“Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.” Proverbs 8:32 NIV
God’s ways are not our ways, His thoughts not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV). How are we to keep His ways if they are different from ours? By doing what Jesus commanded us to do: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31 NIV). God’s way is love. If we want to keep His ways, we need to love in all circumstances. If we love Him first, He’ll give us the love we need for others. When we are loving others, we are keeping His ways. We will be blessed.
What does it mean to love? Paul tells us in his letter to the Corinthians: “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” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV). God’s ways are not our ways, none of the things love requires comes easily to our humanness. But with God, we can do anything.
But with God we can do anything.
When we partner with God, we can wait patiently. We can be kind to people that are difficult to be kind too. God will teach us how to be humble and honor others. He will help us put others first, not easily angered, keeping no record of wrongs. God will show us the truth. His love protects us, can be trusted, is full of hope and unconditional. Because God loves us that way, when we receive His love, we can do the same for others. We can love others because God first loved us. He went first. He sent Jesus to show us how to love (John 3:16 NIV). Jesus is the one who gave us the greatest commandment. Through Him we learn to love God and love others. As a result, we are blessed.
Question of the Day:
Which do you need to work on today, loving God or loving people?
Further Reading: Exodus 30:11-31:18 NIV, Matthew 26:47-68 NIV, Psalm 32:1-11 NIV, Proverbs 8:27-32 NIV
