1 Corinthians 13:6

Wednesday 2/15/12

1 Corinthians 13:6 [Love] does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

Interpretation:

           Why can love rejoice in the truth? The truth is not always easy to hear, but regardless, the truth is good and therefore love can rejoice. At times, we all need God’s truth to show us something in our lives that we otherwise might not have seen. It can be painful at times, but if we let God do the work, it will all turn out well and we will eventually have reason for rejoicing.

     So before going any further, let’s determine where to find the best source of truth. Any ideas? Well, it comes directly from the mouth of God. (Profound, huh?) In John 17:17 Jesus says to His father “Your Word is truth.” God’s Word, though, is not only truth, but it will bring us joy as we meditate on it; for  Psalm 119:162 says “I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure.” In John 15 Jesus is telling the disciples about abiding in His love and keeping His Father’s commandments. In verse 11 He goes on and says “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” Okay, so stay with me. In these verses, we have God’s Word (which is truth) as a source of joy. Jesus Himself said in John 15 that He wants our joy to be full and that’s why He told us about His commandments and abiding in His love (which we can easily find in His Word). Knowing this and how much joy we will get as we abide in Jesus’ love and His Word, is there any question why Psalm 119, which happens to be the longest chapter in the Bible, is all about God’s Word?

     Hebrews 4:12 talks about how God’s word is sharper than a two-edged sword and can pierce to the division of the soul and spirit. Yes, piercing does sound painful, and as mentioned before, it might originally be unpleasant; but it will be worth it. Not only should we meditate on God’s Word, however, but we should also memorize it. Psalm 119:11 says, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.” When we hide God’s truth from His Word in our hearts, we can more easily wield the sword of the Spirit to fight off the enemy when he attacks as we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. End result – like love, when truth abounds in our lives, we can rejoice.

Application:

     I will ask God to shine His truth anywhere in my life where His truth is needed, even if it’s difficult for me to accept. I will memorize Psalm 119:9-16