DAILY BREAD OF LIFE….
TUESDAY 10TH NOV., 2020
WORD FOCUS: LOVE IS NOT RUDE
TEXT: 1 Corinthians 13:5 “Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;…”
Still continuing to catalog the aspects of agape, Apostle Paul boldly declares that Love does not behave rudely. This is very difficult to understand in the times we are now where injustice, greed, hunger, immorality, crimes, lack, depravation, and so on dominate the global space. These are found everywhere .However, how can you find polite persons. Definitely, a loving person is a polite person. We can see etiquette as being grounded in mere social custom or convention, or we can see it as being grounded in the higher principle of love. The word courtesy has its origins in the British system of monarchy, in which honor was seen as a supreme virtue. Courtesy is an abbreviated term for “court etiquette”. It has to do with manners. Way back in a conference address, Dr. Sinclair Ferguson, the Scottish theologian, related a story in which the then young Princess Elizabeth now the Queen of England and her sister, Princess Margaret, were going to an official function. Their Queen Mother warned them as they were ready to depart, “Remember, girls, royal manners”.
Manners worthy of royalty are required of sons and daughters of the king. More revered are those who possess agape love for God and His anointed King are called to polite behavior, To avoid rudeness means that we are not pushy,rough, raw,crude, selfish, or coarse in our speech and actions but always at home and polite with all classes. Love does not express itself in gross language or actions either.
The Apostle Peter also enjoined all true followers of christ to be courteous as a manifestation of love: “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing” knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:8-9). Here Peter linked courtesy to compassion, love, and tenderheartedness.
Harshness of speech and demeanor is a form of rudeness. When we interrupt each other in conversation, we reveal a kind of selfishness that is inherent in rudeness. When Paul was on trial before King Agrippa, he was granted permission to present his defense. Yet while Paul was recounting his conversion experience on the road to Damascus, he was interrupted by Festus:
(Acts 26:24-29)
When Paul was rudely interrupted and accused of being crazy, he maintained his composure and answered rudeness with politeness. Even in this context of being rudely insulted by his enemy, Paul exhibited the courtesy of agape. Has this been recognized as a food for thought in our culture and especially within the body of Christ.God help us in Jesus name Amen.
MEDITATION; Gal 6:1
STUDY THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: TIT 3; JER 17&18; PS 127
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Godhead Interdenominational Ministry