The Wise Woman Has a Gentle and Quiet Spirit
Welcome to Week Three
Opening Remarks:
This is week three of sixteen. We are working through the workbook, A Wise Woman Builds Her House by Erin Thiele. If you missed the former weeks, you can start over with week one, A Wise Woman Builds Her House…On a Rock by clicking here. I hold a copyright release to reprint the book for you here, but you don’t. Therefore, the copying of this material in any form is illegal. I encourage you to buy the workbook. I have worked through it several times over the years. Every time that I do I find that there are new things that we need to work through. I also tend to write prayers in my book. I encourage you to do the same. Journal your thoughts, write prayers, even write confessions. The next time you work through it, you’ll be encouraged at how far you’ve come and how God answers prayers.
Remember that each week’s post is a week’s worth of study. I give it to you all at once for those who choose to work on it all over a weekend and ruminate over the information throughout the week.
As a reminder, this study is for WOMEN ONLY. Just as I encourage women to NOT study what a man should be doing once they marry so they don’t start judging their husband, I am asking the men to give us the same leeway. I am following the dictates of the Bible in Titus 2 for “the older women to teach the younger women to love their husbands and their children.” Thank you for understanding.
|Chapter 3 |
A Gentle and Quiet Spirit
But let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
—1 Peter 3:4
A popular attribute for women today is strength and power. Yet, Jesus told us “Blessed are the meek.” Without realizing it, we have strayed onto dangerous ground—“sinking sand.” Boisterous and rebellious women are common, accepted, and very often, our personal goal and the goal for our daughters. In television sitcoms, boisterous, rebellious, and contentious women get all the laughs. Meek is now regarded as weak. So when a husband or child strays from the Truth, you’ll hear Christians advise the wife and parents to use the “tough love” approach based on the book Love Must Be Tough. In this lesson, we will search God’s Word to find out the truth regarding “tough love.” Is it still blessed to be meek, or is the Bible outdated?
Tough Love
Love is patient
God gives us a description of love; see if you can find the word “tough” or any word even remotely similar. “Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the Truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails . . .” (1 Cor. 13:4-8).
This I command you
Another new idea in the church today (along with a title of another popular book) is “love is a choice.” Read with me the following verse to see if God says we can “choose” to love, or does God command that we love others as followers of Christ? “This I command you, that you love one another” (John 15:17).
Love your enemies
Our friends counsel us to “protect ourselves” and “not love those, who are difficult to love.” Are we to love the unlovable or undeserved or not? “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28).
If you love those who love you
In this passage God is even clearer; He even cautions those who only love the lovable. “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you . . . for if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same?” (Matt. 5:44-46).
Overcome evil with good
The book that encourages us to be “tough” with our husbands and children tells us that we should “confront” in order to cause a crisis. In other words, we should take matters into our own hands. Read how we are to leave room for His wrath. What does God instruct us to do? “Rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer. Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so you will heap burning coals upon his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:12, 14, 17, 19, 21). This is the total opposite of what we hear from other Christians, read in Christian books and what we are told to do in Christian counseling. If this were not the way we should treat others, then why would God have told us this?
He uttered no threats
You may ask yourself, “Why do I have to endure such suffering, and not even have the satisfaction of vengeance?” Read God’s explanation for your suffering: “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps . . . and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him (God) who judges righteously” (1 Pet. 2:21-23).
Blessed are the meek
If you don’t take matters into your own hands and take a “tough stand,” others (even Christians) will tell you that you are a doormat or you are enabling the other person. Let me remind you who Jesus said are blessed. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5).
The kindness of God
We have been deceived into believing that confronting, or being unkind and firm, will turn the other person around. If that worked, why would God use kindness to draw us to repentance? Sinners do not go down to the altar to accept the Lord because they think that they are going to be criticized or chastised, do they? “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” (Rom. 2:4).
The righteousness of God
People may even remind you of when Jesus turned over the tables in the Temple. They will use this example to tell you that you have the “right” to be angry with others. God says He is a jealous God; can we then also be jealous? “But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20).
That you may not do the things that you please
When we have an impulse to do or say something to another person that is anything but meek, then we are walking in the flesh and therefore are not walking in the Spirit. “But I say, walk in the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. . . . But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:16, 17, 22-23). The old saying, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is based on this Scripture: “And just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way” (Luke 6:31).
The error of unprincipled men
God has warned us that we should not listen to or follow men who tell us something contrary to Scripture. “Be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him . . . in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of Scripture, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:14-18). If we know the Word, we are much less vulnerable to accept error as the truth and will kindly refuse to follow unbiblical advice.
You are to be perfect
Some authors, and even some pastors, have told us that God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. What does God Himself say? “Therefore, you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48).
No one will see the Lord
Another extremely important reason for your peaceful actions toward those who are unkind, those who oppose you, and even those who may want to “use” you is that we are to let others see Christ in us. “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). Jesus told us that no one took His life, instead, He laid it down.
The ministry of reconciliation
We are to be ambassadors for Christ in reconciliation. “Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:18-20). Anyone can be mean to others, it comes naturally; however, it takes kindness with those who don’t deserve to be treated kindly that will get the attention of others so you can share the Lord with them.
Lest you too be tempted
The following Scripture is a warning to us. When we are not gentle to others when they have sinned against us we open ourselves up to temptation. “Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:1-2).
Lest the Lord see it and be displeased
Many women are so happy to see their enemies, including their husbands, “get what they deserve” when God punishes them with financial difficulties or other trials. Yet, very soon, things turn around for the better. Why does this happen? “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and He turn away His anger from him” (Prov. 24:17). If your heart shouts vengeance, even if you don’t take it out yourself, God is not about to continue His vengeance against your enemy. If your heart is right, you will be sorrowful but know that whatever happens is for their good in order that they may come to know the Lord more intimately because that is what it took to get your attention too!
Doers of the Word
It’s important that we learn the Truth and agree with what we see in Scripture, but we must not stop there. “But prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves . . . not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does” (James 1:22, 25). “Therefore, to him who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).
Forgiveness
Many women do not forgive their parents, their husbands, a sibling, a friend, an older child, or even a coworker, because they don’t fully understand the grave consequences of their lack of forgiveness. Let’s search the Scriptures to see what God says about forgiving others:
The question we often ask ourselves is “Why should I forgive?”
Because God also has forgiven you
Because of Christ’s death on the cross, God forgave us. “And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32).
For forgiveness of sins
Jesus shed His blood for the forgiveness of all sins. “All things are cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb. 9:22). “For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” (Matt. 26:28).
Advantage be taken of us by the enemy
We need to forgive others, so the enemy cannot take advantage of us. “For if indeed what I have forgiven, . . . I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes” (2 Cor. 2:10-11). Too many Christians are ignorant of the enemy’s schemes and give them the advantage by not forgiving someone.
Your Father will not forgive your transgressions
God said that He wouldn’t forgive you, if you don’t forgive others. “For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions” (Matt. 6:14-15). Make sure the forgiveness is not just lip service. “So shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you do not forgive his brother from your heart” (Matt. 18:35). (Read all of Matthew 18: 22-35). A great test is how you speak about the person whom you’ve said you have forgiven. If you are still speaking about them, you have still not forgiven.
Reaffirm your love for him, to relieve the offender’s sorrow
“. . . You should rather forgive and comfort him, lest somehow such a one be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him” (2 Cor. 2:7-8). This means that you cannot just say you forgive and leave it at that, you must go the second mile and reaffirm your love by telling your offender that you forgive.
But shouldn’t the offender be sorry if I’m to forgive them?
Father, forgive them
Those who crucified Jesus neither asked for forgiveness nor expressed sorrow for what they were doing or what they had done. If we are Christians, we are followers of Christ; therefore, we are to follow His example. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). We also witnessed this same thing when Stephen was being stoned; he cried out on behalf of his murderers just before he died, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” (Acts 7:60).
But how often does God expect me to forgive another?
Seventy times seven
When Peter asked how often he was to forgive his brother, Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Matt. 18:22). That’s 490 times!
Remember no more
Does forgiveness really mean that I forget that sin, even when I am tempted to bring it up in an argument? “For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more” (Jer. 31:34). “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Ps. 103:12). “Not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing” (1 Pet. 3:9).
You must understand that the enemy will try to bring up old transgressions in your mind over and over again. When he does, you must forgive again. Many of us who have forgiven our husbands for adultery often experience “flashbacks” of the adultery after our husbands returned home. It’s almost like a type of spiritual war trauma. We know that we must always walk in a spirit of forgiveness and forgive each time it comes to mind.
How can I forgive as God has asked me to do in His Word?
God alone
Only God can help you to do it. You must humble yourself and ask Him to give you the grace. “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mark 2:7).
Forgiving adultery seems to be one of the hardest offenses for women. When I have shared my experiences with others, I have been honest with them and encouraged them to be honest with God. When I learned of my husband’s adultery, I got alone with God and told Him exactly how I felt. I told God that I did not want to forgive him (He knew that). I told Him that I didn’t think he deserved to be forgiven (do any of us deserve to be forgiven by God?). Finally, I surrendered and said that I could not forgive, but that I wanted to yield to Him and asked that He forgive my husband through His power—He did!
As I said, often this is not a onetime thing, especially when adultery is ongoing, or new things come up that are related, or when others may tell you details. Each time I just kept relying on the Lord to forgive since “Who can forgive sin but God alone?” (Mark 2:7). This has kept my heart clean and kept me safe from the enemy’s schemes. I guarantee that this method will work for anything and anyone you need to forgive.
When do I need to forgive those who have hurt me?
Shouldn’t I feel convicted of it first?
First be reconciled to your brother
“If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering” (Matt. 5:23-24).
Bitterness
Not forgiving someone causes bitterness. The definition of bitterness is “poison”! “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger . . . be put away from you” (Eph. 4:31). Not forgiving your enemy is eating at you, not the other person. “The heart knows its own bitterness” (Prov. 14:10). “For He knows the secrets of the heart” (Ps. 44:21).
What if I am the one who needs to ask for forgiveness?
A brother offended
Be sure that you take note of the following scriptural guidelines when you are asking for forgiveness. I have heard many who have said that things were actually worse when they did ask for forgiveness or that it did no good. I can speak from experience. At times, when I have asked for someone’s forgiveness, I have stated it the wrong way and further offended the other person. “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city” (Prov. 18:19).
Taking every thought captive
Take your thoughts captive and look at your offenses as God sees them and from the eyes of the other person. “. . . we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).
Men pleasers
God knows our motives and our heart. “. . . but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). “. . . In the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Eph. 6:5-6). “A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own mind” (Prov. 18:2).
Every idle word
Every word you say must be carefully chosen. Prepare your every word. “Every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matt. 12:36). Begin by writing down what you are going to say. Then read “out loud” what you wrote, putting yourself in the other person’s shoes and hearing it from his or her point of view. Does it sound accusing? Ask God to put the right words in your mouth.
Many words
“When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable” (Prov. 10:19). “A babbling fool will be thrown down” (Prov. 10:10). Only say what you did; don’t set the stage with something like, “When you did this, and such and such, well then I . . .”
He uttered no threats
“Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him . . .” (Matt. 5:25, KJV). If the other person starts to lash out at you, do not open your mouth except to agree. “And while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering He uttered no threats . . .” (1 Pet. 2:23).
I am no longer worthy
The prodigal son prepared his words after his decision to return home and spoke his chosen words humbly: “I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men’” (Luke 15:18-19). God promises to raise up those who are bowed down!
Sweet to the soul
Make your words sweet and kind. “Sweetness of speech adds persuasiveness” (Prov. 16:21). “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones” (Prov. 16:24).
Whether or not the person forgives you is not the point of going and asking for forgiveness. You are doing it in obedience and to keep your heart right before God. Rest in this if the person remains angry and refuses to forgive you.
Practice These Things
“For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith apply virtue, and to your virtue apply knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful . . . For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins . . . for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble” (2 Pet. 1:4-10).
Apply All Diligence
“He who diligently seeks good, seeks favor” (Prov. 11:27).
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the Word of Truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1-3).
In Your Faith
“Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17).
“Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith” (1 Cor. 16:13).
“In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one” (Eph. 6:16).
“For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead” (James 2:26).
Add Virtue
“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. For the heart of her husband does safely trust in her and he will have no lack of gain” (Prov. 31:10-11).
“Many daughters have done virtuously, but you excel them all . . . a woman who fears the Lord she shall be praised” (Prov. 31:29-30).
“Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4:8).
Apply Knowledge
“Take my instruction and not silver, and knowledge rather than choicest gold” (Prov. 8:10).
“A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increases power. For by wise guidance you will wage war and in the abundance of counselors there is victory (or safety in KJV)” (Prov. 24:5-6).
“For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of Truth” (2 Tim. 3:6-7).
Then Self Control
“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city” (Prov. 16:32).
“I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle, while the wicked are in my presence” (Ps. 31:1). “He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, and he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself. Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise man and he will love you” (Prov. 9:7-9).
“Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit” (Prov. 25:28).
Then Endurance
“Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (James 1:3).
“And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved” (Matt. 10:22).
“But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of suffering” (Heb. 10:32).
Then Godliness
“But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the contrary, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also life to come” (1 Tim. 4:7-8).
“But flee from these things, you man of God; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness” (1 Tim. 6:11).
“Instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:12).
And in Godliness, Brotherly Kindness
“To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted and humble in spirit” (1 Pet. 3:8).
“She opens her mouth in wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue” (Prov. 31:26).
“And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity” (Col. 3:12-14).
And Finally Love
“Love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet 4:8).
“Love your enemies” (Matt. 5:44).
“. . . to love their husbands” (Titus 2:4).
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you love one another” (John 13:34).
“Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the Truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails . . .” (1 Cor. 13:4-8).
Yes, They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love!
Personal commitment: To desire and strive to be gentle and quiet. “Based on what I have learned in Scripture, I commit to do everything I have learned to be quick to hear and slow to speak. I will forgive those who have offended me and do what I can to reconcile with those I have offended.”
Date: _________________
Signed_____________________________________________
Homework
Let your mind dwell on these things.
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things” (Phil. 4:8).
- 3×5 cards. Are you faithful to write down the verses from each lesson that have touched your heart? Continue to keep these cards in your purse and bring them out regularly as the Holy Spirit prompts you.
- Be a doer, not just a hearer. “But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does” (James 1:25).
- Share this lesson with one other woman who seems to be harboring a lack of forgiveness or is fond of the “tough love” approach with her husband and/or children. Write her name on the line below.
___________________________
Notes:
I don’t know about you, but again I was convicted reading some of that. I decompress by blabbering. I used to just blabber to myself. Now with text messaging, my daughter gets my blabbering texts. I am convicted again that in the multitude of words is sin. What about phone calls? Ever been on a nice long chat with a girlfriend? There comes a time that our minds search for things to say, and then come out those famous words, ”Did you hear about….?” Gossip. Slander. Spilling secrets. (And the line from Bambi flutters through my head, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” Thumper’s mom was wise.)
The Word says when we get to heaven EVERY word we speak will be judged. Not some words, not just swear words, but EVERY word we speak. Picture yourself standing in front of Jesus and seeing all your words flash before you. He’s hearing – and judging – every single one. There will be no explaining it away. We can’t say, “Oh, I don’t want you to hear that” or “I never meant for you to hear that.” We have His Word. We know what He expects. And the fact is, if you are a child of God, Jesus lives in you and is with you. Every word we speak He is hearing right now. It will just be repeated at the Judgement Seat of Christ. What a convicting thought.
I also wanted to backtrack to the word meek. While most people think meek means weak, that is not the true meaning. I like what is written on BlueLetterBible.org. It states, “Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. In the OT the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend against injustice. Thus, meekness toward evil people means knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict, that He is using them to purify His elect, and that He will deliver His elect in His time (Is 41:17, Lk 18:1-8). Gentleness or meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest. It stems from trust in God’s goodness and control over the situation. The gentle person is not occupied with self at all. This is a work of the Holy Spirit, not of the human will (Gal 5;23).”
Finally, I want to address Erin’s statement that love is not a choice, it is a command. While it is a command, it is also a choice. Just as Joshua said, “Choose this day whom you will serve…As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” God gave us free will and we need to choose to obey the command to love. So while love may be commanded, it is still a choice whether we obey it or not.
So how are you doing with this study? Are you finding it hard? It sure is different than what we see and are taught in the world, isn’t it? It is totally a different mindset, isn’t it? But the Word says that the ways of God are higher than our ways. And Jesus said, “If you love me, you WILL obey me.” So, if we say we love Jesus, we will obey. Are you willing? I know it may be hard and you may stumble and fall. Believe me, we all do – especially if you grew up in a home that didn’t follow God’s Word and ways. But the question is, will you decide today that you are willing to make changes in your life to line it up with the Word of God? It is my hope and prayer that you will.
God Bless you,
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