Love - what God prefers — Commands

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22, 23

As I was studying Galatians 5;22, 23, I decided to see what other verses used the same words. 

Love - what God prefers

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:12

Commandment: reach the end, consummation – properly, "in the end," focusing on the end-result (objective) of a command

Another: each other. This is a reciprocal pronoun. Reciprocal is a mathematical expression or function so related to another that their product is one. 

As I have: according to;  properly, "in proportion, to the degree that" (J. Thayer); just as (in direct proportion), corresponding to fully (exactly). (HelpsBible.com)

You: singular, personal

The end result of God's love is that I will love those with whom I come in contact. I am to love each and every person — and not in a general sense, but love —as God prefers. 

How does God love me? 

His love is unconditional. God loved us as sinners. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

His love is everlasting. Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.

His love is just. Psalm 33:5 He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

The Fruit of the Spirit should be evident in my life. God commands—and expects results — that I love all those around me — each and everyone. 

Love - what God prefers - is that I love others with the same love God has for me. 

The question is, am I doing that?

Thanks Living: Promote Proudly (TOWDAH)

I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30

Praise: be boastful, celebrate, to shine

Song: in worship

Magnify: To be, make, large in estate or honor, also in pride; promote, proudly

Thanksgiving: Towdah (or todah), thanking God for “things not yet received" as well as things already at hand.

Promote proudly.

We wear shirts, shoes, jerseys and we carry travel mugs, backpacks, etc all showing our favorite sports team/player. We do it proudly. 

Right now March Madness is happening. People have changed their Facebook profile to proudly promote their team. 

How do I promote God Almighty? 

The way which is one that can be done by all—is to praise and give thanks to God. Be boastful in my speech, and words. Promote God by thanking Him for all He's done and all He's going to do. 

Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15

Thanks Living—promote proudly with TOWDAH, my great and awesome God! 

Thanks Living: PR Business

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15

Offer: of presentation as a priestly act

Praise: a thank-offering, presented to God for some benefit received

Fruit: that which originates or comes from something; an effect, result

Giving thanks: to praise, celebrate

To His name: promoting his cause; therefore equivalent to his divinity, the divine majesty and perfections

Comes from something. 

When you think about it, our attitudes and outlook on life, all are the result of something. If we want to live a positive life, we must start with praising God. Praising God puts us in our place, so to speak. We realize that it's not all about us, or what we want. Rather, it's about who God is and accomplishing His will to bring glory and honor to Him. 

Giving God the praise and worship because of who He is and the salvation He give us, will result in our celebration of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving will then in turn let others know of God as we promote Him and all He does. Yes, we are to be in the PR business for God! 

What is Public Relations (PR)? Public relations focuses on promoting the image of a company or individual. The aim of public relations is to inform the others and ultimately persuade them to maintain a certain view about an organization or individual. 

And to be in the Thanks Living PR business, it begins with praise to God as the result will be a celebration of thanksgiving to God! 

Are you in the Thanks Living PR business? I sure want to be! 

Proverbs 2:13-15: Deliverance

From those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness; Who rejoice in doing evil, and delight in the perversity of the wicked; Whose ways are crooked, and who are devious in their paths; Proverbs 2:13-15

These verses are a continuation of what Wisdom will DELIVER us. 

Leave: forsake, fail to follow, obey advice, instruction, wisdom, reproof

Paths: mode of living, or of character

Uprightness: straightness, evenness, of paths (with moral implication)

Walk: mode of life, action

Darkness: evil, sin

Rejoice:  joyful, showing joy

Doing: absolute act, act with effect

Evil: distress, misery, injury, calamity

Delight: rejoice

Perversity: fraud

Wicked: deeds of evil

Ways: destructive ways

Crooked: twisted, perverted

Devious: craftiness, cunning

Paths: course of action, or life

As I was studying the meaning of these verses, I thought, "Why would anyone follow deception and wickedness? Why would on choose a path of destruction? Can't they see the end result?" 

Yet, often when we find ourselves following after those who forsake wisdom, we are caught up in the enticement of the present enjoyment of sin. We don't realize that as we continue to follow the way of life that we are forsaking God and moving farther from the treasure of His wisdom. For Satan knows how to slowing and deliberately change our paths so that we become accustomed to the sin and rationalize and justify it in our minds. And we don't see the need for deliverance, as we think we are "just fine". 

However, Wisdom shouts and will DELIVER us from making beginning down the path of sin, and will allow us to turn around if we find ourselves on that path. Wisdom, that treasure from God Himself, is vital to our everyday life. And Wisdom knows that we do need deliverance! 

It will require a determined heart — a heart that is permeate with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG) to listen to Wisdom and be delivered from the deception of sin.