PAY NO ATTENTION

1 Corinthians 13:5 AMPC It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

Have you ever been riled up by what someone has said or done? Ever recounted an ‘episode’ when someone offended you? I think we can all put our hands up at some time when we’ve done it. We may think we’re justified in our indignation at the time, and yet the Holy Spirit is teaching us it’s not the best way!😊

The whole of this passage from verses 4-8 is about the quality of love and we often hear it read at weddings. Maybe it would help us if we read it every morning before we bounced out of bed! It might just put the brakes on some of our more unloving thoughts, whether it’s towards a person, or the government!

It says to pay no attention to a suffered wrong. That’s not easy is it? And yet it’s the life God has called us to and the only way to live it is to let God’s love, which the Holy Spirit has already put in our hearts, have more say in our lives. When we want to bite back, when we want to have the last word, it’s when we have a choice to make. Will I surrender to God’s love, let it have it’s way and have a gentle answer, or will I go with the flesh!?

It’s a bit like parking where we’re not supposed to. We’re not supposed to stay parked on an offence or there will be a fine to pay! 

Galations 5:6 reminds us that our faith will only work through love and if we’re finding our faith is struggling and things don’t seem to be working, then maybe it’s worth doing a ‘love’ check and see if we’re holding on to an offence or to an evil done to us or someone else.

As we go into a fresh week, God is saying to each one of us, it’ s time to pay no attention to those offences anymore, let them go, take no more account of them. God has forgiven us so much, now it’s our turn to forgive others, and let His love flow again. In Jesus name. Amen. 😊

Photo by J Dean on Unsplash

SHOUT JOYFUL PRAISES

1

Psalm 66:1-5, 8-9 NLT

Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! 

2 Sing about the glory of his name!

Tell the world how glorious he is.

3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!

Your enemies cringe before your mighty power.

4 Everything on earth will worship you;

they will sing your praises,

shouting your name in glorious songs.” Interlude

5 Come and see what our God has done,

what awesome miracles he performs for people!

8 Let the whole world bless our God

and loudly sing his praises.

9 Our lives are in his hands,

and he keeps our feet from stumbling.

The lovely thing about praising God is that it takes our eyes off ourselves and our problems and it lifts our eyes to the only One who has all the answers. He has the solutions before we have the problems so we can know we’re in good hands.😊

Verse 9 reminds us that our whole lives are in His hands, not just our work, or the family, or our finances. Absolutely everything is in His hands, and that includes our emotions, our struggles and every aspect of life. There’s nothing too big or too small that we can’t come and talk to God about it and know He’s already put things in place for our deliverance and provision. What a wonderful God we serve!

We know David stumbled morally and yet he was saying God kept him from stumbling, He kept him spiritually anchored despite his failure and when he repented God forgave his sin. Maybe we think, because we’ve sinned, or wandered off, that God has given up on us, but He still has a strong hold on us to keep us from falling away, and gives us grace even when we fail and make mistakes. 

What a merciful God He is and it’s no wonder the Psalmist wants us to tell the world how glorious He is. God loves us, He is for us, He is fighting our battles and wants us to be fruitful and successful. What more could we want? 

Let’s give Him all our joyful praise today and lift His name on high. The Psalmist says to do it loudly, to shout it out, not timidly or half heartedly but with all we’ve got, wherever we happen to be. In Jesus mighty name. Amen.

Photo by James Coleman on Unsplash