same manner. Sometimes I’m completely oblivious to what He’s trying to give me – something that I need. At times I may even kick and scream and push Him away. Oh but the love of the Father! He patiently waits, enduring my obstinate nature, longing to come to me and hold me close. His awesome love never turns me away. Today, I want to ask you, do you know of this great, unconditional love? Have you experienced the love that overlooks all wrongs, errors and sees beyond the annoyances of humanity? If you have – if you truly have – then you’re obligated to spread this great agape of God to others. Love someone today, without condition, expectation or demands. It’s the heart of our loving and patient Creator.

Numbers 11:4-6

“The rabble who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, ‘Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.’” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“The rabble ('acpecuph: mixed multitude, collection of people) who were among them had greedy desires ('avah: lusts, longings, cravings); and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, ‘Who will give us meat to eat? We remember (zakar: mindful, think on, bring to remembrance, call to mind) the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.’”

SUMMARY

The collection of people who were among them had greedy lusts and cravings; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? We choose to call to mind the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.”

MEDITATION

I find it interesting that despite all that the Israelites saw the LORD do on their behalf, in this instance they chose to call to mind the cravings of their fleshly bodies. And who can blame them, right? They were growing weary of eating the same old manna as the days previous. The key here is that within these moments that we too have in common with these men and women, we choose to put on the mind of Christ. We must literally, “change” our mind. Today, choose to reflect on what the LORD has done on your behalf. Declare the awesome works of His hands and see how He’s caring for you…. even if it comes in the form of something you’re just, well, tired of “eating”.

Revelation 1:10

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard (akouo: hearken, give audience, hearer, not deaf, to attend to, consider what is or has been said, understand, perceive, comprehend) behind me a loud voice (phone [fo-nay']: sound, speech, tongue, a disclosure) like the sound of a trumpet.”

SUMMARY

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard and perceived behind me a loud voice disclosing things to me as the sound of a trumpet.

MEDITATION

When was the last time you were “in the spirit”? (I’ll pause and let you think about it.) OK. As Believers of this same Gospel as John the Revelator and fellow followers of Christ should we too not be found “in the spirit” on regular occasion? Sadly, flesh-fueled Christianity abounds in every corner of this modern day. Perhaps it’s safe to say that it always has. Most circles even go as far as viewing clearly biblical “spiritual activity” as inappropriate and shameful. For the Body of Christ to have any hope in this hour, we must individually hear what the Spirit is saying and move accordingly. Today, unplug from the sensory overload of the flesh. Exercise your spirit man. Who knows, you too may just hear a voice like the sound of a trumpet.

James 5:8

“You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“You too be patient (makrothumeo: endure, not to lose heart, persevere patiently and bravely; to be longsuffering, slow to anger, slow to punish); strengthen (sterizo: establish, make stable, make firm) your hearts (kardia: the center and seat of spiritual life; seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavors), for the coming (parousia: arrival, advent; the future visible return from heaven of Jesus, to raise the dead, hold the last judgment, and set up formally and gloriously the kingdom of God) of the Lord is at hand (eggizo: draw nigh, be at hand, come near, approaching).”

SUMMARY

Don’t lose heart! Patiently persevere and establish your purpose and motivations for the visible return of Jesus Christ is fast approaching!

MEDITATION

Are you established in your motivations and purposes? Are you standing firm, unshakable no matter what comes? The day of the LORD is at hand. One does not train and prepare to avoid something but instead to face it head on. Be ready not to escape but to endure my friends for he that endures will be saved.

Philippians 4:4

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Rejoice (chairo: be glad, joy, hail, greeting, rejoice exceedingly, to be well, thrive) in the Lord always (pantote: ever, evermore, at all times); again I will say, rejoice!”

SUMMARY

Rejoice exceedingly and be glad in the LORD at all times, forevermore; again I will say rejoice exceedingly!

MEDITATION

Isn’t it easy to be glad and joyful when you get that new promotion? Or how about when you receive a great gift from someone? We could all think of dozens of scenarios that would bring us to rejoicing. But what about when unwanted situations come our way? What about when a loved one dies unexpectedly, your car breaks down when you’re out of state or you just found out that you son was expelled from school? Life is full of ups and downs, wouldn’t you say? I’ve learned over the years (and perhaps am still learning) that rejoicing over the greatness of my Father and this awesome life that He’s given me, even in the midst of tough times, is a powerful force. You see, we’re programmed to think that victory is only attained when things turn out exactly how we think they should. This however is simply not the case. Victory is found buried within my response to the circumstances that come my way. Today, rejoice in the LORD… always.

Romans 8:5

“For they who are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but those who are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” (KJV)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“For they who are after the flesh (sarx: carnally minded, sensuous nature of man with cravings which incite to sin, earthly nature of man apart from divine influence prone to sin and to be opposed to God) do mind (phroneo: think on, like minded with, agreed together, harmonious, sided with) the things of the flesh, but those who are after the Spirit (pneuma: Holy Ghost, Spirit of God Spirit of the Lord, the third Being of the trinity, Holy Spirit), the things of the Spirit.”

SUMMARY

For those who are living according to the flesh, that is the sensuous, earthly nature of man that is opposed to God and prone to sin, are sided and harmonious with this the things of this flesh. However, those who are living according to the Holy Spirit, are like-minded with and agreed together with the Holy Spirit.

MEDITATION

Man, although quite complex does have some simplicities that define him. All men will follow after something. In this verse, Paul states that the man with his mind set on gratifying the desires of his flesh will do just that. Another man, with his affections set on the Holy Spirit will be intertwined with the Spirit – unified in thought and action. As I stated, although this is a simple concept, our entire lives are defined by which “side” we choose to stand with. Today, examine where your thoughts and affections reside. We’re all partnered with something and who or what that is, without question, determines the path that we walk down in life. Today, would you choose to join yourself with the Holy Spirit? Would you hear and heed His voice today?

Proverbs 3:5

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Trust (batach: to have confidence, to be secure, to cause to trust, to feel safe) in the LORD with all your heart (leb: mind, understanding, wisdom, inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding, knowledge, thinking, reflection, conscience, seat of emotions and passions) and do not lean (sha`an: rely, rest, trust in, support) on your own understanding (biynah: wisdom, knowledge, discernment).”

SUMMARY

Be secure and have confidence in the Lord with all of your understanding, will and emotions. Do not rely on your own wisdom and knowledge.

MEDITATION

This week I did some work for a blind man. As I had several conversations with him, I got to thinking about how high his level of trust has to be, at all times. He knows where certain things are in his surroundings but if he were to be taken out of this environment, he’d really have a rough time. He had to trust that I did that job that he paid me to do. He even trusted me to write out his check for the amount that I quoted him. While I was saddened to see how limiting his impairment is, I was inspired as I saw a clear example of trust. The problem is, we too often see ourselves as completely self-sufficient. Today, may we be as this man, spiritually speaking – reliant upon the Father to lead us, to guide us, to completely care for us. May our every move and plan be leaning upon Him alone.