Girls, it’s been so good to dive deep into this scripture with you! I hope you are learning more about what Biblical love is and looking for opportunities to put this into practice.
Today, we are going to dive into understanding how to apply:
“Love does not boast, it is not proud or rude.” (1 Corinthians 13:4)
First, let’s define boasting and pride. According to Merriam-Webster, to boast is a statement of expressing excessive pride in oneself. According to dictionary.com, pride is a high or inordinate opinion of one’s own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.
Let’s break this down further. To boast is to say: look at me, look at what I’ve done, look at what I have. Do you see this, girls? It’s look at ME. Look at what I’VE done. Look at how great I AM. When we are in this mindset, we can’t truly love and we aren’t following Christ’s example.
Similarly, pride is thinking you are more important than others. It’s saying to yourself, what I want is the most important, what I think is always right, and what I need matters more than anyone. Ultimately, pride is only looking out for yourself, your wants, your needs, your hopes, your desires.
I love this quote from Andrew Murray, “Pride needs to die in us for anything of heaven to live in us.” So how does pride die? Both pride and humility have “I and me” at the center. Is this how God calls us to think and live? No, dear friends, it’s not. God tells us in Philippians 2:13, “in humility to count others as more important than ourselves.” Dear friends, humility kills pride.
Now, we have to consider, what is humility? According to theologian C.S. Lewis, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.”
So what does humility have to do with boasting and pride? Humility is the opposite of being boastful and proud, and a posture of humility is the way in which Christ lives. Girls, if we are to be imitators of Christ, then instead of being boastful and proud, we want to live lives in a posture of humility.
Listen to this, “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God, as something to cling to. Instead he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself through obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8)
The only way that we can truly love others is from a heart posture of humility and from that will flow an obedience to God. This is the way to truly love others, we must be humble and ask God to show us any area where we may be boastful and proud.
Girls, if we ask Him, He will show us things in us that are keeping us from loving others like He loves them. He is always faithful! We just have to ask Him. I would encourage you all to begin praying these two verse daily as you start your time with God:
“Search me Oh God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” (Psalm 139:23-24)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)
Challenges for the week:
This week consider praying these two scripture every day in your time with God: Psalm 139:23-24 and Psalm 51:10
Memorize Psalm 139:23-24 and Psalm 51:10
Share how praying these scriptures are impacting you in your time with God with a friend or even with us! Is he showing you any sin, idols, or things He wants you to trust Him with?
*Journal anything God shows you and if you want to share anything with us, we’d love to hear! Email us at connect@gl4g.com
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