Love as Brethren – Don’t be Proud!

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren …” 1 Peter 3v8 (KJV)

1 Corinthians 13v4 tells us that love is not proud! Proud is “having, proceeding from, or showing a high opinion of one’s own dignity, importance, or superiority… implies sensitiveness, lofty self-respect, or jealous preservation of one’s dignity, station, and the like.”  (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/proud?s=t). Love is not proud. In Romans 12v3 (AMP), Paul by the inspiration of the Spirit writes that “For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.” Also, Philippians 2v3 (AMP) says “Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves].” Child of God, remember 1 Corinthians 4v7 (AMP) which says “For who separates you from the others [as a faction leader]? Who makes you superior and sets you apart from another, giving you the preeminence?] What have you that was not given to you? If then you received it [from someone], why do you boast as if you had not received [but had gained it by your own efforts]?”

Supplementary Text

“I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it is important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what He does for us, not by what we are and what we do for Him.” Romans 12v3 (MSG)

Father, I thank You for Your Word. Please search me deeply and uproot everything of pride in me, in Jesus name, amen. Help me to walk in love and humility in Jesus name, amen.