This is the 4th of seven devotions
with the theme from 1 Corinthians 13:5
"Love Does Not Insist On It's Own Rights"
RADICAL LOVE
Song: He Came To Love
(Adapted from Matthew 5; 1 Corinthians 13:5)
Jesus has just formed his ministry team. He has just been baptized where the heavens opened and the voice of God spoke. The Holy Spirit has settled on him. And He has just fasted for 40 days and passed the character test of his moral fiber. These were major spiritual breakthroughs and it appeared to the crowds that Jesus was set up to establish an earthly kingdom.
Crowds were following Him. They were watching and listening. They anticipated a radical king taking his earthly throne and leading them all to triumph over their enemies. They were looking for a king to sweep them to victory.
But the next thing Jesus did was not what they expected. He sat down on the side of a mountain to talk and teach. The crowds gathered, probably expecting major instructions on what was going to happen next. Jesus began to teach them about giving up their rights. He taught them to relinquish their rights and practice walking in radical love!
“You are blessed when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you
and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.
Be happy about it! Be very glad!”
Jesus' teaching was not familiar to them. Most people lived by the law and the law said that a Roman soldier could demand that anyone carry a load for them for one mile. It was also a law that the soldier could demand no more than a mile. Jesus said,
"If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles!"
Jesus could have continued,
"The first mile is obligation.
The second mile is to renounce your rights.
The second mile is love!"
Lord, just like the crowds on the mountainside wanted you to do radical things in their lives, I want you to do major things in my life. But I understand that the power lies in giving up my rights and walking and living in radical love. I am willing Lord; help me to recognize radical love and walk in it.
© LoveWalkPublishing
Devotion Authored by RebeccaAnnCooley
HE CAME TO LOVE
Devotion: Radical Love
(Adapted from Matthew 5)
Verse
They were looking for a redeemer
Who would overthrow the Romans
And reclaim the throne of David
They ignored the Scriptures
That revealed a suffering Savior
Who would redeem their souls from sin
Chorus
He didn’t come to rule
He came to love
He didn’t come to overthrow
He came to undergo
The greatest expression of love ever given
He didn’t come to rule
He came to love . . .
Bridge
And He said, “Love the way I loved
Turn the other check
Go the extra mile
And He said, “Love the way I loved
And relinquish your own rights and ways
© LoveWalkMusic
WordsAndMusic by KentCliffordCooley
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