"Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 1:2, ESV)

This scripture seems depressing on the surface, maybe even despairing. But let us look a bit deeper. The Hebrew word for 'vanity' means 'breath, vapor, or worthless.' It is used thirty-six times in Ecclesiastes, the most of any book in the Old Testament. David contemplated this thought in Psalm 39:5 "Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah" (Psalm 39:5, ESV)

Think of how hard people work to 'get ahead' or buy a more excellent home or car. Everyone always seems to be looking for something more in life. Things, says the Preacher, are meaningless. Everything that takes a lifetime to obtain is nothing in comparison to eternity. A man's life work is but a breath and it is gone! Our lives are just a vapor in the light of eternity. This is why David prays, "Teach me to number my days." He wants to make his life count.

Think about this: a man works his whole life to get ahead. Yet when he dies, he can take nothing with him. Thus, meaningless of meaningless, all is meaningless. You cannot take your 401k, gold or silver, or business. All you can take with you is your relationship with God and your rewards of having loved well in this life.

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." (3 John 4, ESV)

I love these words of John the Apostle because they are filled with such love for those whom John has influenced in ministry. When you have the opportunity to lead people to Christ and meet up with them again years later, and they love Jesus all the more, your heart becomes full! Full of joy because the Word you have sown is bearing fruit. Full of satisfaction because your labor was not in vain. Full of promise because the truth continues to move into the future, influencing others.
    
Listen to John's words and ask yourself if you have ever experienced this kind of joy. "I have no greater joy than to hear my children are walking in the truth." I have grandchildren now. One of my favorite things is to hear them speak of God and know that they are walking in the truth.
    
Who do you know that you have influenced in this way? Are they walking with God standing in truth? May we all finish life and be able to look back and see those whom we have led to Christ still standing in truth and following after Christ. That is the joy I want to know just before Jesus calls me home.

"And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" And he awoke from his sleep and said, "I will go out as at other times and shake myself free." But he did not know that the Lord had left him." (Judges 16:20, ESV)

Compromise is one of the greatest sins of our day. It is not new to followers of God. We are warned throughout the Word of God of compromise. James 4:4 is quite clear, "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." Samson was born to be a deliverer! Yet his compromise in the lap of Delilah, a Philistine, cost him his strength and ability to deliver a nation from captivity. 
    
One of the sad parts of comprise is that most who compromise do not know that the Lord has left. Ephesians 4:27-30 tells us not to give place to the devil nor to grieve the Holy Spirit. Why? When we give place to the devil, we compromise. When we give place to the devil, we grieve the Holy Spirit, and He withdraws from us. I don't believe He leaves us; he withdraws or pulls back. 

Let's get our heads out of the lap of compromise. Let's update our relationship with the Holy Spirit and live out of God's strength. In so doing, we are prepared to do every good work He sets before us!

"Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "Behold, we are your bone and flesh." (2 Samuel 5:1, ESV)

Hebron comes from the Hebrew root word 'habar,' which means to join together or unite. Almost all references to the city of Hebron will reveal that it is a place of association, covenant-making, or deepening of relationships among people. Hebron represents the joining together of people.
    
With all the victories that David and Israel were experiencing through his leadership, Israel finally came to make David king. They met him at Hebron and spoke the very words Adam said, "We are your bone and flesh." In other words, "We are your expression in the earth!" David made a covenant with them at Hebron, and they anointed him king of Israel. This was a powerful joining together of a people to their king. The people took the prophetic word of the Lord in Hebron, and God brought it to pass.
    
We, too, have a King. His name is Jesus! When a man comes to Jesus, he enters into the covenant that the King initiated. When this happens, we become His bone and flesh, His expression in the earth! We live for Jesus! We live in such a way that when people see us, they see Jesus. Like Jesus, "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father." 
    
May you be reminded of the covenant you entered by faith, and may you be His expression to all who meet you.

"Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep." (1 Samuel 30:4, ESV)

All of us will experience the pain of a broken heart in this life. There is no getting around it. If you make yourself vulnerable to love, there will come a time when you experience loss or rejection. David and his men experienced loss the day they returned to camp, only to find their wives and children kidnapped and their homes raided. The scripture says they raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep.
    
The power of grief in loss to steal one's strength is incredible. A broken heart has the power to steal strength. It makes one weak and susceptible to sickness, fatigue, and brain fog. It puts one in a highly emotional place where decisions and choices are often made in the flesh and not in the Spirit. That often leads to more regret and pain.
    
Out of their hurt, pain, and bitterness, David's men were ready to stone him. Amid his pain and stress, David made a wise choice. He strengthened himself in the Lord. The Hebrew word means to take courage or to strengthen one's self. It is often used in association with battle. David relied on the strength of the Lord when he had exhausted his strength. He sought God amid his pain. He prayed to God for help. He relied on what he knew; he worshiped! May we remember to strengthen ourselves in the Lord on the day of our pain.

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21, ESV)

There is such a thin veil between our earthly existence and our heavenly existence. Our last breath here will be our first breath there. The apostle Paul was fully aware of this distinction. He longed to be where there would be no more suffering and no more tears. He longed to be with Christ in that heavenly realm.
    
Paul also understood that living in this world meant living for others. He longed to be fruitful for the Kingdom of God while clothed in his earthly suit. His mission remained the same as long as he remained alive: take the Gospel to the Gentiles. This is what he lived for. He knew obeying the command and keeping to his mission would bring glory to God and His Son!

Paul was caught between two worlds, which held significant advantages. In the one, he could keep collecting rewards; in the other, he would have finished his work and received his heavenly reward.  
    
We, too, are caught between two worlds. As believers, we want to be with Christ and to see Him face-to-face. We want to lay down our pain, earthly sorrows, and labors. Yet at the same time, while here, we get to live for Christ, work for Christ, and win for the Lamb that was slain the rewards of His sufferings. We will be like Paul and say, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

"(He) was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles..." (Galatians 1:16, ESV)

The word 'pleased' comes from a Greek word meaning to take pleasure or delight. Wow! God takes pleasure in revealing His Son to us. Can you see the joy on the face of God? Can you imagine how His heart feels and the desire He has to reveal Jesus, His Son, to us? Revealing Jesus to people makes the heart of God happy!
    
The word 'reveal' comes from two Greek words joined together. The root means to cover, bury or hide. The preposition on the word denotes the exact opposite; to uncover, make visible, or reveal. Because God is the unseen God, there is no direct access to Him. Therefore He must reveal Himself to us through His Son. He takes great pleasure and joy in showing Jesus to us.  

Therefore, when we pray for lost loved ones or communities to come to Christ, we can pray, "God take pleasure in revealing yourself to my family, friends, and community." Everyone who encounters Jesus will almost instantly become a voice of the Gospel to family and friends. They will desire to proclaim who He is and what He has done for them! As they do, God will take pleasure in revealing His son to all who hear of Him!  
    
For Christ to be preached, He must be revealed to people! God, reveal yourself to us that we might proclaim with great boldness Jesus, the Christ!

"And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus." (Acts 5:42, ESV)

Every day! What was every day? Every day they were teaching and Preaching that the Christ is Jesus! We must ask ourselves: How often am I teaching or preaching about Jesus Christ? The Greek word for preaching means to tell the good news. The gospel is the good news! So when we talk about it, there must be joy in our countenance and excitement in our speaking. We read the Word daily for a fresh revelation of who Jesus is. Each revelation that we find should evoke excitement in us to tell others.
    
The disciples went to the temple to teach and preach. And the disciples also went from house to house. I can think of no more excellent way to get the Word on my inside than by teaching it or telling it to others. The more we speak of God and His Word to others, the more we retain and mature in Christ. When I am with other believers, and we talk about the Word of God and Jesus Christ, I become a sharper Christian. As iron sharpens iron, so one believer sharpens another!  
    
The topic is always easy to find. It is Jesus! Keep Him at the center of your life, and you will always have something great to share. If there is joy in your telling, other people will want to hear.

"And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here I am! Send me." (Isaiah 6:8, ESV)

Isaiah's words are words that God loves to hear; "Here I am! Send me!" There is no resistance on Isaiah's part. No prodding on God's part. The Hebrew word for 'here I am' is an exclamation demanding attention. It is a cry to be noticed. Not for selfish reasons but in response to a question. It is different than just saying 'yes' because it carries an immediacy to it. Isaiah seems to be saying, "Look no further! I am your man! Pick me!" Another fun translation of the Hebrew word used by Isaiah is "Behold me!"
Isaiah has a giant "YES!" in his heart toward God. That is what God is looking for in all of us—a giant "YES!" God was looking at a nation that had forgotten Him. He needed someone willing to go and take His word to them. It is no different today. God is looking for people who will go to the lost folks and give them His life-giving Word.  
We must see in this passage that Isaiah had an encounter with God that shook him to the core of his being. The result was a willingness to obey/volunteer for what God was seeking. God did not call Isaiah to go to a nation. He encountered a man with His holiness, and the man willingly volunteered. Will you go at the Spirit's request? Are you crying out, "Pick me! I'm your man!" Your mission field just might be next door or down the street.

"As the crowds emerged from the village, Jesus said to his disciples, "Why would you say, 'The harvest is another four months away'? Look at all the people coming—now is harvest time! For their hearts are like vast fields of ripened grain—ready for a spiritual harvest." (John 4:35, TPT)

Jesus is with his disciples, by the well discussing what happened, when a flood of people comes from the Samaritan village. Watching this sight, knowing that they will soon be surrounded by people who do not know God, Jesus uses this picture as a teaching moment.

Evidently, it was about four more months and then the harvest. Jesus basically says, "Why wait another four months? These people are ready for the Kingdom now! Look at their hearts!" The disciples had walked into town. They bought food and came back. It was another day in the life with Jesus as usual. Jesus speaks, to snap them out of the familiar, so they might see what was spiritually taking place before their eyes that they did not see.  

How often we get caught in that place of familiarity? It is easy to assume business as usual and pass by tired, scattered people. We need Jesus to say to us, "Snap out of it! Look at all the people coming. "For their hearts are like vast fields of ripened grain—ready for a spiritual harvest."  Open your eyes today! Look at the souls around you missing Jesus. Sow a seed! Reap a harvest! Do both! 

"Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." (Matthew 9:37–38, ESV)

What motivated Jesus to go into the fields that were white unto harvest? First, and most importantly, he was sent by the Father. Jesus and the Father were so intimately close that Jesus lived to do the Father's will. Father's will was that none would perish. This was Jesus' mission: go after lost people like you were not going to let one perish.

Secondly, Jesus was moved by compassion. He saw lost people as those who were tired and scattered like sheep without a shepherd. The compassion that Jesus had for the lost was motivated by love! He cared more for others than He did for himself. He wanted them to experience Father's love, care, and kindness. He wanted them free from fear. Compassion moved Him to go into the fields white for harvest.
    
Third, excitement fills his heart, like a farmer when he sees his field ready to be harvested. He can't wait to get into that field! Everything he has worked for has led to this moment! Jesus was excited to see so many ready to be brought into the Kingdom.

Jesus directs His disciples. Pray earnestly for laborers who know the Father has sent them and have hearts to do Father's will. Pray that compassion fills their heart as they see so many tired and scattered. Pray that their hearts become excited about the harvest. Pray that they go into the fields.
    
Go into the fields is what the Father is asking you and me to do today so that none would perish.

"And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19, ESV)

I always find Jesus' conversations with people fascinating. While talking to fishermen, He invites them to follow Him to become fishers of men. To fish for fish meant you had to go where the fish were. It meant you had to find the fish. And it meant you had to be able to catch the fish. Fishing takes skill, practice, and commitment. With that in mind, Jesus says, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
    
To fish for men means that we must go where lost men are. It means we must find the fish we are looking for. And it means we have to be skillful in catching them. The great thing about fishing is that anyone can fish whether they know how to or not. But if you pay attention, you soon discover what works and what does not. Above paying attention is Jesus, who said, I will make you fishers of men. How can we not catch men successfully since we are filled with the Holy Spirit? Holy Spirit will be our help if we will step out and speak.
    
And we can't forget Jesus said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." We often discover how to reach people for Christ by following Him. That is precisely what the first disciples did. They watched Jesus catch men from all walks of life. Pray this: "Jesus teach me to fish for men."

"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:3–4, ESV)

Don't tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. This is the Kingdom's approach to helping those who are in need. The Kingdom of God has specific ways in which it operates. One of those ways is how we give to those in need. Jesus is instructing in the righteous way to give. His point: Don't seek the approval of men in your giving; seek God's approval. Those who practice their righteousness to be seen by men are hypocrites. They are actors on the stage of life performing to be seen by men. They act to get applause.
    
Those who give to be seen by God do things in secret. They are not looking for applause; they are looking for God's pleasure in their righteous acts of giving. They are looking for what their secret giving does to the heart, knowing God is looking at it. They give knowing God's reward is far greater than applause.
    
Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing when giving to those in need. Give in secret. When you give in secret, your heart will be happy seeing the face of the one who receives, and your heart will be satisfied knowing God is pleased and He rewards those who give according to Kingdom ways.

"Then he said, "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." (Exodus 3:5, ESV)

When you stand on holy ground, take your shoes off. The big question is, what made the ground holy? After all, I am sure Moses brought his sheep over that parcel of land many times. We all know what sheep leave behind when they are out grazing. There is a good possibility that other critters crossed over that land too. So what made the ground holy? God made the ground holy! Because He was there on that ground, the ground was holy. It was not considered holy. It was holy.
    
In Deuteronomy, God calls His people holy people. What made the people of God holy? Was it their ability to keep the law? Was it their looks? No, God chose them and was with them. That is what made them holy people.
    
Many believers struggle with the reality of being called holy. We try to clean ourselves up or work harder for God's acceptance. We must realize that we are now the temple of the Holy Spirit. God lives in us! Because He lives in us, we are now holy! We are a royal priesthood! Is it because we have earned it? No! Is it because we deserve it? No! We are holy because God lives in us! Think about that long enough; you may want to take your shoes off

"Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Ge 18:14 ESV).

The answer to the question is a resounding "NO!" Nothing is too hard for the Lord. Sarah laughed because of the impossibility of the situation. Abraham is old. Sarah is old. Children are born when their parents are strong. Sarah had a reason to laugh because having children at her age seemed very unreasonable.

Has God ever asked you to do something that seemed very unreasonable? Have you ever heard God say something that seemed impossible for you to do? Moses thought God had the wrong man when God called him to deliver Israel from Egypt. Gideon thought God had the wrong man when God called him to deliver Israel. Sarah thought God's timing was off in promising her a child in old age.
    
It is interesting how God chooses people and works through people who would not be the right choice in the natural. But the reality is, nothing is too hard for the Lord! God is looking for those like Mary who respond in faith in the face of impossible situations. She simply said, "Let it be unto me according to your word." When we realize how powerful God is, we have to say, like the angel to Mary, "For with God, nothing will be impossible."   
    
We forget He is the Creator. He creates something out of nothing simply by the word of His mouth. Nothing is too hard for the Lord!

"So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily." (Acts 19:20, ESV)

You can't stop God! Psalm 2:4 says that He who sits in the heavens laughs at those who rage against Him. God has given us His Word, as in His Son, and He has given us His written Word! Look at what the Word does! The Word of God increases, and it prevails mightily! You cannot stop it!
    
The Logos is the written word of God. It is the sum of God's revelation given to humankind. The words 'continued to increase' come from a rare Greek word meaning "to grow to the limit, to attain great power, to achieve the highest position."* That is so powerful! This is what the Word does in an individual's life who trusts God and takes Him at His Word. The Word achieves the highest position. It dominates! It dominates sickness! It dominates poverty! It dominates depression! What do you need the Word to dominate in your life?
    
The Word 'prevails mightily.' The Word is strong. It prevails. It overcomes. It is powerful! It can do all of these things because it is God's Word. It comes from God, our God—the God who cannot be stopped. The Word works for those who work the Word. Memorize it, meditate on it, declare it! It will work for you!

*Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1985). In TDNT (p. 1229). W.B. Eerdmans.*

"Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates." (Revelation 22:14, ESV)

Blessed, happy, and absolutely elated are those who washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. Are you ready? Their garments are spotless! They are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus! They have overcome! And because they have overcome, they have heavenly rights. They can eat freely of the Tree of Life! The Tree of Immortality. 

It is a good day when you have permission to eat from the Tree of Life and permission to enter the City of God. Gates represent a transition from one realm to another. Those entering the City are leaving behind those on the outside, the defilers. The defilers, standing opposed to the Saints, have been doomed. The righteous are blessed, happy, and absolutely elated because they have washed their garments of all defilement, thereby leaving it behind. They now enter what was promised to them and enter for all eternity! For the cleansed ones, eternal life is the reward of their faithfulness amid intense persecution.   

What we do in this life matters through all eternity. How we live here determines our eternity. Revelation 22:14 is so full of joy! Oh, the privileges that are given to those who overcome! As Paul said, "To live is Christ. To die is gain!"

"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done." (Revelation 20:12, ESV)

A very sobering passage of scripture! It resonates with 'finality.' It stands alone, by itself, in the fear of the Lord. It precipitates the holding of one's breath. The picture is overwhelming. Every man, whether great or small, is now equal before the Lord. There is no favoritism, no special passes, no assistance, and no 'do-overs.' Each man, alone, brings who he is before the Lord. Earth and sky fled away from the One on the throne. There will be no hearing of testimonies in defense of, only the testimony of one's life lived-out before the One on the throne. The books were opened to review people's lives.

Then the Book of Life was opened, and each was judged according to their actions. Death and hell were then thrown into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death. "And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:15, ESV) Sobering, absolutely sobering.

What a terrifying day that will be for some who do not have a reservation, whose names are not found in the Book of Life. May your faith in Him be sure, and may His grace in you be great against that day.

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word."  (Psalm 119:9, ESV)

It is important to God that we keep our ways pure. It is also interesting how much Scripture tells young people and children about keeping their ways pure. Proverbs, a book rich in wisdom in maintaining the ways of the Lord, also seems to be written to young people. Don't think for a moment that this excludes older folk. After all, older folk seem to be the ones in Scripture that 'mess up.' The point is for all of us to keep our ways pure. What ways? All of our ways.

The big question is: How do we keep our ways pure? We keep our ways pure by guarding them. The word guard means to ‘exercise great care’. This word seems to be used most in the old testament regarding keeping the covenant. Guarding also means 'to take care' as one would tend a garden. The Passion Translations says it well: "Only by living in the word of God and walking in its truth." (Psalm 119:9, TPT)

For a person to stay pure requires that we keep the Word of God ever before them, meditating on it day and night. Our hearts are like a garden where the Word of God is planted. We must learn to keep and tend our garden well. Those who do will exhibit a fruitful walk with God in all of his way

"Now Nadab and Abihu, ... offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them... and they died before the Lord." (Leviticus 10:1-2 ESV)

Have you ever thought to yourself, "That is just a little sin"? Let's ask ourselves a few questions. What makes a sin small? What are the characteristics that qualify a sin to be small? Does everyone have the same 'markers' that judge a sin small?  
    
The Bible is full of people who sinned. Some of them sinned 'big time!' David committing adultery, that's big! Judas betraying Jesus that is really big! But the Bible is also filled with people whose sins were small, but it cost them greatly. Eve ate the forbidden fruit. Lots' wife just glanced back. Moses struck a rock with a stick. Some guy reached up to keep the Ark on a cart (that's a good thing), and God struck him down. Ananias and Sapphira told a little white lie, and they died.
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Sins are small because we judge them to be so. Therefore each person judges them differently. The danger is we do not always see sin as God sees sin. To God, sin is sin. To see through His eyes, we must realize that, big or small, sin still required the death of His Son. That's huge! Our sin cost God His Son. Therefore no sin is small!  

So our job is not to determine whether a sin is small or big but to walk in His amazing grace and "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13, ESV)

"So Abram went, as the Lord had told him..." (Genesis 12:4, ESV)

"So Abram went," It all sounds so simple—Abram’s obedience. Yet as simple as it sounds, obedience is the foundation of walking in faith. 

For a believer's faith to be genuine, it must be connected to obedience. Another way of saying that is, obedience is the evidence of our faith. God said to Abram, "Go." So Abram obeyed and went.

Testimonies for God are won in the place where faith and obedience meet. The two really cannot be separated. When you think of Biblical heroes and how they overcame and won God a testimony, you get a clear picture of a man or woman believing and acting on what God said—obedience.

It is no different today; when God speaks and asks something of us, He will be looking for our obedience. When the task gets complicated, and we continue in faith towards the goal, overcoming all obstacles, we win God a testimony!

But let's also note that God 'sweetened' the deal for Abram. "If you do this, I will make of you a great nation, and I will make your name great so you will be a blessing." (Gen 12:2) A promise is attached to the request God makes of Abram. Most things God asks us to do has a reward. It is not that our faith is earning something from God. It is God's generous heart that longs to bless our faith.

"Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you." (Genesis 12:1, ESV)

Following God always seems to be an adventure! After all, God is continually asking us to trust Him. Abraham is listening to a God he cannot see, receiving orders to leave behind everything He is familiar and go to a place he has never been, nor will he know when he has arrived unless God tells him. That right there takes faith!

How often have you heard from a God you can't see, were asked to leave everything behind you were comfortable with, and go somewhere you have never been? It takes faith. God followers must be ready to follow God daily, even if it means stepping out of what you are most comfortable with to do something you may have never done before. Faith loves an adventure! 

Walking in faith requires us to leave our comfort zone and what we are familiar with. It is not faith if you are trusting in anything but God. We tend to want to trust in what we know. Hebrews 11:6 clearly states, "Without faith, it is impossible to please God." If we are going to be God-pleasers, we must be faith walkers! That means not trusting in ourselves and being willing to go somewhere we have never been to do something we have never done. It sounds like faith is required. And where faith is required, there will be an adventure!

"Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. ..." (1 Corinthians 13:8, AMP)

What a powerful statement! Love never fails! Think about what you just read: Love never fails. Paul has just shared fifteen characteristics of agape love, and his summary is: Love never fails! People may let you down. You may let yourself down, but love never fails.

The word translated fail in our passage is the Greek word 'pipto.' It means to fall from a high position or to plunge from an elevated place. Sometimes it was used to speak of a great warrior who dies in battle. 'Pipto' or 'fails' speaks of ruin, destruction, and disappointment. But Paul is saying that agape love will never fall, never fail, and never disappoint!

The word 'never' is written to communicate "Never! Not ever! At no time" will love ever fall, fail, or discourage. This kind of love, agape love, will never come to an end or become obsolete. With this kind of love in our hearts, it must be understood and realized that this kind of love is dependable!

This love is the God kind of love, agape love. It is the highest love known to humanity. It is how God loves. It gives and gives and expects nothing in return to stay motivated to love all the more. Oh, that the church excels in living and giving this kind of love away—to family, acquaintances, and strangers. LOVE NEVER FAILS!!!

"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (1 Corinthians 13:7, ESV)

As Paul goes deeper into explaining the characteristics of agape love, these next four are words of intensity. 

Number one, love bears all things! 'Bears' comes from the Greek word 'stego,' meaning to cover, protect, and shield. When agape love is near, it covers people like a roof to protect and shield them.

Number two, love believes all things. 'Believes' means putting faith or trust in someone or something. Faith has the ability to believe the best in every situation. It makes no room for doubt but chooses to see the best. Agape love believes the best in people. It refuses to give up. It does not know how to quit. This is how our God loves us!

Three, love hopes all things. It always expects and anticipates the best. The Greek word 'elpidzo' means an expectation of good things. The agape of God always expects the best in others. It lives anticipating the best being seen in others. Again, it refuses to quit or give up expecting!

Four, agape love endures all things! The word 'endures' comes from a word meaning to abide under or stay under. It is a picture of a person under orders to do a thing. They are not allowed to surrender or give in. This gives us the picture of the facet of agape love that will never throw in the towel! God never quits on anyone, and neither should we! Love bears all, believes all, hopes all, and endures all. Love does not quit! It is committed to the end! That's intense!

Love... "does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth." (1 Corinthians 13:6, ESV)

In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul characterizes agape love by continuing to list the qualities of agape love.

Have you ever secretly or openly rejoiced when someone you dislike fell upon hard times or difficulties? You may have even said, "Serves him right! He deserved that." Let it be known that this is not how God reacts.

The word 'rejoice' is used twice in verse six. Rejoice comes from the Greek word 'chairo,' which means to be filled with joy and gladness. In the first instance, Paul says that those filled with agape love do not rejoice at people we dislike encountering difficult times. Love does not feel thrilled by others' misfortunes. Love does not rejoice at injustice, dishonesty, or wrong. The second part of the verse says that love rejoices with the truth or is delighted with the truth! Love is thrilled at the expressions of goodness and righteousness in people's lives.

How we respond to other people's misfortunes or their promotions is important to God. Do you rejoice at others' healings? Are you thrilled when others experience blessings? What about those you dislike? Are you secretly smiling when they encounter trouble?

Love does not rejoice at injustice or things done wrong. But, it does rejoice in thrilled ways at the truth. How you respond to other people's trouble or blessings says much about you and your level of spiritual maturity. Love rejoices with the truth!