MOC: UNit 11, Day 3, Love Is A Verb (Part 2)

1. Let’s begin today’s lesson by reading the Bible verses and the name of Christ for today and use the suggested prayer.

SUGGESTED PRAYER

Lamb of God, You clearly showed love for me by paying the death penalty for my sins. Because I have been so greatly loved by you, I want to love others with Your kind of love. As you live in me, love through me so that others will experience You redeeming love. Amen!!!

TODAY’S NAME OF CHRIST VERSE:

John 1:29 NASB95

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Today’s Name of God: LAMB OF GOD

Let’s continue to look at love as Paul described it in 1 Corinthians 13. The following eight behaviors of love were of Christ and His teachings.

2. As you read the following eight behaviors of love, think of a way you might display that behavior. Write it in the margin. For instance, beside “Love is Not Provoked” you might write, “When someone does something to me and I want to get even” as a time when you could show that kind of love.

1. Love is Not Provoked (Holy Temperament)

We see this in how Jesus treated Judas. One year prior to Judas’ betrayal He said to him the following:

John 6:70 NASB95

70 Jesus answered them, “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?”

Other Scripture points out that Jesus knew the real motives of everyone around Him (John 2:24–25; Mark 2:8).

John 2:24–25 NASB95

24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

Mark 2:8 NASB95

8 Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts?

This power of Jesus demonstrates that He is God and He is all knowing.

This is what allowed Him to say, in no uncertain terms, that the people who sought Him out in Capernaum weren't there for truth—they were there for free food (John 6:26).

John 6:26 NASB95

26 Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.

God's reasons for doing what He does, or allowing what He allows, are ultimately His alone. Christ knows that Judas is not really a believer, but He has kept Him in the inner circle, in order to complete His mission.

The devil can also be use as an instrument of God.

Jesus continued to walk with Judas that year. Yet the Lord never demonstrated spite toward Judas. Even Jesus’s last words to Judas were calm.

John 13:27 NASB95

27 After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”

How could Jesus maintain such calmness in the face of monstrous treason?

LOVE IS NOT EASILY ANGERED, BECAUSE IT HAS A HOLY TEMPERAMENT.

Start Here in October 8

2. Love Does Not Take into Account a Wrong (Holy Bookkeeping)

There came a point in Jesus ministry that He started claiming big things, saying things that only are attributed to the Messiah. One such case is found in Mark 3: The bulk of chapter 3 deals with how different people react to Jesus' teaching and His assumption of authority. The Pharisees' confusion transitions into plotting. The crowds that continually follow Jesus for healing become more frenetic and dangerous. Jesus' own family, afraid for His sanity, try to pull Him away. But true followers also show themselves. Twelve join together to become a core group, while a slightly bigger crowd, more interested in Jesus' teaching than miracles, earn the honor of being called His true family.

See verse below

Mark 3:21 NASB95

21 When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.”

His family thought HE was out of His mind. Yet in 1 Corinthians 15:7 He still made a private resurrection appearance to His DISBELIEVING brother James to bring him to faith.

1 Corinthians 15:7 NASB95

7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;

That appearance was enough to satisfy another brother Jude (AUTHOR OF THE EPISTLE).

What else was happening in Corinth that made Paul address this matter?

This idea of keeping no list of wrongs directly connects with Paul’s words to the Corinthian believers earlier in the epistle. Some in the church were bringing lawsuits against other Christians. Instead of settling church matters among themselves in a spirit of humility and love, they were dragging each other to court. Paul takes a firm stand on the matter: “The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?” (1 Corinthians 6:7). To combat the attitude of demanding one’s “pound of flesh,” Paul wrote that love “keeps no record of wrongs.” In fact, it is better to be cheated than to be unloving.

Jesus did not take into account the wrongs of His half brothers.

OUR BOOKKEEPING NEEDS TO BE HOLY!

Jesus Christ provided the ultimate example of this type of love. On the cross He paid the price for the sins of the entire world. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

Jesus kept no record of wrongs; rather, He prayed, “Father, forgive them,” from the cross as He died (Luke 23:34).

We also see what Christ thinks about this subject in Colossians 3:13-14. He ties forgiveness with Love.

Colossians 3:13–14 NASB95

13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

So often, people say they love each other, but, as soon as one gets angry, out comes the list of past sins! Accusations fly, painful memories are dredged up, and bygones are no longer bygones. This is not love. True, godly love forgives and refuses to keep track of personal slights received. The focus of love is not one’s own pain, but the needs of the loved one.

Obviously, we should not allow people to continue to hurt or abuse us or others. That’s not what 1 Corinthians 13:6 is teaching.

1 Corinthians 13:6 NASB95

6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;

The goal is to have a spirit of reconciliation, to forgive those who seek forgiveness, letting the past stay in the past.

Some people have an ax to grind, but Christian love seeks to bury the hatchet.

Love keeps no record of wrongs, for we forgive as Christ has forgiven us. When Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”

Matthew 18:21–22 NASB95

21 Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:21-22). That is love.

THE REASON WHY YOU FORGIVE IS BECAUSE YOU LOVE.

The challenge about this is administering a attitude when it does not call for it.

We are to love at the time when the situation does not support it. When you are in a middle of the conflict love is not in the air.

3. Love Does Not Rejoice in Unrighteousness (Holy Conscience)

4. Love Rejoice in the Truth (Holy Mind)

5. Love Bears All Things (Holy Stability)

6. Love Believes All Things (Holy Values)

7. Love Hopes All Things (Holy Expectations)

8. Love Endures All Things (Holy Sacrifice)