“[God’s Love] does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth”
1 Corinthians 13:6 (AMPC)
I am guilty of being a very passionate football fan. I watch 16-17 weeks of games of my team trying to make the playoffs and hopefully they get a chance at the championship. Week in and week out I am not just cheering for my team to win, but quietly and very discreetly I am hoping that the other teams in our division lose, so we have a better chance to make the playoffs. Off course I don’t show it, but secretly I am rejoicing in their defeat.
Love does not delight in evil. Is there a part of us that gets happy if something bad happens to someone else? If you answered YES, that’s not Love, that’s evil and love doesn’t delight in evil. For some people, in order for them to succeed, others have to fail. They are secretly cheering for others fall or failure. That’s not love. Love does not take delight when people are guilty of a wrongdoing, or when they fall into sin. Love does not find pleasure in hearing others accused of sin and it’s proved that they committed it. It does not find malicious pleasure in hearing that others have done wrong. Love does not desire that an enemy, a persecutor, or a slanderer who acts evil disgraces and ruins himself. Love does not rejoice in evil but grieves when a personal friend or foe has done wrong. It neither loves the wrong, nor the fact that it has been done.
It is common for people to rejoice when an enemy is found guilty of a crime or caught in a sin. This is not love. Sin is an occasion for sorrow, not for joy. Love grieves when others sin. Only a heart that is subdued by the gospel is made to rejoice when all people do well. Love wants what’s best for everyone.
Love rejoices in the truth. Love never builds on someone else’s failure or demise but builds its life and happiness on God’s Word. God’s Word is truth. Rejoicing in the truth of the Word of God helps to set you free (Romans 8:32). Imitate and surrender to Jesus and His truth. The Bible says, “You are not a God of wickedness” (Psalm 5:4) but “You desire truth in our inward parts” (Psalm 51:6). Rejoice always in the truth of the Word of God.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
A few weeks ago, my siblings, cousins, nephews and I had a passionate, very open and transparent conversation about state of our country. We discussed the things that have hit at the heart of our nation, causing civil unrest and divide. Topics like racism, cultural divides and the wrongful death and injustice for George Floyd. We all agree that justice needed to be served toward those four police officers.
It was a great, healthy conversation with opposing views at times but very productive in understanding and clarifying things. Like we always do, we conclude with me sharing what the scriptures say about these situations and how Christ is our answer (Ephesians 2:14; Galatians 3:28-29). Then we ended in Prayer.
We prayed for George Floyd’s family and all those affected by this injustice. Then suddenly the Lord directed us to pray for the four police officers that were involved. We prayed genuinely for their hearts that in midst of all this darkness they are in, that they would have an encounter with the love of Jesus. We prayed for their well-being and we interceded for their wives and children and what they must be going through because of all of this. Tears started to flow as the pure love of God was being poured out in prayer.
We were not rejoicing in evil, but rejoicing in truth that in spite of what has been done, God desires none to perish, and all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). (Pastor Fika Esau)
TODAY’S DECLARATION
“I choose not to rejoice in evil but to delight in the truth. The truth is the Word of God. I will not rejoice in the failures of others. I want everyone to do well. I want everyone to know the truth so the truth can set them free.”
TODAY’S BIBLE READING
Our Bible Reading Plan gives 25 daily readings per month. There is no scheduled reading for today. You can use this time to catch up on any readings you may have missed, or read through previous passages again.
